THE EQUIVALENTS OF THE HAND. 125 



mouth of sceptics in reference to the phui of 

 salvation ; if there are mysteries in the organi- 

 zation of living beings — and who will presume 

 to deny it ? — mysteries in the work of creation 

 — shall we disbelieve a scheme of redemption 

 because it has its mysteries ? Nay, should we 

 not rather hesitate to receive it if it had no 

 mysteries ? As in the works of creation, so 

 in the system of religion, the clearest fixcts, 

 the plainest truths and precepts, which he 

 who runs may read, are offered to om' atten- 

 tion ; but as in those Avorks, so also in religion 

 there are mysteries which baffle all the powers 

 of the human intellect and confound man's 

 boasted wisdom. Ours is the seat of humihty. 

 The works of the Almighty, pregnant as 

 they are with proofs of design, if studied 

 aright, strengthen the Christian in his faith. 

 " Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach 

 thee ; and the fowls of the air, and they shall 

 teU thee: or speak to the earth, and it shall 

 teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall 

 declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all 

 these that the hand of the Lord has wrought 

 this ? In whose hand is the soul of every 

 living thing, and the breath of all mankind." 

 Jobxii. 7—10. 



