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Religion
For centuries, scripture and theology were the focus of prodigious amounts
of scholarship and publishing, dominated in the English-speaking world
by the work of Protestant Christians. Enlightenment philosophy and
science, anthropology, ethnology and the colonial experience all brought
new perspectives, lively debates and heated controversies to the study of
religion and its role in the world, many of which continue to this day. This
series explores the editing and interpretation of religious texts, the history of
religious ideas and institutions, and not least the encounter between religion
and science.
Natural Theology
William Paley (1743-1805), a British Christian apologist, argues for the
existence of God as the intelligent creator of the world in this, his last book,
published in 1802. He builds on early modern natural theology including the
works of John Ray, William Derham, and Bernard Nieuwentyt, and chooses
to ignore Hume, who had argued against design. Paley uses analogy and
metaphors, including a particularly well-written version of the watchmaker
analogy, to prove that the world is designed and sustained by God. Most of
his examples are taken from medicine and natural history. This sixth edition
also contains a detailed bibliography, appendices on Paleys courses, and
background notes on key figures. It was an influential best-seller throughout
the nineteenth century, read by theologians and scientists alike, and
reprinted in cheap editions. It inaugurated a tradition of natural theological
works, amongst them the Bridgewater Treatises (which also appear in this
series), and is a landmark of Western thought.
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Natural Theology
Or, Evidences of the Existence and Attributes
of the Deity, Collected from the Appearances of
Nature
William Paley
C a M B R I D G E U N I v E R sI T y P R E s s
Cambridge New york Melbourne Madrid Cape Town singapore so Paolo Delhi
Published in the United states of america by Cambridge University Press, New york
www.cambridge.org
Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781108003551
IsBN 978-1-108-00355-1
This book reproduces the text of the original edition. The content and language reflect
the beliefs, practices and terminology of their time, and have not been updated.
Cambridge University Press wishes to make clear that the reissue of out-of-copyright
books not originally published by Cambridge does not imply any knowledge
or advocacy of the reissue project on the part of the original publisher.
NATURAL THEOLOGY:
OR,
EVIDENCES
OF THE
THE BEITY*
NATURAL THEOLOGY:
EVIDENCES
OF THE
THE BEITY,
COLLECTED FROM THE APPEARANCES OF NATURE,
SIXTH EDITION.
LONDON:
1803.
TO
MY LORD,
M Y LORD,
CHAP. PAGE
I. STATE OF THE ARGUMENT . . 1
II. STATE OF THE ARGUMENT CONTINUED 9
III. APPLICATION OF THE ARGUMENT . 19
IV. OF THE SUCCESSION OF PLANTS AND
ANIMALS . . . 53
V. A P P L I C A T I O N OF T H E ARGUMENT CON-
TINUED . . . . . * 60
VI. T H E ARGUMENT CUMULATIVE . . Si
VII. OF THE MECHANICAL AND IMMECHA-
NICAL FUNCTIONS OF ANIMALS AND
VEGETABLES 84
VIII. OF MECHANICAL ARRANGEME'NT IN
THE HUMAN FRAMEOF THE BONES 99
IX. O F THE MUSCLES . . . . 132
X. O F THE VESSELS OF ANIMAL BODIES 159
XL O F T H E ANIMAL STRUCTURE RE-
GARDED AS A MASS . . 199
XII. C O M P A R A T I V E ANATOMY . . . 227
XIII. PECULIAR ORGANIZATIONS . . 259
XIV. PROSPECTIVE CONTRIVANCES . . 272
XV. RE-
SU TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE
XV. R E L A T I O N S 282
XVI. C O M P E N S A T I O N S . . . . 298
XVII. T H E R E L A T I O N O F A N I M A T E D B O D I E S
TO INANIMATE NATURE . . 315
XVIII. INSTINCTS 324
XIX. O F INSECTS 346
XX. O F PLANTS . . . . . 374
XXI. O F T H E ELEMENTS . . . 398
XXII. ASTRONOMY 409
XXIII. PERSONALITY OF T H E D E I T Y . . 437
XXIV. O F T H E NATURAL A T T R I B U T E S OF
THE DEITY 474
XXV. OF THE UNITY OF THE DEITY . . 482
XXVI. THE GOODNESS OF THE DEITY . . 488
XXVII. CONCLUSION 572
NATURAL
NATURAL THEOLOGY;
OR,
CHAPTER I.
STATE OF THE ARGUMENT.
CHAP-
.STATE OF THE ARGUMENT CONTINUED. Q
CHAPTER II.
CHAP-
APPLICATION OF THE ARGUMENT.
CHAPTER lit.
the fame proof that the eye was made for vi-
fion, as there is that the telefcope was made
for affifting it. They are made upon the fame
principles; both being adjufted to the laws by
which the tranfmiffion and refradion of rays of
light are regulated. I fpeak not of the origin of
the laws themfelves; but fuch laws being fixed,
the conftrudlion, in both cafes, is adapted to
them. For inftance; thefe laws require, in
order to produce the fame effect, that the rays
of light, in paffing from water into the eye,
ihould be refracted by a more convex furface,
than when it paffes out of air into the eye. Ac-
cordingly we find, that the eye of afi(h,in that
part of it called the cryftalline lenfe, is much
rounder than the eye of terreftrial animals.
What plainer manifeftation of defign can there
be than this difference ? What could a mathe-
matical inftrument-maker have done more, to
ftiew his knowledge of his principle, his appli-
cation of that knowledge, his fuiting of his
means to his end; I will not fay to difplay the
compafs or excellency of his fldll and art, for
in thefe all comparifon is indecorous, but to
teflify counfel, choice, confideration, purpofe ?
To fome it may appear a difference fufficient
to deftroy all iimilitude between the eye and
the
APPLICATION. OF THE ARGUMENT. 21
* Phil.Tranf. 1796.
-j- Memoirs for a Natural Hiftory of Animals by the
Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, done into Engliftj
by Order of the Royal Society, 1701, p. 249.
D4 In
40 APPLICATION OF TftE ARGUMENT.
CHAP-
CHAPTER IV.
OF THE SUCCESSION OF PLANTS AND
ANIMALS.
CHAP-
69
CHAPTER V.
CHAP-
THE ARGUMENT CUMULATIVE. 81
CHAPTER Vt.
c 2 CHAP-
84 MECHANICAL AND I M M E C H A N I C A L PARTS
CHAPTER VII.
CHAP-
C 99
CHAPTER VIII.
OF THE BONES.
* Anat. p. 229.
12 fmoorh
1 20 OF MECHANICAL ARRANGEMENT
fmooth
IN THE HUMAN FRAME. 127
* Ib, P . i3..
to
IN THE HUMAN FRAME. 129
CHAP-
OF THE M.USCLES.
CHAPTER IX.
OF THE MUSCLES.
CHAP-
Of THE VESSELS OF ANIMAL BODIES. 1 5Q
CHAPTER X.
P 2 For
10.6 OF THE VESSELS OF ANIMAL BODIFS.
CHAP-
L 199 ]
CHAPTER XI.
trunk
SEGARDED AS A MASS. 205
CHAP-
COMPARATIVE ANATOMY. 227
CHAPTER XII.
COMPARATIVE ANATOMY.
CHAP-
PECULIAR ORGANIZATIONS.
CHAPTER XIII.
PECULIAR ORGANIZATIONS.
more
fECtTLIAR ORGANIZATIONS.
CHAP-
272 PKOSPECTIV CONTRIVANCES.
CHAPTER XIV.
PROSPECTIVE CONTRIVANCES.
CHAP-
1B% RELATIONS.
CHAPTER XV.
RELATIONS.
CHAP-
COMPENSATIOlf.
CHAPTER XVI.
COMPENSATION.
CHAP-
[ 315 ]
CHAPTER XVII.
y2 CHAP-
324
CHAPTER XV1IL
INSTINCTS.
CHAP-
346 OF INSECT*.
CHAPTER XIX.
OF INSECTS.
* Vol. j . p. 342.
enc&
OF INSECTS. 363
I MUST
366 OF INSECTS.
afferts,
O>F INSECTS. 3/1
2 B3 CHAP-
374 OF PLANTS.
CHAPTER XX,
OF PLANTS.
trable
OF PLANTS. 377
* Ib. p. 203.
OF PLANTS. 395
* Ib. p. 360.
ceeds
396 OF PLANTS.
CHAP-
398 THE ELEMENTS.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE ELEMENTS.
CHAP-
ASTHONOMY.
CHAPTER XXIL
ASTRONOMY *.
CHAP-
OF THE PERSONALITY OF THE DEITT. 439
CHAPTER XXIII.
C O N T R I V A N C E , if eftablifhed, appears to me
to prove every thing which we wifh to prove.
Amongft other things it proves the perfonal'ity
of the Deity, as diftinguifhed from what is
fometimes called nature, fometimes called a
principle: which terms, in the mouths of thofe
who ufe them philofophically, feem to be in-
tended, to admit and to exprefs an efficacy,
but to exclude and to deny a perfonal agent.
Now that which can contrive, which can de-
fign, muft be a perfon. Thefe capacities con r
ftitute perfonality, for they imply confciouf-
nefs and thought. They require that which
can perceive an end or purpofe; as well as the
power of providing means, and of directing
them to their end*. They require a centre
in which perceptions unite, and from which
CHAP-
474 OF THE NATURAL ATTRIBUTES
CHAPTER XXIV.
21 CHAP*
482 I ' H E UNITY OF THE DEIT*',
CHAPTER XXV.
2 14 CHAP-
488 THE GOODNESS OF THE DEITY-
CHAPTER XXVI.
NATURAL
THE GOODNESS OF THE DEITY. 54g
Operumque laborem
Partibus aequabat juftis^ aut forte trahebat.
ufually
THE GOODNESS OP THE DEITY. 567
CHAP-
572 CONCLUSION.
CHAPTER XXVII.
CONCLUSION.
2 Q^ formed^
58(5 CONCLUSION.
FINIS.