therefore, the doing over again what had been done in the first; but a new arrangement of matter already formed, and the fitting it to be more useful to the creatures which he was about to call into existence.

Of these creatures the last which God forms is man. The earth is arrayed in her green livery,—the skies are clear overhead,—the sun shines by day, the moon by night, the air is peopled with winged creatures, the seas swarm with fish,--and over the mountain and the plain beasts wander. It is now that God proceeds to give life and consciousness to a creature, who shall be capable of estimating aright the value of the boon received, and of rendering to his Creator the tribute of worship and praise. Mark, then, how different is the process. "Let us make man in our own image." It is not, let the earth bring forth man, even as it brought forth cattle; but God takes counsel, as it were, with his own wisdom

ere so great a work shall be effected. And the image is formed of clay by the Divine fingers, and into it is breathed the breath of life, and man becomes a living soul. To him, moreover, and to his helpmeet, woman, are given dominion over all God's living creatures, he becomes, as it were, the representative of Jehovah upon earth, looked up to with respect by the rest of creation, himself looking up to God alone as his superior.

Here, then, let us pause for the present, deferring till a future opportunity all consideration of what is meant by the image of God in which man was created, as well as of the events in his history which remain to be described. In the meanwhile let me point out the effect which a contemplation of these great truths is well calculated to produce upon the minds of all such as are not utterly hardened and depraved.

Remember that from him, who by the word of his power called you, and all

you

around you into being, neither darkness nor solitude can ever screen you. Remember that he who formed the eye must see, that he who formed the ear must hear, that he who planted the heart in the midst of the body, cannot fail to read its workings, and that your most secret thoughts lie exposed to him as if a sunbeam rested on them continually. And if remember this, is it necessary for me to add, take care how you act, how you speak, how you think, whether you be one of a busy crowd, or alone in the retirement of your chamber? For the Spirit of God is with you wherever you go; the power of God sustains you however you may be employed, and if your employment be such as he cannot look upon with approbation, then that which is now your support, even amid your crimes, will become, in his own good time, the instrument of your punishment. On the other hand, never permit doubts or misgivings, the cares of this life, the

to rated desa is heir. to draw

ponents forgetfuiness of him Ved bessings tow. If it be

eu with pain. with sick

vid sorrow, rest assured that he

e your good, and when you

have art to take the trial patiently, the tie you will find that the Inne word, look up to the great Creator with the reverence that is us due. Strive to worship not only with year Ops, but in your lives; and he, for his Sous sase, will forgive you what you have heretofore done amiss, and remove you, when you are taken hence, whither your Lord has gone before.

SERMON II.

GOD RESTS FROM HIS LABOURS.

GENESIS ii. 3.

And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because that in it he had rested from all his work, which God had created and made.

I BEGIN my present discourse by explaining to you that you must regard it as nothing more than a continuation of that which preceded it. The second chapter of Genesis, indeed, is made up, in a great measure, of the details of that which had been shortly stated in the first; and, therefore, he who undertakes to draw from it a moral lesson, will find that he effectually till he shall have first of all compared it with that which

cannot do so