Marvellous are thy works, and that my soul "knoweth right well. My substance was not "hid from thee, when I was made in secret, "and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of "the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance,

yet being unperfect, and in thy book all my "members were written, which in continuance 66 were fashioned, when as yet there was none "of them!" By the "inspiration of the Al

mighty" we are what we are, in relation to natural life, which is given, withheld, limited, and extinguished, at his pleasure.

2. THE INSPIRATION OF THE ALMIGHTY GIVETH US UNDERSTANDING." The dawn of reason at the first is lighted up in the mind of a child by a Divine hand. He causes it to brighten, as the limbs enlarge their size, and acquire vigour. He leads the powers of the mind to perfection, and fixes their standard. He makes all the difference which we perceive subsisting between man and man. He distributes, according to his pleasure, to some, one-to others, ten talents; and he proportions their responsibility to each respectively. The spirit which in this world seems unconfined, and which roves at large, with growing delight, through all the works of God; and that which is barely sufficient to carry it's possessor through life, came from the same hand; and however different in

their capacities, are equally immortal. Through a thousand invisible channels, the Father of Spirits visits our spirit; and it is in vain that we desire to trace the modes of his communica

tions to his creatures. "God speaketh once,

yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a "dream, in a vision of the night, when deep "sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon "the bed: then he openeth the ears of men, " and sealeth their instruction."

He touches the nerve of the brain, and the understanding seems to be lost. The spirit doubtless is perfect: but the instrument upon which she operated, the vehicle of her impulses, the fibre upon which she struck, is deranged and impaired. We are presented with that me lancholy union, the stature of a man and the ignorance of a child! All is mystery. A mind little inferior to what we conceive of angelic powers, is destroyed by the resistless force of it's own imagination; and reason is subdued by the uncontrouled power of fancy.-Like a majestic building raised upon too lofty a scale, it sinks under it's own pressure-and from the very grandeur of the design becomes an heap of ruins. Like a bright meteor, shines the blaze of genius for a season; but, from some unknown cause, it is precipitated from it's exalted sphere in a moment, and the ray of intel

lect which illumined the world-expires. We deplore in vain the ruins of that beautiful fabric, the human mind; and with anguish of spirit we discern the light of the understanding extinguished. But we are not ignorant of the hand which quenches it. It is the same that kindled it at the first. These are the mysterious transactions of the Fountain of Life: "For there is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him understanding."

3. SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE IS THE GIFT OF GOD. We too frequently see men of distinguished talents, most deplorably ignorant in that knowledge, which of itself is able to counterbalance the want of all others; and without which, all science is less than nothing. We stand astonished, and look upon the man as something more than mortal. What admirable powers of intellect! What a capacious understanding! What greatness of soul! What genius! What acquirements! What intelligence! What pity is it the picture is not finished! But the noble outline wants filling up by moral worth; and wanting that, it wants every thing. Alas! "one thing is needful"-and the lack of that one thing, destroys the worth of all! Without this, that godlike capacity is degraded: those superior powers are abused, mischievous rather than useful,

They are They are

ruinous to their possessor, and injurious to society. They are turned against HIM who bestowed them. They are wasted in wanton profusion; but they are followed by a dreadful responsibility. If it should please God to kindle a ray of spiritual light in that mind, what might not such a man, in the right employment of such distinguished talents, perform! But in the mean time, our position is established—that spiritual knowledge is the gift of God. "A

man can receive nothing except it be given " him from above." We are naturally ignorant in all spiritual concerns. Still worse than this, every power of our mind is directed against divine knowledge. "This is the condemnation, "that light is come into the world, but men "love darkness rather than light, because their "deeds are evil." He, who leads the morning stars, and kindled the radiance of the sun; He, who, " " in the beginning," said, "Let there be 'light,' and there was light;" He, who bestows natural and intellectual life upon the man; He it is, who pours spiritual knowledge into the mind, and to Him is it ascribed in the scriptures. "There is a spirit in man, and the "inspiration of the Almighty giveth him understanding."

4. THE FUTURE EXISTENCE OF THE SPIRIT WILL FLOW FROM GOD. Leaving this world,

our prospects are unbounded. The word of God draws aside the veil, and transports us to the foot of the eternal throne. The eye of faith numbers the different orders of glorious spirits which bend before the Deity. First, the various ranks of those pure Intelligences, those mysterious Beings, who never sinned, pass before the eye of the mind. These evermore cry, "Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty"—and hide their faces before uncreated Excellence. And these derive their existence, and their powers from Him, before whom they do homage. Then, the myriads of the Redeemed pass along before us, divided into their companies, and possessing their respective degrees of glory: but it a great multitude which no man can num"ber." Patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, lead the way: the noble army of martyrs follows: the general assembly and church of the firstborn, the spirits of the just made perfect, from Adam to the last spirit that fled from this vale of tears, are in this illustrious crowd, each of them clothed in righteousness, and bearing the emblem of victory in his hand. And these all live upon the "Fountain of Life"-all derive their superior intelligence from the "Father of Lights."

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The inspiration of the Almighty giveth them "understanding." We have contemplated the natural dignity of man, and uncovered the