whose power is commensurate to his wisdom, and his goodness to both; so kind and constant, as never to forsake those who do not renounce him, whose favours are inestimable, and his bounty inexhaustible. In a word, to be under the providential government of God is attended with inexpressible advantages; to be directed by infinite wisdom, protected by almighty power, and befriended by unlimited goodness, are privileges of very high importance.

From a view of the whole, we may learn, how much we are indebted to God for Divine revelation, in which we find not only the most correct notions, but a solution of the principal difficulties, relating either to the reality or equity of Providence. The Scriptures abound with the clearest discoveries of God, his laws and will, the several dispensations of his mercy and grace toward men, and the provision he has made for their peace and happiness. Here we have a general plan, exhibiting to our view all the dispensations of Providence in relation to past generations, and giving us a distinct prospect into generations yet to come. Here we behold the wise and uniform design of God in all his procedure toward mankind, and particularly in behalf of his own people. Here many of those mysteries of Providence, which have for a season staggered the faith of the most eminent servants of God, are placed in a light highly honourable to his perfections and government.

It is to a criminal neglect of the sacred oracles, that the skepticism and infidelity of the present

age is owing; for, were they read, studied, and received with the attention and reverence they deserve, the perfections of God would be adored, his providence acknowledged, and his eternity, unity,holiness, justice, and benignity, religiously maintained and vindicated: Men would not deny him the homage he demands; would no longer,through the ignorance and pride of a vain self-sufficient mind, affect to put captious questions in derision of his works and dominion; or, if they did, would be quickly silenced and overawed, having their insolence suppressed by the solemnity and grandeur of those descriptions which he gives of his own works and ways, with a majesty of style, and sublimity of sentiment, never to be equalled. Infidelity is founded in ignorance and pride; for a true acquaintance with God and ourselves would prevent or remove such dreadful effects. But while men live in such an awful state, their arrogance and presumption, though ever so extravagant, are easily accounted for, as well as their infidelity, which naturally results from thence. What abundant reason then have we to be thankful for the sacred Scriptures, designed to correct the views, and humble the hearts of men, by enriching them with useful knowledge, which is to lead them to think more justly of the works of God, and of the ways of his providence.

ORIGINAL AND FALLEN STATE OF MAN.

"What was the offence that brought death into the world? Not an offence against society; for there was none; but only against a positive command of God. It was revealed that the forbidden tree would have a deadly effect. This revelation was disputed: the truth of God was called in question, the lust of pride prevailed, and the sentence of death followed. Therefore Adam destroyed the whole world by sinning against the truth of God."-Rev. William Jones's Works, vol. i, P. 200.

THE sacred Scriptures give us a true and rational account of the origin of both matter and spirit, leading us to the only living and true God, as the Creator of all things, visible or invisible, who is underived in his existence, unsearchable in his wisdom, uncontrollable in his power, unlimited in his prescience, and everlasting in his duration. Possessed of every natural and moral perfection, he, in the beginning of time, displayed the infinite excellencies of his nature in creating the world, especially man, who is the most interesting of all terrestrial objects. Having, as well as a body, an intellectual and moral nature, it is a very proper and necessary inquiry we should make, What was the primitive state of man? A question of this sort essentially concerns us, and without a right understanding of it, our present condition must remain highly problematical. For a solution of this query, we must not turn our attention to the most celebrated of the heathen philosophers; but to Moses, the sacred

historian, who, being divinely inspired to give to mankind a written account of the first state of things, informs us, that "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him." The contrast between man's original and his present state, while it is adapted to convey important instruction to the mind, is no less calculated powerfully to affect the heart.

The moral image of God, in which man was created, was the beauty and glory of his intellectual nature. He came out of the hands of his Creator in a high state of perfection, which consisted in knowledge, righteousness, holiness, with dominion over the inferior creatures. His understanding was clear and capacious. His will was unbiassed, disposed to goodness, ready to obey the dictates of reason, and promptly to comply with the commands of his Maker. The active powers of the soul were regular and holy, directed to proper objects and kept within just bounds. There was then no sin to defile, no guilt to produce tormenting fear, no discord to disturb the peace of the soul; but beauty spread its radiance, truth maintained its seat, and harmony reigned and triumphed there. A late author thus describes man's primeval state. "When God had pronounced man good, his soul was the habitation of the Deity. Those passions, now so turbulent and unruly, each ministered in humble subjection before the Lord. Love stood before the altar, and, pouring on the sacred incense, kept up the hallowed flame, Holiness guarded every avenue of the

temple, and shut the gates to every vile intruder. Hope lifted up her hands and eyes to heaven, and showed by the intenseness of her countenance where her anchor was fixed. Fear, with reverential awe, bowed down before the sanctuary, where yet no veil had hid the presence of the Deity. Joy told its raptures in hosannahs of never-ceasing praise; while memory unfolded the volume of Divine mercies; and conscience, yet unsullied, beheld, as God's vicegerent, the hallowed service, and gave its approbation as the voice of God."

But, now, alas, this glory has departed, this rectitude of nature is lost! The crown is fallen, the lovely image is awfully defaced, and the noble materials of the spiritual edifice lie in ruins! How art thou fallen, son of the morning! Who can reflect on the beauteous image, and not feel a pang of regret, and drop a tear of sorrow! In the lines of Milton, God is supposed thus to answer for himself:

"Man will fall,

He and his faithless progeny. Whose fault?
Whose but his own? Ingrate! he had of me
All he could have; I made him just and right,
Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall.'

Man being in honour abode not, but sought out inventions by which to dishonour his Creator and ruin himself. God made him only a little lower than the angels, but he made himself more vile than the beasts that perish. Being fallen, "he begat a son in his own image,'