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principles it would be difficult to find a reason for tlieir exist- 
ence. Why should the barren rocks be made to yield a 
treasure of delight for some half-score of naturalists in this 
late period of the world's existence ? 
The explanation of the varied aspects of the Cosmos, the 
beautifully adorned world we live in, is given us in Psalm civ., 
where everything is traced to the great First Cause, the 
Eternal and self-existing Jehovah. The psalm is the happy 
expression of a soul in conscious knowledge and enjoyment of 
the presence sought and not shunned, of the beloved object of 
its affections. “Ble,ss the Jehovah, 0 my soul, 0 Jehovah my 
God, Thou art very great, Thou art clothed with honour and 
majesty." If this, as the utterance of an unknown writer, came 
before us for the first time, our reasonable course would be to 
inquire what he has to say in illustration of the proposition 
which in his language of praise he puts before us. Does he 
sustain this magnificent beginning, so that his hearers should 
be able, according to his express desire, at the close to praise 
Jehovah with him? Science cannot decide the question, it 
must be left to faith. Science and faith are not in opposition 
here, but science is simply dumb, as incompetent to discuss the 
subject. 
It is said that when Laplace was introduced to Napoleon, 
the Emperor objected to the great astronomer’s having framed 
a scheme of the Universe, without the existence of God, and 
that the reply of this latter was, “ Your majesty, we had no 
need of this hypothesis.” Such was his opinion, but it was not 
that of the Emperor, nor is it the opinion of the most intelligent 
of mankind, to whom the notion of a self-evolving and self- 
regulating Universe is not only inadmissible but absolutely 
unthinkable. 
It must be admitted that the Cause referred to in Psalm civ. 
is capable of producing the effects, and that the effects give 
strong demonstration of the existence of the unseen Cause. 
It is evident to me that the God of nature is the God of the 
Bible. The very points which sceptics select as their chosen 
themes of attack in the Scripture, have their exact parallel in 
nature. In that most wonderfully touching and sublime Psalm, 
the 90th, which commends itself to tho inmost feelings of 
man’s heart, as he follows his beloved ones to the tomb, we 
read, “ Thou turnest man to destruction.’’ This is a theme that 
must be dwelt upon with caution, and with reverence. In tho 
pairing together of nature everything has its appointed 
destroyer. Wondrous skill is displayed in preserving the 
balance amongst the ci’eatures. No fruitful source of over- 
