OF NATURAL HISTORY. 52? 



UNITY of DEITY, this uniformity of defign, this graduated 

 concatenation of beings, which appears not only from this 

 chapter, but from many other parts of the book, fcems to be 

 perfe<fl:ly irrefragable. 



In contemplating Man, as at the head of thofe animals 

 with which we are acquainted, a thought occurred, that no 

 fentient being, whofe mental powers were greatly fuperior, 

 could poflibly live and be happy in this world. If fuch a 

 being really exifted, his mifery would be extreme. With 

 fenfes more delicate and refined ; with perceptions more 

 acute and penetrating ; with a tafte fo exquifite that the ob- 

 je<^s around him could by no means gratify it ; obliged to 

 feed upon nourifhment too grofs for his frame ; he muft be 

 born only to be miferable, and the continuation of his exift- 

 ence would be utterly impoiTible. Even in our prefent con- 

 dition, the famenefs and infipidity of objedls and purfuits, the 

 futility of pleafure, and the infinite fources of excruciating 

 pain, are fupported with great difficulty by cultivated and re- 

 fined minds. Increafe our fenfibilities, continue the fame 

 objects and fituation, and no man could bear to live. Let 

 man, therefore, be contented. His flation in the univerfal 

 fcale of Nature is fixed by Wifdom. Let him contem- 

 plate and admire the works of his Creator ; let him fill up 

 his rank with dignity, and confider every partial evil as a 

 caufe or an effect of general good. This is the whole du- 

 ty of man. 



