94 



system of created things is, from first to last^ replete 

 with design. Natura nil agit sine causa is as true 

 now as it ever was^ and it will be so to the end. Let us 

 not therefore be discouraged at the apparent smallness 

 of the data from which many of our conclusions have to 

 be drawn, for nothing is in reality trivial which is the 

 effect of a wisely appointed law ; and, even were such 

 the case, it would not be thereby proved that the inves- 

 tigation of the law itself (however liable it may be to 

 exceptions) is unimportant. Nor ought we, on the other 

 hand, to be discouraged if we cannot always reconcile 

 conflicting phsenomena, and detect in eax;h a primary 

 controlling cause. We should rather bear iu mind, that 

 the elements with which we have to deal are obscure, 

 and subject to permutations from which various results 

 must of necessity arise; and that it is only, therefore, 

 on a broad scale that we can look for uniformity of 

 action, even from conditions which may appear to be 

 identical. " Nature is not irregular, or without method, 

 because there are some seeming deviations from the 

 common rule. These are generally the effects of that 

 influence which free agents, and various circumstances, 

 have upon natural productions*." 



* Religion of Nature Delineated, p. 84. 



