Compared and conjidered . 299 
and nourifh it* and which is not adorned 
with innumerable Graces to embellifh it. 
The moil; per red: Works of Art betray a 
Meannefs, a Poverty, an Inability in the 
Workman ; but thofe of Nature plainly 
prove, the Hand that formed them w r as ab« 
folute Mailer of the Materials it wrought 
upon, and had Tools exactly fuitable to its 
Pefign. Every Hair, Feather, or Scale, even 
of the meaneft Infedt, appears rounded, po- 
liihed, and finiihed to the higheft Pitch • 
and thews the abundant Riches, Munifi¬ 
cence, and Skill of its Maker. 
But feme may ^pffibly enquire, to what 
Purpofe Providence has bellowed fuch an 
Expence of Beauty on Creatures fo Iniignifi- 
cant • and then cry out. What is all this to 
us f — My Reply is, that the Beauty and 
Elegance which adorn them are evident and 
convincing Proofs of their not being fo iniig- 
nificant as we prefumptuoufly fuppofe they 
are ; for fuch Beauty muft be given them# 
either for their own Sake, that they them- 
felves may be delighted with it • or elfe for 
ours, that we may obferve in them the 
amazing Power and Goodnefs of the Creator, 
If the former be the Cafe, we muft allow 
them to be of Confequence in the Account 
of their Maker, and therefore deferve our 
Regard; and if the latter, it is really our 
Duty to take Notice of and admire them. But 
Vql. I. A, foj* 
