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and that same God exhibits these two books for our edification, our instruction, and our improvement in our probationary state here below. Yet the two books must be read in a different way, and studied by a different process. The book of nature can be explored only by the aid of natural science-its secrets can be discovered only by patient investigation and actual experiment. It must be approached with care, with hesitation, even with suspicion, avoiding all hasty conclusions; not because we have any doubt of the wisdom of the Divine Artificer, but of the feebleness of our own organs and powers of discernment; ever exercising a holy fear lest we should come to some unhealthy or erroneous conclusion contrary to the Bible, that blessed Book which was written by God himself, for the express purpose of leading us through earth to heaven. That book must not be read as the other may be: it must be read, not scientifically, not in the spirit of the searching scholar, or in the strength and pride of human reason, but with the deepest and most profound humility, with a child-like spirit, casting ourselves on the divine teaching of the Lord the Spirit, and believing that all who search and study that book with earnest prayer, shall be guided into all truth, and shall find that which shall give abiding peace and comfort in this world, and glory in the world to come. But, we will not cast away the former book. We will not forget that God himself in his written book points us continually to his great creation, to learn his wonderful works. There it is declared, that "the heavens are telling the glory of God;" that "the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein:" and that even as science He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods." It seems as if there were sometimes in the Bible a sudden gleam of light which flashes upon the inspired mind, directing it unconsciously to write

that which, though then a mystery, should in after times be understood. Why should it not be so with physical things? We know it was so with spiritual. We know that prophets sometimes wrote that which they could not understand, though they wished to do so: they longed to discover it; but it was hid from them to be revealed to us. And so, there may be gleams of scientific light scattered through these sacred pages which for ages remained obscure, but which in these last days may become intelligible and plain. Well may we exclaim with the pious Psalmist: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” How better can I conclude a lecture like this, wherein I have endeavoured to lead you through the works of God up to the glory of God, than in that magnificent portion of Scripture, the 148th Psalm.

"PRAISE YE THE LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also established them for ever and ever he hath made a decree which shall not pass. Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word: mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: both young men, and maidens; old

men, and children: let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. PRAISE YE THE LORD."

The Church;

ITS INFLUENCE, DUTIES, AND HOPES IN THIS AGR

A LECTURE

BY THE

REV. SAMUEL COLEY.

T

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