exercise of a foreign power? In other words Are we self-created, or the production of an almighty Power? But it may be objected here, as, indeed, it has often been, that man may as well have been eternal as God. We do not pretend to be able to explain every difficulty that can be suggested; or to answer every question that can be proposed, with regard to a Final Cause. Our minds are not adequate to the comprehension of eternal being,

of self-existence. Numbers and distance confound us. We cannot go far back, in recounting cycles of ages; we are soon bewildered, when we would estimate the vastness of the material universe: we cannot 66 comprehend the non-existence of a beginning." Nor are we less confounded in the attempt to conceive of selfexistence of an uncaused cause of something which is not an effect of some other thing. We are, however, competent to this effort: -we can trace an analogy between the works of art and the works of nature:-we can infer, that if every house or every steam-engine must have had a builder-a builder, too, of intelligence to contrive and of power to execute so the creation, (or that part of it, the human being, a specimen of wonderful mechanism) must have had a wise and powerful Author. We can demonstrate the existence of a God, in the self-same way, and with equal satisfaction, as we prove the existence of a contriver from his contrivance -an agent, from his agency, a watchmaker, from a watch. We can proceed no farther; we need go no farther; we wish to go no farther.

6. A "principle of Nature" is a phrase, to the use of which we do not object, except for a perverted and an impious purpose. We are, however, liable to be misled by terms. What is Nature? and what is a principle of Nature? Nature, so far as the discoveries of science aid our conceptions, is nothing else than an incalculable number of globes, similar to our own globe, and governed by the same laws, subject to the same

vicissitudes, inhabited, it is probable, by a kindred order of beings. Now, does this view of Nature authorize us to conclude, that it is a vast Genetrix of whatever exists?that these huge masses of unconscious matter possess, in themselves, a creative power, adequate to the production of every thing that has being ?-that there is latent in them some undefined and prolific energy, which generates all kinds and grades of existence? It may be a sufficient answer to this hypothesis, that it rests solely upon the authority of those who entertain it, that it is perfectly gratuitous, and that it is against the evidence of our senses. We know of no principle in our own globe, for example, which produces, or which could have produced, man and beast. If such a principle ever existed, how has it disappeared? Or if it now exist, where can we discern its working,-where can we trace any indication of its operation.

To tell us that the universe itself is God, only multiplies our difficulties, and confounds our senses, as well as our thoughts. On this hypothesis, earth, water, air, fire, yea, we ourselves-for we are a part of the wholeare God? For no other purpose is such nonsense fabricated, but to cast dust into the eyes of persons, who have no objection to be blinded. And even should the objector vary his objection, and talk of some principle, or active power of the universe, as the final cause of every form and grade of existence; what is that, but to make an effect, the final cause of all effects?-to make a Divinity of this assumed principle, or active power, and to invest it with the attributes which we claim for God?

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1. It is sometimes ignorantly and impiously said, "If there be a God, why does he not show himself; and, thus, at once, banish doubt and silence objection?” In what way would the persons, so saying, wish the, manifestation to be made? The appearance must be miraculous; it would be overwhelming; and it could only be symbolical. Before the Deity could appear personally to us, a complete metamorphosis of himself, or of us, must take place; he must cease to be spiritual, or we to be corporeal. But, why should the Deity work a miracle, to satisfy unreasonable demands; to convince persons, who ought to be convinced without one? And might not every succeeding generation, or every individual of every succeeding generation, of the human family, require to be convinced by the same means? Where, then, would be the end of miracles? Besides; all nature is a symbol of the Deity-a vast body representing the infinite Spirit, who animates, sustains, and controls it. And it seems a rule of the Divine procedure, never to create extraordinary means, to effect that to which existing and ordinary means are fully adequate. God does show himself to us. We are not more surrounded by his works, than by himself. And we ought to discern him in every revolving star, in every

ray of light, in every breath of air, in every drop of rain, in every blade of grass, in every insect, and in every atom. Not to discern him, proves us wilfully blind; not to confess that we see him, incorrigibly perverse. The belief, indeed, of a great Creator and moral Governor of the world, is likely to prove troublesome enough to an individual, who believes also that he is not what such a Being can approve: but, to fly to atheism, to rid himself of this annoyance, is to act the part of a man, who, to escape a less evil, precipitates himself into a greater.

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2. If no man hath seen God at any time," is there, therefore, no God? The inference cannot be sustained. As well may a person who has no visual organ, or who will not employ the one he possesses, infer that there is no such thing as light, although, at that very moment, the e sun shines through his window, and enlightens and warms his apartment. All creation, from the vast to the minute, and from the most complex to the most simple, attests its Author. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handywork." The Deity has so indelibly imprinted his own perfections upon his works, that, like the effigy of the famous Athenian artist, wrought into the statue of Minerva, the former cannot be obliterated, but by the destruction of the latter.

We see intelligence, as far exceeding all the intelligence of creatures, of whom we have a knowledgeeven were it concentrated in one stupendous intellectas the light and glory of a summer's sun exceed a single ray we behold magnificence, to produce and uphold which, as much surpasses all the power with which we are acquainted, as an infinite series surpasses a unit : we perceive goodness everywhere diffused, embracing alike intellectual and animal nature, displayed in every contrivance and in every provision, making "a happy world after all;" justifying the declaration," His tender

mercies are over all his works." We contemplate unvarying order and undecaying vigor, for which we can conceive no assignable origin, unless we admit the existence of a Deity: we perceive effects issuing from causes-and these causes, again, the effects of other causes, in endless concatenation-until we pass the limit of human observation, and lose ourselves amidst the unknown grandeur of Infinite Majesty: we behold parts added to parts, constituting a vast, compact, and beautiful whole, between all of which, we plainly trace relation and subserviency. The man, therefore, who ventures to pronounce the wonderful works of the creation of which himself is not the least wonderfulauthorless, deserves to be esteemed a maniac, by the concurrent suffrage of his species, and to be dealt with accordingly.

3. It will not be expected, that a single chapter of a small volume, should exhibit an elaborate exposition of the argument a posteriori-that is, from effect to cause for the existence of God. Nor is it necessary, that a person of quick and penetrating perception should be conducted into every department of nature; that all its deep and mysterious recesses should be laid open before him; that he should become conversant with every cognizable fact-with all its minute circumstanceswhich evinces the exercise of divine perfections, to produce within him a conviction that there is an Almighty Creator-a tolerable acquaintance with any one department; a general view of the phenomena every where beheld; the knowledge of a few plain, palpable facts will leave no doubt on his mind, that there must be a great invisible Being, who created and sustains the universe. An eminent philosopher once declared, that a single straw furnished ample proof of the existence of a God.

4. It has been observed, that the principal evidence from nature, for a Deity, is the marks of design which it