THE GOODNESS OF THE DEITY. 
287 
ces of nature have the same author; we are, by the force 
of this connexion, led to believe, that the appearance un¬ 
der which events take place, is reconcilable with the sup¬ 
position of design on the part of the Deity. It is enough 
that they be reconcilable with this supposition; and it is un¬ 
doubtedly true, that they may be reconcilable, though we 
cannot reconcile them. The mind, however, which contem¬ 
plates the works of nature, and in those works sees so much 
of means directed to ends, of beneficial effects brought about 
by wise expedients, of concerted trains of causes terminat¬ 
ing in the happiest results; so much, in a word, of counsel, 
intention, and benevolence; a mind, I say, drawn into the 
habit of thought which these observations excite, can hardly 
turn its view to the condition of our own species, without 
endeavouring to suggest to itself some purpose, some de¬ 
sign, for which the state in which we are placed is fitted, 
and which it is made to serve. Now we assert the most 
probable supposition to be, that it is a state of moral 
probation; and that many things in it suit with this hy¬ 
pothesis, which suit no other. It is not a state of unmixed 
happiness, or of happiness simply: it is not a state of de¬ 
signed misery, or of misery simply: it is not a state of re¬ 
tribution: it is not a state of punishment. It suits with none 
of these suppositions. It accords much better with the idea 
of its being a condition calculated for the production, exer¬ 
cise, and improvement of moral qualities, with a view to a 
future state, in which these qualities, after being so pro¬ 
duced, exercised, and improved, may, by a new and more 
favoring constitution of things, receive their reward, or be¬ 
come their own. If it be said, that this is to enter upon a 
religious rather than a philosophical consideration, I an¬ 
swer, that the name of religion ought to form no objec¬ 
tion, if it shall turn out to be the case, that the more reli¬ 
gious our views are, fhe more probability they contain. 
The degree of beneficence, of benevolent intention, and of 
power, exercised in the construction of sensitive beings, 
goes strongly in favor, not only of a creative, but of a con¬ 
tinuing care, that is, of a ruling Providence. The degree 
qf chance which appears to prevail in the world, requires to 
be reconciled with this hypothesis. Now it is one thing to 
maintain the doctrine of Providence along with that of a fu¬ 
ture state, and another thing without it. In my opinion, 
the two doctrines must stand or fall together. For although 
more of this apparent chance may perhaps upon other prin¬ 
ciples, be accounted for, than is generally supposed, yet 
