NATURAL THEOLOGY. 209 



heavenly Father feedcth them. Are ye not much 

 better than they. 



To say, that in all the innumerable contrivances of 

 nature there are prevalent marks of a merciful and be- 

 nevolent author, is to pronounce that all his intentions 

 are gracious ; as what is prevalent in his acts, must 

 determine the nature of his intentions, and be regarded 

 as the decisive indication of his moral character. The 

 general impress, therefore, of beneficent design, so 

 legibly stamped upon the operations of Providence, is 

 of itself sufficient to demonstrate, that the goodness of 

 Omnipotence is every where exhibited, and that all 

 its designs are good. " Nor, (as it has been truly 

 said by a most devout and delightful writer), is the 

 design abortive. The air, the earth, the water, teem 

 with delighted existence. In a spring morn, or a sum- 

 mer evening, on whichever side I turn my eye, my- 

 riads of happy beings crowd upon my view. The in- 

 sect youth are on the wing. Swarms of new born 

 flies are trying their pinions in the air. Their spor- 

 tive motions, their wanton mazes, their gratuitous ac- 

 tivity, their continual change of place without use or 

 purpose, testify their joy, and the exultation they feel 

 in their 'lately discovered faculties. At this moment, 

 in every given moment of time, how many myriads of 

 animals are eating their food, gratifying their appe- 

 tites, ruminating in their holes, accomplishing their 

 wishes, pursuing their pleasures, taking their pastimes. 

 In each individual, how many things must go right, 

 for it to be at ease ; yet how large a proportion out 

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