Page:Heaven Revealed.djvu/157

 beach, no two leaves on a tree, no two feathers on a bird, no two hairs on the head of man or body of beast. And the reason is, that the Creator, being Himself infinite, delights in variety. And the diversity existing among men in the original constitution of their minds as well as in their features and complexion, is similar to that observable throughout the created universe. Sometimes this diversity is slight, as among people of the same tribe or nationality; sometimes scarcely discernible, as among those of the same family. Again,—as among people of different races, the Malay and the American, the African and the Caucasian,—the diversity is very wide. And these people are just as different in their mental characteristics as in their physical constitution.

Now this known diversity of character is the distributing social force among people in this world, whereby they are arranged into different groups or societies. In general, different races and nationalities do not incline to associate. But Africans prefer the society of Africans; Chinamen the society of Chinese; English. French. Germans, Italians, etc., the society of those of their own nation. And for this obvious reason: that people of the same nation are usually most alike in their tastes, habits and feelings; and people everywhere prefer the society of those who are most like themselves.

And among people of the same country we find many different societies, resulting from diversity of character and that implanted inclination which leads men to prefer the society of kindred minds. Every one has his circle of intimate friends, in whose society he finds himself most free and happy. And these are usually peo-