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In whatever way the revelation of God to Abram was 
effected, it must be regarded as one of the most stupendous 
events in the history of mankind. Three thousand six hun- 
dred years have passed away, and in every one of these years 
Abram and his seed have been marked under the eye of God 
as (whether faithful or unfaithful) the seed of Abraham his 
friend. The mind of man, ever searching into the unknown 
and the incomprehensible, should at least endeavour to [/rasp 
such a fact as this. To deny it or to explain it away seems 
alike hopeless ; to admit it involves the admission of the 
Personality of the Almighty in opposition to all Druidism, 
Pantheism, Polytheism, and Natural Religion. 
The God of Abram loves, seeks the friendship of a man, 
suffers him to plead with him as a friend, acknowledges that 
friendship, directs, refines and purifies the object of lfis choice, 
and takes him to dwell with Himself, where, according to the 
testimony of Christ, he is still living. 
All this is, in my opinion, quite above reason, though in no 
way contrary to reason, for reason has no plummet to cast 
into this unfathomable depth. The Truth can only be received 
by faith and spiritually; but, being received through divine 
teaching and in the appointed way of reconciliation, becomes 
the joy of the heart for ever ! * 
Pantheism may seem attractive in the hour of prosperity, 
but it has no remedial feature for the hour of adversity, no 
consolation against the darkness of the grave. Ask electricity 
to comfort you on the bed of languishing, or demand of ele- 
mental fire if it can purge away your sins, or fit you for the 
happy life of the blessed ! Neither is water more effectual. 
“ Ounie nefas, omneraque mali purgamina causam 
Credebant nostri tollere posse senes .... 
All nimium faciles, qui tristia crimina ciedis 
Fluminea tolli posse putatis aqua.’T 
It is not the Pantheist , but the Christian, of whom it may 
be said with truth — 
“ His are the mountains, and the valleys his, 
And the resplendent rivers. His to enjoy 
With a propriety that none can feel 
But who, with filial confidence inspired, 
Can lift to Heaven an unpresumptuous eye 
And smiling say, My Father made them all.” 
* KTrjua eg del. See John, 2nd epistle, v. 2. 
t Ovid, Fast., lib. 
