NATURAL THEOLOGY. 113 



which is left to perish by decay. In human sick- 

 ness or infirmity, there is the assistance of man's 

 rational fellow-creatures, if not to alleviate his 

 pains, at least to minister to his necessities, and 

 to supply the place of his own activity. A brute, 

 in his wild and natural state, does every thing for 

 himself. When his strength, therefore, or his 

 speed, or his limbs, or his senses fail him, he is 

 delivered over, either to absolute famine or to the 

 protracted wretchedness of a life slowly wasted 

 by the scarcity of food. Is it then to see the 

 world filled with drooping, superannuated, half- 

 starved, helpless, and unhelped animals, that you 

 would alter the present system of pursuit and 

 prey ? 



2. Which system is also to them the spring of 

 motion and activity on both sides. The pursuit of 

 its prey forms the employment, and appears to 

 constitute the pleasure, of a considerable part of 

 the animal creation. The using of the means of 

 defence, or flight, or precaution, forms also the 

 business of another part. And even of this latter 

 tribe, we have no reason to suppose, that their 

 happiness is much molested by their fears. Their 

 danger exists continually ; and in some cases they 

 seem to be so far sensible of it, as to provide, in 

 the best manner they can, against it ; but it is 

 only when the attack is actually made upon them, 

 that they appear to suffer from it. To contem- 

 plate the insecurity of their condition with anxiety 

 and dread, requires a degree of reflection, which 

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