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cannot pursue, both by land, and in the water. Many huge animals are the prey of infects; fo that, while one is formed for deftruction, it is vulnerable by infignificant creatures: and those which from their helpless state would easily be extirpated, are kept in the catalogue of creation by their wonderful prolific powers. Here are provifions, proportioned evidently by a juft balance, not merely applicable to genus or species, but to the whole creation.

Again, the goodness and particular care of Providence is very confpicuous in the provifion made for several important functions of the body, by which their power is increased by a twofold provifion of the most useful; the eyes for fight, the ears for hearing, and fimilar inftances. Now in the case of accidental lofs of the one organ, the other remains as a supply for the defect; and in the instance of fight, the remaining perfect organ acquires additional ftrength. Again, in the total privation of fight, the faculties of hearing and of touch, and the mental power of memory, are considerably increased. It is impoffible, when we remark the ingenuity and the increased sensibility of the blind, their hearing, the compound nicety of their feeling, which enables them often to live

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and to excel in the practice of the arts of mufic and others, not to be struck with the goodness of the Almighty in their capacities of improvement and substitution, by which the miferies of privation are leffened, and compenfations are admirably contrived. In such instances, the hand, by increased sensibility, like the antennæ. of infects, performs the office of the fight, and the memory becomes a substitute for letters.

There is a moft remarkable instance of the constant fuperintendence of the Deity in the balance which is ever preserved between the sexes of animals, but especially of the human race. It has been determined from many ac-› curate registers, that the proportion of male and female, born in given periods of years, is nearly the fame. Here there is a proportion continually obfervable, and never fo far deviating but that the proportion is the fame in a given number of years. To account for this on any known principle is impoffible. It cannot be the refult of what we call accident. The law is invariable, it is beyond human control. What then can we fay? Is there a mind fo loft even to common fense, as not to be convinced by this unknown but astonishing influence; this regulation of events, far beyond our limited comprehenfion?

Equally aftonishing is the proportion of things preferved, not only in the animal, but the vegetable kingdom; indeed, in all the various parts of the creation. Chemical experiments convince us, that perpetual changes are produced in nature by the operation of mutual attraction or affinities, by repulfion or folution. These combinations and changes of nature are infinite. But are not these subject to fome invincible control? It seems as if there were in all bodies certain naturally conftituent principles, which preserve them from fuch mutations as may interfere with the original types.

Laftly, From all that has been observed, it appears that the manifeftations of the wisdom, the power, and the over-ruling providence of God, are fo many, fo diftinct, and fo decifive, that we may here almost be said to poffefs ocular demonstration. Thus the invifible things of him from the creation of the world were clearly feen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; fo that those who will not be convinced of the fuperintending providence of God, are without excufe.

LECTURE III.

JOHN i. 17.

For the law was given by Mofes, but grace and truth came by Jefus Chrift.

BY

Y these words it is not meant that the law only came by Mofes, and that grace and truth were not imparted by him; but that they were more clearly revealed through Chrift. The ceremonial law of Mofes, by the coming of the latter, was abrogated, and the moral law rendered more obligatory; confequently truth was more fully established, grace or pardon only ultimately confirmed and fealed by the atonement through the second covenant; and therefore, though truth and the promises of grace were given by Mofes, they were finally confirmed by Christ.

In reviewing the Mofaic difpenfation, we have now to consider its object and its evidences principally in one light, as it tends

to elucidate the confiftency of the great defign and disclosure of the fcheme of revelation.

The connection which fubfifts between the Mofaic and the Christian revelation is intimate and infeparable. With these the prophetic writings, and the hiftory of the Jews and the Gentiles, form a regular chain of agreement, of which every single link is of great importance; while the separate parts are fo far connected, that they contribute to complete one grand and comprehensive scheme of providence. We find almighty wisdom and goodnefs prospectively employed for the human race, from the inftant of creation. We observe the fame goodness actively and uninterruptedly extend itself through all the various changes of human existence, and never terminating, because it promises to be so employed throughout all eternity.

This harmony and connection between the Old and New Teftament is evident in every part. There are numerous analogies and relations. The firft is full of types and reprefentations of the events of the latter. Even those who are not willing to indulge in fancied images, or double interpretations, cannot deny. a. frequent resemblance. To mention

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