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and vegetable life ; and after ages discover, that the atoms of which 
the new world is formed, acting reciprocally on each other, with 
varying, but appropriate influence, regulated by the laws of attrac- 
tion, and chemical affinity, compose a variety of new combinations ; 
and the newly-formed world, enriched by the amelioration of its 
materials, obtains an increase both of utility and beauty. 
This circumstance, which I consider as plainly pointing out the 
wisdom and power of the Creator, may, however, I am perfectly 
aware, afford occasion for hesitation to the sceptic, who may imagine 
that the necessity of forming the world anew implies that its first 
formation was deficient in design. But considering this planet itself, 
as probably destined, with the other works of creation, to undergo 
certain regular changes in its constitution, during the progress of its 
existence, such changes cannot furnish sufficient grounds for doubt- 
ing of the wisdom or power of God : not even were it discoverable, 
that this world had undergone several revolutions and reformations ; 
and that, in common language, several worlds had existed before the 
present. Man, unable to view the connexion between these changes, 
and to judge of the important ends intended to be thus accomplished, 
would show as much folly and presumption, by inferring a narrow 
limitation of the power of the Creator, on discovering that the 
remains of former worlds entered into the composition of this, as if 
he were to make a similar inference, on remarking one of the meta- 
morphoses of the silk-worm, without being acquainted with the other 
particular circumstances in the natural history of that insect. 
Regarding the destruction and renovation of the world in this 
point of view, the most interesting conjectures force themselves on 
the mind. If it be apparent that, from the breaking up of a pre- 
ceding world, the present has derived a higher degree of utility and 
beauty ; may not this also be preparing to undergo, at some distant 
era, a new recomposition, by which it may be made to exceed this, 
in a similar proportion, in the possession of every excellence ? May 
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