CONCLUDING- REFLECTIONS. 149 



Every animal frame, considered as a mass, exhibits a number 

 of properties which scepticism itself could scarcely forbear to 

 acknowledge indubitable evidences, not only of a regular plan, 

 but of consummate accuracy in carrying it into execution. 



In the first place, let us consider the exact correspondence of 

 me two sides of each animal. We see the right side answering 

 to the left, eye to eye, leg to leg, wing to wing, one side of the 

 face to the other, with a precision which human art finds ex- 

 ceedingly difficult to imitate. The exact resemblance of the two 

 eyes of each individual, considering the curious and compound 

 structure of this organ, with the various and delicate shades of 

 colour, with which the iris is tinged, is a circumstance in the 

 construction of animal bodies, which can never be too much ad- 

 mired, and which is rendered still more wonderful by the differ- 

 ence observable, not only in the different species, but also between 

 particulars of the same species : often thousand eyes, it is ques- 

 tionable whether one could be matched except by that « hich is 

 placed on the opposite side of the same head, or whether it 

 would be possible to dispose them in suitable pairs by any other 

 collection or arrangement than that which actually prevails. 



The general disposition of the external and internal parts, 

 which constitute the animal frame, is a proof of its being the 

 work of an infinitely wise Being. We know that the internal 

 parts are tender, soft, intricate, and pliable, that so their con- 

 stant action, which is necessary to life, may net, by any obstruc- 

 tion or rigidity, be impeded. All the internal operations are 

 going on with regularity, while the body itself, the external case, 

 which holds together the whole complex machinery, is tossed 

 and jolted about in every manner, and with every degree of agi- 

 tation. Observe this, and then consider how r well every part 

 must be secured, how carefully surrounded with safeguards, how 

 well packed together, that notwithstanding the frequent and often 

 sudden and violent agitations and contortions of the body, the 

 interior mechanism remains uninjured, and even its nicer mo- 

 tions unimpeded. 



Were we permitted to investigate the intricacies of anatomical 

 science, we should point out all the curious construction and 

 well-adapted situation of the brain, the heart, the lungs, the 

 liver, the bladder, the intestines, and other organs of life ; but it 

 suits our present purpose to generalize, rather than to descend to 

 particulars, which would burden the memory without illumi- 

 nating the mind. However, when we contemplate an animal 

 body, we can perfectly comprehend the numerous instruments 

 which are put together, and often within a very narrow compass. 

 In the single ounce of matter which composes the body of a 

 sparrow, we see all the instruments necessary for eating, for di- 

 15* N 2 



