afford strongest evidence of design. 107 
kind, afforded by fossil organic remains, than I 
ini^ht have done, without such specific directions 
especting the source from which my arguments 
f I know not how I can better 
u hi the object thus proposed, than by attempt- 
ing to shew that the extinct species of Animals 
Vegetables which have, in former Periods, 
occupied our Planet, afford in their fossil re- 
mains, the same evidences of contrivance and 
and P 5 ‘ , ™ '’y Derhant, 
mid Paley to pervade the structure of existing 
t^enera and species of organized Beings. 
From the high preservation in whidi we find 
the remains of animals and vegetables of each 
geologtcal formation, and the exquisite mecha 
usm which apimars in many fossil fragments of 
heir organisation, we may collect an infinity 
with a I t r constructed 
siirfr, r \ ^ varying conditions of the 
ce o the Earth, and to its gradually in- 
re^mg capabilities of sustaining Le com'plex 
form of organic hfe, advancing through succes- 
sive stages of perfection.’^ 
sessin^'^vlrioTs otlllT 
fTeature tlip rirpo ^ c f not impute to any 
i>nperfeation, we mean only! 
in the graduallv structure discharge a lower office 
fection has relL animated beings. All per- 
each form of nr'°“ • ° P''°PO®'2d to be attained by 
can be called "°thing 
perfect which fully accomplishes the end pro- 
