cious, could avert the sentence due to his transgression. The creation, with all its glories, was rejected, when defiled by sin; and the holiness of God was glorified in the sight of angels who had never sinned, when man heard the sentence uttered which condemned him. But this globe of ours, speck as it may seem in the infinite space of the universe, was yet to exhibit other truths, and to reveal secrets in the divine nature, which had not been known before; "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handiwork." His wisdom, his power, his goodness, had been abundantly displayed. His truth, his justice, had been awfully exhibited on those angels, which kept not their first estate, and who are kept in chains under darkness, until the judgment of the great day. But the mercy, the long-suffering, the loving-kindness of God, had not yet found scope for development, and remained unexercised. A new exhibition was to be now made of these, and was to be made in man; to the intent, that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God; according to the eternal purpose which he had purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Eph. iii. 10, 11.) Such, we conceive, then, was the object proposed. This is the end of our creation. Man is formed holy and yet frail; in the image

of God, but yet open to temptation; that in him, thus prepared against trial, and yet subordinate to trial, God might shew forth all long-suffering, and vindicate the glory of his name; "The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth." Above this, a cloud of witnesses are watching with wonder and delight the development of that mighty plan, which forms the history of the world; but which in that history unfolds the breadth, and length, and height of that love of God which passes knowledge. But, in the midst of all this which is passing upon the earth, we see one nation which acts like a main spring to the whole machine, or rather is the heart of the system exhibited in the world. The light which was diffused over the surface of the whole, becomes concentrated in them. God separates them from the rest of mankind, and uses them for the unravelling of his scheme of mercy. Signs and wonders are multiplied around them, and they are thus marked out as a peculiar people, a people of inheritance. Terrible from their beginning, they are followed through the several stages of their history by tokens of divine protection. They are persecuted, but not destroyed; cast down, but not forsaken. Through the earlier and more eventful periods of their history, a succession of prophets keep alive the flame of hope, and

adapt it to the circumstances of their hearers. The revelation gains distinctness under each successive notice. The character of the woman's seed, his form and nature, the time, the manner of his appearing, are gradually unfolded; till at the last, at the time which God had appointed, the promised seed is born; and the whole creation which had been groaning and travailing together in pain, rejoices in the manifestation, for which it had been longing.

of

Do we err then, my brethren, if we seek to draw your attention to the house of Israel; if we wish to enlist your sympathies in their behalf? or have we adopted an erroneous way doing it, by endeavouring to shew that all that is to be known of God, is to be learned through them; and that every ray of light converges to them, and diverges from them? Yes, what was the glorious company of the prophets raised up among them, but a succession of lights in the world, who handed from one to the other the lamp of promise, which was to enlighten the world at large? What were the glories of the tabernacle, the splendour of the temple, the service of the altar, the ritual of the law, but emblems of that better glory which was hereafter to be revealed; and to be revealed to all mankind? How, then, can we hope to understand the truth, if we

neglect the preparation; or how shall we come to Him in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, if we refuse the guidance which God has offered, or despise the testimony which He has given us of his Son?

Of a subject, general as this is, it seems difficult to make any close or particular application. We have been contemplating the deep things of God; the mighty scheme by which the spiritual world is carried on,―things which angels desire to look into. It is not easy to pass from the contemplation of the universe to that of individuals; nor is it expedient to draw rules for private conduct from that which is obscure in the ways of God's providence. But each subject has its appropriate feeling; and if it can but be made to produce that, it is not contemplated in vain. While we turn to other parts of the sacred record, then, to awaken the feelings of love, of fear, of godly sorrow, or godly diligence; let us derive from this, which we have now been contemplating, wonder and awe. Wonder, at the gracious purposes of God towards ourselves; awe, at the eminence to which we seem raised in consequence; and gratitude to Him for the persevering patience with which his purpose has been accomplished.

Nor let us imagine that wonder and awe are barren, unproductive sentiments, and unfitted to

produce any salutary effect upon our hearts. The wonder of the world, I grant, is no better than a plea for vacancy. Awe may be the effect of weakness, and an effect which perpetuates its cause. But he who is led to wonder at the mysteries of God's providence; he who is made to feel awe in contemplating his purposes; he who is led to cry out, "Oh the depth of the riches, both of the goodness and knowledge of God, how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out;" -this man has gained a feeling which it is well worth his while to secure. This man shall return from such holy and absorbing contemplations, like one who has been admitted into communion with God. His countenance shall shine, like that of Moses, with the light which he has caught from his interview with the Father of spirits. He shall come back to the discharge of ordinary duties, raised above the ordinary causes of disturbance. He shall see clouds resting on the surface, and yet fear no evil: shall see the world heaving with revolutions, and feel no disquietude in himself; but convinced that all things are in the hand of God, and that all things shall work together for good to them that love God, he shall view the face of society agitated by change, and name this as the cause of his composure: "Who shall separate me from the love

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