7. informeth us, earth. But the Apoftle, Heb. i. that they have a further reference to immaterial angels; either because those angels often appeared in the likeness, or because they were endued with the properties of "wind and flame." Intellectual beings, of the highest order in the realms above are as ready to fulfil the word of Jehovah, as are the elements of this lower world. Both teach a leffon of obedience to the fons of men; to those of them more especially, who are appointed "angels" of the churches, and "minifters," of Chrift. 5. Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it hould not be removed for ever. In the original it is, "Who hath founded the "earth upon it's bafes." The formation of this globe, on which we tread, is a wonderful inftance of divine wisdom and power, whether we confider the manner in which the parts of it are put and kept together, or its fufpenfion in the circumambient fluid, which, as fome philofophers fuppofe, by prefsing upon it on every fide, forms fo many columns, as it were, to fupport, and keep it balanced. The words," that it fhould not be removed for ever," do by no means imply, that the earth is ftationary, or that it is eternal; but only thus much, that it is fo conftructed, as to anfwer the end, and to last the time, for which it was created and intended. It fhall continue the fame in itself, and with relation to other bodies, neither altering it's fhape, nor changing it's In the French translation it is Who maketh the winds "his angels, the flaming fire his minifters." course, course, till the day appointed for it's diffolution; after which, as there are to be "new heavens," fo will there alfo be "a new earth." 6. Thou coveredft it with the deep, as with a garment: the waters food above the mountains. 7. At thy Tebuke they fled: at the voice of thy thunder they hafted away. 8. They go, or went up by the mountains: they go, or, went down by the vallies, unto the place which thou hadft founded for them. 9. Thou haft fet a bound that they may not pass over: that they turn not again to cover the earth. Moft interpreters fuppofe this to be a description of the fituation of things, and of what was effected by the power of God, on the third day of the creation, when he said, "Let the waters be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear; " and it was fo." Indeed, the process at the creation was fo exactly fimilar to that at the deluge, with regard to the circumftances here mentioned, that it matters not to which we apply the beautiful and truly poetical paffage before us. In both cafes, the earth was covered with the waters, as with a garment, in every part; in both cafes, they fled at the Almighty word, like the fcattered remains of a routed army; from the heights of mountains, whither they had afcended, they funk down into the vallies; from the vallies they retired to the bed of the ocean, and a part of them defcended from thence into the great deep, that lieth beneath. Bounds were fet them, beyond which they fhould never pafs, to overwhelm us any more for ever. And the experience of 4000 years hath taught us, that where the Creator hath laid his commands, plain fand is a fufficient barrier, Thus the church hath been delivered from her fpiritual enemies; and she hath a promife, on which she may with full confidence rely, that "the gates of "hell fhall never prevail against her." 10. He fendeth the Springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. 11. They give drink to every beaft of the field; the wild affes quench their thirst. The waters of the fea are not only prevented from deftroying the earth, but by a wonderful machinery are rendered the means of preferving every living thing which moveth thereon. Partly ascencing from the great deep through the ftrata of the earth, partly exhaled in vapour from the furface of the ocean into the air, and from thence falling in rain, especially on the tops and by the fides of mountains, they break forth in fresh springs, having left their falts behind them; they trickle through the valleys, between the hills, receiving new fupplies as they go; they become large rivers, and after watering, by their innumerable turnings and windings, immenfe tracts of country, they return to the place from whence they came. Thus every animal bath an opportunity of quenching that thirft, which muft otherwife foon put a period to it's exiftence. The "wild affes" are particularly mentioned, because they live in remote and fandy deferts; yet even fuch creatures, in fuch places, are by the God of nature taught the way to the waters; infomuch that the parched traveller, when in fearch of a fountain, findeth them to be the best guides in the world, and needeth only to obferve and follow the herds of them defcending to the streams. ftreams. In the fpiritual fyftem, or new creation, there are wells of falvation, living fprings, waters of comfort, of which all nations, even the moft favage and barbarous, are invited to come and drink freely. They flow. among the churches; they defcend into the hearts of the lowly; and they refresh us in our paffage through the wilderness: for even there" do waters break out, and streams in the defert." Ifai, Xxxv. 6. -66 12. By them fhall the fowls of the air have their habitation, which fing among the branches. 巍 "By them," that is, by " fprings of water," in the " valleys," the birds delight to have their habitations, and to fing amidst the verdant branches, which conceal them from our fight. "The music "of birds," as one hath well observed, was the "first fong of thanksgiving which was offered on "earth before man was formed. All their founds are different, but all harmonious, and all together compofe a choir which we cannot imitate *." If thefe little chorifters of the air, when refreshed by the ftreams near which they, dwell, express their gratitude by chanting, in their way, the praises of their Maker and Preferver, how ought Chriftians to blush, who, befides the comforts and conveniences of this world, are indulged with copious draughts of the water of eternal life, if, for fo great bleffings, they pay not their tribute of thanksgiving, and fing not unto the Lord the fongs of Sion!" He that "at midnight, when the very labourer fleeps fe Wefley's Survey of the Wifdom of God in the Creation, -I. 149, 0 4 "curely, curely, should hear, as I have often done, the "clear airs, the fweet defcants, the natural rifing "and falling, the doubling and redoubling of the "nightingale's voice, might well be lifted above "earth, and fay, Lord, what mufic haft thou pro"vided for the faints in heaven, when thou affordest "bad men fuch mufic upon earth!" Walton's Complete Angler, P. 9. 13. He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is fatisfied with the fruit of thy works. 14. Hẹ caufeth the grafs to grow for the cattle, and herb før the fervice of mun that he may bring forth food ou of the earth; 15. And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to fine, and bread which Arengtheneth man's heart. The fertility of the earth is owing to God, who for that purpose, "watereth" it by " from his "chambers," whether the word hath a reference to the clouds above, or the depths below, for both are concerned in the operation. Hence all the glory and beauty of the vegetable world; hence the grafs, which nourisheth the cattle, that they may nourish the human race; hence the green herb, for food and for medicine; hence fields covered with corn, for the support of life; hence vines and olive trees laden with fruits, whofe juices exhilarate the heart, and brighten the countenance. Nor let us forget the fpiritual benedictions corresponding to these external ones; the fruitfulness of the church through grace, the bread of everiafting life, the cup of falvation, and the oil of gladnefs. * 16. The trees of the LORD are full of fap: the Cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted, The |