heathens were, but as persons who believe in the truth of that sacred book, wherein He has vouchsafed to reveal so much of Himself to mankind, as it is expedient for them to know. Except on the authority of that book, I could not venture to reason with you on such a subject at all; for without a revelation, how could I possibly know any thing about God? How could I know that He created man, or what his purpose was? How could I tell whether He were not a malevolent being, who had made us in sport, just to tantalize us with a vision of happiness, that we might the more acutely feel the reality of misery? How could I be sure that He did not design us all for a state of hopeless torment hereafter, having given us a perception of enjoyment, and a taste of pleasure upon earth, merely for the purpose of increasing our pangs in another world, by the bitter recollection of the delights which we had experienced, and by the miserable knowledge of our capacity for a higher condition? Or if He had determined within His own bosom a rule, according to which He would distribute His rewards, and His punishments, in a future life, how could I penetrate into the secrets of His

what that rule might be?

counsels, and say

How could I inform

those, who desired to serve him, of what nature

those services ought to be, and whether the methods which they took to please Him, might not be such as would give him most offence? Nay, how could I possibly tell, whether there would be any life at all hereafter, and whether the grave would not be the humiliating end of miserable and distracted man? I might have opinions on these subjects, but what should I know? No more than I know what may now be taking place in some distant planet, or how God has employed Himself in the past ages of Eternity. In short nothing could be known of God, or of his dealings with man, except by his own express communication, and "an unknown God" could be no object of love, nor was He loved by those, who ignorantly worshipped "they knew not whom."

But, "blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear; for verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them, and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." You know, in the first place, concerning the nature of God, that He is a Being of infinite perfection, infinite in power, in wisdom, in justice, in goodness; you know that He is the sole Creator and Governor of this vast universe, consisting of un

numbered worlds, giving to them all their laws, and guiding them entirely by his Almighty word; and (what brings Him nearer to ourselves,) that He is the maker of man, and exercises a providential care over him; that "in Him we live, and move, and have our being; " that our existence wholly depends on Him, who is ever present with us; that whatever we enjoy of health, and strength, and comfort, whatever delight we experience through the ministry of our various senses, whatever rational pleasure we are capable of deriving, from the inexhaustible beauties and wonders of nature, whatever pure satisfaction from the endearments of friendly intercourse with one another, we have received them all from His liberal bounty, and can retain them only at His pleasure.

If man were at this hour, such as he was at first created, a being "in the image of God," innocent and happy, with all his feelings and passions in subjection to the reason which was given to direct and controul them, unmolested by pain of body, free from anxiety and distress. of mind, and no death in the prospect, to discourage him in all his enjoyments, the love of that God, who had showered upon him such abundant blessings, would be the first law of his nature, and obedience to it his greatest happi

With what admiration would he contemplate all the proofs of his wisdom and goodness, displayed in the wonderful works of Creation! With what thankfulness would he acknowledge the invaluable benefit of so happy an existence! With what filial affection would he revere so kind and indulgent a father! What a pride would he consider it, to be intimately united with so great and good a Being! With what unwearied zeal would he study to please him in all things! In what lively and exalted strains would he bless Him for the mercies he hourly received! With what intenseness of prayer would he implore the continuance of his love! What supreme satisfaction would be feel in the assurance of his constant presence, and ever watchful care! And if such a thought could enter his mind, how melancholy would it be to imagine himself for a moment separated from HIM, the fountain of his life and happiness, the origin and the medium of every delight he experienced, the spring of every pleasurable emotion, the heart of his heart, the soul of his soul! Without HIM, he could not conceive the possibility of enjoyment; all would be cheerless and wretched, light would be darkness, order would be confusion, beauty would be deformity, love would be hatred, food would be poison, music would be

K

discord, every thing would be (to his perception) the reverse of what it was before, through the absence of the "Parent of Good," whose presence alone could make it what it was.

Such would be the feelings of man, had he remained in a state of purity and innocence. God would be every thing to him, not merely the perfection, but the very essence of his Being; and happiness without God, would be as inconceivable as life without breath. But alas! what a work has sin wrought! how has it severed man from his Maker! how has it effaced from his mind, that divine "image and superscription which stamped him as God's own! We can now live "without God in the world," yet think ourselves happy! we can now go grovelling upon the earth, with brute unconscious gaze, beholding all the wonders of Almighty power and wisdom, so profusely spread around us, and observe not Him, "mark not the hand unseen that works in every process of nature, nor trace that universal spirit which pervades, and animates, and sustains, the whole fabric of Creation! We can enjoy life, and health, and strength, yet feel no gratitude to the “author and giver of all good things;" we can labour without the least thought of depending on his assistance for success; we can indulge in hopes unsanctified