We have already shown, that the moral qualities of man are improved and exalted by the physical evils which he is called to encounter, and the same effect is produced by the moral evils to which he is exposed. The injuries and provocations of the wicked show the odious nature of the principles by which they arc ac tuated, and produce in our minds a natural dislike of those qualities which offend us ; whilst patience, and prudence, and meekness, and forgiveness, are called into exercise, and the mind which improves the lesson is pu rified, adorned and exalted.
But if any thing farther be wanting, as a compensa tion for the evils, moral and physical, which are in the world, or as a vindication of the benevolence of the Al mighty, we conceive it is abundantly furnished by the promulgation of Christianity, which presents such a view of the divine benevolence and love to the human race, as we could not have formed a conception of, even in a state of paradisaical innocence and happiness. In short, this world, both in its physical and moral aspect, is ex actly as the Almighty intended it should be. Why it is as it is, it would be as useless to inquire, as it would be to ask why God has made any thing as it is, or why he has bestowed on man, and the various tribes of animals, the powers and qualities which distinguish them. With regard to animals, we are satisfied with showing, that their faculties are adapted to their circumstances, and consider this as conclusive as to the goodness of God: and why should we not rest satisfied, and adopt the same conclusion, when we perceive that the present state of things is admirably adapted for the improvement of mo ral beings. Difficulties, indeed, frequently occur ; but they are rendered useful for sharpening our faculties, and extending our knowledge, and it is impossible to mention an evil, for which the Almighty has not provid ed an adequate compensation.
There is no evil which men view with so much hor ror as death: exempt them but from this, and every other evil will appear tolerable;' yet, in so far as re gards the general economy of nature, death cannot be accounted an evil. One generation passes away ; but the loss is soon repaired; and the affairs of men go on with renovated vigour and increased knowledge, from the accumulated wisdom and experience of the a ;-es which are past.
Of living things, there is not one that does not ar dently desire to enjoy the continued blessing of exist ence; but it is not more inconsistent with the decrees of heaven than with general happiness and usefulness, that this desire should be indulged to any great extent.
With regard to the human race, the near approach of death operates as a friendly monitor, in the case of every individual, to repress the extravagance of ambition, to teach sobriety of mind, and to stimulate to the acquisi tion of qualities which cannot be affected by tire dissolu tion of the body.
Death, in its moral effects, is not only useful for indi vidual improvement ; but that general destruction wilier overwhelms successively every thing that lives, is, in fact, conducive to the general happiness and improve ment of the human race.
Why should the present race of mortals monopolize the blessings of existence? After they have had their share in the business, the enjoyments, or the miseries of life, is it not reasonable that they should be removed from the stage, to give place to others who may taste the same pleasures,f and exhibit the same characteristic features of conduct, though diversified by various shades of improvement, and occasionally of deterioration ? In so far as the wisdom and goodness of the Almighty are concerned, these attributes, we may safely affirm, are more conspicuously displayed in his giving life and en joyment to successive millions of animated beings, than if the blessings of life were confined to the existing ge neration of men and animals.
As things are at present ordered by the wisdom of the Almighty, countless myriads of living creatures appear in succession to taste the blessings of existence, or to celebrate their Maker's praise, either by the voice of intelligence, or by the mute, yet expressive testimony of their actions. Nay, the dispensation of death, which we so generally deplore, furnishes scope for the enjoyment of some of the purest pleasures which man can experi ence here below. For the constant waste of the species is supplied by children born in our own image, in whose happiness we are deeply interested, whom we view as our representatives to other generations, and in whom our lives are so bound up, that death can scarcely appear even a natural evil, when we have transmitted, as it were, our existence and our comforts to others, whom we love as our own souls.