10 WISDOM OF GOD. 



they occasion. These mischiefs are not unfre- 

 quently checked in most striking ways hy the 

 great Author of nature himself, and afford the 

 strongest assurance to the reflecting mind that 

 he ever mingles mercy with judgment. A 

 multitude of mysterious evils encompasses all 

 that is accorded to man in this imperfect state 

 of his existence, hut there is not one, material 

 or spiritual, for which an effectual antagonism 

 may not be found if sought for aright. Still 

 it must be remembered that much of what is 

 received as common truth on these points, is 

 nothing more than common error. This is 

 equally the case in religion, in philosophy, in 

 morals, and in science. Every endeavour to 

 correct and inform on sound principles, how- 

 ever humbly it may be made, is to be regarded 

 as worthy of attention j and we may be 

 assured that not a single creature has been 

 formed by the hand of God, that is not deserv- 

 ing of the attention of a reasonable mind. 

 For want of such inquiry we have suffered much 

 both in actual injury, as well as in the non- 

 acquirement of that knowledge which tends 

 to exalt the faculties of our understandings, 

 and leads to adoration of the great supreme 

 Cause, as much the object of our admiration in 



