think for themselves, and in consequence of this, obtain clear and accurate ideas of the Divine Character and Government, the reign of darkness-of superstition and enthusiasm will be drawing to its close. We may hope that the reign of infidelity, profaneness, and religious indifference will terminate with it; and that the knowledge of God will be followed by an imitation of his character, and that the effect of this will be the regeneration of the world," Peace on earth, and good will among men."

LECTURE XXX.

HAVING in my last Lecture insisted on the importance of the Religious Principle, and of forming right sentiments of the Divine Character and Government, and having given some general directions on this subject, I shall now proceed to the consideration of some of the particular perfections which both reason and Scripture teach us to ascribe to God, and the duties which we owe to Him, in consequence of his possessing these perfections. And in the first place I shall lay before you some observations on the unity of God.

It is sufficient to determine us in the belief of one God, the Creator and Governor of all things, that the arguments

which are brought against Atheism prove the existence of one such Being, and of one only. As therefore the existence of one God may be demonstrated; as the existence of more than one cannot, and is not required to account for the various appearances in Nature, it is, to say the least of it, an hypothesis without any foundation. The very same cause which would lead us to suppose two Gods, would lead us to suppose two millions; and if we rest not in the belief of one, it will be impossible to point out the number at which we should stop. Besides the idea of two or more omnipresent, omnipotent, and in all respects absolutely perfect Beings, seems to imply a contradiction. In confirmation of these conclusions, drawn from the nature of things, by the best use of the faculties which God has given us, let us attend to some of those marks of unity of design which appear in the frame and government of the world, and see if they do not likewise lead the mind to the acknow

ledgment of one wise, powerful, and benevolent Cause.

Had the different parts of the Universe been the work of different Beings, it is natural to suppose that each part would have been unconnected and independent. But the slightest attention to the works of Creation, will convince us that the contrary is the case. Even very distant parts of Nature, are bound together by some connecting chain, and combine in the production of the same effects. The heat of the Sun, the showers of rain, and the soil of the earth, are all concerned in the production of every single plant. And as various causes often unite to produce one effect, so a variety of effects is often brought about by one and the same original cause. The principle of Gravitation, for instance, how great, surprising and various are its effects! the stability of the earth, the flux of rivers, the ebbing and flowing of the sea, the ascent of vapours, the descent of rain, together with many other effects, equally important and ne

cessary, all depend upon this single principle. To it is owing likewise that the Air, that necessary fluid to the existence, and all the purposes of animal and vegetable life, continues to surround the earth, and that the heavenly bodies hold their stations, and continue to perform their appointed revolutions. Now when we, as in this case, see so many effects produced by one cause, and as in others, so many causes unite to produce one effect, can we avoid ascribing such a constitution of things to one directing and overruling counsel? Had the Universe been the work of a variety of independent beings, is it probable that one part would have been thus dependent upon another, and that such a connection would have subsisted between bodies which are placed at such an immense distance from one another? On the contrary, is it not natural to suppose, that if this had been the case, different parts of nature would have been totally independent, and would have