a consort of musicians playing a lesson, of six or eight several parts, all conspiring to make up one harmony, will immediately conclude that there is some other cause of that harmony besides those several particular efficients, that struck the several instruments; for every one of them would be but a cause of his own part which he played; but the unity of the whole harmony, into which all the several parts conspire, must needs proceed from the art and musical skill of some one mind the exemplary and archetypal cause of that vocal harmony, which was but a passive print or stamp of it: so, though the Atheist might possibly persuade himself, that every particular creature was the first author, or efficient, of that part which it played in the universe, by a certain innate power of its own; yet all the parts of the mundane system conspiring into one perfect harmony, there must of necessity be some one universal mind, the archetypal and exemplary cause thereof, containing the plot of the whole mundane music, as one entire thing made up of so many several parts within himself."* Redemption is but adding a new part to this anthem of universal nature. It introduces no jarring note; it only elevates, enriches, and sweetens the harmony. Or, if you will, it is itself a distinct symphony, yet so attuned to the other, as, without silencing, and without disturbing it, to swell above it, in strains of heavenly sublimity and pathos, that "take the prisoned soul and lap it" in the ecstacy of pure devotion to that 66 one universal Mind" of whose excellences it is the worthy celebration.—The " songs and * Etern. and Immut. Moral. pp. 177-179. choral symphonies" of those "sons of light who circle God's throne rejoicing,"* and whose anthem is "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing," are so far from being out of harmony with the anthem of nature, that nature universally, continuing the notes of her own anthem, adopts the theme and the words of the angelic choirs; "every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and in the sea,' "all that are in them," being heard in response to the "ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands," saying, "Blessing and honour, and glory and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever!" -even And while there is thus a perfect harmony between the voice of redemption and the voice of nature, in regard to the God whom they both reveal, there is the same harmony between redemption and the phenomena of providence. That which is seen with comparative obscurity, in God's general administration towards our world-the union, namely, in the Divine Ruler, of holy righteousness with inexhaustible goodness-appears, in all its clearness of manifestation and fulness of glory, in the purpose and execution of the scheme of Redemption; and appears with a radiance, of which it is difficult to say whether the sweetness or the brilliance predominates-whether it most attracts by its loveliness, or awes by its grandeur. The one transaction of Calvary combines the lessons of God, taught by * Milton. all the diversified operations of nature, and dispensations of providence. The cross speaks the double language of justice and of grace, of offended holiness and relenting mercy. It thus identifies with the intimations of providence. It speaks the same language, on the one hand, as the tempest, the volcano, the pestilence, the famine, and all the varieties of human woe: and the same, on the other, as the exhilarating, warning, fructifying sun, the rains and the dews of heaven, and all the luxuriance of the productive earth. Thus redemption, and creation, and providence, evince themselves to be only varied manifestations of the same Infinite Mind. They show a common origin from the one great "exemplary and archetypal cause." The word of God corresponds with his works; and redemption, by its very harmony with all the other manifestations of the Godhead, becomes an additional proof of the Divine unity! DR. WARDLAW's "CHRISTIAN ETHICS." THE SEASONS. WHEN Spring unlocks the flowers to paint the laughing soil; When Summer's balmy showers refresh the mower's toil; When Winter binds in frosty chains the fallow and the flood, In God the earth rejoiceth still, and owns her Maker good. The birds that wake the morning, and those that love the shade; The winds that sweep the mountain, or lull the drowsy glade; The sun that from his amber bower rejoiceth on his way, The moon, and stars, their Maker's name in silent pomp display. Shall man, the lord of nature, expectant of the sky- Thee, Master, must we always love; and, Saviour, honour Thee. |