He not only created them, and endowed them with most wonderful instincts for self-preservation, and faculties for enjoyment; but adapts these instincts and faculties to the revolution of the seasons, and the revolution of the seasons to them. The deeper we examine this subject, the more powerfully are we struck with proofs of the minute and tender care of a Parent in making provision for the wants of His offspring. Descending from the larger to the smaller animals, we find no point in the scale where this parental character stops, or is even diminished. The same wise and most wonderful provision is made for the worm and the mite, as for the lion and the elephant,their bodies are equally formed with consummate art, and equally contrived with amazing care, for the circumstances in which they are placed, and the means of subsistence and happiness within their reach.

Nor is this all Science applies its skill to aid nature in investigating the little as well as the great. If, by means of the telescope, the astronomer has been enabled to lay open a thousand wonders of the starry heavens, hid from our unaided sight, and taught us to believe, that, after all, we are only on the threshold of discovery in this department; that we still see, "Darkly as through a glass;" and that it is but a faint and feeble glimpse of creation which our most improved instruments can exhibit; the microscope has directed our attention to wonders no less worthy of admiration on our own earth, and within our own limited locality, and has informed us that there is a species of infinitude in the minuteness of organized existences, as well as in the magnitude of those which are unorganized; that, in the former, as well as in the latter in the myriads of inhabitants in a drop of water, or in the leaf of a plant, or in a grain of sand-the perfections of the Creator are no less certainly to be seen, than in those mighty suns which, at his command, shed light, and life, and joy over their attendant worlds, and fill boundless space with His glory.

It is here that the Christian finds an antidote against

those doubts which a contemplation of infinite magnitude might otherwise excite in his mind. If it be natural for

him to ask, with some feeling of unbelief, “Can the Creator of innumerable worlds look down with pity on the sinful race of Adam? can he be conceived to deal with this race in the way which Scripture unfolds? is it possible that He, the Eternal God, should, in very truth, send His only begotten Son to this little planet, to dwell with men, -taking upon Himself their nature; subjecting Himself to their infirmities; nay, for their sakes, suffering sorrow, torture, and death?"-If, I say, it be natural for the mind, expanded by the philosophy of the heavens, to put these sceptical questions, it can scarcely fail to be brought back to a sounder state, when it takes in a more comprehensive view of the Divine character, and humbly contemplates the very same Hand which moves the universe, preserving the existence, and presiding over the enjoyment, of the microscopic world.

This view is most beautifully and convincingly unfolded by Dr Chalmers, in what have been called his "Astronomical Sermons." By a comparison, in his own characteristic manner, of the discoveries of the microscope with those of the telescope, he shows that we have as much reason, from the works of creation, to conceive of the Creator, as infinitely minute in His providential care, as we have to conceive of Him as infinitely great and powerful; and, having established this important truth, he leads us irresistibly to the conclusion, that the exhibition made of the Divine Being in His Revealed Word, is in perfect harmony with the character of Himself, which He has impressed on nature.

66 They, therefore,” says this admirable writer, "who think that God will not put forth such a power, and such a goodness, and such a condescension, in behalf of this world, as are ascribed to Him in the New Testament, because He has so many other worlds to attend to, think of Him as a man. They confine their view to the informations of the telescope, and forget altogether the infor

mations of the other instrument. They only find room, in their minds, for His one attribute, of a large and general superintendence, and keep out of their remembrance the equally impressive proofs we have for His other attribute, of a minute and multiplied attention to all the diversity of operations, where it is He that worketh all in all. And when I think, that, as one of the instruments of philosophy has heightened our every impression of the first of these attributes, so another instrument has no less heightened our impression of the second of them,— then I can no longer resist the conclusion, that it would be a transgression of sound argument, as well as a daring impiety, to draw a limit around the doings of this unsearchable God; and, should a professed revelation from Heaven, tell me of an act of condescension, in behalf of some separate world, so wonderful that angels desired to look into it, and the Eternal Son had to move from his seat of glory to carry it into accomplishment, all I ask is the evidence of such a revelation; for, let it tell me as much as it may of God letting himself down for the benefit of one single province of his dominions, this is no more than I see lying scattered in numberless examples before me; and running through the whole line of my recollections; and meeting me in every walk of observation to which I can betake myself; and now that the microscope has unveiled the wonders of another region, I see strewed around me, with a profusion which baffles my every attempt to comprehend it, the evidence that there is no one portion of the universe of God too minute for his notice, nor too humble for the visitation of his care."

I cannot resist the inclination I feel to protract this paper beyond the usual length, that I may conclude it with the following well-known and highly impassioned passage:-"I do not enter at all into the positive evidence for the truth of the Christian Revelation, my single aim, at present, being to dispose of one of the objections which is conceived to stand in the way of it. Let me

suppose, then, that this is done to the satisfaction of a philosophical inquirer; and that the evidence is sustained; and that the same mind that is familiarized to all the sublimities of natural science, and has been in the habit of contemplating God in association with all the magnificence which is around him, shall be brought to submit its thoughts to the captivity of the doctrine of Christ. Oh! with what veneration, and gratitude, and wonder, should he look on the descent of Him into this lower world, who made all things, and without whom was not any thing made that was made. What a grandeur does it throw over every step, in the redemption of a fallen world, to think of its being done by Him who unrobed Himself of the glories of so wide a monarchy; and came to this humblest of its provinces, in the disguise of a servant; and took upon Him the form of our degraded species; and let Himself down to sorrows, and to sufferings, and to death, for us. In this love of a dying Saviour to those for whom in agony he poured out his soul, there is a height, and a depth, and a length, and a breadth, more than I comprehend; and let me never, never, from this moment, neglect so great a salvation, or lose my hold of an atonement made sure by Him who cried, that it was finished, and brought in an everlasting righteousness."*

* Chalmers's Astronomical Sermons, pp. 115-120.

102

FIFTH WEEK-SUNDAY.

ON THE DIFFICULTY OF COMPREHENDING THE OPERATIONS OF PROVIDENCE.

We have been contemplating the perfections of the Creator, as exhibited in His works. Let us pause a little on this day, set apart for devotional exercises, and turn to the consideration of the same perfections, as exhibited in His moral government.

One of the first things that strikes the mind in adverting to this subject, is the difficulty of comprehending God's dealings with His rational creatures. We immediately discover, that "His ways are not as our ways, nor His thoughts as our thoughts." A peculiar mystery hangs over his operations, when we examine them in the unassisted light of reason; and although this mystery is greatly modified, it is not altogether removed, when revelation adds its clearer light. This, every inquiring mind must have felt, in considering the various questions connected with the existence of moral evil. Let us look, then, at the sources of this mystery, and we shall find them all resolving themselves into this one fact, the infinite transcendency of the Divine perfections.

The wise and good among men frequently act on principles which are not obvious to their inferiors, who are not capable of entering into their exalted views. Can it be matter of surprise, then, that the feeble and grovelling race of Adam should be found incapable of entering into the councils of Him who is infinitely wise, and infinitely good? As in His own nature He is incomprehensible, so in the operations of His providence He may be, and, indeed, He frequently must be, influenced by motives far above our conception. "As the