warmest affection; for the more we consider the variety and usefulness of them, the more clearly we see that they are works of an Omniscient contrivance. Both by reason and religion we are taught to believe that His guiding providence extends indiscriminately to every individual creature. We are all equally subject to his power, equally the object of his tender mercies; and all alike indebted to him for existence and support. He numbers the very hairs of our head, and not a sparrow falls to the ground without his will.

Mark the Almighty's munificent preservation of mankind. "God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed, to you it shall be for meat."* Nor was the benign care which God originally displayed for man's preservation forgotten in after times he had made it an unalterable law of nature that the earth should regularly bring forth its fruits; and though as a punishment for the ingratitude of mankind, he occasionally visited the land with dearth, yet his tender mercy was still over all, and the just avenger of sin was always ready to ap

*Hence a conclusion has been drawn, strengthened by the special allowance of meat afterwards mentioned in Scripture, that our first parents and their descendants ate no animal food until after the flood.

pear as the merciful dispenser of blessings. It was in this spirit that he signified towards his people a continuation of his mercies when he delivered the law from Mount Sinai, by promising them that if they steadfastly kept his commandments he would give them rain in due season, and that the earth should bring forth a plentiful supply of her goodly fruits.* Evincing thereby, that natural causes can produce nothing without his blessing; that although they have natural principles to yield fruits according to their natures, yet, he can retard or stop their progressive operations; and like his consumption of the perishable fig-tree, make all their branches unfruitful. Who then can sufficiently declare the works of his power, wisdom, and goodness? or who can utter all his praise ? For the whole world before him" is as a little grain of the balance, yea, as a drop of the morning dew that falleth down upon the earth."

These are God's glorious works, complete and good.

Behold them, by Almighty hands decreed

Long as the earth her emerald crop endures.
Earth is the footstool of Omnipotence !

Nor shall the vault of heaven, with studded gems
In star-like splendour fail the azure space;
The golden orb of day may brighter shine
Throughout his glorious circuit, than the moon,
Whose beams of silver clad the silent night;

* Levit. xxvi, 34.

While Seraphim around th' ærial throne,

In ecstacy assemble and rejoice.

Bright smiles of morning shed their orient pearls,
Distill'd as honey from the thornless spray,
While cooling zephyrs waft in every breeze
The love divine, and power infinite.

Sun, moon, and stars, in rapid motion roll
Perpetual" worlds! systems! and creations!"
Shout verdant meads! with annual blessing crown'd,
Unspeakable beneficence proclaim.

Resound, ye elements, with ceaseless praise;
And roar, ye winds, with might reverberate;
"Breathe soft or loud," mysterious in the dance
Of golden ears, or crimson trefoil crest.

Proud ocean! spangle with thy living train
The lordly waves, or with low crystal streams
In peals of gratitude melodious chime.

In innocence, fair flowers, exhale your sweets;
Oppress'd with fragrance, learn humility.
Uplift your lofty heads, ye spiry firs

Of Lebanon or forest; wave your plumes,
All ye majestic cedars, palms, and pines.
Grand choir of songsters, elevate your wings
In air suspended; warble forth your praise
High as empyrean realms, in sonorous notes.-
On earth,—with grateful tribute, let all pay
Him adoration ;-them that lowly creep,
Or tread majestic the imperial ground-
Let every voice unanimous extol
His vast perfection. Author of all good.
Lord, thou art ever present, yet unseen
By all! Thou livs't alike in shady groves,
Or on the barren mountain-top: Thou search'st
Invisible the depths of earth and sea!

From thy blest presence whither shall we fly?

41

ON THE

PRIMEVAL STATE OF MAN.

Or all the subjects which fall within the province of history, that of MAN justly claims the preference. By studying mankind, we learn to know ourselves, (a knowledge replete with the greatest advantages), and become best acquainted with our Maker, because in man, "his own image," we have the clearest exhibition of divine wisdom and benevolence. If this, then, be true in a general acceptation, it must be self-evident that the history of the primogenitor of the human race, whose conduct has so wonderfully affected the whole of his species, is eminently useful and instructive; and, indeed, we see that as the representative of all mankind, the conduct and character of Adam are frequently mentioned by the sacred writers, with a view to draw pious and moral reflections from both, for the benefit of his posterity.

The garden of Eden, a place signifying pleasure and delight, was the happy spot appointed by the Almighty, for the reception of those excellent beings whom he had formed in the image of his own likeness. It was a

"Heaven on earth, for blissful Paradise

Of God the garden was : thus was this place

A happy rural seat of various view;

Groves whose rich trees wept od'rous gums and balm,
Others, whose fruit, burnish'd with golden rind,
Hung amiable, (Hesperian fables true

If true here only) and of delicious taste.
Betwixt them, lawns or level downs, or flocks
Grazing the tender herb, were interposed;
Or palmy hillock, or the flowery lap

Of some irriguous valley spread her store:
Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose."

The glorious sun was restricted from emitting those fervid rays that might parch or affect the fertility of this favoured land: the salubrity of the air, aided by the serenest gales, sighed gently through the empyreal realm; and the silver dews were as glittering pearls scattered by the breath of heavenly dawn; when the moon in her bright circlet of gold enlivened the soul of man, and myriads of twinkling stars were the celestial witnesses of his intercourse with the great Creator. It was richly stored with all kinds of plants, that for their perfume, brilliancy, and beauty, were most agreeable to the sight, and yielded a rare production of the fairest fruits both grateful to the taste and good for food.

Here flourished, in rich luxuriance, orange and pomegranate groves, whose teeming boughs of golden produce were only excelled by their exquisite odours, while hedge-rows of nectareous fruits, abounded with delicious sweets and aro