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whose pleasure it was to proclaim to human reason his existence and attributes , what means could have been deyised more effectual for this purpose than those actually employed ? A display of order , of beauty , of contrivance , obvious to the apprehensions of the most unlearned , and commanding more
and more our admiration and our wonder as our faculties improve , and ae our knowledge extends . These evidences of power , of wisdom , and of goodness , may be regarded as natural and universal signs by which the Creator reveals himself to his creatures . There is , accordingly , no speech where their voice is not heard . Their line is gone through all the earth , and their words to the end of the world . ' "—Vol .-II . pp . 19—21 .
In the chapter on the Moral Attributes of God , we have an interesting review of the evidences of benevolent design in the universe , which , making allowance for a few occasional references to certain questionable theories in which we cannot concur , gives a very favourable impression of the author ' s general turn of mind , and of his readiness to take the most en ^
larged and liberal views both of the general course of Providence , and of the constitution of human nature . The following passage contains some valuable remarks , which well deserve to be borne in mind when we attempt to form an estimate of the comparative diffusion of moral good and evil among mankind :
The argument for the goodness of God , which arises from the foregoing considerations , will be much strengthened if it shall appear farther , that the sum of happiness in human life far exceeds the sum of misery . For our satisfaction on this point it will be necessary for us to recur again to the distinction formerly made between moral and physical evils , and to consider how the balance appears to stand between them and the two corresponding sources of happiness or good , upon a general survey of what passes in the world .
" Before entering on the first of these heads , I think it necessary to observe , that when I speak of the preponderancy of moral good in the world , I do not mean to draw any inference in favour of the secret springs of human conduct , as they appear in the oight of that Being who alone is acquainted with every thought of the heart , but only to illustrate the kind provision which is made in the constitution of man , and in the circumstances of his condition , for the growth and culture of those dispositions which are
favourable to the happiness of individuals , and to the good order of society ; of those dispositions , in short , which it is the object of wise laws to secure , and of wise systems of education to encourage and cherish ; nor does the scope of my argument lead to any conclusion concerning the comparative numbers of good and bad men . The lives of the best will not bear a moment ' s comparison with the moral law engraven on our hearts ; but still it may be true that ( corrupted as mankind are ) the proportion of human life which is spent in vice is inconsiderable when compared with the whole of
its extent . The fact undoubtedly , if on examination it should appear at all probable , would afford an additional illustration of the beneficent arrangements made by our Creator for the good order and for the happiness of this world , and might suggest a salutary lesson to legislators to study the intentions of nature as the best guides in the science of jurisprudence ; or ( to express myself in less equivocal language ) to trust in the administration of human affairs , more than they have been commonly disposed to do , to those provisions which have been made for the comfort and tor the improvement of the species by the beneficent wisdom of God .
" 1 . And here , in the first place , I would observe , with respect to the balance of moral good and evil , that a fact already taken notice of in treating of the desire of power , affords of itself a complete decision of the question . How few are the opportunities which most individuals enjoy of rendering any extensive service to their fellow-creatures ! And bow completely is it in
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DugaH Stewart . 37
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1829, page 37, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2568/page/37/
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