of man and his compound nature, than we have of any other creature. He was made upon counsel and deliberation; -and he was made "of the dust of the earth.” What a check upon pride, especially pride of personal beauty! Let those who are tempted to indulge this silly vanity, look back to the meanness of their original; they were formed of the dust of the earth. But the original of man's spiritual nature is exalted, in a higher proportion than that of his corporeal nature is debased: "the Lord God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul." What a stimulus this, to man's aspiring after glory, honour, immortality, and eternal life! Alas, that the soul, the spark of Deity, should ever be degraded and made subservient to the clod of earth with which it is associated, and "fleshly lusts" permitted to gain the ascendancy, and "war against the soul."

How finely tempered, and how exquisitely modelled, was this heaven-animated clay! "I will praise thee, O Lord, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Every part of the human body furnishes matter for devout admiration. Its mechanism is wonderful, in common with that of all animals: it is wonderful also, in distinction from them. The peculiar contrivances of the human body are evidently adapted to be under the direction of reason. animal is furnished with some appropriate contrivance, corresponding with its nature and its wants. Each carries about with it, its own tools and weapons. The claw, the beak, the teeth, &c. are exactly adapt

Each

ed to the purposes of procuring food, shelter, and defence, of a kind suited to the respective necessities of the animal so furnished; and instinct directs each to employ them accordingly, and by them perfectly to attain the end designed; but they can do no more. However much we may admire the ingenuity of particular animals in constructing their habitations, or in providing their food, we should never expect to find them capable of employing that ingenuity in a way suited to the wants of any other animal; a bee could not build a bird's nest, nor could a bird construct a honeycomb. But the hands with which man is furnished, while they do not so fully answer the purpose of tools themselves, are better adapted for holding and directing artificial tools; capable of employing tools of various descriptions; and, by their aid, of producing an endless variety of results, either conducing to the support or gratification of the individual, or any other purpose.

Man is distinguished from all the inferior creatures, as endowed with a rational soul, and possessed of that consciousness of right and wrong, which should render him a proper subject of moral government. Thus being capable of a law, he was necessarily under the law of his Creator, and must continue so throughout his existence.

"In the image of God created he man." This image consisted in authority, in knowledge, and in rectitude. In authority, for to man was given dominion over the earth, and over all the inferior crea

tures. In knowledge, for while all other anima.s possess no more knowledge than is necessary to their preservation and that of their species, man alone was endowed with intellectual powers-judgment, memory, imagination, &c. and made capable of communion with his Maker. Rectitude, for not only was man's form erect, and as it were fitted for overlooking the creatures around him, and looking upwards to the residence of his Maker, but his soul was perfect in rectitude and purity, and perfectly free from any bias to evil. We shall presently see that this image was lost by sin. May it be our privilege to be renewed in the spirit of our mind, and created anew after the image of God, in righteousness and true holiness!

Immediately upon his creation, man received from his Maker a communication as to his situation and his destiny. He was placed in Eden, a garden of delights, surrounded by every thing that could regale the senses and sustain nature, and, at the same time, impart instruction and excite devotion. A free and liberal grant was made of the produce of the garden for man's use and enjoyment: but even in Paradise, man was not made for idleness, nor can indolence form part of man's happiness in any situation. He was set there "to dress it and to keep it." Let young people guard against an indolent trifling disposition; it is the sure bane both of excellence and of happiness, and an inlet to every evil.

Neither was man's state even in Paradise one of unrestricted liberty. Though man was placed in authority over the inferior creatures, he was in subjection to his Creator. Though every indulgence he could reasonably desire was abundantly granted, one reasonable restriction was laid upon him, as a token of his subjection, and as a trial of his obedience. "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat." There is no happiness in liberty to do wrong, or in throwing off our proper subordinationthe highest happiness of a creature is in perfect submission to the government of his Creator; were but this submission universally prevalent, earth would be restored to its primitive order and happiness, and paradise would again bloom for man below.

The prohibition given to man was expressed in the most plain and absolute terms, and the awful punishment, in case of disobedience, explicitly stated. Man had a testimony within, that his Maker's law was holy, just, and good, and this fearful threatening was like a barrier to check his way towards a transgression of it.

In the creation of Eve as a companion for Adam, there are several things observable and interesting other creatures were created, both male and female, of every kind-but Adam was first formed, and afterwards Eve.

"The Lord God said, "It is not good that the man

should be alone; I will make a help meet for him." The wise and tender Parent of the universe knows perfectly well the circumstances and necessities of all his creatures, and often prepares for their supply before the need is perceived by themselves:-Adam had made no complaint of solitude, when God declared his purpose of providing him a companion. But observe again, when God designs to bestow a mercy, he generally makes the individual sensible of his need of that mercy: before Eve was created, Adam seems to have discovered that among all the creatures who passed before him, and received from him their names, while each was formed for society, and all were provided with suitable companions, for him no companion was found-none of erect form-none possessed of a reasonable soul-none endued with the faculty of intelligibly communicating ideas. Adam was the creation of the sixth day; and it is probable that on the same evening the creatures were named by him, after which, during a deep sleep which the Lord caused to fall upon Adam, a rib was taken from Adam, and moulded into a female form, which, on his awaking, was presented to him, as the intelligent and affectionate companion of his existence. If this supposition be correct, the first happy pair joined in the grateful devotions of the first sabbath-perhaps, the only sabbath that dawned on man in a state of innocence.

From the circumstances related of the creation of Eve, we gather what is the proper sphere which