78 NATURAL THEOLOGY. 



and mountains into regular solids, bounding the 

 channel of the ocean by geometrical curves ; or 

 from the map of the world resembling a table 

 of diagrams in Euclid's Elements or Simpson's 

 Conic Sections. 



VII. Lastly ; the confidence which we place in 

 our observations upon the works of nature, in the 

 marks which we discover of contrivance, choice, 

 and design, and in our reasoning upon the proofs 

 afforded us, ought not to be shaken, p.s it is some- 

 times attempted to be done, by bringing forward 

 to our view our own ignorance, or rather the ge- 

 neral imperfection of our knowledge of nature. 

 Nor, in many cases, ought this consideration to af- 

 fect us, even when it respects some parts of the 

 subject immediately under our notice. True for- 

 titude of understanding consists in not suffering 

 what we know to be disturbed by what we do 

 not know. If we perceive a useful end, and means 

 adapted to that end, we perceive enough for our 

 conclusion. If these things be clear, no matter 

 what is obscure. The argument is finished. For 

 instance : if the utility of vision to the animal which 

 enjoys it, and the adaptation of the eye to this of- 

 fice, be evident and certain (and I can mention 

 nothing which is more so,) ought it to prejudice 

 the inference which we draw from these premises, 

 that we cannot explain the use of the spleen? 

 Nay, more : if there be parts of the eye, viz. the 

 cornea, the crystalline, the retina, in their sub- 

 stance, figure, and position, manifestly suited to the 



