232 THE COUNTRY CLERGYMAN. 



serves to prove how mindful a beneficent Provi- 

 dence was of the wants of man, by creating and 

 assigning for his especial use and benefit, the ani- 

 mals which have been now mentioned; placing 

 them within his reach, to be used, no doubt, with 

 tenderness and discretion, but leaving no trace of 

 them in countries where man was not. These 

 remote countries were not, however, consigned to a 

 state of desolation and sterility, but Providence, 

 foreseeing that the time would come when the 

 human race would discover and inhabit these 

 regions, clothed them with magnificent woods, 

 adorned them with flowers and plants of exquisite 

 workmanship, whilst birds and insects of the richest 

 beauty, wantoned unmolested amidst the shade and 

 verdure of these primaeval forests. The wise designs 

 of the creator were thus equally conspicuous in 

 these more remote regions, and the same forming 

 hand was to be seen as soon as this new world should 

 be discovered. In the mean time the lilies grew, 

 and the birds were fed, and nature sported at will 

 ' her virgin fancies,' until the axe destroyed the 

 harmony of the woods, and its innocent inhabitants 

 were taught the fear of man, by the destruction 

 his presence brought upon them. Although the 

 gifts thus liberally bestowed, might be abused, 

 there can be little doubt of their having been de- 

 signed for the use of man, and if he had pursued 

 the ways of piety, virtue and humanity, if he had 



