tially pervades, and of every thought that is stirring in the intellectual world, to every part of which he is thus intimately united." It has been said of him, that "his centre is everywhere, and his circumference nowhere, that the creation is a temple which he has built with his hands and filled with his presence." Such is the stupendous Being from whom we derive our origin. Our existence and our happiness are in his hand, nor can we hope for anything but from his mere bounty. It becomes us to acknowledge with the psalmist that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, when formed in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. The phrase curiously wrought, say the Biblical critics, is a metaphor, in the original Hebrew signifying, wrought as with a needle-the image being drawn from the nicest tapestry. Its aptness and propriety will be obvious to him who reflects " on the wonderful composition of the human body, the various implication of veins, arteries, fibres, membranes, and the inexplicable texture of the whole frame. The elegance and dignity of the allusion will appear to still greater advantage, if it be remembered that the most artful embroidery with the needle was dedicated by the Hebrews to the service of the sanctuary, and used in a part of the high priest's dress and in the curtains of the tabernacle."

The words, in the lowest parts of the earth, may be understood as opposed to that height of heaven, where God sits, inspects, and superintends all things and events. Thine eyes did see my substance yet being imperfect; in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there were none of them. Through this verse we may suppose the allusion to em

broidery is continued. As the artificer has his book or pattern still open before him, to which he always recurs as he goes on with the work; so, by a method as exact, were all my members in continuance fashioned; that is, from the rude embryo, or mass, they daily received some degree of figuration, as from the skeins of silk or other materials, under the workman's hands, there at length arises an unexpected beauty, and an accurate harmony of colors and proportions. The human artificer however, must have the clearest light in which to proceed and accomplish his task, while the divine artist sees in secret, and effects all his wonders in that dark and narrow confine into which no created eye can ken, and from a shapeless mass gradually draws forth the limbs, bones, muscles and organs of sense, most skilfully interwoven and connected with each other-all advancing in their order together till a man perfect in his form is produced.

While meditating on this operation of God, which supplies the unceasing population of all the inhabited countries on the globe, the psalmist in admiration exclaims, How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! or, how numerous are the subjects leading me to these contemplations! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand. Thus he breathes forth his affection for God. As I have hitherto been an object of thy unceasing care, and thou hast done such great things in favor of me, my chief delight consists in remembering and meditating on thee through each passing day, till I lie down to rest; and when I awake in the night watches, or in the morning, the same theme is taken up; I am still with thee in my thoughts and affections. My brethren, could we our

selves like the devout psalmist, be persuaded to spend our lives in this nearness to God and communion with him; and the last sleep of death find us thus employed, we might, on safe grounds, hope at the resurrection, to awake from the grave to spend an eternity in his favorable presence.

From what is said in this psalm of the omnipresence and omniscience of God, we learn that there can be no confusion from the beginning to the end of things to disturb or perplex his government,-to frustrate or impede its main design; because by his infinite understanding he perfectly knows, and being everywhere present, and the source of all power in the universe, he is able to regulate all its affairs, in all places, and at all times.

Again, we learn that the universe may justly be considered as the temple of God, in every part of which he for ever resides; and consequently sincere adorations, prayers and praises, may be rationally offered everywhere, and we have the highest reason to believe, will be graciously accepted.

It appears from hence, further, that God is perfectly qualified for being the Judge of the whole world; that no disguises can shelter from his eye; that all artifices and colorings of hypocrisy are vain; that circumspection of spirit, and regularity of conduct, are everywhere necessary; and that as far as we are conscious of our integrity, we may derive inward comfort from the contemplation of God's omniscience, however we may be suspected, slandered, vilified, and persecuted by the world; and that no good disposition, no generous purpose, though it was not in our power to execute it, none of our concealed

VOL. II.NO. II.

and most secret virtues, shall miss of their due honor and reward.

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Lastly, when actions and characters are of a mixed nature, the omniscient God knows infallibly how to separate the one from the other; and, among various principles that may jointly influence to fix on the chief overruling principle which denominates the character; even when the mind of the agent may be too distrustful on the one hand, or too presumptuous and confident on the other; "This to him should be a lesson of caution and self-examination; and to the world a warning against hasty and uncharitable censures-where some circumstances appear of an unfavorable aspect. The cognisance of the heart is subject to Omniscience only; the heart is the true characteristic of virtue and vice; while outward glaring, and seeming incontestible evidences of both, may be, in a great measure, fallacious."

O.

[For the Unitarian Advocate.]

THE KNELL.

A SILVERY tone was on the summer air,-
But yet it was not music. The sweet birds
Were warbling wildly forth from grove and dell,
Their thrilling melodies,-yet this low tone
Chimed not with them. But in the secret soul
It claim'd a deep response,-for well I knew
The grave's prelusive melody.—I rose,

And sought the house of mourning.

Ah, pale friend!

Who speak'st not-look'st not--dost not give the hand,-
Hath love so perish'd in that marble breast,

Once its own soil?-Thou silent, changeless one!
The seal is on thy virtues--now no more
Like ours to waver in temptation's hour,—
Perchance to fall. Fear hath no more a power
To chill thy life-stream, and frail hope doth fold
Her rainbow wing, and sink to rest with thee.
'Tis good to be unclothed, and sleep in peace.
Friend!--Friend!--I would not lose thee! Thou hast been
The sharer in my sympathies,-the soul

That prompted me to good,-the hand that shed
Dew on my budding virtues. In the scenes
Where we have dwelt or wander'd-I am now
But a divided being. None are left

To love as thou hast loved.

-But yet, to share

A few more welcomes from thy soft, blue eye,

A few more pressures of thy snowy hand

And ruby lip, I would not bind thee here
To all that power and plenitude of ill

Which we inherit.-Hence, thou selfish grief!-
Thy root is in the earth, and all thy fruits
Bitter and baneful. Holy joy should spring
When our co-heirs of immortality

Assume their glorious portion. Go, beloved!-
First, for thou wert most worthy.-I will strive
As best such frail one may,--to follow thee.

H.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

It is intended, in the following remarks, to consider some of the immediate objects of Sunday school instruction in its application to the poor. That its ultimate object is to sow the seeds of virtue and religion in the young, and that early instruction with this view is equally important to the rich and to the poor, are truths