of the soul considered. 373

the rest suppose, and for which they are de-signed. The Power of the Creator is inces-santly exerted upon all the inanimate partsof the creation; and must it not be greaterin proportion when exerted upon the livingand rational part of his works? And thenhow high will that proportion rife? It shallbestrewn, or rather it is self-evident, that theWide extended Universe, though stretched be*yond the bounds of imagination, with allthe wonders of wisdom, and power in it, issolely designed for the sake of intelligent Be-,zngs, to train them up for a rational eternity.These are the proper Eleves (or pupils, if Imight so fay) of a Being himself infinitelyrational. His care therefore about these, ei-ther in uniting them to, or disengaging themfrom matter, and in all other respects, must(if I may venture so to speak) be the princi-pal part of his work, his ultimate view. Lu-cretius fays, EJfe animus præjlo deridiculumeffe videtur. But what is there ridiculous init, except thinking as he did that they wereready by chance ? This indeed is abiurdenough, but the absurdity is of his ownnuking,

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