NATURAL THEOLOGY. 211 



zation calculated to produce pain and disease ; or in 

 explaining the parts of the human body, ever said, 

 this is to irritate ; this to inflame ; this gland is to se- 

 crete the humor which forms the gout." If he is ig- 

 norant of a useful purpose, he considers his knowledge 

 as yet imperfect ; and pursues his inquiries with the 

 fullest confidence that there is yet a discovery to be 

 made. 



T. If there are so many demonstrations of benefi- 

 cent design in the works of Divine Providence, which 

 we are able to perceive and understand ; and there is 

 no instance where a want of design can be proved ; 

 and none in which evil, as such, appears to be the ob- 

 ject of design ; — what is the proper view to be taken 

 of any of the seeming ills of life which God has ap- 

 pointed to us ? 



A. Revelation declares they are intended for a 

 wise and beneficial purpose ; and any other conclu- 

 sion would be infinitely unreasonable. It would be 

 infinitely unreasonable to suppose that any thing in 

 Providence should want a useful design even though 

 it be pain and affliction, when we see the evidence 

 there is of a wise and benevolent Being ivhose tender 

 mercies are over all his works. 



T. But what say you to such evils as the vices 

 and sins of which men are guilty ? 



A. These are not the evils of Providence ; but 

 they are those which men bring upon themselves 

 by their own misconduct, thwarting the designs of 

 their being, and the kind purposes of their nature. 



