VII.

The Greatness of God's Works illustrating the Deepness of His Thoughts.

LORD, exclaimed the Psalmist, "how great are Thy works; and Thy thoughts are very deep!"* In this ex

clamation two things are at once presented to our view, either of which is sufficient to overawe and overwhelm the human mind. These are, the greatness of God in His works, and the deepness of God in his thoughts. His wonders are displayed alike in His natural creation and in His providential dispensations; in the sun that enlightens all nature, in the splendour of the countless

Psalm xcii. 5.

stars, in the hills crowned with forests, and the ocean that encircles the landin the structure and mechanism of the human body, so fearfully and wonderfully made, and in the establishment and subversion of empires, states, and kingdoms; in the "lifting up of one and the pulling down another." But these two things will be most profitably considered in their connexion. We cannot exclaim with the Psalmist, "O Lord, how manifold are Thy works; in wisdom hast Thou made them all!" without inferring, as of necessity, that the same wisdom and goodness disposes and ordains events which are, at present, not only difficult to explain, but involved in inextricable confusion. From the wisdom which is manifested in God's works, which are objects of sense, we must learn to credit Him with equal wisdom and goodness in reference to His thoughts or purposes, which are objects of faith. However profound and unfathomable these may be; however we may be constrained to

exclaim with the Apostle,

"How un

searchable are His judgments, and His works past finding out," yet we may solace ourselves with the conviction of the Psalmist, "The Lord will perfect that which concerneth ME;" and with that of the Apostle, "I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day!" Hence the confidence expressed by both under circumstances of peculiar trial, both in the processes and purposes of God. "When my spirit was overwhelmed within me," said David, "thou knewest my path;" and "I know," declared St. Paul, "that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ.'

From this, then, it will follow, that the acknowledgment of God's greatness in His works, which even the natural man cannot withhold, coupled and combined with the sense of the profundity of His thoughts, which the spiritual man de

rives from the teaching of the Holy Ghost, must be at all times, and especially under adverse circumstances, a benefit beyond all price. It kindles, or keeps alive if it be already kindled, the sacred spark of faith; it obstructs and obviates the evil influences of unbelief. It engenders confidence which will bear us up beneath the pressure of disaster and distress, yea, which will combat and counteract the terrors even of those who, through fear of death, are all their lifetime subject to bondage-go "mourning all their days in the bitterness of the soul!" Its tendency and effect is, to preclude all questioning of the Divine wisdom and goodness; for to question these were a contradiction of God's essential attributes as displayed in His works around us -and this were repugnant even to reason herself. We cannot but confess, even if we do not realize, the love that designed, the power that executed, and the unchangeableness which hath upheld the works of God. The Omnipotence of

Deity, thus manifested, utters a universal language; a language known and read of all mankind, wherever there is an eye to see, an understanding to consider, or a heart to feel. "Thus saith the Lord,

If

ye can break my covenant of the day and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season, then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant. But thy word, O Lord, is settled for ever in heaven, thy faithfulness is unto all generations; Thou hast established the earth and it abideth, and easier were it for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one jot or tittle of Thy word to pass, until all be fulfilled."

We would not, however, confine our attention to the wonderful works of God, which are developed in the natural creation, in order to exclaim, How great they are! There is another, and a yet more wonderful work which He is continually accomplishing among ourselves. We mean the great moral change which is operated