NATURAL THEOLOGY. 333 



and the constitution upon which they depend, are 

 as manifestly directed to the purpose which we 

 see fulfilled by them ; and the train of intermediate 

 effects as manifestly laid and planned with a view 

 to that purpose: that is to say, design is as com- 

 pletely evinced by the phenomena, as it would be, 

 even if w^e suppose the operations to begin or to 

 be carried on, from what some will allow to be 

 alone properly called instincts, that is, from desires 

 directed to a future end, and having no accom- 

 phshment or gratification distmct from the attain- 

 ment of that end. 



In a word : I should say to the patrons of this 

 opinion. Be it so ; be it that those actions of ani- 

 mals which w^e refer to instinct are not gone about 

 with any view to their consequences, but that 

 they are attended in the animal with a present 

 gratification, and are pursued for the sake of that 

 gratification alone ; what does all this prove, but 

 that the prospection, w4iich must be somewhere, is 

 not in the animal, but in the Creator '? 



In treating of the parental aflfection in brutes, 

 our business lies rather with the origin of the prinr 

 ciple, than with the effects and expressions of it. 

 Writers recount these with pleasure and admira- 

 tion. The conduct of many kinds of animals 

 towards their young has escaped no observer, no 

 historian of nature. " How will they caress them," 

 savs Derham, " with their affectionate notes ; lull 

 and quiet them with their tender parental voice ; 

 put food into their mouths; cherish and keep them 



