the greatest people this world ever saw. In comparison of them, Europeans are dull and clumsy; except in physical science, mechanical skill, and the single item of tragedy, we do not pretend to equal them. Their language was the most copious, the most perfect, the most versatile, in the world. Whatever is known of Egypt, Babylon, and the whole world, anterior to the Christian era, excepting the Jewish Scriptures and the holy religion we believe and profess, has been embalmed in their records. In every respect they stood on the pinnacle of human fame. They gave us Plato and the philosophers, Homer and the poets, Demosthenes and eloquence, Herodotus and history, Plutarch and biography, Phidias and sculpture, Apelles and painting, Leonidas and heroism, Alexander and conquest; and we can not compete or compare with them for a moment; and if they in their wisdom knew not God, who will pretend that it is in the power of reason, without the aid of revelation, to find him out?

Lastly, let us remember, that to whomsoever much is given, of him much will also be required. You have the knowledge of the one living and true God, selfexistent, almighty, boundless, changeless, and eternal. You know that he is spotless and pure, infallibly true, inflexibly just. You know that he is unbounded in his kindness-delighting to save, ready to forgive. He is your preserver on whom you depend, your benefactor to whom you are indebted, your governor under whom you live, your judge before whom you must stand, and through the cross of Christ presents himself before you as your redeemer, whom you may love, and serve, and trust, at all times and with all your power. He is revealed to us as the true God, entering into our sorrows, taking our nature, accomplishing our redemption, the Spirit that dwells in us, the Lord who is our comfort,

our guide, our guard, and our stay in time of trouble. Yes, this is our God, and we will exalt him. This is our God, and we will praise him. Yes, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the God whom we adore, we will bless him while we have life; we will praise him when we die. May mercy grant us eternal years to understand him better, and praise him more!

SELECT LECTURES.

XII.

The Natural History of Creation.

BY EDWIN LANKESTER, ESQ., M. D.

DELIVERED BEFORE THE

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION,

OF LONDON,

IN THE WINTER COURSE FOR 1847-8.

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