SERMON IV.

GOD IS ALMIGHTY.

PSALM LXXXIX. 9, 10.

O LORD GOD OF HOSTS! WHO IS LIKE UNTO THEE: THY TRUTH, MOST MIGHTY LORD, IS ON EVERY SIDE THOU RULEST THE RAGING OF THE SEA; THOU STILLEST THE WAVES THEREOF, WHEN THEY ARISE.

So self-evident is the truth of David's assertion in the first of these verses, that we cannot but wonder that the pride of man should ever lead him to deny it.

Nor in the latter is it less plain, when we consider the many remarkable evidences of God's Almighty power over sea and land; recorded in the instructive, and amusing, pages of the Bible.

Where, indeed, in all this beauteous world, is not the mighty Maker's hand apparent?

Who but He hath set bounds to the floods, which they cannot pass; and hath commanded the waves to turn back again to the deep, when they have flowed up to the place appointed them?

Let the unbeliever descend the steep mountains, where the rocks overhang his dangerous path; and Nature assumes her wildest form. There let him stand upon the beach, and watch the flowing tide, trembling lest the proud waters ride over his head, and hurry him into the foaming ocean; lost, and unheeded in its waves.

While these fears agitate his mind, then let him turn his looks to the precipice, from whose beaten path his steps have strayed; and ask his inward soul, whose mighty works are these? The receding sea, once more leaving a safe retreat open to him, will in its hoarse murmurs point to its Creator's hand.

These glorious, awful, scenes must have had one to make them, and the insignificant mortal will feel that man's hand was not there. His mind, warmed by the sublimity of Nature, will awaken to the glorious handywork of Nature's God. Tears will flow from a heart penetrated by God's mercy and majesty;

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and his soul will acknowledge the Creator of the Universe; "O Lord God of Hosts! who is like unto thee; thy truth, most mighty Lord, is on every side. Thou rulest the raging of the sea; thou stillest the waves thereof, when they arise."

Behold the gathering clouds, while the rain in frequent drops foretels the coming storm! Hear the loud thunders peal among the lofty cliffs, whose sullen echoes return their awful roar !

The bolt is shot, the lightning hurls the towering rock deep into the roaring sea; bearing down trees and shrubs in its rapid course. The waves, roaring in their rage, bear far away the small fishing vessel, whose crew labour to attain the distant harbour, where they may ride in safety till the storm subsides.

And what can nerve the hand of man, conflicting with the winds and waves; what save him from despair and death? It is thy truth, most mighty Lord, on every side; who ridest upon the clouds on high," who walkest upon the wings of the wind." It is the Christian's firm belief in the Gospel of Him, who walked upon the sea, to overtake his disci

ples, sailing far from land: Of Him, who said to the unruly waves; "Peace, be still!"

Firm in such great faith, the dauntless mariner cheerfully turns his prow to the rushing wave, and rides its mountain billows. Let him look up to the heavens darkened by the tempest, where lightnings alone give their pale illumination to his course; their sudden glare making the ocean still more dreadful to his sight yet there he knows God's everlasting throne is reared. Let him look into the foaming deep, over whose hidden rocks, and deep abyss he safely floats; there, even there, he sees the hand of God.

And, when in intervals of rest, he turns his eyes upon his little store, from whose produce all his wants must be supplied; and then casts a Father's look toward his humble cabin on the shore. O then, proud Infidel, behold that glistening tear; that look of glad thanksgiving to his God!

Yes! proud, unfeeling man! thy boasted talents, thy learning shall be forgotten in the silent grave. His grateful tear, his glad thanksgiving be recorded in the book of life, while Angels rejoice in his glorious faith and piety!

Perhaps there is not a more beautiful Psalm, than this which led to these reflections, among all the natural, and pleasing, hymns of David. Whose, being the most numerous, as well as pre-eminently inspired respecting his future descendant, the Messiah; give his name to the whole Psalter.

True to Nature, with a heart enlarged by the contemplation of God's noble works; his descriptions are taken from her ever open book. And because we, and every other race of human kind, can in our own lands trace the original master-work; as easily as we read his just account of it; in all ages have these Psalms been greatly, and universally, admired.

Poetry, and especially that of the inspired penman, awakens the mind to great, and noble, thoughts.

It is an art well repaying cultivation, when directed by a pure, and Christian, spirit: and in its sacred strains conveys those lessons, from which, in other words, the listless hearer turns away.

But when the degraded art of Poesy is condemned to sing the Syren's dangerous verse; or the unworthy, unphilosophic, themes