Ordinances and institutions of divine religion are appointed for training us up for the life of heaven. What glorious privileges, what ennobling prospects do we enjoy, through the tender mercies of our God, whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the region and shadow of death! O Lord, how great is thy goodness! Thy tender mercies are over all thy works.

III. In the language of day and night we ought not to omit taking notice of the wisdom of God.

As the gracious dealings of the Almighty towards us bespeak his goodness, so the means adopted to diffuse it declare his wisdom. Wisdom, whenever it is employed, must have happiness for its object; and when that is promoted by fit means, wisdom shews itself to the utmost advantage. It would be endless to descend to a particular enumeration of all the instances wherein the most admirable contrivances are displayed for our accommodation and happiness; and it would be inexcusable to omit taking notice of some of the most striking of these, concerning which day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.Every object that contributes to our benefit, is admirably contrived for that end; and every evidence of divine goodness brings with it a concomitant proof of divine wisdom. They inseparably attend each other, and appear in one view. But it may be observed in particular, with respect to the succession of day and night, that there is an admir

able provision for it in the form and position of the earth, and in that motion which it constantly performs. In consequence of both, and of the properties of the surrounding air, there is a suitable and general distribution of light from the sun, and nothing is hid from the heat thereof.

As we cannot bear the fatigues of constant exercise, God, of his infinite wisdom, has appointed the night, as the season of rest and repose. How sleep comes, or how it leaves us, we understand not; but we understand enough in knowing that it is a blessing, for which we ought to be thankful. In infancy it seems to be peculiarly necessary, even to the nourishment of the body. In every period of life its beneficial effects are felt. The waste of the animal spirits is thereby repaired, and the languor of the body removed, which, by its continuance, would render us totally unfit for the business of life.

The mind, no less than the body, wants this rest, and partakes of this refreshment. The faculties of the soul cannot long bear intense application. Ar dently as we may wish to pursue a subject for its importance, or for the pleasure it affords to the imagination, we soon begin to experience our inability to go on with advantage. If, by our eagerness, we transgress the limits which the constitution of our nature has prescribed to us, we impair our health, and injure our faculties by an exertion which they cannot bear. Thus we go on, alternately thinking and ceasing to think; still, how

ever, gaining ground, even by this necessary interruption of thought.

Sleep is further useful by the silence it imposes on our passions. Sometimes, indeed, their violence is such as to render the mind incapable of its stated rest. It is thus frequently with avarice, with pride and ambition, with a revengeful temper, and even with the more innocent passion of grief. But thanks be to God, the passions of the generality of mankind are within the reach of sleep, which, though it does not entirely remove the causes of our grief, renders them more tolerable. Our sensibility daily diminishes, until at length the mind recovers its wonted strength, and is prepared for the further trials that await it. Considering then this wise and gracious appointment of heaven, for checking the impetuosity of our passions, and preventing that total derangement of our faculties which would otherwise follow, we see abundant reason to be thankful to Him who hath made us thus, and furnished this relief under the infirmities of nature. If, to a considerate mind, it is matter of wonder how we are preserved, even with all our care, amidst the dangers that surround us, how much greater is the wonder, when all our powers of thought and action are for a time suspended. Let the glory be to Him who slumbereth not. Whatever it be that protects us, it is neither our own power nor wisdom. It is God alone, and to him be the praise.

Such, my friends, is the language of the revolution of day and night. Day uttereth speech unto

day, and night unto night teacheth us knowledge of the power, goodness, and wisdom of the Creator and Preserver of the universe.-In illustrating these important truths, I have endeavoured to present to your view objects the most magnificent and interesting which can engage your attention. In this attempt I have followed the example of the royal psalmist in this sacred hymn, of which the words of our text are a part, and in several other similar compositions by the same inspired pen-compositions, as much distinguished by the fine genius of poetry which they indicate, as by the spirit of piety which they breathe.

Allow me now to direct your attention more particularly to the religious and moral instructions which this subject suggests.

1. Let every revolution of day and night raise our thoughts to God: for day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night teacheth knowledge of Him, and of his ways. Let us attend to the course and revolutions of the sun and moon, the succession of day and night, and of one year after another; not with the coldness of a philosophic enquirer, but with the ardent piety of devout worshippers of the God of nature and grace. The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament sheweth forth his handy-work. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech, nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. O

Lord my God, thou art exceeding great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty: Who coverest thyself with light, as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: who layest the beams of thy chambers in the waters: who makest the clouds thy chariots: who walkest upon the wings of the wind! O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom thou hast made them all. The earth is full of thy riches. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all ye stars of light: praise him, ye heaven of heavens. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the Lord, ye his angels that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion : bless the Lord, O my soul.

But it is in the scheme of redemption, unfolded in the gospel, that we behold the divine perfections shining with the most resplendent lustre. The light of the Sun of Righteousness throws new beauty upon the creation of God, and especially upon man, who is placed at the head of this lower world. Man, indeed, considered in himself, is the child of vanity and corruption, a miserable transgressor of the divine law, a rebel against the divine government, and obnoxious to the wrath of his offended Maker and Sovereign. But if man, considered in himself, is thus wretched, the more are the divine perfections magnified in his recovery and salvation. God so loved the world, that he gave