it, is fast harmonizing the spirit of the Nations, and connecting the broad earth's mighty people by the ligaments of Fraternal Love. We accept these salutary tendencies as omens of a glorious Future, in which the great Lessons of History shall be perfectly unfolded, its mysteries explained, its sufferings justified, and its results displayed to the admiring Universe.

"Not in vain the distance beacons-
Forward, forward let us range;
Let the people spin forever

Down the ringing grooves of change.

For I doubt not through the ages

One increasing purpose runs,
And the thoughts of men are widen'd
With the process of the suns.

Men, our brothers, men, the workers,
Ever reaping something new-
That which they have done but earnest

Of the things that they shall do."

VI

GOD IN NATURE.

The Heavens declare the Glory of God,

And the Firmament showeth His handiwork.

Day unto day uttereth speech,

And Night unto night showeth knowledge.

PSALM XIX. 1, 2.

THAT the "Image and Superscription" of the Deity are visible on the Face of Nature, is a fact with which Christian Philosophy has familiarized us, and which the convictions of all nations and all ages have approved. That Divine Genius is revealed in every lineament of Creation, becomes more and more evident as the Reasoning Mind unfolds itself to the realities around it; and the farther Science penetrates the veil of the Material Universe, the firmer and clearer becomes our assurance that this complicated Being is the product of

an Intelligent Purpose, and the object of Beneficent Care.

Whether we follow the Geological shaft through the strata of our Globe, or, with the Astronomer's Telescope, attempt to number the Planetary orders that illuminate the abysses of Space ;-whether we observe the Chemist, while he analyzes the constituents of Matter, or the Psychologist, while he calculates the laws, and unfolds the destiny, of the Soul;-whether we consider the Physical Force which prostrates the Wilderness and bridges the Ocean, beautifies the Earth and rears magnificent Cities, or the Mental Force which peoples the world with Thought, adorns it with beautiful Monuments of Art, and blesses it with the illuminations of Geniusthe same fact meets us like our own constant face in a mirror-the Fact of God's Existence and Manifestation, of His Government and of His Love.

But, of all the departments of Nature, doubtless the Heavens appear richest in indications of the active Presence of God. Those evidences which are displayed on the Firma

ment-traced as they are in lines of dazzling splendor-are forced upon us perpetually, and with irresistible vividness. We cannot veil them from our sight. Day and Night reveal them, even to the dullest apprehension. From every home and haunt of Man and Life, we hear their speech. To the Traveler, awed by the grandeur of the Alps or the Andes, and to the Peasant, who never wandered beyond his own scanty acres; to the Christian, contemplating the night sky with silent reverence, and to the Barbarian, tracing the intricacies of his war-path-is knowledge proclaimed by those fadeless mementoes of God, whose robes of light and fire overarch the world.

It would seem impossible that a cultivated mind should contemplate this Canopy of Beauty above us, without receiving the conviction that there is the Hand-writing of God, traced for the study and instruction of Man. Indeed, that old Persian adoration of the Sun was by no means a gross idolatry, when we consider the age in which it prevailed. It was the earnest effort of the Imprisoned Soul

to discern its Creator through the Vista of Nature; and, though it failed to discover GOD, it certainly offered its allegiance to His most glorious and palpable Symbol. But, for ourselves, since God has revealed himself to the humblest human intelligence, through an Inspired Announcement which is becoming audible to every capacity of Humanity, we do not question the heavens to ascertain the reality of His Existence, but, rather, to discover the extent of His Dominion, the variety and perfection of His Manifestations, and what multiform classes of Creation are blessed with His Guardianship and Salvation. "The Heavens declare the Glory of God”let us, then, listen to their Proclamation. "The Firmament showeth His Handiwork," -let us admire its perfection and beauty. "Day unto day uttereth speech,"-let us give audience to this high instruction. "And Night unto night showeth knowledge,❞—let us, therefore, become wise in the perusal of that Hand-writing, traced in golden legibility on the azure Page of the Universe.

In a rude, uncultivated Age and Nation,