serve to lift up the eyelids, and so had almost lost his sight; being forced, as long as that defect lasted, to push up his eyelids every moment with his own hands! In general we may remark, how little those who enjoy the perfect use of their organs know the comprehensiveness of the blessing, the variety of the obligation. They perceive a result, but they think little of the multitude of concurrences and rectitudes which go to form it.'

It should here be observed, respecting the eyelids, that the defect above mentioned, in what may be called the hinges of these inimitable shutters, is an affliction of very rare occurence: and when, in addition to this, we consider how perfectly and successfully they perform their important office, the eyelids may be selected as a peculiarly appropriate exemplification of the subject under consideration, viz.: the adaptation of the members of the body in general, and of the organs of motion in particular, to perform their several offices. As a further proof of this, the member which the apostle James, for evident reasons, calls an unruly member,' must by no means be passed over in silence. On this point the reader is referred to article A, in the appendix.

2. In the human frame, we see an admirable union of strength and beauty, united with a due regard to convenience and comeliness in respect of bulk. These are qualities of the human body not undeserving notice. Indeed, there is nothing unworthy attention, in which may be discerned the

C

overruling providence of God. To me, it appears a wise and merciful arrangement of the Divine Being, that the ordinary strength of men is what it is, and neither more or less: That the strength of the hand, for example, should be so considerable, and yet be possessed without offence to comeliness or convenience, either as to size or shape, is surely not undeserving the brief notice here bestowed upon it: nor as it has pleased God, in respect of their beauty, to give us bodies suitable to the rank we occupy in the scale of being, shonld we fail to recognize his hand in it. For, although it is unquestionable that the body has suffered by the fall in respect of beauty, similarly with the soul by the same cause; yet, as to creation in general, sin has left to man's bodily frame much that bespeaks the dignity and beauty of his original state. For mark his erect posture, which seems like the star on the breast of nobility, or like the diadem which oft oppresses the brow it adorns, to point out man as the lord of this lower world: mark his countenance and his eye, both beaming with that intelligence and immortality which his speech scarcely less distinctly than his mental powers proclaims. In short, the human head covered as it is with a covering wove in nature's inimitable loom, may, I think, be fitly compared to the ornamental finish of the stately columns which support the dome of some ancient pile, whose exact and elegant proportions would but inadequately represent the still more elegant symmetry of the human frame; in which, moreover, that it might be

perfect through the comeliness which God has put upon it, we see the most agreeable variety, both in respect of countenance, complexion, shape, and size. What then must have been its beauty when first created ? Was it not like Zion, the perfection of beauty', so divinely perfect, that it would not have been an unsuitable residence even for an angel?

3. And especially should we consider, that, as the works of God in general, so the human frame in particular abounds with the clearest indications of its being not the work of chance, but of design and contrivance-the work of an infinitely intelligent and Almighty Creator! And this is true, not only of the bodies of Adam and Eve, but of our own, in every part of which, except a man have the disease of atheism, it is impossible not to discover contrivance and design; nay, effects produced by ways, causes, and combinations so wonderful, as to evince, as we said, infinite skill and power. Is it, for example, we might ask, the work of chance or design, that the human skull, whose office is to defend that vital organ, the brain, is (to resist violence) ever hard and convex, and yet lined with a soft membrane to fit it for its contents? Is there no benevolent care nor design cognizable in the eyebrows, or in the hair, planted with such inimitable skill along their ridges? Have the ribs their strength and curvature, and are they placed where they are by chance? Is it by chance that the nails are placed at the extremities of the toes and fingers? or that the bones should possess the quality of knitting

1

together again so fimrly, that when broken and properly set, they become as strong as ever? And surely, that the laws of nature, in respect of the human frame, should operate with such regularity, ought to be regarded as a singular proof of a superintending providence. For on what other principle can we rationally account for the several members of the body being constantly and universally fixed in the same place, and that the very place where they ought to be? Nor can I see, except on the same principle, as Mr. Addison remarks, how we can account for the fact, that the number of males and females should be so nicely adjusted, that the number of males appears to be just sufficiently larger to make up the diminution to which they are liable by war and other causes. And here it may be enquired, whether the distinction in the sexes does not evince that the body is, as really as the soul, the workmanship of God. Such reflections as these I must leave you to pursue, judging you would be better pleased, were we further to illustrate the point before us by a few more quotations from Paley's Evidences; for which, see appendix, article B.And to bring our remarks on the creation of the corporeal part of Adam to a close, I hasten to remind you,

4thly. That whatever in respect of beauty or otherwise, might have been the perfection of the body in its primitive state, it was a perfection the more wonderful; because, had it not been for sin, it would have continued for ever. What an admirable

frame then was Adam's! as immortal as his soula piece of divine mechanism which, but for sin, would never have needed any other repairs than what food and sleep would have efficiently and perpetually afforded: with these remedies it would have bid defiance to disease, decay, deformity, and death. Adam's body was therefore especially a wonderful structure! And yet, it is reasonable to suppose, it was formed by a word in the twinkling of an eye; and formed, too, out of nothing but dust. Even as the apostle speaks, when referring to the rebuilding and glorifying of the bodies of the just at the last day, by the same Divine Architect, the eternal Word, without whom, was not any thing made that was made.' But what saith the Apostle? We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.' Well might it be said of Jesus, 'his name shall be called Wonderful.' For what amazing power-power that will fill many, and that, in different senses, with amazement, is implied in what the Apostle on the same subject, the resurrection of believers, says in another place: the Saviour shall change our vile bodies, and fashion them like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himself.' O glorious power! glorious in its nature! glorious in its application! With what 'sweet surprise, will it fill the souls of millions! With what unwonted terror will it pierce the hearts of millions more, especially such as shall die in that most dreadful sin