INTRODUCTION. 25 



pose is accomplished, and their existence in any par- 

 ticular place is no longer required ; but that wherever 

 any one is needed, there it is found, and where there 

 is no longer necessity for it, it vanishes from the 

 catalogue. 



These, and a number of other changes, produced 

 gradually, or instantly as in the case of earthquakes, 

 volcanoes, or inundations alter the appearance of the 

 country, either upon a large scale, as respects long 

 periods, or upon a small scale, as respects short ones ; 

 but amid them all we find nature true to her general 

 principle, that " in like circumstances the results will 

 be similar ;" and the more extensive that our informa- 

 tion is, the more are we convinced that nothing is the 

 production of chance, but that the whole is governed by 

 laws which evince wisdom that we may admire, but 

 dare not imitate ; and that so universal and uniform 

 are those laws, that what we in our ignorance consider 

 to be breaches of them, are proofs that they are always 

 obeyed. 



It is in this way that we are enabled to look up 

 from nature to the Author of nature ; and if our infor- 

 mation be of sufficient extent, nay, if it be but sound 

 as far as it goes, we can no more doubt or deny the 

 existence of a creating and preserving God, than we 

 can doubt or deny the fact of our own existence. Na- 

 ture is infinitely diversified, and yet each production 

 makes its appearance at the time, and under the cir- 

 cumstances, which we would be led to expect. A plan 

 which is so perfect and so harmonious, of which the 

 parts are so diversified, and yet which so mutually pro- 

 mote the existence of each other, which blend the sea, 

 D 



