148 CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS. 



that there are gradations of existence below the smallest animal 

 cules, which our nicest instruments have not brought to light. 

 We have already been able to discover myriads of living crea- 

 tures, in the least drop of the purest water ; and it seems to be a 

 rational presumption to infer, that he who has filled the immen- 

 sity of space with habitable matter, with suns and worlds innu- 

 merable, has also peopled every part of that matter with ap- 

 propriate inhabitants, although too minute to be perceived by 

 any apparatus yet invented. The supposition is not unworthy 

 of the Creator of the Universe ; and all the analogies that can 

 be drawn from our observations of the system of Nature, render 

 it probable. 



"■Full nature swarms with life, one wond'rous mass 



Of animals or atoms organized, 



Waiting the vital breath, when parent Heaven 



Shall bid his spirit blow 



Nor is the stream 



Of purest crystal, nor the lucid air, 



Tho' one transparent vacancy it seem, 



Void of their unseen people. These conceal'd 



By the kind art of forming Heaven, escape 



The grosser eye of man." — Thomson. 



-^©@©«~_ 



CHAPTER II. 



cosresvnore huf^ctsoits, 



tt Let us read 



The living page, whose evYy character 

 Delights, and gives us wisdom." 



HURDIS. 



We cannot close this partial survey of a part of animated na- 

 ture, without bringing forward some general observations rela- 

 tive to the evident display of an all-wise design, which in every 

 part of animal mechanism, shows itself so clearly, as not to ad- 

 mit of any doubt, and must indeed on the slightest reflection 

 put Atheism to the blush. 



Some of these demonstrations of an all-wise intelligence man- 

 ifested in his works, are so obvious, as to strike even the most 

 superficial observer. If it suited our present purpose to enter 

 into a minute survey of the human, or any animal body, this 

 alone would answer all inquiries on the subject; but in con- 

 formity to the plan on which we have proceeded, we shall con- 

 tent ourselves with offering for consideration a few of the most 

 striking correspondencies of animal organization, with its des 

 tined purposes. 



