NATURAL THEOLOGY. 313 



inhabitants of the earth to the rotation of their 

 globe ; probably it is more, it is a relation to the 

 system of which that globe is a part ; and, still 

 further, to the congregation of systems of which 

 theirs is only one. If this account be true, it con- 

 nects the meanest individual with the universe it- 

 self, — a chicken roosting upon its perch with the 

 spheres revolving in the firmament."^^ 



''^ Nothing is more true than that the strength of the bones and 

 the power of the muscles stand in intimate relation with the 

 weight of the body, that is, also, in relation with the attraction of 

 the globe itself. It is no less certain that many of the living pro- 

 perties of animals, the condition of the nei-vous system, and the 

 alternation of exertion and repose in the muscular system, are re- 

 lated to the change of day and night, or to the revolving of our 

 planet upon its axis. In man we may see a slight deviation in 

 his habits and occupations from this correspondence with the suc- 

 cession of light and darkness ; yet he enjoys a return of energy 

 and elasticity of spirits, which is followed by weariness and ex- 

 haustion ; and health will not long continue without yielding to 

 the alternate condition of activity and repose. In nothing do we 

 see the benevolence of the Creator more than in the continued 

 gratification consequent on this arrangement alone, and more es- 

 pecially in the brutes. It is not a mere effect of hght and the 

 freshness of the morning which produces the almost universal 

 animation and activity of that time of day ; for to many animals 

 the light of day is the signal to seek repose ; and that it is not the 

 mere necessity which brings animals abroad at night, in order to 

 feed secluded, or escape their enemies, we know from this, that 

 their organs are adapted to the obscurer light, and not their organs 

 only, but their propensities ; for they are as full of activity and en- 

 joyment as the things of day. The history of pulmonary and 

 other complaints indicates a curious connexion between the func- 

 tions of the body and the revolution of time or alternations of day 

 and night. 



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