208 THE PERFECTIONS 



xxxviii — xli) ; from his formation and oontroul of 

 the planets, the ocean, the lightning, the hugest and 

 most terrible of beasts, and so forth ; as from his 

 entire and absolute command of the elements (Psalm 

 cxlvii. 15 — 18) in accomplishing his irresistible decrees. 

 The wisdom of God, including his wondrous contriv- 

 ance in planning, and skill in executing his works, is 

 seen in the multitudinous varieties of form in the 

 creatures, in the correspondence of part with part, in 

 the perfect adaptation of organs to their uses, in the 

 wonderful and unerring instincts of animals, in their 

 relations to the places which they inhabit, and in the 

 general bearing of the details of creation on the order, 

 stability, and well-being of the whole (See Job xxxviii 

 &c.; Psalm civ. 17 — 24; cxlvii. 4). The eternity of 

 God may be inferred from the circumstance of creation 

 having been prior to all creature experience (Job 

 xxxviii. 21 ; Psalm civ. 31) ; and his immutability 

 from the stable order of the universe ; from the uner- 

 ring regularity of the celestial orbs (Psalm Ixxxix. 37 ; 

 civ. J 9 ; Jeremiah xxxi. 35, 36) ; and from the con- 

 stant renewal of the face of nature (Psalm exlviii. 6). 

 The omnipresence and ever watchful providence of 

 God are in like manner taught us by the constant and 

 universal harmony of the vast machinery of creation 

 (Psalm oxxxix. 7 — 12). But perhaps the most obvious 

 lesson which we learn from the creatures, at least the 

 animate creatures, as it is the one most frequently 

 insisted on in the Word, is the kindness of God, the 

 benevolence of his character, manifested in his tender 

 care for their comfort, and his rich supply of all their 

 need. It is hardly necessary to cite particular pas- 



