Natural Theology: Or Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity, Collected from the Appearances of Nature |
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action adapted admissible laws amongst animal answer appears argument birds blood body bones called carried cartilage cause cavity centre CHAP chyle constitution contrivance Creator degree Deity digestion direction distinct earth effect evident existence experience faculties feathers fibres fish fluid foramen ovale gastric juice gizzard gland hath hinge joint human insects instance instruments intelligence intestine joint lacteal law of attraction laws less ligament light limbs lungs means mechanism membrane ment motion mouth mucilage muscles muscular NATURAL THEOLOGY nature necessary object observed operation organ oviparous particular perceive perhaps pipes plants prey principle proboscis produced properties purpose quadrupeds reason relation respect secondly seed sense shell side socket species spect stomach structure substance superfecundity suppose supposition surface teeth tendons terrestrial animals thing tion ureter variety vertebræ viviparous wanted watch whilst whole wings
Popular passages
Page 222 - 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 whichever side I turn my eyes, myriads of happy beings crowd upon my view. "The insect youth are on the wing.
Page 5 - I knew to the contrary, it had lain there for ever: nor would it perhaps be very easy to show the absurdity of this answer. But suppose I had found a watch upon the ground, and it should be inquired how the watch happened to be in that place; I should hardly think of the answer which I had before given, that, for any thing I knew, the watch might have always been there.
Page 222 - A bee amongst the flowers in spring, is one of the most cheerful objects that can be looked upon. Its life appears to be all enjoyment : so busy and so pleased...
Page 235 - PROPOSITION, and that which we have hitherto been defending, was, " that, in a vast plurality of instances, in which contrivance is perceived, the design of the contrivance is beneficial." Our SECOND PROPOSITION is, " that the Deity has added 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.
Page 14 - I know no better method of introducing so large a subject than that of comparing a single thing with a single thing ; an eye, for example, with a telescope. As far as the examination of the instrument goes, there is precisely the same proof that the eye was made for vision, as there is that the telescope was made for assisting it.
Page 228 - N'o anatomist ever discovered a system of organization calculated to produce pain and disease ; or, in explaining the parts of the human body, ever said, this is to irritate ; this to inflame ; this duct is to convey the gravel to the kidneys; this gland to secrete the...
Page 83 - Dr. Hunter's account of the dissection of a whale: — The aorta measured a foot diameter. Ten or fifteen gallons of blood are thrown out of the heart at a stroke, with an immense velocity, through a tube of a foot diameter. The whole idea fills the mind with wonder...
Page 11 - This very much resembles the case before us. The machine which we are inspecting demonstrates, by its construction, contrivance and design. Contrivance must have had a contriver; design, a designer; whether the machine immediately proceeded from another machine or not.
Page 227 - If he had wished our misery, he might have made sure of his purpose, by forming our senses to be so many sores and pains to us, as they are now instruments of gratification and enjoyment: or by placing us amidst objects so ill suited to our perceptions, as to have continually offended us, instead of ministering to our refreshment and delight.
Page 237 - If he had been indifferent about our happiness or misery, we must impute to our good fortune (as all design by this supposition is excluded) both the capacity of our senses to receive pleasure, and the supply of external objects fitted to produce it.