SERMON XVIII. THE RELIGIOUS USE OF STORMS AND TEMPESTS. JER. ix. 23, 24. Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he under standeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. WE all agree in acknowledging, as a fundamental part of our religion, that it is impossible to reflect upon ourselves, or to survey the world around us, without perceiving the clearest indications of some mysterious power vastly superior to both. The astonishing mechanism of our frame, the adaptation of each of its several parts to some specific end, and at the same time the harmonious concurrence of them all to the general purposes of human life and action, must even at first sight impress us with a serious enquiry as to the cause of such order and contrivance. If still farther, instead of taking a superficial view, we pursue the research more attentively, we shall meet at each step in our progress with fresh and overwhelming reasons to acknowledge the wisdom of our structure, and be led to exclaim with mingled awe and admiration, that we are indeed “ fearfully and wonderfully made.” On extending our observations from ourselves to the universe around us, the same design and contrivance, the same adaptation of means to an end, the same harmonious order, present themselves on every side. The contrivance and power exhibited in the commonest insect or plant are such, as to render altogether contemptible the most admired imitation of them which human ingenuity and labour have ever effected. If we add to this the infinite variety of such productions, both animate and inanimate; the nice gradation of being which surrounds them; the provision made for the sustenance of all from the meanest herb to the noblest amongst the sons of man, can we forbear acknowledging herein traces of wisdom, and power, and goodness, which, though hidden from our view, are yet in their effects so clearly discernible? Were there only one sensitive or one vegetable production in the whole world, only one quadruped or one tree, how would men flock together to admire it! and 1 3 how astonished should we be at the wisdom and power displayed in its organization and support! What should increase, diminishes our wonder. Because the instances have not been solitary, but continued through a long series of ages, and have been moreover in every age infinitely beyond all number; because in fact there is neither interruption nor limit to these works of wonder," we are for this very reason disposed to regard them without emotion, and to become insensible to those proofs of a divine presence which should impress us the more forcibly, in proportion as they are more numerous and more common. 1. We are ready indeed to condemn with indignation the professed atheist or idolater, and to exclaim in the beautiful language of the book of wisdom, that "surely, vain are all men by nature who are ignorant of God, and cannot, out of the good things that are seen, know him that is: neither, by considering the works, did they acknowledge the work-master, but deemed either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the circle of the stars, or the violent water, or the lights of heaven, to be the gods that govern the world. With whose beauty if they, being delighted, took them to be gods, let them know how much better the Lord of them is; for the first Author of beauty hath created them. But if they were astonished at their power and virtue, let them understand by them, how much mightier He is that made come forth unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation," our resurrection may be joyful, and our end for ever glorious. SERMON XVIII. THE RELIGIOUS USE OF STORMS AND TEMPESTS. JER. ix. 23, 24. Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. WE all agree in acknowledging, as a fundamental part of our religion, that it is impossible to reflect upon ourselves, or to survey the world around us, without perceiving the clearest indications of some mysterious power vastly superior to both. The astonishing mechanism of our frame, the adaptation of each of its several parts to some specific end, and at the same time the harmonious concurrence of them all to the general purposes of human life and action, must even at |