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arrangements, smoother and more simple, than those which 

 actually exist. Had the earth's crust presented one unvaried 

 mass of crystal, or granite, or limestone, or had they lain over 

 each other in regular folds like the coats of an onion, only one 

 of these coats could have been within the reach of the inha- 

 bitants. And the varied intermixture of sand, and clay, and 

 mould, and limestone, which constitute the soil of agriculture, 

 and are so necessary to the beauty, fertility, and habitability of 

 the field, would have had no place whatever upon its surface. 

 Again, there would be no reservoirs of water admitted through 

 the pores of the earth, sheltered and purified for the use of 

 man. The water that fell being retained under the sun would 

 be soon evaporated ; and the rivers not being fed by springs, 

 would rush at once into the sea, and leave their channels dry. 

 Again, the inestimable treasures of salt, and coal, and iron, 

 confined as they are to rocks of unusual thickness, would have 

 been wholly inaccessible, and we should have been destitute of 

 the essential element of industry and civilization. Yes, it is 

 the very disordered condition of its crust which covers the earth 

 with food and verdure, that gives us access to its hidden trea- 

 sures, and renders it the convenient and delightful habitation 

 of man and the multitude of animated beings with which it is 

 crowded ; and he must be blind, indeed, who refuses to recog- 

 nize the wise foresight and benevolent intention of Him whose 

 works are so manifold, and who, it is justly said, in wisdom has 

 made them all." So speaks Geology of the crust of the earth on 

 which we live. Now, the similar structure of the Bible promotes 

 spiritual industry, forces us into contact with every portion of 

 its surface, and is one of the sources of that inexhaustible fulness 

 and freshness which distinguish it from every other book. If 

 the Bible were constructed with epic or dramatic regularity, 

 like the poems of Homer or Milton, it would consist of a simple 

 moral and a simple set of characters, easily found, and very soon 

 exhausted. The parts of striking beauty and interest would be 

 known and remembered ; the rest would be neglected and 

 forgotten. Here the Truth of God is scattered through the inde- 

 pendent productions of men of different ages and countries, 

 giving force to their testimony, because it shows the impossi- 

 bility of collusion. It is brought into contact with every variety 

 of character and condition ; and thus, instead of a simple moral, 

 we have lessons of instruction, wide as our nature, and numerous 

 as our spiritual wants. Here, as elsewhere, the jewels are em- 

 bedded in coarser and less valuable materials ; and as we know 

 where we may find the precious stone which is suited to the 

 spiritual exigency of the moment, we are, therefore, habitually 

 brought into contact with every portion of that Word which the 



