NATURAL THEOLOGY. 267 



CHAPTER XIV. 



PROSPEETIVE CONTRIVANCES. 



I CAN hardly imagine to myself a more distin- 

 guishing mark, and, consequently, a more certain 

 proof of design, than preparation, — i. e., the pro- 

 viding of things beforehand, which are not to be 

 used for a considerable time afterwards : for this 

 implies a contemplation of the future, which be- 

 longs only to intelligence. 



Of these prospective contrivances, the bodies of 

 animals furnish various examples. 



I. The human teeth afford an instance, not only 

 of prospective contrivance, but of the completion 

 of the contrivance being designedly suspended. 

 They are formed within the gums, and there they 

 stop ; the fact being, that their farther advance 

 to maturity would not only be useless to the new- 

 born animal, but extremely in its way ; as it is 

 evident that the act of sucking, by which it is for 

 some time to be nourished, will be performed with 

 more ease both to the nurse and to the infant, 

 whilst the inside of the mouth and edges of the 

 gums are smooth and soft, than if set with hard- 

 pointed bones. By the time they are wanted the 

 teeth are ready. They have been lodged within 

 the gums for some months past, but detained, as 

 it were, in their sockets, so long as their farther 



