great a proportion to that of the Divine Being, as a drop of water does to the ocean, or the faint glimmering of the glow-worm's light to the glorious lustre of the noon-day sun. Besides, it becomes us to consider, that we possess nothing but what' we have received. Surely then it can be no reason for Pride, that God has been liberal to us, and favoured us with superior advantages to others. This is a proper foundation for thankfulness, and ought to remind us of our accountableness for our talents.

It is in our power in some degree; it must then be our duty in that degree, to imitate the Wisdom of God. 66 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding." And let it not be forgotten by us, that "the fear of the Lord, that only is true Wisdom, and to depart from evil, that only is true Understanding."

Again, if God is perfectly wise, under

all the troubles of life we may repose our confidence in Him, and cheerfully acquiesce in all the dispensations of his Providence. Difficulties at present we must expect to meet with, as "we know only in part, and see only in part." When the final consummation of all things will take place, the Wisdom of God will be manifested before Angels and Men, and of those things

appear,

that

many

it will which we at present think Evils, were necessary parts of the whole system, and that they contributed to bring about the greatest sum of Perfection and Happi

ness.

To conclude our observations on this most important and interesting subject, let us be induced, by what has been said, to an attentive study of the works of God. Every branch of natural history and philosophy, if the idea of God be associated with it, as surely it ought to be, will inspire us with exalted ideas of the Divine Wisdom, and produce the happiest effect

upon the mind. This is, perhaps, the noblest employment of our intellectual faculties, and a proper preparation for the happiness of a future state. It will certainly afford us the most exquisite sense of pleasure, tranquillize the mind when too much agitated by the cares of life, and by viewing the miseries which at present, no doubt for the wisest purposes, are suffered to abound; harmonise all its powers; furnish us with the most useful knowledge, and give us the most grand and elevated conceptions of the Supreme Parent of the Universe - the God the Father, and the Friend of all.

"Happy are they whom these delights can touch, Whose candid bosoms the refining love

Of Nature warms. In Nature's book they read
The transcript of the Deity. On every part,
They trace the bright impressions of his hand:
In earth or air; the meadow's purple stores;
The moon's mild radiance or 'the solar rays
Beaming with more effulgence,' they behold
That uncreated Beauty which delights
The Mind Supreme. They also feel her charms
Enamour'd; they partake th' eternal joy.”

Akenside.

LECTURE XXXVI.

THE reflection on the Eternity, Omniscience, and Omnipotence of God, has a natural tendency to fill the mind with Reverence, Awe, and Admiration. But were these the only attributes of the Deity, He would indeed be the object of our slavish fear; but we should never contemplate his Perfections with any degree of Satisfaction and Delight. Arrayed in robes of dreadful Majesty, and surrounded on every side with awful Glories, we should never venture to approach his throne, but with sentiments of Terror and Astonishment. It is the Goodness of the Deity which renders him the object of our Love; it is this amiable attribute which lays the foundation for our religious Confidence, and supports

our feeble minds under all the evils to which human nature is exposed. If we be firmly convinced that that glorious Being, who presides over the universe, is perfectly benevolent, all is well. We have every thing to hope, and nothing to fear, but moral evil. Our happiness is secure, both for time and Eternity. It is therefore of the utmost importance, that we be well grounded in a belief of the Goodness of God; and it is a matter of the greatest joy, that there is no attribute of his Nature which is more fully displayed in all his works, and the proofs of which are more evident and striking. The whole frame of the universe loudly proclaims the goodness of the great first Cause of all; in every part of the vast Creation, we perceive the largest provision made for the comfort and Happiness of different orders of beings. Nor do we discover ́Evils which are not necessary for a any greater good, which do not arise from the necessary imperfection of Matter, or which are not the Consequence of what