CHAF. IV.J FINAL CAUSES, WHEN LEGITIMATE. 143 



they are i\ot repugnant to physical causes ; for the cause, 

 that "the hairs of the eyelids are to preFjc^rvc the siglit," is 

 no way contradictory to this, that "pilosity is incident to the 

 orifices of moisture," — " Muscosi fontes," &c. ;® nor does the 

 cause which assigns the firmness of hides in beasts to a pro- 

 tection against the injuries of extreme weather, militate 

 against the other cause, which attributes the firmness to the 

 contraction of the pores on the exterior of the skin, through 

 cold and deprivation of air ; and so of the rest : these two 

 kinds of causes agreeing excellently together ; the one ex- 

 pressing the intention, and the other the consequence only. 



Nor does this call Divine Providence in question, but 

 rather highly confirms and exalts it ; for as he is a greater 

 politician, who can make others the instruments of his will, 

 ^vithout acquainting them with his designs, than he who 

 discloses himself to those he employs ; so the wisdom of God 

 appears more wondrous, when nature intends one thing, and 

 Providence draws , out another, than if the characters ot 

 Providence were stamped upon all the schemes of matter and 

 natural motions. So Aristotle had no need of a God, after 

 having once impregnated nature with final causes, and laid 

 it down that " nature does nothing in vain ; always obtains 

 her ends when obstacles are removed," ^ &c. But Democritus 

 and Epicurus, when they advanced their atoms, were thus far 

 tolerated by some, but when they asserted the fabric of all 

 things to be raised by a fortuitous concourse of these atoms, 

 without the help of mind, they became universally ridiculous. 

 So far are physical causes from drawing men off from God 

 and Providence, that, on the contrary, the philosophers 

 employed in discovering them can find no rest, but by flying 

 to God or Providence at last. 



• Virg, Eclogues, vii. 4$« ' Aristotle on the Heavens^ !• 



