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Almighty Architect of the universe. The great Master- 
Builder's plan is as evident in the Works as in the Word 
of God. Both present as it were a family likeness, which 
is fitted to illustrate and be illustrated by each other. The 
same agency in short is at work in the kingdom of Nature as 
in that of Grace. There are many striking analogies between 
them. The same loving-kindness, surrounded by equal diffi- 
culties — the same unity of purpose, emerging from apparent 
confusion — the same admirable adjustment of adequate means 
to merciful and noble purposes. 
5. But, after all, how little is man* (even the most accom- 
plished man of science) able to comprehend of the laws of the 
Great Creator? How true are the words of the ancient 
Patriarch, who having given some sublime illustrations of 
creative skill and power, says, “ Lo ! these are parts^ of His 
ways, but who can understand the thunder of His power." 
6. On entering the august Temple of Nature we are re- 
minded at every step of the Infinite and the Unsearchable. 
Hence a childlike spirit of inquiry, and an unaffected acknow- 
ledgment of our own incapacity to deal with the eternal laws 
of the Almighty are the most suitable dispositions for creatures 
“ who were born but yesterday and know nothing."! 
7. We are at best only learners and seekers after truth 
rathe’r than persons really possessed of it. J Science and its 
professors, instead of dogmatizing on insufficient or, as it often 
happens, inaccurate data, should remember that they are 
dealing with Divine attributes. In the eloquent and appro- 
priate words of Hooker it may be said — " Dangerous it were 
for the feeble brain of man to wade far into the doings of the 
Most High, whom, although to know be life and joy to make 
mention of His name, yet our soundest knowledge is to 
know that we know Him, not as, indeed, He is, neither 
can know Him ; and our safest eloquence concerning Him is 
our silence when we confess without confession that His glory 
is inexplicable, His greatness above our capacity and reach. 
He is above, and we upon earth ; therefore it behoveth our 
words to be wary and few."§ 
8. No one can doubt for a moment the vast body of evidence 
which glares upon us from the brilliant firmament with which 
God has surrounded His works and His Word. Eternity will 
not exhaust the study of it, since it will unfold facts ever new, 
ever abounding in inexhaustible variety. But yet, even here 
* Job xx vi. 14. t Job viii. 9. J Pythagoras. 
§ Hooker’s Eccles. Pol., book i. 200. 
