SERMON I. EXISTENCE OF GOD, MARK Xii. 32. There is one God. THE existence of God is the basis of religion. This truth will be evident, if we remember, that the word Religion always denotes either a system of truths, of which GOD is the great subject; or a system of affections and conduct of which He is the supreme object. If we can prove to ourselves the existence of a GOD; that is, of a Being, by whom we were created, and by whom the universe is governed; some such system of truths, affections, and conduct, must be also capable of being proved. To such a Being we and the universe must sustain important relations; and out of these relations must necessarily arise to intelligent beings a variety of duties, immediately, and alway, owed to him. Were there no such Being, there could be no such relations, nor duties. Were the existence of such a Being incapable of proof, the existence of the relations and duties would be equally incapable of being proved. Happily for us, and accordantly with his own wisdom, GOD has not, in this most interesting case, left himself without ample witness. In the text the existence of GoD is declared in the plainest and most direct terms. I shall therefore proceed immediately to the examination of this subject. |