bent vessels, and thus distribute the food which we take to the remotest parts of the body. To the spine also is attached the thorax, containing the heart, through which the blood flows, at the rate of eighty pulsations every minute; and all those minute vessels which serve to minister to the functions of life.

Underneath is the abdomen, in which are situated the stomach, the liver, the spleen, and the intestines, all connected together by membranes, and forming a most wonderful apparatus of mechanical organization. These rest upon the thighs as on a basis; from which the limbs descend to the feet, and by the bones, joints, and muscles that compose them communicate strength and motion to the whole animal system. Thus "fearfully and wonderfully are we made: thus we are fenced with bones and sinews, and the divine visitation preserves our spirits."

But though the human body is a piece of most exquisite mechanism, yet the soul is a still more glorious production of Almighty power. It is said by the sacred historian to have been created in the image of God, and after his likeness. That this declaration is only applicable to the soul is evident, because God is a Spirit, and therefore not encompassed as we are, by material organs of perception and action. This image consisted in the resemblance of man's intellectual nature to that of his Creator, and the likeness of his mental faculties to the divine perfections. The human mind is accordingly endowed with extraordinary capacities, and doubtless possessed these in greater perfection at its first creation than it now does, when they are debased by ignorance, and perverted by corruption. It was indeed far inferior to the great original from which it emanated; for he is infinite in all his attributes of power, wisdom, goodness, and holiness. He is capable of doing every thing within the compass of possibility, whilst man's power is limited within very narrow bounds; he knows all events, past, present, and future, but man's knowledge extends only to a few particulars: his tender mercies are all over his works, whilst man's goodness can only be exercised to his fellow creatures around him; he is of purer eyes than to

behold iniquity, but man is capable of erring, and he drinketh up inquity like water. It was therefore a very imperfect image of the deity which the human soul received at its first formation. Yet it was perfect in its kind, as far as the faculties of its nature partook of the divine likeness. The perfection of the soul in its primitive condition consisted in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness; and in these respects it was created after the image of God. Adam was therefore wise in his mind, holy in his heart, and righteous in his actions. The perceptions of his understanding were quick and lively, the deductions of his reason were true and right, and the determinations of his judgment just and equitable. His conscience suggested rules for the regulation of his conduct, which were instantly obeyed by his active principles. His will followed the direction of his reason, and chose what was agreeable to the will of God. His passions were restrained by the authority of conscience, which dictated that thus far they might go, but no farther. His affections were placed on God and the things above, and every principle of his heart united in endeavouring to keep the divine commandments. From such an exercise of his mental faculties, he enjoyed a composure and tranquillity of spirit, and a peace of mind which passeth all understanding. Thus, the image of God in the soul of man consisted in the right disposition of its powers to their proper office, and the enjoyment of the divine favour, which was better than life, with the joyful hope of everlasting felicity. This image is now in a great measure defaced, by the introduction of sin; for we have lost that clearness of knowledge with which the understanding was enlightened, that subordination of the passions and affections to the will; that power of obedience to the dictates of conscience; and that harmonious order among all our faculties, which constituted the happiness of primeval innocence. But, it should be our care to recover the divine likeness, by the improvement of our intellectual and moral powers; that so we may be created again in Christ Jesus unto good works, and regain the original honours which God hath prepared for those who love him.

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We are further informed by the sacred historian, that God created another human being, besides the man who was first formed, as an help meet for him. This was woman, who was henceforth to constitute one half of the human species. The mode of her production is also recorded in holy writ. It appears, from the account of this transaction, that God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and, while he slept, a rib was abstracted from his side, of which he formed woman. There was perhaps a mystical reason for choosing such a part of Adam's body, to form the materials of his allotted partIt has been often said with a degree of plausibility, that, as the side was the part of man's body, whence woman was taken, this is no obscure intimation of the equality which she was intended to hold with her husband; and it is certain that, as the sexes are counterparts to one another: the man is not to usurp authority over the woman, neither the woman over the man; but "both should be mutual helpers of each others joy." The woman was formed with greater symmetry and beauty of proportion than the man, that she might by the attractive graces of her person become an object of affectionate endearment; and she was endowed with a tenderness of soul, which might soothe and comfort her husband amidst the cares and perplexities of human life. Thus, the ori ginal pair of mankind proceeded from the hands of their Creator, perfect in their kind, and furnished with every thing to render them happy in their earthly residence.

It seems to have been the intention of the Almighty to produce the human species, as an order of beings, whom he had destined to inhabit this terrestrial globe for a while, and in due season translate them to heaven, where they might supply the place of those apostate angels, who kept not their first estate, and for disobedience were cast down to hell. They could not be designed merely to continue their species, like other terrestrial animals, as they have immortal souls, which are capable of enjoying far greater happiness, than any which this world affords. While the body returns to the earth as it was, the spirit returns unto God who gave it; and if during its residence

in this mortal state, it has improved its faculties in holiness and virtue, it is thereby qualified, according to the gracious dispensation of mercy through Christ Jesus, for admission into those celestial mansions which shall be the future inheritance of all the faithful. This was the primitive and ultimate end for which mankind was created. But, as the human race were to be propagated from generation to generation, their Almighty Creator ordained, that they should be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. This divine appointment has been fulfilled, by the gradual increase of the species, from age to age, till their numbers have overspread every region of the globe.

It has indeed been sometimes thought incredible, that mankind should have multiplied to such an extent from one pair only; but it is ascertained by the calculations of political economy, that population advances in a geometrical ratio, that the numbers of inhabitants in many countries double in the space of a few years, and therefore it may be easily conceived, how they would gradually mul- * tiply from the beginning. The procession of the human race from one original pair is confirmed by the records of all ancient histories, which represent mankind as few in numbers, and inhabiting only the oriental regions, where our first parents were settled, and extending themselves by emigration to countries more remote, till the whole world has been more or less peopled.

It has been also deemed an objection to the truth of the Mosaic history of the origin of nations from one common stock, that there are various tribes of men so different in their appearance, that they seem to have descended from some other aboriginal family. But it is well known, that the influence of climate, from cold or heat, produces the most wonderful effects on the human constitution; that it contracts or expands the muscles in a certain temperature of the atmosphere, renders men more diminutive or larger in stature, than they are in other climates; and thus the varieties of the human species have been satisfactorily accounted for by those who have fully investigated this subject. On the same principle, the

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black colour of the negroes is to be entirely ascribed to the heat of the sun; for we find that mankind who inhabit the frigid and temperate zones are of a fair complexion, but become more and more swarthy as they approach the equator, while those who are exposed to the vertical rays of the sun, and the reflection of his heat from the sands of the desert are completely tinged with that dark hue, which characterizes the natives of Africa. Thus, there is no evidence for the objection alleged, and we are authorized to conclude that "God hath made of one blood, all the nations who dwell on the face of the earth." The descent and settlement of the various tribes of men have been traced by historians, from the remotest antiquity; from which it appears, that they have, in obedience to the divine command, gradually multiplied and replenished the earth.

By the computations of geographers, it has been ascertained, that the number of mankind throughout the world amounts nearly to one thousand millions; and that as the proportion of births to deaths is as five to four, it will advance progressively till the whole world be peopled with human inhabitants. Thus it appears, that the divine ordination respecting the increase of the species has been amply fulfilled.

The same is the case, with regard to the dominion which mankind have obtained over the inferior animals. The tame and gregarious species they have subjected to their authority, and applied to their use; and accordingly beasts of burthen are employed to assist the human race in agricultural and commercial operations, while cattle and other quadrup eds supply them with food and clothing.

And even the voracious tribes are kept in awe by the superior sagacity of man, or if they are mischievous, are driven from his dwellings and killed by deadly weapons, which his ingenuity has invented for self-defence. The fishes of the sea are also the prey of this lord of the world; for they are caught in nets or pierced with hooks, and brought to land for his bodily sustenance. And even the fowls of the air are not exempt from his controul; for many of these are destroyed by his hand, and they are all