of his hands; and that strong reasons from analogy exist for the opinion, that they are inhabited by living beings, and moral agents, who unite with us in forming the grand moral empire of Jehovah. The term world, however, also signifies the entire mass of all created things, considered as one whole.

II. The term creation may signify the formation of something out of pre-existent matter, or out of nothing. But whether the Mosaic creation refers to the present organization of matter or to the formation of its primary elements, it is not easy to decide. The question is certainly not determined by the usage of the original words (, ), which are frequently employed to designate mediate formation. Should the future investigations of physical science, bring to light any facts, indisputably proving the anterior existence of the matter of this earth, such facts would not militate against the Christian Scriptures. But we should ever bear in mind, that to the omnipotent Jehovah, the immediate creation of the world is perfectly as easy as its formation from any pre-existent materials.

III. The time when the creation occurred, was about 5833 years ago, that is, about 4000 years before the birth of Christ. It is probable that it occurred in autumn; as the fruits of the earth and all other things were created in a state of maturity.1

The time occupied in the creative work, was six days. The instantaneous creation of the whole universe would have been equally easy to the creative will of God; but for wise reasons the Author of the universe preferred successive creation, perhaps to render these displays of his omnipotence intelligible to the higher spirits, the morning stars that 'sang together, and the

1 Gen. 2: 5. And (God made) every plant of the field before it was in the earth and every herb of the field before it grew for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

2 Job 38: 7. When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy

sons of God which shouted for joy, when earth's foundations were laid.1 When God had completed the creation, he beheld the work of his hands, and pronounced it very good, that is, free from moral or physical evil, and well calculated to effect the design, with which he created it.

IV. Having in six successive days completed the formation of all things, the Author of our being rested,3 that is, ceased from creation on the seventh day; and blessed it and set apart that portion of time for sacred purposes. Thus did our heavenly Father formally institute a day of rest or abstinence from worldly labour: By sanctifying it, he set it apart for holy purposes; and thus rendered obligatory on the entire human family of every generation and age, the religious observance of one day in

seven.

V. But matter either in its chaotic state or in an organized form does not possess the attribute of self-subsistence. To the same divine hand, therefore, which called it into existence, must its continuance in being be attributed. The preservation of the universe, in many of its parts, is nothing else than continued creation. It is true, God causes the stated reproduction of all the various species of creatures according to fixed laws, that is, in a uniform way. He also effects his object mediately, by preserving to all the particles of matter, the properties which he originally bestowed on them; and employs objects already existing, in the reproduction of new. Nevertheless, what does the acorn know of the mountain oak, which in the process of time

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? v. 4. Gen. 1: 31. And God saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good.

3 Gen. 2: 2. And on the seventh day God ended the work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

4 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it he rested from all his work which God created and made. v. 3.

proceeds from it? Or what does the grain of seed wheat know of the stalk, which grows out of it? Much less can the acorn be regarded as the creator of the oak; or the vegetable seeds, of the plants which God produces from them? Nor is the case different with animated beings. The hen is ignorant of the brood, which is to emanate from her eggs, at the term of her incubation. Nor is the process of generation less incomprehensible in beings of higher and rational nature; nor God any less the actual Creator of every individual. In the same sense, and in the same mediate manner, is God the real preserver of every thing that exists throughout the universe. It is God, reader, that preserves you every moment of your existence. Every breath you draw and every beating pulse that throbs at your heart proclaims to you the continued goodness and preserving care of your heavenly Father, and calls on you for gratitude in word and work. Reflect on the intricate machinery of which your body consists, on the numerous bones, the five hundred and twenty-seven muscles, the complicated glands, the tender nerves and innumerable blood vessels diffused throughout your body, all every moment liable to disorder, and well may you exclaim with the pious songster of Zion,

Our life contains a thousand springs,

And dies if one be gone;

Strange, that a harp of thousand strings
Should keep in tune so long.

But 'tis our God supports our frame,
The God that formed us first:
Salvation to th' Almighty name,
That reared us from the dust.

While we have breath, or life, or tongues,
Our Maker we'll adore;

His Spirit moves our heaving lungs,

Or they would breathe no more.

Of Angels.

2

I. The Scriptures teach us, that prior to the formation of man,1 God created a numerous order of beings of higher rank, termed angels, by which are intended spirits possessed of intellectual and moral excellence superior to that of man, employed by God as the ministers of his providence. They are also called morning stars, sons of God, cherubim, seraphim, thrones, dominions, principalities and powers; and appear to be characterised by diversity of rank. 4

Angels are engaged in serving and worshipping God, and ministering to them that shall be heirs of salvation." Lazarus was borne by angels into Abraham's bosom ; angels conducted Peter, and the apostles 10 out of prison; informed Paul that he should escape in the shipwreck ; appeared to Zechariah,12

9

1 Job 38: 4. 7. Where wast thou when I laid the foundation of the earth ?-When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Matth. 26: 53. Dan, 7: 10. 2 Psalm 103: 20. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. 2 Thess. 1: 7. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, not even the angels in heaven.

3 Ezek. 10: 19. And the cherubim lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight. Is. 6:2. Above it stood the seraphim; each one had six wings: with twain he covered his face, with twain he covered his feet: and with twain he did fly. Col. 1: 16. Heb. 1: 4. 6. Dan. 4: 17.

4 1 Thess. 4: 16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

5 Rom. 8: 38. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, &c.

and celebrated with demonstrations of celestial joy the glorious advent of the Saviour. They are doubtless subject to the same moral code, which regulates the human family, and constitute, like the latter, a part of the grand moral empire of Je'hovah.

II. Yet some of these happy and holy spirits kept not their first estate; but, at a time and in a manner unknown to us, like man transgressed the covenant. By this rebellion they forfeited their primitive innocence and happiness, were banished into the regions of despair, where they are now suffering, and reserved in everlasting chains of darkness to the judgment of the great day. These apostate spirits are by the sacred writers denominated devils, and one of their number, who is leader of the rest, is termed Satan, and sometimes Beelzebub, Dragon, &c.1

It cannot be doubted, that these evil spirits also exert an important and baneful influence on the human family. Satan tempted our first parents,5 tempted the Saviour, and tempted Judas to betray his Master. In short he is emphatically styled "the tempter," and is represented as going about like a roaring

1 Luke 2: 9, &c.

2 Matth. 4: 10. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

3 Jude v. 6. And the angels, who kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day. 2 Pet. 2: 4.

4 Job 1: 12. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. Rev. 12:9. And the great Dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil and satan, which deceiveth the whole world, he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Isaiah 14: 12. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, who didst weaken the nations. 6 Matth. 4:3-12.

5 Gen. 3.

7 John 13: 2. And supper being ended, (the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son to betray him).