humiliating truth, that Man, in his natural state, can never arrive at any certain information respecting them. Ignorant and darkling as he naturally is, all that he beholds without, and feels within him, is, to his unenlightened mind, a "secret past finding out"-a scene wonderful, but unintelligible: utterly beyond his power to explain, or even his capacity to understand; for, as the patriarch Job truly speaks, "we "are but of yesterday, and know nothing."

That this gross ignorance in the natural man, on the subjects alluded to, is an indisputable fact, may be sufficiently proved, by what we know of the former and present state of the Gentile world.

Many were the " shining lights" among the Heathen of ancient times: men deeply versed in "the wisdom which this world "teacheth;" who had made great progress in "science falsely so called;" who produced the rarest works of genius, and the finest specimens of art. But, when they directed their speculations to the "Great First "Cause," and "the operations of his hands;" and attempted to explain the wonders of his creative power, and to reason upon his designs in exerting it; upon the nature of man, his present state and duties, his future expectations and final allotment; these

sages and philosophers were at once perplexed, bewildered, and lost; their arguments were inconsistent and inconclusive, trifling, or absurd; and all their boasted "wisdom" became "foolishness."

A picture nearly similar to this presents itself to our observation, if we look at the Heathen nations in the present day. "Without God in the world," as it were, and as yet in a state of spiritual blindness, their notions on the interesting topics of which we speak, are, to the last degree, either monstrous or childish; and whether these people be found under a civilized or savage aspect, their general character, intellectual and moral, bears a striking resemblance to the dark and dismal sketch, which is given by the Apostle St. Paul, in the first chapter of his Epistle to the Romans, of the Gentiles in former times.

If such, then, be the profound ignorance of "the natural man," the utter incapacity of the human mind, when left to its own unassisted powers, to explain, or even comprehend, the things which have been wrought by God for man; and those which it is highly important to him to be acquainted with, as most deeply affecting his virtue and happiness, his safety and peace; how unspeakably grateful should we be to the

"Father of lights," who," in compassion "to our infirmities," has mercifully afforded us, in the HOLY BIBLE, a divine interpreter -to remove all our difficulties, to settle all our doubts, to satisfy our painful curiosity on all these points; and above all, to answer, clearly and fully, the most important and alarming question which can occur to the human soul," What must I do to be saved?"

To this sacred record, indeed, and to it alone, can we have recourse for certain information on all that it concerns us to know, believe, and do, in every state, and under every condition, of our mortal being. Here only shall we find satisfactorily explained the relations in which we stand; to God, the Creator of the universe, and its innumerable existences; to the world on which we dwell, and the inhabitants thereof; and to that everlasting future state, which will open upon our souls, when the world, and all that it contains, shall be burned "with fire."

Commencing with the birth of time, the inspired volume carries on its astonishing narrative, till "time shall be no more. In terms concise but clear, and full of meaning, it describes the formation of the universe, and of man, the highly privileged creature who was to dwell upon the new

:

born world: it explains the cause and reason of the present imperfect condition of both it narrates the ruin brought upon human nature by the fall of our first parents; and the promise of that Saviour, who was ordained from everlasting to repair it: it unfolds the gradual progress of this grand scheme of redemption, through a variety of preparatory dispensations: it shews the actual completion of it, in the advent of Jesus Christ," the Lamb of God," appointed to "take away the sins of the "world" and it relates the ministry and sacrifice of the Redeemer; and the labours and success of his Apostles, in evangelizing the nations.

Nay, what is more, the HOLY BIBLE introduces us to the secrets" within the "veil;" and discloses to us the future history of the Church of Christ-its eventual universal establishment here belowthe end and consummation of all material things-the joys of Heaven, and the penalties of Hell-the condemnation of the wicked, and the pardon, acceptance, and salvation of the redeemed, through the promised and crucified Saviour; when the impenitent shall " go away into everlasting "punishment," and "the righteous into "life eternal."

The commencement of this stupendous scheme is presented to us in the chapter that supplies our text; and nothing can be conceived more awful and sublime than the view which it spreads before us ;-the great Creator calling an universe into existence out of nothing; and carrying on his goodly work, till he had formed a world of beauty, from tumultuous chaos, and a creature of perfection, out of brute inanimate matter!

But the sublimity of this scene is not its only striking feature: we are amazed at the regularity of the transactions, and overwhelmed by their beneficence.

We behold the "God of order," proceeding step by step, as it were, in the accomplishment of his vast design; advancing progressively from subordinate creatures to more exalted ones; producing, settling, and giving laws to the various elements and their appendages; and thus preparing them for the living creatures of his hand; inspiring the inferior animals" with the breath of "life;" calling into being those of an higher order; and finally, by the formation of man, a reasonable, voluntary, and accountable agent, with a conscience to guide him, and a soul to survive his mortal frame, finishing a glorious work, at the completion