preferved every minute! creating power never ceafes (15).

The conclufion of the matter is, that the plain argument for the existence of a Deity, obvious to all, and carrying irresistible conviction with it, is from the evident contrivance and fitness of things to one another, which we meet with through all the parts of the universe. There is no need of nice and fubtile reasoning in this matter: a manifeft contrivance immediately fuggefts a contriver. It strikes like a fenfation, and artful reasonings against it may puzzle us, but it is without fhaking our belief. No perfon, for example, who knows the principles of opticks, and the ftructure of the eye, can believe that it is formed without fkill in that science; or that the ear was formed without the knowledge of founds. This is a juft argument, and forces our affent. But the

great

(15) If it fhould be afked,-why was fuch an intricate ftructure of fuch materials employed, or fuch a laborious method contrived, by the organization of dead matter, if it no way ferves to produce motion, but rather confumes the force impreffed? the answer is, that this confuming mechanifm is no inconvenience in nature, if we confider who renews the motive power. We are forced to be frugal of our little power: but this is not applicable to the Deity. The governing power of the Deity is creating power. Beings made up of matter and spirit require fuch a fupplying power, and in the various work God inftructs his rational Beings, and difplays his omnipotence in wifdom and action.

great Maclaurin fhould not have stopped here. The plain argument for the existence of a Deity grows ftronger, when we add to it what is as evident as divine contrivance, to wit, the conftant interpofition of God, to fupport and move his creatures. Original contrivance in the works of the creation is adorable. We are certain, demonstratively certain, that the heavens, the land, and the waters, and all the creatures in them contained, are the works of the living God: but it is the present performance that ftrikes us like a fenfation. With inexpreffible pleafure we fee creating power with our eyes. Which ever way we turn them, we behold Almighty Power employed, and continually acting under the direction of infinite knowledge.

Since things are fo, and all the works of nature, in the common voice of reafon, declare the power and wisdom of the Creator, and fpeak his goodness in the innumerable mighty things he continually performs for our prefervation and happiness, the contemplation of them should warm our hearts with the Glory of the Almighty, and make us continually praise and adore that Almighty providence, which formed and fuftains not enly the human race and this terrestrial globe, but numberlefs other worlds and their inhabitants, that hang in infinite fpace. These

mighty things displayed, ought furely to produce the devouteft prayers, and fongs of praises in no common ftrain; and especially, if we add to those works of nature, that second creation, the still greater work of grace. Such omnipotence in wifdom and action, and fuch amazing goodness as we fee in the chriftian gofpel, fhould, I think, engage us to love and adore fo great and good a Being as our Creator, and induce us to devote our lives to him.

..For my part, when I confider the mighty scene and prospect of nature, and turn my thoughts from thence to God's word, that heavenly law, which directs our will and informs our reason, and teaches us in all things how to pursue our own happiness, I am fo ftruck with a fenfe of infinite wisdom, goodness, and action, that I cannot help extolling the king of the universe for the greatnefs of his power and mercy, and am neceffarily engaged in a fcene of praise and devotion. Indeed the heart must be as hard and cold as marble, that does not glow, nor is inflamed with ravishing love to the great Author of all things; after viewing with attention even one particular only in the works of nature, that material fun, which now fhines out with light and beauty to animate and refresh the world; and in the creation of grace, that fun of righteoufnefs, who fheds forth the

choiceft

choiceft bleffings of Heaven upon the inha bitants of the earth. Can we be filent, who behold and enjoy thofe things! alass! too many can. Neither the Heavens, which deFclare the glory of God, nor the days of the gofpel, nor the righteousness of the new law, are regarded by them. But the wife will ever join with all their hearts, in the most exalted prayer and praife, and adore the Giver of thefe good and perfect gifts; for all his bleffings vouchfafed us; and efpecially, for the charter of his pardon granted by his blef fed Son, and the promises of everlasting happinefs and glory in a life to come, reason muft declare it just to offer up religious praise, and make the greatest mental and moral improvement we can in this first state.

the

ordinary

high moun

tain.

34. Another extraordinary thing I faw in An extrathe place I have mentioned, was a water on loch on the top of a hill, which ftood at the other top of a end of the lake, and was full as high as the mountain, from the fide of which, the water poured into the lake. This loch meafured three quarters of a mile in length, and half a mile over. The water appeared as black as ink, but in a glafs it was clear as other water, and bright in running down. It tafted fweet and good. At one end, it runs over its rocky bank, and in several noisy cafcades, falls down the face of the mountain to a deep bottom, where a river is form

ed,

The caufe

fathomable

mountain.

ed, that is feen for a confiderable way, as it wanders along. The whole is a ftriking fcene. The fwarthy loch, the noify defcending ftreams, clumps of aged trees on the mountain's fide, and the various fhoars and vallies below, afford an uncommon view. It was a fine change of ground, to afcend from the beautiful lake, (encompassed with mountains, and adorned with trees) into which was poured from a gaping precipice, a torrent of ftreams; and fee from the reverse of an oppofite hill, an impetuous flood defcending from the top to the finest points of view in the wildeft glins below.

-35. What line I had with me, for experiments on waters and holes, I applied to this loch, to discover the depth, but with of an un- 300 yards of whipcord my lead could reach loch on the no ground, and from thence, and the blacktop of the nefs of the water, and the great iffuing ftream, I concluded, juftly I think, that it went down to the great abyfs, the vast treafury of waters within the earth. Many fuch unfathomable lochs as this have I feen on the fummits of mountains in various parts of the world, and from them, I fuppofe, the greatest part of that deluge of waters came that drowned the old world. This leads me

to fay fomething of the flood.

36. Many