How could things have been as they are, were there not an original inherent principle of order somewhere, in thought or in matter?
And it is very indifferent to which of these we give the preference.

Chance has no place, on any hypothesis, sceptical or religious.

Every thing is surely governed by steady, inviolable laws.

And were the inmost essence of things laid open to us, we should then discover a scene, of which, at present, we can have no idea.

Instead of admiring the order of natural beings, we should clearly see that it was absolutely impossible for them, in the smallest article, ever to admit of any other disposition.
Were any one inclined to revive the ancient Pagan Theology, which maintained, as we learn from HESIOD, that this globe was governed by 30,000 deities, who arose from the unknown powers of nature: you would naturally object, CLEANTHES, that nothing is gained by this hypothesis; and that it is as easy to suppose all men animals, beings more numerous, but less perfect, to have sprung immediately from a like origin.