highest angel in heaven is not above his controul, nor the meanest infect or reptile, that crawls on the earth, below his notice.

The fishes of the fea, likewife, have their fhare in proclaiming his wonderful works. Could we follow them in their excurfions through the pathlefs deep, and behold their manœuvres, and the gambols of the leviathan, we might juftly cry out, How wonderful are thy works, O Lord! And is it not a great manifeftation of infinite counsel and wisdom, that thofe of the finny tribe which are of the greatest benefit to man, are most plenteous, and remain near the fhores; whereas the others, like the voracious among the fowls, and the ferocious amongst the beasts, are, in general, more remote from the habitations of men?

Shall we next come home to ourselves, and take a view of man?

And what a wonderful creature is man ! whether we confider the texture of his body, or the formation of his foul! What a curious ftructure is the body! consisting of various fenfes, parts, and members, admira,

bly framed for performing all the functions of human life, nothing that could be awanting, and nothing fuperfluous; all fituated most conveniently for ufe, ornament, and mutual affistance; difplaying the wisdom and goodness of our Almighty Maker. His erect form fhews he was made for the contemplation of high and noble objects, and to look for happiness somewhere else than from the earth; befides, this elegant structure of the body, with the majesty of the countenance, ferve to over-awe the brutal creation,

If we confider the fenfes, how wonderful are they, and how conveniently fituated! As watchmen used not to be placed in a low or obfcure fituation, but on the walls or towers of the capital, to give timely information of danger to the monarch and inhabitants that lodged within; fo the nobleft fenfes are not stationed low in the body, but wifely in the head, faid by fome to be the capital of the foul, fo that they may give timely intelligence of hurt to that rational monarch. How astonishing are the properties of the eye! difplaying the wisdom and power (which, indeed, all the other senses do,) of our almighty Maker, as by it things

.

are defcried at a great distance, and the colour and fhape thereof, that moment it be holds them, communicated to the foul. By it we can find our way amidst the pathless ocean; diftinguish faces, however much alike; view the curiofities of machinery; take up the stateliness, elegancy, and ornaments of architecture, and even canvass the celeftial bodies themfelves.

Without the fenfe of vifion, to us the rainbow would difplay its variegated colours in vain, the delight of the landscape be loft, and the exquifite tinges of the tulip, with all the retinue of flowers, be exhibited to no purpose. The fenfe of hearing, too, how furprising it is! as by it founds are distinguished, and the pleasure of harmony communicated to the mind. Nor is that of fmelling lefs wonderful, whereby agreeable odours are received with pleasure, and the contrary with reluctance, and by which we are led to frequent places and take food, which is moft conducive for our health, Likewise that of the palate; how nicely doth it diftinguish betwixt that which is agreeable and difagreeable to the appetite, receiving the things of the former with com

placency, and thofe of the latter with dif like. Nor is that of feeling lefs astonishing, the fenfe of which is diffufed over the whole body, as that which is of abfolute neceflity for the comfortable exiftence of the animal part. And how ftrange is it, that, no fooner any object is felt by the hand, or any other part of the body, than an idea thereof is conceived by the mind!

Three of thefe centinels, or out-pofts, that are more abfolutely neceffary for the prefervation of the body, are fheltered from the injuries of the weather, or attacks of eneimies, in little chambers as it were, or watchhoufes.

Thus the eye, upon the approach of any danger, quickly fhuts its two-leaved gates. And though the hearing and finelling have their ports continually open, yet are they not lefs fecured, being ftationed a good way back; whereas, if these intelligencers were posted entirely on the outfide of the head or face, the flighteft injuries might deprive us of their fervice, (an argument of infinite wif dom and care.)

Now, if it were not for the fenfes, how could the foul be charmed with the beauties of nature, receive agreeable fenfations from the power of melody, delight in the fragrance of the field, relifh food, or find comfort in life? These fenfes, in part, are common to the brutal creation, but there is one faculty which man alone poffeffes, which fets him far fuperior to all the creatures below; and that is the power of fpeech, whereby he can addrefs the Divine Being, and converfe with men, which is called in Scripture, the glory of man, Pf. xvi. 9.—xxx. 12. Ivii. 8.-cviii. 1. What a pity is it, then, that this faculty, with which God hath so highly diftinguished him above all the other creatures on earth, fhould be used in blafpheming and dishonouring Him, and in idle and trifling converfation!

In the head, likewife, is the brain, the fountain of the animal fpirits, the principle of all fenfe and motion, and said to be the palace-royal of the foul: not to speak of the numerous nerves, which from it are diftributed throughout the whole human system, how wonderfully is it preferved and kept from diforder by a very thin membrane of