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DIVINE MERCY.

CHAPTER I.

MAN'S RELATION TO GOD, AND God's reveLATION TO MAN CONSIDEred. MERCY DEFINED AND DISTINGUISHED. MERCY, GENERAL AND SPECIAL, EXPLAINED. WHAT IT IMPLIES CONCERNING MAN. MISTAKEN VIEWS OF GOD'S MERCY. GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE SCRIPTURE TESTIMONY CONCERNING IT.

"When wondering reason takes her flight,
Thy mighty universe to scan;

Sees worlds on worlds, 'mid fields of light,
Then backward looks,― Lord what is man!

"But what art thou, transcendent Lord!
Beyond the flight of thought or speech,
Soaring a seraph's wing above;

Yet stooping to an infant's reach.

"Oh sweet employment! sweet indeed,

To hearts attun'd and strung by heaven;
To pay to God, the grateful meed,

For hope inspir'd, and sin forgiven."

THE most interesting and important view which can be taken of man, is to be derived from the contemplation of him, in his relation

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to, and connection with God; from an investigation into the nature of his apprehension of, and feelings towards that glorious Being, from whom his existence has emanated, by whose bounty he is supported and supplied each succeeding moment, and to whom finally he must render an account. On a subject so all absorbing as this, it becomes us to inquire each one of himself, have the faculties of my mind been employed in any due measure, in efforts to attain to any just conception of their divine author? How have I regarded him? What do I think of God? How do I feel and act towards him? If we have been and still continue negligent in these respects, we have no right to lay claim to the possession of true wisdom, since we plainly manifest thereby, that we are regardless of the very end of our existence, which is, to serve and glorify God. We should also feel anxious to ascertain how those of our fellow-men with whom we have intercourse are affected towards God; and if we are ourselves acquainted with him, and made happy in his love, we should be desirous to lead them likewise to the fountain of living waters : the entire tenor of our lives, testimony, and influence, should be one incessant call to a world living without God, saying, " know the Lord." Such and such only who thus act may be designated christian philanthropists.

Considered in their relation to God, the millions of this earth's population may be divided into four classes. Those who say "there is no God;" those who worship a false God; those who acknowledge the true God, but in works

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