More by William Paley
In crossing a heath, suppose I pitched my foot against a stone and were asked how the stone came to be there, I might possibly answer that for anything I knew to the contrary it had lain there forever; nor would it, perhaps, be very easy to show the absurdity of this answer.
Natural Theology (1802)
Wherefore rejecting the intervention of a compact, as unfounded in its principle, and dangerous in the application, we assign for the only ground of the subjects' obligation, THE WILL OF GOD AS COLLECTED FROM EXPEDIENCY.
The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy (1785)
There must be something in the world more than what we see. It is a further step to know, that, amongst the invisible things of nature, there must be "an intelligent mind", concerned in its production, order, and support.
Natural Theology or Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity (1802)
The watch must have had a maker — that there must have existed, at some time and at some place or other, an artificer or artificers - who formed it for the purpose which we find it actually to answer, who comprehended its construction and designed its use.
Natural Theology or Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity (1802)
These are the natures appropriated to the situation. Let [the wild beasts] enjoy their existence; let them have their country. Surface enough will be left to man, though his numbers were increased a hundred fold, and left to him, where he might live exempt from these annoyances.
Natural Theology (1879)
In every nature, and in every portion of nature, which we can descry, we find attention bestowed upon even the minutest parts. The hinges in the wings of an earwig, and the joints of its antennae, are as highly wrought, as if the Creator had nothing else to finish. We see no signs of dimunition of care by multiplicity of objects, or of distraction of thought by variety. We have no reason to fear, therefore, our being forgotten, or overlooked, or neglected.
Natural Theology (1802)
Prayer, with our Lord, was a refuge from the storm; almost every word He uttered during that last tremendous scene was prayer; prayer the most earnest, the most urgent, repeated, continued, proceeding from the recesses of the soul, private, solitary; prayer for deliverance, prayer for strength; above every thing prayer for resignation.
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