enjoy, the Creator's praise,-think of them only as possessing that of which we are conscious in ourselves, a living principle of thought, and activity, and feeling, which according to its own emotions clothes the heavens with light or with darkness, and which whether it be in the human face divine, or in the written record of its operations, awakens a more lively interest than all the glories of that universe in which we are placed, think of the power that called these spirits into being, and that gives an individual and immortal existence to each, and then are you prepared for uniting with these celestial inhabitants in the acknowledgment : "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty: thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

This mighty power is seen in the creation of every thing, of an atom, an insect, a world, a system of worlds, in universe succeeding universe to an endless extent; but it appears to me more gloriously displayed in the creation of the human soul, by which alone we are capable of considering the heavens as the work of God's fingers; the moon and the stars which he has ordained, and of saying in admiration of his condescension, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" Without this living soul, what were all nature but a blank the form which brute unconscious matter wears,-and in which we should be incapable of discerning the eternal power and godhead of the Creator? What were an universe of matter but shapeless mag

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nitude, without the Living Spirit of such a Being to beautify and arrange it, or without the existence of intelligences capable of deriving pleasure from the view of its varied aspects of grandeur, and loveliness, and sublimity? Such intelligent creatures did God make in angels and in men, and he has shewn the greatness of his power, not only by the faculties which he has given them, but by also rendering them capable of increasing improvement through eternity.

Omnipotence is also shewn in the manner in which all things were made. If we are astonished at the magnitude of its effects, our admiration will be increased by contemplating the ease with which they were produced. God created all things by an act of his will: by the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them. He called those things which were not, and they came forth into his presence in the form, and in the variety, which accorded with his wisdom and his will. At the same instant, and with the same ease, were the heavens and the earth, things visible and invisible, made. The Almighty, after creating this world, occupied six days in arranging it for the abode of man, that we might learn from hence to note more carefully the glories displayed in each successive period, and so minutely to survey the wonders of divine power rising progressively superior to all that went before, that we might be suitably affected with admiring gratitude. But when he uttered the command, every thing obeyed his call. He said, "Let there be light;" and the light surrounded the world. "The waters retired to their place; the dry land appeared; the mountains rose; the heavens

were garnished; living creatures, with their different qualities, clothing, and faculties, came into being; and he from whose will the whole proceeded with equal ease, saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good."

Lo these are parts of his ways; but how little a portion is heard of him? The thunder of his power who can understand? How great must that power be which is the source of all the being, of all the activity, which any where exist, and which is of course far superior to the power that has proceeded from it! Do we behold power impressed on every object and element around us-the sun sending forth his influences to communicate light, and warmth, and fruitfulness, the smallest seed growing into so large a tree that the fowls of heaven may lodge in its branches, the inferior animals in their degrees possessing strength, and capable of progressive motion,-man with an understanding that enables him to measure the heavens, and to navigate the globe, and to be the blessing or the curse of his race through many generations,-and are we told that there are created beings of a still higher order, angels who excel in strength,—and how can we form a conception of the omnipotence of God, who has united in himself all the power which exists separately in the creatures? All the strength which is in the elements, and that also which is in the creatures, are only streams from him who is the fountain. But if all the strength of all substances and beings were united-if the power of all angels, of all men, of the whole universe, were in one person, how far would the extent of his power still surpass our comprehension!

Yet, this would give us but an imperfect notion of the omnipotence of God; since all that he has made, is as nothing before him, and is counted to him less than nothing and vanity. The things that are made are so far from being the measure of his power, that they do not bear a fractional proportion to what he is able to make. And what is all the power existing separately throughout the universe, though united, to the almighty strength of his arm, who can remove the creation by his word into non-existence, and restore the whole of that space which he fills, to the same state in which it was before the heavens and the earth were made?" To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One."

II. The omnipotence of God is shewn by his upholding and governing all things. In these his power is as impressively displayed as in the original act of creation. His power, in whatever way it is exercised, whether in creating or in governing, is accompanied with all the perfections of his nature. Among men it is possible for a powerful prince to lack wisdom; and for a poor man in his cottage to have prudence to advise, while he wants power to execute. But the exercise of one attribute in God, who is infinitely perfect, is accompanied with the exercise of all that is requisite to the end for which it is employed.

In no way, perhaps, is the power of God more visibly displayed than in preservation. Hence the admiration of the Psalmist: "O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings." The preser

vation of all things by divine power, if not a continued act of creation, is not less wonderful, since every thing would return to its state of original nothingness, if not upheld by omnipotence. The creature depends as much upon God for the preservation of its being as it did for its creation. Nothing more is neces sary for its annihilation than the withholding of the divine influence. While this supporting influence is continued, we live and move, and have our being; when it is withdrawn, we decay and dissolve. "Thou hidest thy face, and they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust." Now, when we consider what it is to preserve in life a single creature during many yearswhat it is to renew and regulate the motion of the lungs and the heart,-what it is to make the earth continue its fruitfulness, so as to produce food for the sustenance of life-and when we further consider, that the power which is requisite in regard to one individual, is actually employed in ministering to a corresponding extent to the unnumbered millions over the earth; that it is performing the same offices for all the living beings that people the wide dominion of God-that it alike directs the rapid revolutions of suns and systems, and the slower motion of rivers in their course, of clouds in the air, and of every drop of rain, have we not ample reason for admiring and adoring the omnipotence of God,-the wonder-working hand, that, in majestic silence, sways at will the mighty movements of unbounded nature? Are we not every moment sustained and surrounded by an interposing power, as great in itself, and proceeding as