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    scruple , avail ourselves whenever the nature of our subject requires such aid . No one , it might be readily imagined , if facts rlid not exist to contradict the theorv , could understand

    and reflect upon the thousand evident proofs of the astonishing-wisdom and design of the Creator in forming and sustaining an animal body such as ours , without feeling a pious and almost ^ nthusiaslic glow of gratitude toward its nuthor Miid supporter . 1

    " " It has been said , ' says Dr . Paley , that a man cannot lift his hand to his head without finding enough to convince him of the existence of a God : and it is well said , for he has only to reflect , familiar as the action is , and simple as it seems to be , how many things are requisite for the

    performing of it : howraany things which we understand , to say nothing of many more , probably , which we do riot ; Tiz . first , a long , hard , strong cylinder to give to the arm its firmness and tension , but which being rigid , and in its substance inflexible , can only turn upon joints . Secondly , there are joints for this purpose , one at the shoulder to raise the arm ,

    another at the elbow to bend it : these are continually fed with a soft mucilage , to make the parts slide easily upon one another , and they are holden together by strong braces , to keep them in their position ; then thirdly , strings and wires , i . e . muscles and tendons artificially inserted for the

    purpose of drawing the bones in the directions in which the joints allow them to move . Hitherto , we seem to understand the mechanism pretty well , and understanding this , we possess enough for our conclusion : nevertheless we have hitherto only a machine standing still : a dead organization—an apparatus . To put the system in a state of activity : to set it at work , a further provision is

    necessary , viz . a communication with the brain by means of nerves . We know the existence of this conimtmication , because w e can sec the comwmnicating threads , and can trace tiiem to the brain : its necessity we all know , because if the thread be cut , if the communication bo intercepted , tile muscle becomes paralytic but beyond this we know little ; the organization being- too minute and subtle for our inspection .

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    " To what has been enumerated , » officiating * in the single act of a [ -man $ raising his hand to his head , must be added likewise all that is necessary and all that contributes to the growth , nourishment and sustentation of the limb ; the repair of its waste , the preservation of its health : such as the

    circulation of the blood through every part of it : its lymphatics ? exhalants , absorbents : its excretions and integuments . All these share in the result ; join in the effect ; and how all these , or any of them come together without a designing , disposing intelli gence , it is impossible to conceive . '

    But our more immediate abject is with the five senses which are common to all animals , viz . seeing , hearing 9 smelling , tasting and feeling , ' and the organs which minister to these

    senses , together with the exact accommodation of those senses , and their organs , to the state and make of the different genera of animals . The consideration of these particulars , if there were no other demonstrations

    of the existence of a Supreme Being " , would be abundantly sufficient to evince the wisdom , power and goodness of the Creator . For suppose the existence of an animal endowed with the powers of moving from place ta place ; to what purpose would those powers be applied without the

    advantage of sight . He could not stir at step , nor move a single limb without the apprehension and risk of dan ^ ger . As without sight he could not tell where to find , or how to obtain the food necessary for his sustenance ; so without the senses of smell and taste , he could not distinguish the substances that are , and are not

    adapted for his nourishment , and discern between the wholesome and unwholesome . How , without the sense of hearing could he discern many dangers that are at a distance , understand the inind of others and perceive tke harmonious sounds of music . Finall y *

    without the sen . se of feeling how could man or other animals distinguish plen * sure from pain , health from sickness , and of course be able to preserve the body sound and healthful . In the

    senses , therefore , which are common to all animals , we have such a display of the wisdom and benevol ^ npe of a Creator , as may challenge oar admiration , which will be rendered much more striking when we cotne

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    Natural TTieology , No . T * Sf

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1815, page 37, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1756/page/37/