144 FUNCTIONS AND INSTINCTS. 



proportions the demand to the supply ; that thus 

 both vegetables arid animals are so accurately 

 distributed, weighed so nicely against each other, 

 as never to go a step beyond what God decrees, 

 and what is most beneficial to the whole system ; 

 and that the actual number of every kind bears 

 due relation to the work it has to do ; and, upon 

 closer inquiry, we find, that though since the 

 creation, probably in consequence of the great 

 change in the moral state of the world, superin- 

 ducing physical changes also, some species no 

 longer necessary may have perished, yet that, in 

 general, they have maintained their ground from 

 age to age, in spite of the attacks of the great 

 army of destroyers. To maintain things in this 

 state, thus to " order all things in measure, num- 

 ber, and weight" as the wise man speaks, to 

 cause all so to harmonize, and so out of death 

 and destruction to bring forth life, indicates 

 still more strongly the constant and wise super- 

 intendence, and powerful arm of a watchful 

 Providence, and demonstrates irrefragably that 

 there is a Great Being constantly at work, either 

 mediately or immediately, to produce effects 

 that, without his constant superintendence and 

 intervention, could never take place. And thus, 

 as sings the bard of Twickenham, 



" All nature is but art unknown to thee, 

 All chance direction which thou canst not see, 

 All discord harmony not understood, 

 All partial evil, universal good." 



