FINAL CAUSES. 27 



merit will, of course, increase in proportion to the 

 difference between the objects compared ; and 

 although we may conceive that there are powers 

 and intelligences infinitely surpassing our own, 

 the conceptions we can form of such superior 

 essences must necessarily be indefinite and ob- 

 scure, and must partake of the same kind of 

 imperfection as our notions of the distances of 

 the heavenly bodies, however familiar we may 

 be with the units of the scale by which those 

 distances are capable of being expressed. When, 

 on the other hand, the objects contemplated are 

 more within the range of our mental vision ; 

 when, for instance, they are phenomena that we 

 can assimilate to our own voluntary acts, and in 

 which we can clearly trace the connexion be- 

 tween means and end, then does our recognition 

 of the agency of intellect become most distinct, 

 and our conviction of its real and independent 

 existence become most intimate and assured. 



Such is the kind of evidence on which rests our 

 belief of the existence of our fellow men. Such, 

 also, is the foundation of our assurance that 

 there exists a mighty Intellect, who has planned 

 and executed the stupendous works of creation, 

 with a skill surpassing our utmost conceptions ; 

 by powers to which we can assign no limit, and 

 the object of whose will is universal good.* 



* The view here taken is, of course, limited to Natural Theology ; 

 that being the express and exchisive object of these Treatises. 



