NATURAL THEOLOGY. 43 



of these limits ; its inertia ; its reaction ; the laws 

 which govern the communication of motion, the 

 refraction and reflection of light, and the constitu- 

 tion of fluids non-elastic and elastic, the transmis- 

 sion of sound through the latter ,• the laws of mag- 

 netism, of electricity ; and probably others yet un- 

 discovered. These are general laws ; and when 

 a particular purpose is to be effected, it is not by 

 making a new law, nor by the suspension of the old 

 ones, nor by making them wind, and bend, and 

 yield to the occasion (for nature with great steadi- 

 ness adheres to and supports them) ; but it is, ag 

 we have seen in the eye, by the interposition of an 

 apparatus, corresponding with these laws, and 

 suited to the exigency which results from them, 

 that the purpose is at length attained. As we have 

 said, therefore, God prescribes hmits to his powder, 

 that he may let in the exercise and thereby exhi- 

 bit demonstrations of his wisdom. For then, ?. e., 

 such laws and limitations being laid down, it is as 

 though one Being should have fixed certain rules, 

 and, if we may so speak, provided certain materi- 

 als, and afterwards have committed to another 

 Being, out of these materials, and in subordination 

 to these rules, the task of drawing forth a creation : 

 a supposition which evidently leaves room, and in- 

 duces indeed a necessity for contrivance. Nav, 

 there may be many such agents, and many ranks of 

 these. We do not advance this as a doctrine either 

 of philosophy or of religion ; but we say that the 

 subject may safely be represented under this view ; 



