and when we see what human strength and skill can do, we conclude that such things were made by men like ourselves, and who only differ from us in having applied their strength and skill to those particular purposes.-When we look at a tree, or a flower, at the raging sea, or the stars of heaven, we must be equally convinced that they were not made by chance; and as we know that human strength or skill cannot make them, we must conclude that they are the work of some Being, whose power is much greater than ours. Much more when we reflect on ourselves; on the wonderful contrivance of the Body, and the far more wonderful faculties of the Soul; when we feel and know that we are capable of happiness and of virtue; that we can think, and speak, and act; yet are certain that we did not make ourselves; common sense must convince us, that we were formed by Him, " in whom we live, and move, and have our being;"* and we must believe that there is a GOD.-But " no man hath seen GOD at any time!"t and all that we can know of his nature, must be what He has been graciously pleased to reveal to us. From the - earliest times GOD has given laws and instruc

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tions to men, and his will has been made known to them either immediately from Himself, as appears to have been the case when He spake to Adam, to Noah, to Abraham, and others, and when He pronounced the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai to the whole nation of the children of Israel; or by the ministry of prophets, who on different occasions have been commissioned to declare his will, and by whom the books of the Old Testament were written. But "GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the Prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son."'* Our Saviour JESUS CHRIST came into the world to teach us our duty, to set us an example, and to die for our sins. He proved that he was sent from GOD, by works which no man can do by his own power. He opened the eyes of the blind, he healed the sick, he cast out devils, he raised the dead. Above all, after having been publicly put to death as a malefactor, he rose triumphant from the grave, lived and conversed forty days with his disciples on earth, and then ascended into Heaven, in the presence of numbers who afterwards laid down

* Heb. i. 1.

their lives to prove the truth of those things which they had themselves seen and heard. These men, to whom our Saviour gave a commission to preach the Gospel to all nations, wrote the Books of the New Testament; and in these books, which, with the Old Testament, make up the sacred volume which we call the Bible, we may find all the information that is necessary for us, in regard to the nature of GOD, and our duty to Him; we may learn how to behave in every situation in this world, and to look beyond this world to the happiness which is promised to every good man after death. To that book, then, we must apply for information; and from that book I will endeavour to collect the substance of what we are required to believe and to do, in order to obtain the salvation which is there promised to all the faithful servants of GOD. I hope to do this in such a plain and simple manner as may be understood by all; may be useful to those who have not the advantage of being able to read the Bible themselves; and may afford satisfaction to those who are already well acquainted with that sacred book, by bringing to their remembrance what ought never to be forgotten.

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The first words of the Bible contain a great and most important truth: "In the beginning GOD created the heaven and the earth."* Here we may learn the answer to the question, how we and the world we live in were made. GOD created, GOD produced out of nothing, all that we see in this beautiful world. He spake, and it was done. In six days GOD created the world, furnished it with plants and animals, and made man in his own image to rule over it;" and GOD saw every thing that He had made, and behold it was very good." Every thing then was perfect in its kind; and the appointed ruler of all, Adam, formed in the image of GOD, was wise, was virtuous, and was happy. For him GOD formed a companion, a friend, and a wife,' innocent and virtuous as himself, to complete his happiness by sharing it with him, to deserve and possess his love, and to join with him in serving and in praising their great Creator. To this happy pair God gave the garden of Eden, with all things in it richly to enjoy; and GOD said, "of every tree of the garden thou mayst freely. eat; but of the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it, for in the day + Gen. i. 31.

Gen. i. 1.

that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."+ Obedience to this command was the proof required of their love and gratitude to Him, who gave them all; but this command was broken. Through envy of the devil death came into the world. From the Bible we learn that a fallen Angel, who had himself lost his happiness by rebelling against GOD, took the form of a serpent, and persuaded the woman to transgress." She took of the fruit thereof and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.* From this moment all is changed. Conscious of guilt, and trembling with apprehension of the threatened punishment, they hid themselves in the garden; vainly hoping, or at least wishing, to escape from the all-seeing eye of God. As it has been justly observed by an excellent writer, "In the state of innocence Adam ran to meet GOD; and the intercourse with his Divine Instructor was the most exalted delight of Paradise. But when innocence was gone, he sought the shelter of the deepest cover; and on being called forth out of it, returned for answer, with a de jection never known before, I heard thy voice,