LxXX INTRODUCTION. 



heavens in action : these are the Jupiter, Juno, 

 and Minerva of the Greeks and Romans, and 

 the various deities of other nations : For all 

 gods of the nations are idols, saith the Psal- 

 mist/ but Jehovah made the heavens, or the 

 powers symbolized by the idols of the nations. 

 These are those powers which, under God 

 who, as the charioteer of the universe, directs 

 them in all their operations, whether in heaven 

 or on earth, to answer the purposes of his pro- 

 vidence execute the laws that have received 

 his sanction. These are the physical cheru- 

 bim represented by the earthly rulers the 

 man, the lion, the ox, and the eagle these 

 the chariot and throne of the Deity; the 

 hands also by which he taketh hold of material 

 things ; the feet by which he treads on the 

 earth and other planets. 



Those sublime metaphors of the prophet Na- 

 hum Jehovah hath his way in the whirlwind, 

 and in the storm and the clouds are the dust of 

 his feet* though at first sight appearing only 

 magnificent figures, when analysed will be 

 found literally true. Knowest thou the ordi- 

 nances of the heaven ? canst thou set the do- 



1 Ps. xcvi. 5. a Nahum, i. 3. 



