FINAL CAUSES. 343 



phenomena of the universe, that we cannot but 

 suppose such a belief to have a deep and stable 

 foundation. And we conceive that in several 

 of the comparatively few cases in which such a 

 belief has been rejected, the averseness to it has 

 arisen from the influence of some of the causes 

 mentioned in the last chapter; the exclusive 

 pursuit, namely, of particular trains and modes 

 of reasoning, till the mind becomes less capable 

 of forming the conceptions and making the ex- 

 ertions which are requisite for the apprehension 

 of truths not included among its usual subjects 

 of thought. 



1. This seems to be the case with those who 

 maintain that purpose and design cannot be 

 inferred or deduced from the arrangements which 

 we see around us, by any process of reasoning. 

 We can reason from effects to causes, say such 

 writers, only in cases where we know something 

 of the nature of the cause. We can infer from the 

 works of men, the existence of design and pur- 

 pose, because we know, from past observation, 

 what kind of works human design and purpose 

 can produce. But the universe, considered as 

 the work of God, cannot be compared with any 

 corresponding work, or judged of by any analogy 

 with known examples. How then can we, in 

 this case, they ask, infer design and purpose in 

 the artist of the universe ? On what principles, 

 on what anxioms, can we proceed, which shall 



