RANGE OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE. 



141 



our happiness, are not of themselves sufficient to 

 present us with a connected view of the promi 

 nent dispensations of heaven, from the creation 

 to the period in which we live. 



From the science of geography we acquire a 

 knowledge of the extent of the surface of the 

 earth of the various tribes of human inhabit 

 ants with which it is peopled of the physical 

 aspect of the different climates they inhabit of 

 their arts, manners, customs, laws, religion, 

 vices, wars, and political economy : and, conse 

 quently, we can, in these and similar respects, 

 trace some of the aspects of Divine Providence 

 towards them in relation to their present and fu 

 ture condition. From the same source, we learn 

 the number of human beings which the Governor 

 of the world has under his direction at one 

 time, which is nearly a thousand millions, Or 

 five hundred times the number of the inhabitants 

 of Scotland. From the data afforded by this 

 science, we may also form an estimate of the 

 number of disembodied spirits that have passed 

 from this world since the creation, and are now 

 under the superintendence of the Almighty in the 

 invisible state, which cannot be much less than 

 145,000 millions ; and on similar grounds we may 

 also learn the number of rational beings that are 

 coming forward into existence, and passing into 

 the eternal world every day, which is at least 

 68,000, and, consequently, nearly 60 during each 

 passing minute, every individual of which, the 

 Supreme Disposer of events superintends at his 

 entrance into life ; and, at his departure from it, 

 directs to his respective and eternal state of des 

 tination. All which circumstances, and many 

 others of a similar kind, must be taken into ac 

 count, in order to our forming a comprehensive 

 conception of the numerous bearings and the in 

 cessant agency of a Superintending Providence. 

 Frotn natural history we learn the immense 

 number and variety of the subordinate tribes of 

 animated beings which inhabit the different re 

 gions of earth, air, and sea their economy and 

 instincts their modes of existence, and the man 

 ner in which the Creator provides for their 

 various necessities. From an acquaintance with 

 the history of the arts and mechanical inven 

 tions, we learn the gradual manner in which God 

 directs the movements of the human mind, in 

 making those improvements and discoveries 

 which have a bearing upon the accomplishment 

 of his eternal plans of mercy, and which tend 

 to enlarge our views of the amplitude and the 

 glories of his kingdom. From natural philosophy 

 and chymistry, we learn the secondary causes or 

 subordinate laws by which the Almighty supports 

 and directs the natural constitution of the world 

 the wonderful manner in which our lives are 

 every moment supported and the agencies 

 by which fire, air, light, heat, and fertility are 

 distribute^ through the globe, for promoting the 

 comfort ana .ja^oiness of every thing that 



lives.&quot; From anatomy and physiology, we 

 learn, how &quot;fearfully and wonderfully we are 

 made and preserved&quot; that our health and com 

 fort depend upon the regular action of a thousand 

 organical parts and functions, over which we 

 have no control and that our very existence 

 every moment is dependent on the superintend 

 ence of a Superior Power, &quot; in whose hand 

 our breath is, and whose are all our ways.&quot; 



By an occasional study, then, of the subjects 

 to which we have now alluded, we would gra 

 dually expand our conceptions of the range and 

 operations of Divine Providence. Every geo 

 graphical exploration of a new region of the 

 globe every scientific improvement and disco 

 very every useful invention every eruption 

 of a volcano every shock of an earthquake 

 every hurricane, and storm, and tempest every 

 battle of the warrior every revolution among 

 the nations and every detail in the newspapers 

 we daily read, would lead us to form some con 

 ceptions of the providential purposes of Him 

 who is the Supreme disposer of all events. 

 Even the arrangements of Divine Wisdom, 

 with regard to the economy of the lower ani 

 mals, ought not to be overlooked in such a sur 

 vey. When we consider the immense number 

 and variety of animated beings that there are 

 500 species of quadrupeds, every species con 

 taining, perhaps, many millions of individuals; 

 4000 species of birds ; 2500 species of fishes ; 

 700 species of reptiles; and 44,000 different 

 kinds of insects, besides many thousands of 

 species altogether invisible to the unassisted 

 sight when we consider that the structure and 

 organization of all these different species are 

 different from each other, and exactly adapted 

 to their various situations and modes of exist 

 ence, and that their multifarious wants, in regard 

 to food and habitation, are all provided for, and 

 amply supplied by Him, who, at the same time, 

 arranges and governs the affairs of ten thou 

 sand worlds we must be lost in astonishment 

 at the greatness of that Intelligence which 

 formed them, and at the exuberance of that 

 Bounty which spreads so full a table for so im 

 mense an assemblage of living beings ! And 

 were we transported to other worlds, we should, 

 doubtless, behold still more ample displays of 

 Divine Beneficence. 



We are here presented with a striking com 

 mentary on such passages of the sacred volume 

 as these : &quot; The eyes of all look unto Thee, O 

 Lord ! and thou givest them their meat in due 

 season. Thou openest thy hand liberally, and 

 satisfies! the desire of every living thing. The 

 earth is full of thy riches, O Lord ! so is the great 

 and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innu 

 merable, both great and small beasts. These all 

 wait upon thee, and thou givest them their meat 

 in due season. That which thou givest them 

 they gather : Thou openest thy hand, they ara 



