ATTRIBUTES OF GOD. 207 



(Job xxxviii, xxxix.) These are queries calculated to 

 abase and humble proud man. There are thousands of 

 effects which we perceive, but of which all our philoso- 

 phy fails to discover the cause ; so that we must con- 

 tinually say with Agur, "There be three things which 

 are too wonderful for me ; yea, four, which I know 

 not" (Prov. XXX. 18). "As thou knowest not the way 

 of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb 

 of her that is with child ; even so thou knowest not 

 the works of God who maketh all." (Eccl. xi. 5.) 

 Here then at the outset our much ignorance ought to 

 humble that pride and self-sufiBciency which is too apt 

 to be the accompaniment of a little acquaintance with 

 natural science. While the contemplation of the per- 

 fection with which everything is ordained and governed, 

 ought to make us satisfied with the Divine Wisdom, 

 and to check our repinings when its ordinances do not 

 agree with our inclinations. An humble, teachable, 

 child-like spirit, ready to receive every revelation of 

 God, becomes one who looks on the Divine handiwork. 

 Still we can trace much in the created world, 

 which we are able to understand, much of which we 

 can perceive the reasons, and discern the fitness. And 

 several of the perfections of God may clearly be infer- 

 red from these, being reflected by his works as by a 

 mirror. These his perfections, " his eternal power 

 and Godhead," have been manifested in the things 

 that are made, as He himself informs us ; for " He 

 hath shewed them unto us," (Rom. i. 19, 20). So 

 that we are without excuse, if we see Him not in 

 them. Thus, the greatness and power of God are 

 insisted on in the passage already alluded to (Job 



