that the result does not proceed from the exhausted or deteriorated nature of the material.

Amongst the infusoria, the animals called Monads, of which there is a great variety, exhibit very curious phenomena. They are of a globular form, and this globe is seen first to contract and then divide, each becoming a distinct animal. And something like this may be done artificially by the division of the freshwater polypus, or hydra; and what is deficient in the divided portion is supplied by a new growth, be it head or tail. The thing, however, is not so remarkable, if we consider that those lower animals have abundant resemblance to vegetables; and that in cutting off portions the experimenter is cutting off buds. These buds or tubercles, if left to undergo their natural changes, acquire independent motion, produce tentacula, or feelers, to procure food, and, thus prepared to be independent, fall off from the parent stock.

The microscope exhibits another instance in the Volvox. It is a transparent globule, within which smaller globules may be seen; and when matured the parent bursts, discloses the offspring, and dies.

In all these examples, we see that there is no reason to speak of exhausted or deteriorated matter, or debility in the powers of life.

So in the higher and the more complex animals we find one set of organs decaying and another rising into existence. Contemplating the one, we would say that the powers were decaying; contemplating the other, that

they were fresh and vigorous. We must come to the conclusion, then, that the growth of parts, or the period of their development, the decay of the animal, or of the parts of the animal, is by an ordinance which is very inaccurately expressed by the terms exhaustion of life, or imperfection of the material. Imperfection, in truth, is a relative term, and means failure or insufficiency towards the accomplishment of certain purposes. If the object in view were the duration of animal bodies for a great length of time, we might be justified in saying that the materials they are made of are imperfect; but this is clearly not the design with which they are formed.

CHAPTER V.

APPLICATION OF THE ARGUMENT CONTINUED.

EVERY observation which was made in our first chapter concerning the watch, may be repeated with strict propriety concerning the eye; concerning animals; concerning plants; concerning, indeed, all the organized parts of the works of nature. As,

I. When we are inquiring simply after the existence of an intelligent Creator, imperfection, inaccuracy, liability to disorder, occasional irregularities, may subsist in a considerable degree, without inducing any doubt into the question : just as a watch may frequently go wrong, seldom perhaps exactly right, may be faulty in some parts, defective in some, without the smallest ground of suspicion from thence arising that it was not a watch, not made, or not made for the purpose ascribed to it. When faults are pointed out, and when a question is started concerning the skill of the artist, or dexterity with which the work is executed, then, indeed, in order to defend these qualities from accusation, we must be able,

either to expose some intractableness and imperfection in the materials, or point out some invincible difficulty in the execution, into which imperfection and difficulty the matter of complaint may be resolved; or, if we cannot do this, we must adduce such specimens of consummate art and contrivance proceeding from the same hand as may convince the inquirer of the existence, in the case before him, of impediments like those which we have mentioned, although, what from the nature of the case is very likely to happen, they be unknown and unperceived by him. This we must do in order to vindicate the artist's skill, or at least the perfection of it; as we must also judge of his intention, and of the provisions employed in fulfilling that intention, not from an instance in which they fail, but from the great plurality of instances in which they succeed. But, after all, these are different questions from the question of the artist's existence; or, which is the same, whether the thing before us be a work of art or not; and the questions ought always to be kept separate in the mind. So likewise it is in the works of nature. Irregularities and imperfections are of little or no weight in the consideration, when that consideration relates simply to the existence of a Creator. When the argument respects his attributes, they are of weight; but are then to be

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taken in conjunction (the attention is not to rest upon them, but they are to be taken in conjunction) with the unexceptionable evidences which we possess of skill, power, and benevolence, displayed in other instances; which evidences may, in strength, number, and variety, be such, and may so overpower apparent blemishes, as to induce us, upon the most reasonable ground, to believe that these last ought to be referred to some cause, though we be ignorant of it, other than defect of knowledge or of benevolence in the author.

II. There may be also parts of plants and animals, as there were supposed to be of the watch, of which, in some instances the operation, in others, the use, is unknown. These form different cases; for the operation may be unknown, yet the use be certain. Thus it is with the lungs of animals. It does not, I think, appear, that we are acquainted with the action of the air upon the blood, or in what manner that action is communicated by the lungs; yet we find that a very short suspension of their office destroys the life of the animal". In this case, therefore, we may be said

17 Undoubtedly the exposure of the blood to the atmosphere, in the circulation through the lungs, and the throwing off of carbon, are essential to life. But the pain and