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the depth of the wisdom and knowledge of that God who hath created them; let us never contemplate them without celebrating him, who hath given them life and breath and being. These are the natural fentiments which ought to arife in the hearts of every rational being; and they incited David to cry out, let every creature praise the name of the Lord. As thefe are not all capable of thofe fentiments, they cannot praise their Creator but by exciting his intelligent creatures to acquit themfelves of that important duty. Let them praise the name of the Lord; for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also C eftablifhed them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which fhall not pass away. Praise the • Lord from the earth, beafts, and all cattle, creeping things and flying fowl: kings of the earth, and all 'people, princes, and all judges of the earth; both young men, and maidens, old men and children; let them praise the name of the Lord; for his name alone is excellent, his glory is above the earth and heaven.' PSALM, CXLVIII, 5,6,7,10-13..

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CHAP. IV.

OF THE NUMBERS OF INSECTS, AND OF THE

PROPORTION IN WHICH THEY MULTIPLY.

TH

HE enumeration I made in the laft chapter of fome of the most common infects, fhews that their num

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ber is not fmall. However, that my readers may be made more fully acquainted with this part of the fubject I fhall detail in this chapter, what my own observation, as well as the writings of various authors of reputation have taught me with regard to the number of species included in each of the claffes under which they I have arranged infects.

By this means, it will be easy to form an estimate. by calculation of the prodigious numbers which muft be generated annually.

The fpecies of aquatic vermes without feet, which are known to me amount to

Sea stars,

Vermes, not aquatic,

Infects with two feet,

fix feet,

eight feet,

ten feet,

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18

105

37

2

69 99

4

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twelve feet,

fourteen feet,

fixteen feet,

above fixteen feet,

I

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According to the divifion I have made of winged infects, I find the species of those with two finooth wings, like transparent vellum are,

Those of infects with four fuch wings,
Those with four mealy wings,

Those with wings only half covered,

entirely covered,

The fum total of thefe numbers is,

83

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Now let us take a fingle female of each of these 765 fpecies, and let us fuppofe that fhe anually gives birth to ten infects of her kind, which cannot furely bet

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an exaggerated fuppofition, fisce great numbers of thofe animals lay eggs by hundreds; the 765 females would produce the first year 7,650, the second 76, 500, the third 765,000, and so progreffively.

Obferve,that among the infects without wings which I have juft enumerated, I have made no mention of maggots, caterpillars, aphides &c. which transform themselves into winged infects. How many other forts of infects might not be found in different au thors unknown to me, or whom I have not an opportunity of confulting! might not my calculation be infinitely encreased by thofe that live in uninhabited countries, at the bottom of rivers, lakes and feas? If all these were known, furely we would find their numbers almoft infinite.

But if all thefe infects multiplied every year according to the proportion stated above, and that this took place, without interruption, for five or fix years, what a prodigious number would not there then be in the world! What frightful devaftations would they not occafion! The ravages which a fingle army of locufts commits, aftonishes and alarms us; but with what aftonishment and alarm would we not be affected, were we to behold the mischiefs which many hundred armies of infects, of different fpecies, would occafion, as numerous, and as dreadful as locufts!

The number of animals which this terraqueous globe of ours is capable of fuftaining, is determined by the extent of its furface. If in one year they were to multiply to twice or three times their ufual number, the productions of the earth. proportioned to its furface, not being fufficient to maintain them, they would either die of hunger, or prey upon one another. In order to prevent fuch an inconvenience, God hath wifely set bounds to the life and multiplication of aniG 2

mals.

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mals. Those which live long are not prolific, fo that the earth is not incommoded with their fpecies. But it is otherwise with those whofe lives are fhort. Accordingly infects which live but for a fhort time, produce multitudes of young. This numerous multiplication is likewife neceffary for them, as many of their eggs perifh by the injuries of the weather, and many ferve for food to other animals. So wife an ordination prevents the earth from being defolated by a greater number of animals than it can maintain, and preferves a juft proportion amongst its various inhabitants.

It is not without juftice, that the Scriptures give to God the title of Lord of Hofts. He is the Sovereign of legions of angels, of the armies of Heaven; of that multitude of birds which it has been fuppofed ex ceed five hundred fpecies; of the fishes of the fea, and of the waters, of which one thoufand different fpecies are known, and of those tribes of animals and ferpents, the fpecies of which amount to one hundred and fif ty. However numerous thefe armies may be, those of the different fpecies of infects do not yield to them in that refpect. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their hoft by number: he cal "leth them all by names, by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power, not one "faileth." ISA. XL. 26.

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God has not manifefted his power only in the creation of this almoft infinite multitude of infects and other animals, but his wifdom is alfo confpicupus. We have obferved that a too great multiplication would defolate the earth, which would not then be able to maintain them; but he as ordered it so that there is always a just proportion, never too many nor too few. Without this wife provision we might from time to time lofe certain fpecics of animals while

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others might multiply to fuch a degree as to become really hurtful. Can a balance fo equal, and in which we difcover fo much wifdom be the work of blind chance? Surely not what is left to chance is never fixed, never regular. But here we behold a conftant and invariable proportion which can be nothing but the effect of a defign premeditated, and of a plan executed by an all wife and an almighty pow

er.

How many means has not the God of armies in ftore for chaflifing the human race! All his legions are ready to fly at his command to execute his orders. To mention only the army of infects, how many means can he not employ to humble the pride of weak mortals! Thefe noxious creatures fometimes attack the greatest monarchs on their thrones, 'they defolate our fields, infeft our houses, and lead famine and death in their train. Though neceffary to a certain degree, their excefs is always pernicious. We fhould be perpetual fear, did not we know that the Being who regulates their fecundity, loves us, and will not permit them to multiply beyond their proper bounds, bounds, We must not however flatter ourfelves too much. "All things work together

for good to the godly; but to finners they are turn: ❝ed into evil. Fire, and hail, and famine and death, "all thefe were created for vengeance; the teeth of "wild beasts and fcorpions, ferpents and the fword, "punishing the wicked to deftruction. They rejoice "in his commandment, and are ready upon earth, when need is, and when his time is come, to obey his word." ECCLESIASTICUS XXXIX. 27. &c.

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CHAP. V,

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