an habitation of the Most High. It is no longer a scene of anarchy, the seat of tumultuous passions; but the residence of peace, and joy, and hope, and holiness, as the pledge of still more refined and exalted felicity to come.

Connected with these solemn truths are promises suited to every possible circumstance in human life, and adapted to all the difficulties which press upon the man in passing through this valley of tears. In this one book is found "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatcr soever things are pure,

lovely, whatsoever thatsoever things are

are of good report:" in a word, whatsoever things are profitable "for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and "for instruction in righteousness." But when you have laid together all the discoveries of this volume, you must confess "Lo, these are

rr

parts of his ways! but how little a portion is "heard of him?"

It is freely conceded to infidelity, that there are in this volume "many things hard to be "understood:" difficulties which cannot be surmounted, and mysteries which cannot be explained. But who does not perceive, from the train of discussion pursued this evening, that in this very point consists it's analogy to nature and to Providence? that it bears the cha

racter of the unsearchable God impressed upon it? that it forms a part, and only a part, of the same mysterious plan, and the same great operations, which are carrying forwards above us, around us, beneath us, wherever the hand of God is and that is every where? Who does not trace in the Bible the same features of clearness and of obscurity-the same combination of light and of darkness-found in every thing else connected with the Deity; and to be expected in the communications made by an infinite mind, to a finite capacity? Who does not see that the same obscurity which overshadows revelation, equally overspreads nature and Providence? Who can deny, on these principles, the position which we wish to establish: that no conclusion can be drawn against the Bible on account of it's mysteries; but rather, that they furnish an evidence that it is indeed a revelation from him, who is equally past finding out in all his ways?

All these things are but the image of the invisible God when you have passed through them all, you are only on the threshold of the temple of his works. He that wearies his eye in tracing the systems that are visible in the starry heavens, and his imagination in conceiving of myriads beyond these, leaves half the works of God unexplored, and an infinity of sys

tems unconceived. He that searches into the mysteries of Providence, and by the aid of revelation unravels a portion of his operations, has only seen like Moses, a part of his glory, but "the cloud" is yet spread over "the face of his "throne." He that explores the invisible worlds by the light of revelation, only sweeps over their service, but must die to learn their secrets. He that reads in this volume the nature of God, his relation to us, the way of reconciliation, and the plan of redemption, has learned only in part what God has done, and what he has laid up for them that fear him. The tale will be unfolding through all the revolving periods of eternity. Some mysteries will be incessantly explaining, some new discoveries of divine grace continually makingand we shall ever be learning what are "the heights and depths, the breadths and lengths, "of the love of Christ, which passeth know

ledge." For the present we leave the subject exhausted precisely at the point where we began: "Lo, these are parts of his ways! and how "little a portion is heard of him?"

If the radiance of these material orbs is so

insupportable, and the light of the noontide

sun blinds the organ of visions: if the mysteries of Providence are so inscrutable, and his superintendance of human affairs so irresistible: if the invisible worlds are so sublimely obscure, and he reigns unresisted over them: if the beams of his mercy shining through the revelation of divine love are so overwhelming; Oh! what must be the unquenchable fire of his indignation! "The thunder of his power who can un"derstand?"

If when he descended in the cool of the day to judge our first parents, they shrunk with horror from the face of offended Deity: if when

he

gave his law, the mountain burned with fire, and darkness and thunder, and the sound of a trumpet, announced the present God, and shook the camp of Israel: if when he discovered only the skirts of his glory to Moses, he sheltered him in a rock, and covered him with his hand; if when he passed before Elijah, a great and strong wind rent the mountains, an earthquake rived the rocks, and a fire consumed the forest; if when in the vale of flesh his face eclipsed the splendour of the sun, and his raiment shone as the light; if when he appeared to his beloved disciple in the barren isle of Patmos, in the softest beams of his majesty, so terrible was the sight, that he fell at his feet as dead: Oh!

what must be the power of his anger! and "the thunder of his power who can under"stand?"

We have heard his thunderstorm in the summer: when clouds have been opposed to clouds, while the mountains and the vallies have returned their roarings in broken echoes. But what is the thunderstorm of summer, to the ten thousand thunders that shall rend the earth, when the trump of God shall awaken the dead; and add to these twice ten thousand more, and they are as the rattling of a leaf to "the thunder of "his power!"

Who then can stand against him? Pause and think, ye monarchs of this world, who resist his power! Who would have him for an enemy? Pause and think, ye who madly violate his laws! Who may abide the day of his coming? For he shall sit as a refiner to try every work, and every spirit what it is!

Hide your diminished heads, ye that would bring down the Infinite Mind to your finite capacities! Boast no more your conclusions drawn from the limited views which you have of his operations. Use your reason no longer as a weapon against him who bestowed it; lest a dart, launched by an unseen hand, strike through your heart; and the arrows of the Almighty be