NATURAL THEOLOGY. 159 



Of all views under which human life has ever 

 been considered, the most reasonable, in my judge- 

 ment, is that which regards it as a state o{ pro- 

 bation. If the course of the world was separated 

 from the contrivances of nature, I do not know 

 that it would be necessary to look for any other 



form ©f what in truth all these reasonings conceal, the question, 

 Why man was created a finite being ? For in this all the skeptical 

 questions of the description adverted to invariably end. Thus, to 

 take an instance from one gratification which of necessity pre- 

 supposes evil, — There is pleasure in the cessation of pain, and in 

 the enjoyment of rest after labour ; as there also is in satisfying 

 the thirst for knowledge. It is not a contingent but a necessary 

 truth, that this gratification of ease, or of curiosity satisfied, cannot 

 be obtained without the preceding evil of suffering or fatigue, 

 or the preceding imperfection of ignorance. But it is said, why 

 might we not have been so made as to have other equal pleasures 

 M'ithout the evil ? And had such been our constitution, the same 

 objectors would have said, — "Here is one source of enjoyment 

 cut off." Nay, if life were an alternation of positive enjoyment 

 with mere ease, they would still say, — "Why any interval of 

 positive enjoyment, compared with which mere ease is worthless, 

 and so an evil ? " And if all were positive enjoyment, they would 

 say, — "Why is it not more exquisite?" In other words, — 

 "Why is man a finite being?" All our speculations, however, 

 upon this subject must proceed upon the assumption that the de- 

 sign of Providence was to create a finite, mortal creature, endowed 

 with free will, but influenced by motives inducing and dissuading. 

 Any inquiry into the reason for such a determination being taken 

 by the Supreme Being far exceeds the bounds of our faculties ; 

 and the question as to evil must be always handled with the im- 

 pression that, beyond a certain way, we never can make progress 

 towards its entire solution. The whole subject, with the different 

 doctrines held upon it, will be treated at large in the Appendix, 

 where it will be contended that the most enlarged views lead to 

 the conclusion of rational optimism and a probationary state. 



