4 INTRODUCTION. 



acts with undeviating steadiness and regularity. 

 The changes of winds and skies, seemingly so 

 capricious and casual, are produced by the ope- 

 ration of the sun's heat upon air and moisture, 

 land and sea \ and though in this case we cannot 

 trace the particular events to their general causes, 

 as we can trace the motions of the sun and moon, 

 no philosophical mind will doubt the generality 

 and fixity of the rules by which these causes 

 act. The variety of the effects takes place, be- 

 cause the circumstances in different cases vary ; 

 and not because the action of material causes 

 leaves anything to chance in the result. And 

 again, though the vital movements which go on 

 in the frame of vegetables and animals depend on 

 agencies still less known, and probably still more 

 complex, than those which rule the weather, each 

 of the powers on which such movements depend 

 has its peculiar laws of action, and these are as 

 universal and as invariable as the law by which 

 a stone falls to the earth when not supported. 



The world then is governed by general laws ; 

 and in order to collect from the world itself a 

 judgment concerning the nature and character 

 of its government, we must consider the import 

 and tendency of such laws, so far as they come 

 under our knowledge. If there be, in the ad- 

 ministration of the universe, intelligence and 

 benevolence, superintendence and foresight, 

 grounds for love and hope, such qualities may 



