plish.[1] Let the phenomena to which those admirable productions are skilfully adapted be well understood, the value of them will then be known, their application will become familiar, and the artists will be stimulated to excel, because they will meet an adequate remuneration. Our corporeal organs being subject to decay, we are obliged to resort to various contrivances to remedy the defects; and it also often happens, that in some persons an original malconformation is exhibited. The profane sceptic generally lays hold of those apparent defects to support his wild system, which consigns to fortuitous causes the laws of the universe: but to him who through Divine grace takes a calm survey of the order established by Omniscience,
"Reason's eye refined clears up apace,"
and he is led to adore the wisdom which is conspicuous in those apparent defects. Such a man sees that they operate as a stimulus to the exercise of the inventive powers, and
"Make heedless, rambling impulse learn to think;"
for while the effort to remedy those apparent defects gives employment to thousands, the minds of those who are employed, as well as the minds of those who avail themselves of their inventions, acquire a knowledge of the human frame, and of the general operations of nature, to which they would have remained strangers had no necessity been laid upon them. But the profane sceptic may, in his impious wisdom, ask, "If Omniscience directs the universe, why does imperfection appear!" But as it invariably costs a man more effort to be vicious than to be good, the answer does not require as much labour as the question. Our ideas of organic perfection are merely relative. The myope may complain of the short focal distance of his eye; while that very circumstance enables him to see minute objects with greater distinctness, and fits him for performing what others dare not undertake, without risking the total loss of sight. Other cases may be adduced; but to every pious mind one
- ↑ "I cannot read with your spectacles," said the clown, "though you have over your door—'Spectacles, to help people to read!'" "Perhaps," replied the artist, "you could not read before you put them on." The reply of the artist is worth remembering; it may save many mistakes.
