Spirituality," expresses an idea, made up of a negative part, and of a positive part. The negative part, consists in the exclusion of some of the known properties of matter, especially of solidity, of the vis inertiæ, and of gravitation.

The positive part, comprises perception, thought, will, power, action, by which last term is meant, the origination of motion; the quality, perhaps, in which resides the essential superiority of spirit over matter," which cannot move, unless it be moved; and cannot but move when impelled by another." I apprehend that there can be no difficulty in applying to the Deity both parts of this idea.

CHAP. XXV.

THE UNITY OF THE DEITY.

Or the "unity of the Deity" the proof is, the uniformity of plan observable in the universe. The universe itself is a system; each part either depending upon other parts, or being connected with other parts, by some common law of motion, or by the presence of some common substance. One principle of gravitation causes a stone to drop towards the earth, and the moon to wheel round it.-One law of attraction carries all the different planets about the sun. This philosophers demonstrate. There are also other points of agreement amongst them, which may be considered as marks of the identity of their origin and of their intelligent author. In all are found the conveniency and stability derived from gravitation. They all experience vicissitudes of days and nights, and changes of season.-They all, at least Jupiter, Mars, and Venus, have the same advantages from their atmospheres as we have. In all the planets the axes of rotation are permanent. Nothing is more probable, than that the same attracting influence, acting according to the same rule, reaches to the fixed stars: but, if this be only probable, another thing is certain, viz. that the same element of light does. The light from a fixed star affects our eyes in the same manner, is refracted and reflected according to the same laws, as the light of a candle. The veloc ity of the light of the fixed stars, is also the same as the ve locity of the light of the sun, reflected from the sattellites of Jupiter. The heat of the sun, in kind, differs nothing from the heat of a coal fire.

Bishop Wilkins' Principles of Nat. Rel. p. 106.

W

In our own globe the case is clearer. New countries are continually discovered, but the old laws of nature are always found in them: new plants perhaps or animals, but always in company with plants and animals, which we already know; and always possessing many of the same general properties. We never get amongst such original, or totally different modes of existence, as to indicate, that we are come into the province of a different Creator, or under the direction of a different will. In truth, the same order of things attends us, wherever we go. The elements act upon one another, electricity operates, the tides rise and fall, the magnetic needle elects its position, in one region of the earth and sea, as well as in another. One atmosphere invests all parts of the globe, and connects all: one sun illuminates; one moon exerts its specific attraction upon all parts. If there be a variety in natural effects; as, e. g. in the tides of different seas, that very variety is the result of the same cause, acting under different circumstances. In many cases this is proved; in all, is probable.

The inspection and comparison of living forms, add to this argument examples without number. Of all large terrestrial animals the structure is very much alike. The senses nearly the same. Their natural functions and passions nearly the same. Their viscera nearly the same, both in substance, shape, and office. Digestion, nutrition, circulation, secretion, go on, ,in a similar manner, in all. The great circulating fluid is the same: for, I think, no difference has been discovered in the properties of blood, from whatever animal it be drawn. The experiment of transfusion proves, that the blood of one animal will serve for another. The skeletons also of the larger terrestrial animals, shew particular varieties, but still under a great general affinity. The resemblance is somewhat less, yet sufficiently evident, between quadrupeds and birds. They are alike in five respects, for one in which they differ.

In fish, which belong to another department, as it were, of nature, the points of comparison become fewer. But we never lose sight of our analogy, e. g. we still meet with a stomach, a liver, a spine; with bile and blood; with teeth; with eyes, which eyes are only slightly varied from our own, and which variation, in truth, demonstrates, not an interruption, but a continuance, of the same exquisite pon; for it is the adaptation of the organ to the ele

ment, viz: to the different refraction of light passing into the eye out of a denser medium. The provinces, also, themselves of water and earth, are connected by the species of animals which inhabit both; and also by a large tribe of aquatic animals, which closely resemble the ter restrial in their internal structure: I mean the cetaceous tribe, which have hot blood, respiring lungs, bowels, and other essential parts, like those of land animals. This similitude, surely, bespeaks the same creation and the same Creator.

Insects and shell fish appear to me to differ from oth-er classes of animals the most widely of any. Yet even bere, beside many points of particular resemblance, there exists a general relation of a peculiar kind. It is the relation of inversion: the law of contrariety: namely, that whereas, in other animals, the bones, to which the muscles are attached, lie within the body, in insects and shell fish they lie on the outside of it.. The shell of a lobster performs to the animal the office of a bone, by furnishing to the tendons that fixed basis or immoveable fulcrum, without which mechanically they could not act. The crust of an insect is its shell, and answers the like purpose. The shell also of an oyster stands in the place of a bone; the bases of the muscles being fixed to it, in the same manner, as, in other animals, they are fixed to the ones. All which, (under wonderful varieties, indeed, and adaptations of form.) confesses an imitation, a remembrance, a carrying. on, of the same plan.

The observations, here made, are equally applicable to plants; but I think unnecessary to be pursued. It is a very striking circumstance, and alone sufficient to prove all which we contend for, that, in this part likewise of orgal ganized nature, we perceive a continuation of the sexual system..

Certain however it is, that the whole argument for the divine unity, goes no further than to an unity of counsel.

It may likewise be acknowledged, that no arguments which we are in possession of, exclude the ministry of subordinate agents. If such there be, they act under a presiding, a controling will; because they act according to certain general restrictions, by certain common rules, and, as it should seem, upon a general plan: but still such agents and different ranks, and classes, and degrees of them, may be employed.

CHAP. XXVI.

THE GOODNESS OF THE DEITY.

THE proof of the divine goodness rests upon two propositions, each, as we contend, capable of being made out by observation drawn from the appearances of nature.

The first is, "that, in a vast plurality of instances, in which contrivance is perceived, the design of the contrivance is beneficial."

The second," that the Deity has superadded pleasure to animal sensations, beyond what was necessary for any other purpose, or when the purpose, so far as it was necessary, might have been effected by the operation of pain."

First, "in a vast plurality of instances in which contrivance is perceived, the design of the contrivance is beneficial."

Ne productions of nature display contrivance so manifestly as the parts of animals: and the parts of animals have all of them, I believe, a real, and, with very few exceptions, all of them, a known and intelligible, subserviency to the use of the animal. Now, when the multitude of animals is considered, the number of parts in each, their figure aud fitness, the faculties depending upon them, the variety of species, the complexity of structure, the success in so many cases, and felicity of the result, we can never reflect, without the profoundest adoration, upon the character of that Being from whom all these things have proceeded: we cannot help acknowledging, what an exertion of benevolence creation was: of a benevolence how minute in its care, how vast in its comprehension.

When we appeal to the parts and faculties of animals, and to the limbs and senses of animals in particular, we state, I conceive, the proper medium of proof for the conolusion which we wish to establish. I will not say, that the insensible parts of nature are made solely for the sensitive parts; but this I say, that when we consider the benevolence of the Deity, we can only consider it in relation to sensitive Being. Without this reference, or referred to any thing else, the attribute has no object: the -term has no meaning. Dead matter is nothing. The parts, therefore, especially the limbs and senses of ani

mals, although they constitute, in mass and quantity, a small portion of the material creation, yet, since they alone. are instruments of perception, they compose what may be called the whole of visible nature, estimated with a view to the disposition of its author. Consequently, it is in these that we are to seek his character. It is by these that we are to prove, that the world was made with a benevolent design.

Nor is the design abortive. It is a happy world after: all. The air the earth, the water, teem with delighted existence. In a spring noon, or a summer evening, on which ever side I turn my eyes, myriads of happy beings crowd upon my view. The insect youth are on the wing." Swarms of new-born flies are trying their pinions in the air. Their sportive motions, their wanton mazes, their gratuitous activity, their continual change of place without use or purpose, testify their joy, and the exultation which they feel in their lately discovered faculties. A bee amongst the flowers in spring, is one of the cheerfullest objects that can be looked upon. Its life appears to be all enjoyment; so busy, and so pleased; yet it is only a specimen of insect life, with which, by reason of the ani mal being half domesticated, we happen to be better, acquainted than we are with that of others.-The whole winged insect tribe, it is probable, are equally intent upon their proper imployments and, under every variety of constitution, gratified, and perhaps equally gratified, by the offices which the author of their nature has assigned to them. But the atmosphere is not the only scene of enjoyment for the insect race. Plants are covered with aphides greedily sucking their juices, and constantly, as it should seem, in the act of sucking. It cannot be doubted but that this is a state of intense gratification. What else should fix them so close to their operation, and so long? Other species are running about with an alacrity in their motions which carries with it every mark of pleasure. Large patches of ground are sometimes half covered with these brisk and sprightly natures. If we look to what the waters produce, shoals of the fry of fish frequent the margins of rivers, of lakes, and of the sea itself. These are so happy that they know not what to do with themselves,.Their attitudes, their vivacity; their leaps out of the water their frolics in it, (which I have noticed a thousand' times with equal attention and amusement,) all conduce