THE GOODNESS OF T1IE DEITY. 
261 
with hospitable skies, and with the most fertile soils, re¬ 
main almost without a human tenant. We invade the ter¬ 
ritories of wild beasts and venomous reptiles, and then com¬ 
plain that we are infested by their bites and stings. Some 
accounts of Africa place this observation in a strong point 
of view. “ The deserts,” says Adanson, “ are entirely bar¬ 
ren, except where they are found to produce serpents; and 
in such quantities, that some extensive plains are almost 
entirely covered with them.” These are the natures ap¬ 
propriated to the situation. Let them enjoy their exist¬ 
ence; let them have their country. Surface enough will 
be left to man, though his numbers were increased a hun¬ 
dred fold, and left to him, where he might live exempt 
from these annoyances. 
The second case, viz. that of animals devouring one 
another, furnishes a consideration of much larger exfent. 
To judge whether, as general provision, this can be deem¬ 
ed an evil, even so far as we understand its consequences, 
which, probably, is a partial understanding, the following 
reflections are fit to be attended to. 
1. Immortality upon this earth is out of the question. 
Without death there could be no generation, no sexes, no 
parental relation, i. e. as things are constituted, no animal 
happiness. The particular duration of life, assigned to dif¬ 
ferent animals, can form no part of the objection; because, 
whatever that duration be, whilst it remains finite and lim¬ 
ited, it may always be asked, why it is no longer. The 
natural age of different animals varies, from a single day 
to a century of years. No account can be given of this; 
nor could any be given, whatever other proportion of life 
had obtained amongst them. 
The term then of life in different animals being the same 
as it is, the question is, what mode of taking it away is the 
best even for the animal itself? 
Now, according to the established order of nature, (which 
we must suppose to prevail, or we cannot reason at all upon 
the subject,) the three methods by which life is usually put 
an end to, are acute diseases, decay, and violence. The 
simple and natural life of brutes, is not often visited by acute 
distempers; nor could it be deemed an improvement of 
their lot, if they were. Let it be considered, therefore, in 
what a condition of suffering and misery a brute animal is 
placed, which is left to perish by decay. In human sickness 
or infirmity, there is the assistance of man’s rational fel¬ 
low creatures, if not to alleviate his pains, at least to min- 
