“ Resolved—That, in token of our regret for his death and of our respect for his character, we, together with the undergraduates of this Institution, will attend his funeral to-morrow afternoon.

"Resolved-That the Rev. Professor Elton and Mr. Professor Goddard be a Committee to present a certificate copy of these resolutions to the family of the deceased; and that the same be entered upon the Records of the Faculty, and published in all the newspapers of the city."

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD DEMONSTRATED FROM THE WORKS OF CREATION.

Α

SERMO

MON,

PREACHED ON

LORD'S DAY MORNING,

AUGUST 9, 1795,

IN THE

REV. DR. HITCHCOCK'S MEETING HOUSE,

IN

PROVIDENCE.

6

TO THE

YOUNG GENTLEMEN,

STUDENTS OF RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE,

OVER WHOM I HAVE THE HONOR AS WELL AS

THE PLEASURE TO PRESIDE,

I MOST AFFECTIONATELY RECOMMEND THE MOST

SERIOUS ATTENTION TO THE

IMPORTANT TRUTH BROUGHT FORWARD AND ILLUSTRATED

IN THE FOLLOWING

SERMON.

J. MAXCY.

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.

FOR THE INVISIBLE THINGS OF HIM FROM THE CREATION OF THE WORLD ARE CLEARLY SEEN, BEING UNDERSTOOD BY THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE, EVEN HIS ETERNAL POWER AND GODHEAD.-ROMANS i. 20.

NOTHING will more effectually guard us against vice, than a firm belief of the existence of God. For surely if we realize that there is such a Being, we shall naturally infer from his perfections, from the nature of his moral government, and from our situation as rational creatures, that we are amenable at his awful tribunal. Superior power, wisdom and goodness, always lay us under restraint, and command our veneration. These, even in a mortal, overawe us. They restrain not only the actions, but the words and thoughts of the most vicious and abandoned. Our happiness depends on our virtue. Our virtue depends on the conformity of our hearts and conduct to the laws prescribed us by our beneficent Creator. Of what vast importance then is it to our present as well as future felicity, to possess in our hearts a feeling sense, and in our understandings a clear conviction, of the existence of that Being whose power and goodness are unbounded, whose presence fills immensity, and whose wisdom, like a torrent of lightning, emanates through all the dark recesses of eternal duration! How great must be the effect of a sense of the presence of the great Creator and Governor of all things, to whom belong the attributes, eternity, independency, perfect holiness, inflexible justice, and inviolable veracity; complete happiness and glorious majesty; supreme right and unbounded dominion! A sense of accountability to God will retard the eager pursuit of vice; it will humble the heart of the proud, it will bridle the tongue of the profane, and snatch the knife from the hand of the assassin. A belief of the existence of God is the true original source of