if it is applied to agriculture, to navigation, or to any of the useful arts; to jurisprudence, to the philosophy of the mind, or to any of the elevated sciences. The Father of the human race has not only bestowed on man the materials of knowledge, but he has also conferred on him invention and genius, by which he has power to combine them together in such order, as to promote his own felicity, and to produce the most beautiful results; and there is no science, however high, which he does not seem capable of attaining, and of enlarging and improving without limits.

Previous to a knowledge of the actual fact, it was to be expected therefore, that a science so sublime as astronomy, which expands the soul with the conception of infinity, should not be exempt from a law to which others are subject, and should not be abandoned to the discoveries of the simple and illiterate, to be understood by them without any mental exertion. The Author of nature has not in this instance deviated from his usual course; but that he might dignify the minds of the noblest of his children, and excite the inventions of their industry and genius, he has removed the correspondences which exist between many other parts of his works. He has formed the heavens according to an exquisite plan; but to the undiscerning eye they appear a maze which perplexes the understanding. At length however, after many laborious efforts of

the wise, and after he has sent down from his throne such men as Copernicus, Kepler, and Newton, to enlighten the world, the whole is comprehended; every part of the universe is found to stand in the situation in which it ought to be placed; and the devout heart is filled with admiration and gratitude, in contemplating the immense power, wisdom, and goodness of God. Thus we see him every where, at home and abroad, on the earth and in the sky; and it is the end of all the sciences, and of astronomy in particular, to introduce us into his presence. Let us ever therfore love, and praise, and adore that glorious Being, who by his excellent wisdom made the heavens; who hath made great lights, the sun to rule by day, and the moon and the stars to govern the night; for his mercy endureth forever.

New Year.

SERMON VII.

WHAT ADVANTAGE HAVE CHRISTIANS ABOVE THE GENTILES OF ANCIENT TIMES.

ISAIAH lx. 1, 2, 3.

ARISE, SHINE; FOR THY LIGHT IS COME, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD IS RISEN UPON THEE. FOR BEHOLD, THE DARKNESS SHALL COVER THE EARTH, AND GROSS DARKNESS THE PEOPLE: BUT THE LORD SHALL ARISE UPON THEE, AND HIS GLORY SHALL BE SEEN UPON THEE. AND THE GENTILES SHALL COME TO THY LIGHT, AND KINGS TO THE BRIGHTNESS OF THY RISING.

In the text, Isaiah, with his usual sublimity, foretells the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles. Not only he, but other prophets predict it; and it is a theme, on which the writers of the New Testament, and in particular St. Paul, dwell with great delight. We have so long been a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that we now consider this privilege as our birthright, and are too often unmindful of the extent of the blessing. It is necessary therefore to direct our attention to it, that our hearts may be impressed with gratitude to God, and that we may

show forth the praises of him, who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light.

Many parts of the world now enjoy the bright beams of divine revelation; but there was a time, when it was confined to one favoured spot, and when darkness covered the rest of the earth, and gross darkness the people. If we had not been graciously taken out of this state, instead of adoring with sacrifices of love the benevolent Father of the universe, we should be the terrified worshippers of Woden, Thor, and Friga, and the other barbarous gods of our Saxon ancestors. But let us arise and shine; for the light of the gospel is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon us and we gentiles are come to the light of the sun of righteousness, and our kings to the brightness of his rising.

As God is good unto all, and his tender mercies are over all his works, the dispensation, by which one nation is favoured with the knowledge of the truth, and all others are left in ignorance and errour, is somewhat mysterious. The best solution of this difficulty is derived from the consideration of what kind of being man is ; and this is the solution, which the Scriptures give. Man is a free agent: he has power to go right; and he has power to go wrong. There can be no doubt, that at the beginning the idolatry of the nations was voluntary; because God

in no age of the world has left himself without witness. So St. Paul teaches us. That which may be known of God, says he, is manifest in them, for God hath shown it unto them. For the invisible things of him, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and godhead; so that they [idolaters] are without excuse. These observations of the Apostle are reasonable; and they ought to stop the mouth of the objector.

Idolatry and all other sins originate from the wills of men; but they do not take place without the knowledge of the Supreme Being. He has wise designs in permitting them to exist; and he mercifully educes good from the greatest evil. Pious and thoughtful men have pointed out many reasons, which rendered it expedient that one nation should be separated for a time from the rest of the world, and chosen as the depository "of the oracles of God. Of these reasons that which stands preeminent is, that preparations were thus made for the coming of the Messiah, and satisfactory evidence afforded of the divinity of his mission.

Because a peculiar people was elected to preserve the knowledge of the unity of God, it does not thence follow, that all other nations were delivered over to the influence of Satan, or to the government of malignant demons for this supposition cannot be true. The Supreme Being, though not