seeing, tasting, feeling, and smelling, the recollection of their thousands of pleasures is necessarily called to mind. Our souls and bodies are both so constituted in their various faculties as to be heralds, for proclaiming the praises, not only of the wisdom, but also of the marvellous goodness of God.

3d. The study of the human frame has a powerful tendency to excite emotions of gratitude. Man is naturally a thoughtless and ungrateful creature. These dispositions are partly owing to ignorance of the wonders of the human frame, and of the admirable economy of the visible world; and this ignorance is owing to the want of those specifick instructions, which ought to be communicated by parents and teachers in connection with religion. For there is no rational being who is acquainted with the structure of his animal system, and reflects upon it with the least degree of attention, but must feel a sentiment of admiration and gratitude. The science which unfolds to us the economy of our bodies, shows us on what an infinity of springs, and motions, and adaptations our life and comfort depend. And when we consider that all these movements are performed without the least care or laborious effort on our part, if we be not entirely brutish and insensible of our dependence on a superiour power, we must be filled with emotions of gratitude towards him, whose hands have made and fashioned us, and who giveth us life and breath, and all things. Some of the motions to which I have adverted, depend upon our will; and with what celerity do they obey his commands! Before we can rise from our chair and walk across the room, a hundred muscles must be set in motion: every one of these must be relaxed or constricted just to a certain degree, and no more; and all must act harmoniously at the same instant of time; and, at the command of the soul, all these movements are instantaneously performed. When I wish to lift my hand to my head, every part of the body requisite

to produce the effect, is put in motion: The nerves are braced, the muscles stretched or relaxed, the bones play in their sockets, and the whole animal machine concurs in the action, as if every nerve and muscle had heard a sovereign and resistless call. If I wish the next moment to extend my hand to my foot, all these muscles are thrown into a different state, and a new set are brought along with them into action: And thus we may vary, every moment, the movements of the muscular system, and the mechanical actions it produces, by a simple change in our volition. Were we not daily accustomed to such varied and voluntary movements, or could we conemplate them in any other machine, we should be lost in wonder and astonishment.

Besides these voluntary motions, there are a thousand important functions, which have no dependance upon our will. Whether we think of it or not, whether we be sleeping or waking, sitting or walking, - the heart is incessantly exerting its muscular power at the centre of the system, and sending off streams of blood through hundreds of pipes; the lungs are continually expanding and contracting their thousand vesicles, and imbibing the vital principle of the air; the stomach is grinding the food; the lacteals and lymphaticks are extracting nourishment for the blood; the liver and kidneys drawing off their secretions; and the perspiration issuing from millions of pores. These and many other important functions, with which we are unacquainted, and over which we have no controul, ought to be regarded as the immediate agency of the Deity within us, and should incite our incessant admiration and praise. In every breath we draw and emit, there is an important reason, for our hearts to flow with gratitude to God. That part of the air inhaled into the lungs which is vital, serves to purify and inspirit the blood. The remaining part, which is evolved, is rendered fetid and entirely unfit to be breathed again. In consequence

of the warmth attracted from our system, it becomes lighter than common air; therefore, it rises above our heads before the next inspiration. Were it not for this circumstance, it would accumulate on the surface of the earth, and particularly in our apartments, to such a degree as to produce diseases, pestilence, and death, in rapid succession. But, being a little lighter than the surrounding air, it flies upwards, and we never breathe it again, till it enter into new and salutary combinations. How does every thing pertaining to our frame, or relating to our existence, admonish us that our souls should be continually ascending to God with the most lively emotions of gratitude.

Permit me now to notice a peculiarity in the constitution of our animal frame which we are apt to overlook, and for which we are never sufficiently grateful; and that is, the power it possesses of self restoration. A wound heals up of itself; a broken bone is made firm again by a callus; and a dead part is separated and thrown off. If all the wounds we have ever received, were still open and bleeding a fresh, to what a miserable condition should we be reduced! But by a system of internal powers, beyond all human comprehension as to the mode of their operation, such dismal effects are effectually prevented. In short, when we consider that health depends upon such a numerous assemblage of moving organs, and that a single spring out of action, might derange the whole machine, and put a stop to all its complicated movements, can we refrain from joining with the Psalmist, in his pious exclamation, and grateful resolution, How precious are thy wonderful contrivances concerning me, O God! how great is the sum of them! I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well.

4th. This discourse should be improved as an excitement for us to become more particularly and ex

tensively informed in regard to the manifold subjects of divine revelation. In proportion to the extent and propriety of our investigations into the numerous and important truths which God has revealed, so shall we be qualified to render to his name, that glory which is due. Consequently, then, if we do not make suitable exertions, and improve all the means granted us for the enlarging of our conceptions in relation to the divine works, we are guilty of robbing God of his declarative glory. Some, who profess Christianity, seem to be content with the mere consciousness, that they have a soul and body; and imagine it does not concern them to inquire particularly about them, so as to understand the human system, and the offices of the faculties of the soul. But such a sentiment is indeed unbecoming a heathen. Professed infidels ought to be ashamed to behold professing Christians, satisfied with scanty and vague views of so many important subjects, presented to them in the divine word. Such conduct too much resembles that of the most brutish and stupid sinner, who would consider the highest attainments of religion to consist in the mere belief of a God, a heaven,

and a hell.

To overlook the amazing scene of Divine intelligence, as exhibited in the human system, or to consider it as beneath our notice, marks a weak and undiscriminating mind, if it be not a characteristick of impiety. The man, who disregards the visible displays of infinite Wisdom, or who neglects to investigate them when opportunity offers, acts as if he considered himself already possessed of a sufficient portion of intelligence, and stood in no need of such sensible assistances to direct his conceptions of the Creator. Pride and false conceptions of the nature and design of true religion, frequently lie at the foundation of all that indifference and neglect, with which the visible works of God are treated, by those who make pretensions to a high degree of spiritual at

tainments. The truly pious man, will trace with wonder and delight, the footsteps of his Father and his God, wherever they appear in the variegated scene of creation around him, and will be filled with sorrow and contrition of heart, that amidst his excursions and solitary walks, he has so often disregarded the works of the Lord, and the operation of his hands.

These remarks are made, for the purpose of emulating professed Christians to expand their conceptions, and enable them to take large and comprehensive views of the perfections and the providence of the Almighty. It is much to be regretted that so many members of the Christian Church, are absolute strangers to such studies and contemplations; while the time and attention that might have been devoted to such exercises, have, in many cases, been usurped by the most grovelling affections, by foolish pursuits, and slanderous conversation. But shall the most trifling occurrences be deemed worthy of attention, and occupy much of our precious time, and shall the mighty acts of the Lord, and the visible wonders of his power and wisdom, be thrown completely into the shade? To survey with an eye of intelligence, the wide extended theatre of the Divine operations; to mark the agency of the eternal Mind in every object we behold, and in every movement within us and around us, are some of the noblest attainments of the rational soul; and, in conjunction with every other Christian study and acquirement, tend to make the man of God perfect, and thoroughly furnished unto every good work. By such studies we are, in some measure, assimilated to the principalities above, whose powers of intellect are ever employed in such investigations; and are gradually preparing for bearing a part in their immortal hymn, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of Saints. Thou art worthy to receive glory, and honour, and power,