108 NATURAL THEOLOGY. 



teeth, and claws of beasts of prey ; of the shark's 

 mouth, of the spider's web, and of numberless 

 weapons of offence belonging to different tribes of 

 voracious insects. We cannot, therefore, avoid 

 the difficulty by saying, that the effect was not in- 

 tended. The only question open to us is, wheth- 

 er it be ultimately evil. From the confessed and 

 felt imperfection of our knowledge, we ought to 

 presume, that there may be consequences of this 

 economy which are hidden from us : from the 

 benevolence which pervades the general designs 

 of nature, we ought also to presume, that these 

 consequences, if they could enter into our calcula- 

 tion, would turn the balance on the favourable 

 side. Both these 1 contend to be reasonable pre- 

 sumptions. Not reasonable presumptions, if these 

 two cases were the only cases which nature pre- 

 sented to our observation ; but reasonable pre- 

 sumptions under the reflection, that the cases in 

 question are combined with a multitude of inten- 

 tions, all proceeding from the same author, and all, 

 except these, directed to ends of undisputed utili- 

 ty. Of the vindications, however, of this econo 

 my, which we are able to assign, such as most ex- 

 tenuate the difficulty are the following. 



With respect to venomous bites and stings, it 

 maybe observed, — 



I. That, the animal itself being regarded, the 

 faculty complained of is good ; being conducive, 

 in all cases, to the defence of the animal ; in some 

 cases, to the subduing of its prey ; and in some, 



