NATURAL THEOLOGYi 163 



opposite as they may be in every other view^ are 

 both trials, and equally such. The observation 

 may be applied to every other condition : to the 

 whole range of the scale, not excepting even its 

 lowest extremity. Savages appear to us all alike ; 

 but it is owing to the distance at which we view 

 savage life, that we perceive in it no discrimina- 

 tion of character. I make no doubt but that 

 moral qualities, both good and bad, are called into 

 action as much, and that they subsist in as great 

 variety in these inartificial societies as they are or 

 do in polished life. Certain at least it is, that the 

 good and ill treatment which each individual 

 meets with, depends more upon the choice and 

 voluntary conduct of those about him, than it does 

 or ought to do under regular civil institutions and 

 the coercion of public laws. So again, to turn our 

 eyes to the other end of the scale : namely, that 

 part of it which is occupied by mankind enjoying 

 the benefits of learning, together with the lights 

 of revelation ; there also the advantage is all 

 along probationary. Christianity itself, I mean 

 the revelation of Christianity, is not only a bless- 

 ing but a trial. It is one of the diversified means 

 by which the character is exercised : and they 

 who require of Christianity that the revelation of 

 it should be universal, may possibly be found to 

 require that one species of probation should be 

 adopted, if not to the exclusion of others, at least 

 to the -narrowing of that variety which the wis- 



