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That is From the very beginning of the world, man, from the contemplation of the things around him, has been able clearly to discern the Power, the Wisdom, the Divinity of the Maker of the world, from the nature of the things which are made.

Man therefore had no "excuse," to use the expression of St. Paul, when, looking round on the face of creation, and recognizing therein, as he MUST have done, and as he DID, we are told, the traces of one Infinite Power, and of one Infinite Mind :- he turned away from the inferences forced upon him by his own observation, and instead of doing right service to the One great GOVERNOR, and RULER, and FATHER of all, whose power and wisdom and goodness were thus always before his eyesshining forth in the heavens-springing up about his daily path in the fruits of the earth, amazing him in the wondrous structure and constitution of his own frame;-when man turned away from this "light of nature," to follow falsities and vain imaginations, to make gods for himself, the which to set up

nature of the Deity, as the expression "Manhood" signifies human nature:-each respective term denoting collectively the substance of the approximate knowledge we possess on either subject.

and worship; " Images made like to corruptible man, and birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things."

When man did this, says the Apostle," HE

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v1... Now, if, from the beginning of the world, the invisible things of God have been clearly seen and understood from the things that are made, even his eternal Power and Godhead :

If this be the TRUTH-Look well to this conclusion ;

Then, do ALL whom I now address, whether they have embraced the faith of Jesus Christ, or whether they have not-whether they, professing that faith outwardly, hold fast that faith and enjoy it inwardly, or whether they do not-yet ALL (to use the words of the inspired apostle) KNOW GOD!* Not in a full sense of that expression: but, as did the idolaters of ancient Lystra, as did the “men of Athens," as did the poor barbarians of the island of Melita, (who, when the viper fastened

* May we not say, “ in the first sense of the expression?"

* See Acts xvii.

itself upon the hand of St. Paul, we are told, said among themselves" No doubt this man is a murderer whom VENGEANCE suffereth not to live;*) As did and do, in a word, all the dwellers upon earth, KNOW AND FEEL THAT THERE IS A GOD ABOVE THEM.†

VII...And, to those who possess this knowledge, but with whom "Christ crucified" is an "offence," a stumbling block, or foolishness: We preach, only, that they should turn unto the God whom they know who is about their path, and about their bed, spying out all their ways; ... Who is declared, in the lesson which is gone out through all lands, and its words to the ends of the world— who "never left himself without witness, in that he did GOOD: sending rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling the hearts of men with joy and gladness." Whose boundless justice, from his Wisdom might be deemed necessarily to flow: but which Justice is written on high, in letters of light, which "he who runs may read," while the simple mind can see how " in each breast is placed a friendly monitor, that prompts,

* Acts xxviii. 4.

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THE DEVILS BELIEVE, AND TREMBLE.

informs, directs, encourages, forbids;" which can watch and observe, how, "on unknown evil grief attends," and "joy on secret good!" Which knows, that "conscience acts with tenfold force, when sickness, age, or pain stands tottering on the precipice of death:" and "how such horror gnaws the guilty soul of dying sinners, while the good man sleeps peaceful and calm, and with a smile expires.”*

The simple mind, we maintain, reasons justly from such things, when it becomes impressed with the conviction that " Verily there is a reward for the righteous: doubtless there is a God that judgeth the earth.”+

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SERMON II.

ROMANS I. 20.

"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."

I...IF the invisible things of God, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and godhead:

It is a subject, beyond all others, the most important which can occupy our reflectionsto consider, what is the nature of that knowledge of the Supreme Governor of the universe, which the apostle St. Paul tells us, in the words of our text, has always been, and is always, to be "understood," from our contemplation of the world around us :-from "the things that are made."* I AM ALPHA

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* "I am far from justifying," says Paley," the opinion of those who thought it a thing incredible, that God should raise the dead:' but I admit, that it is first necessary to be persuaded that there is a God to do so."-NAT. THEOL. 357. See Appendix A.

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