NATURAL THEOLOGY. 107 



the shoulder. If a mechanic wanted to fasten a ball in- 

 to a cup, so as to allow free play to the ball, he would 

 adopt the same measure. Now, it is wonderful to 

 observe, that in addition to this security, the hip, a far 

 more important joint than the shoulder, and more 

 dangerous to be dislocated, and from the position of 

 the neck of the bone, more liable to dislocation, ex- 

 hibits an additional security, — and a more mechanical, 

 artificial contrivance one might be challenged to im- 

 agine. It is this : a short, strong, yet pliable ligament 

 resembling a leathern thong, is inserted by one end 

 into the head of the bone, and by the other into the 

 bottom of the socket. — It is hardly practicable to break 

 it. It will scarcely admit of being even extended. 

 Its situation is such that it cannot be cut, without clea- 

 ving the bone. Whoever will reflect upon this single 

 provision, taking into view its singular importance to 

 this joint, and that it is not generally assigned to the 

 other joints, and then how precisely it is what our 

 own expedient would have been in a similar case, — 

 must be disposed to say with Paley, "It is an in- 

 stance upon which I lay my hand. For the purpose 

 of addressing different understandings and different 

 apprehensions, for the purpose of sentiment, for the 

 purpose of exciting admiration of the Creator's works, 

 we diversify our views, we multiply examples : but, 

 for the purpose of strict argument, one clear instance 

 is sufficient ; and not only sufficient, but capable, 

 perhaps, of generating a firmer assurance, than what 

 can arise from a divided attention." 



