to science has well remarked) 'know a little, presume a good deal, and so jump to a conclusion.'* Let not, however, such sciolists be ranked among the num ber of philosophers. The truth is, their mechanical system of Providence is a mere creature of the brain. It is the unseemly produce of lawless fancy and extravagant presumption.

BUT this mechanical system is not only destitute, and incapable of proof, it is likewise absurd and impious.-It is absurd, for it attempts to separate the Omnipresent Creator from his immense creation, the almighty and infinitely benevolent Father from his innumerable offspring. It represents him making his works independent of himself, as if common sense did not tell us, that whatever is indebted to him for its being, must be equally indebted to him for its constant preservation and direction. All such vagaries, are evidently founded on prejudices resulting from wrong apprehensions of the Divine character. Accord

* Mr. Locke.

ingly, it is with pleasure that I here adduce the opinion of our unrivalled philosopher, the immortal Newton. As the Deity is

6

the Supreme and First Cause, from whom all other causes derive their whole force ' and energy, so Sir Isaac Newton thought it most unaccountable to exclude Him only out of the universe. It appeared to 'him much more just and reasonable to suppose, that the whole chain of causes, or the several series of them, should centre in Him, as their source and fountain, and the whole system appear depending upon Him, the only independ ent Cause. And to the very same effect, we find the following just and excellent remarks by Newton's illustrious expositor.'As,' says he, the Deity is the first and supreme cause of all things, so it is unaccountable to exclude him out of nature, and represent him as an extra-mundane intelligence. On the contrary, it is most natural to suppose him to be the chief Mover throughout the whole universe, and that all other causes are dependent upon him; and conformable to

*See M Laurin's Account, &c. p. 380.

this is the result of all our inquiries into nature, where we are always meeting 'with powers that surpass mere mechanism, or the effects of matter and motion. The laws of nature are constant and regular, and, for ought we know, all of them may be resolved into one general • and extensive power; but this power itself, derives its properties and efficacy, not from mechanism, but, in a great measure, from the immediate influences of the First Mover.'*-And this mechanical system of Providence is as grossly impious, as it is glaringly absurd; for it tends to annihilate the attributes of the Divine nature. It makes God an unconcerned spectator of his own works, and places him in a state of indolence, which is inconsistent with every idea of perfection.—It is impious, for it undermines the foundation of all religious worship. When I pray for my daily food, for a blessing on my common meals, for the various virtues of the spiritual life, and for mercy and grace to help every time of need,' does not such pious exercise evidently suppose the perpetual agency of the Supreme Being in ruling

me in

*M'Laurin. See his Account, &c. p. 387.

the world, and ministering to the wants of his creatures as their circumstances require? But if such Divine agency

does not

And

exist, why should I lift up my voice in prayer and supplication? My worship is vain; it can profit me nothing. In this case, I may as well worship images of wood and stone, as bow down before the Majesty of Heaven.-In fine, this mechanical system is impious, because it directly contradicts what is clearly revealed in the Holy Scriptures. When I take up the Bible, I hold in my hand a most striking history of a particular Providence. when I read its contents, I meet with numberless attestations of this sublime and salutary doctrine. I find that the universe is full of God; that all the operations of nature, and all the changes and events of life, are directly ascribed to his power and will; that all things, the greatest and minutest, the most trivial and most important, are alike the objects of his notice, and the subjects of his care. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion ' is from generation to generation. He is 'the Governor among the nations. He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth

them: He enlargeth the nations, and 'straiteneth them again. The king's heart

is in the hand of the Lord, as the ri< vers of water he turneth it whithersoever ' he will. He hath purposed, and who 'shall disannul it; his hand is stretched

out, and who shall turn it back? He is the blessed and only Potentate. All the Hosts of Heaven are but ministers of his that do his pleasure. Even when the lot is cast into the lap, the whole dispos'ing thereof is of the Lord. Promotion • cometh neither from the east, nor from 'the west, nor from the south; but God

is the Judge: He putteth down one and • setteth up another. He doth according to his will in the Army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. The < eyes of all wait upon him; and he giveth • them their meat in due season. He is

nigh unto all them that call upon him in 'truth: He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them.'*

* Dan. iv, 3. Ps. xxii, 28. Job xii, 23. Prov. xxi, 1. Isaiah xiv, 27. 1 Tim. vi, 15. Ps. ciii, 21. Prov. xvi, 33. Ps. lxxv 6, 7. Dan. iv, 35. Ps. cxlv, 15, 18, 19.