202 THE PERFECTIONS 



xxxviii — xli.), — from liis formation and control of 

 the planets, the ocean, the lightning, the hugest and 

 most terrible of beasts, and so forth ; as from his 

 entire and absolute command of the elements (Psalm 

 cxlvii. 15 — 18) in accomplishing his irresistible de- 

 crees. The wisdom of God, including his wondrous 

 contrivance in planning, and skill in executing his 

 works, is seen in the multitudinous varieties of form 

 in the creatures, in the correspondence of part with 

 part, in the perfect adaptation of organs to their uses, 

 in the wonderful and unerring instincts of animals, 

 in their relations to the places which they inhabit, 

 and in the general bearing of the details of creation 

 on the order, stability, and well-being of the whole 

 (see Job xxxviii. &c. ; Psalm civ. 17 — 24 ; cxlvii. 4). 

 The eternity of God may be inferred from the circum- 

 stance of creation having been prior to all creature 

 experience (Job xxxviii. 21 ; Psalm civ. 31) ; and his 

 immutability from the stable order of the universe ; 

 from the unerring regularity of the celestial orbs 

 (Psalm Ixxxix. 37 ; civ. 19 ; Jeremiah xxxi. 35, 36) ; 

 and from the constant renewal of the face of nature 

 (Psalm cxlviii. 6). The omnipresence and ever watch- 

 ful providence of God are in like manner taught us 

 by the constant and universal harmony of the vast 

 machinery of creation (Psalm cxxxix. 7 — 12). But 

 perhaps the most obvious lesson which we learn from 

 the creatures, at least the animate creatures, as it is 

 the one most frequently insisted on in the Word, is 

 the kindness of God, the benevolence of his character, 

 manifested in his tender care for their comfort, and 

 his rich supply of all their need. It is hardly neces- 



