NATURAL THEOLOGY. 143 



contradictory, unsatisfied, and unsatisfiable pas- 

 sions. 



■ The distinctions of civil life are apt enough to 

 be regarded as evils by those who sit under them ; 

 but, in my opinion, with very little reason. 



In the first place, the advantages which the 

 higher conditions of life are supposed to confer, 

 bear no proportion in value to the advantages 

 which are bestowed by nature. The gifts of na- 

 ture always surpass the gifts of fortune. How 

 much, for example, is activity better than attend- 

 ance ; beauty than dress ; appetite, digestion, and 

 tranquil bowels, than all the studies of cookery, or 

 than the most costly compilation of forced or far- 

 fetched dainties ! 



Nature has a strong tendency to equalization. 

 Habit, the instrument of nature, is a great leveller ; 

 the familiarity which it induces taking off' the edge 

 both of our pleasures and our sufferings. Indulg- 

 ences which are habitual, keep us in ease, and can- 

 not be carried much further. So that with respect 

 to the gratifications of which the senses are capa- 

 ble, the difference is by no means proportionable 

 to the apparatus. Nay, so far as superfluity gene- 

 rates fastidiousness, the difference is on the wrong 

 side. 



It is not necessary to contend, that the advan- 

 tages derived from wealth are none, (under due 

 regulations they are certainly considerable,) but 

 that they are not greater than they ought to be. 

 Money is the sweetener of human toil ; the substi- 



