his existence and his enjoyments have done more for him than for the inferior animals. In due time in the progress of development, he came forth into being. The Law had respect not to individuals, but to the species; and as a whole, the species is very well provided for and very well off. The individual is nothing-the race as an aggregate is alone to be considered. If an individual suffers ever so many evils, physical, social, or mental, let him reflect that this results from no prejudice or partiality against him. The system has the fairness of a lottery, in which every one has a like chance of drawing a prize. And if, after all, there be a God who created and governs the world, he, doubtless, will know the wrongs we suffer here, and will do us ample justice in some future stage of development, some higher sphere.

This theory or system, rests on and results legitimately and necessarily from the latest geological hypothesis, and may be expected to have the same disciples and alike currency. The author of it admits its inconsistency with the Bible, or what the Bible is supposed to teach, and with religious beliefs. But he argues that such beliefs involve questions for the settlement of which our knowledge is not yet ripe. And since the truths of geology, though inconsistent with the Mosaic record, are found to be irresistible, and are admitted, and mankind continue to regard the Scriptures with the same respect as before; so in regard to his hypothesis, he asks, "may not the sacred text, on a liberal interpretation, or with the benefit of a new light reflected from nature, or derived from learning, be shown to be as much in harmony with the novel

ties of this volume, as it has been with geology and natural philosophy?"

(2.) Those systems of Scripture interpretation which resolve the appearances and acts of the Mediator, and all that concerns the future in his administration, into invisible operations and influences, must be erroneous. If the course of outward and visible manifestations heretofore, was adapted to the capacities, and designed for the instruction of intelligent creatures, the inference cannot well be avoided or deemed unsafe, that the interpretations of the prophecies which are distinctively termed literal, and which contemplate in their fulfillment an exhibition of outward and visible scenes, are, so far as the principle is concerned, entitled to be exclusively relied on.

It happens accordingly that the partisans of a figurative or spiritual interpretation of the unfulfilled announcements of prophecy, are forced by their theory to explain away in like manner the visible operations and appearances of the past. Thus, the Scripture account of the Creation, of the Deluge, the destruction of Sodom, the various miracles, and visible manifestations of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures, and even the resurrection of the dead, are explained away or made to mean anything but what the record obviously imports. The language of divine revelation is in this way made to seem less intelligible, less adapted to instruct, less certain in its import, than the fossil relics of geology, which after ages of oblivion, have just emerged from the bowels of the earth to supply the means of correcting the sacred text.

CHAPTER III.

THE WORK OF CHRIST CONSIDERED AS INVOLVING A CONFLICT WITH SATAN AND THE POWERS OF DARKNESS.

1. In the Scriptures, Satan is represented as the adversary of the Son of God; as striving to counteract his purposes, to defeat his work of redemption, and to harrass his followers, and deceive, corrupt and destroy the whole human race.

2. Having through their federal head procured the apostacy of the race, and involved them in the guilt and doom of rebellion, he assumed dominion over them as leader of the revolt, and made the earth the theatre of his rival kingdom, his empire over fallen angels and men, in opposition to the throne and government of the Mediator.

3. To maintain this dominion over the human race, in opposition to the blessings and restraints of a merciful Providence, the lights of revelation, the voice of conscience, the hope of pardon, the dread of punishment, and all the ordinary means and special interpositions employed for their recovery; and so to maintain it as to uphold his rebellion and sustain his enmity and malevolence, it was necessary that he should effectually deceive them in their successive generations; that he should assume to possess the prerogatives

of the rightful sovereign of the world; that he should claim to be the god of the world, its prince and possessor, exercising power over the elements, controlling the events of Providence, dispensing good and evil, temporal and spiritual; and as such, claiming homage, worship and obedience.

4. To impose upon the reason and conscience of men, and blind them to their true interests, and to all that concerned their duties and their safety, it was necessary that he should counterfeit every divine institution, and give the lie to every divine injunction, promise and threatening; turning light into darkness, and truth into falsehood. The evidence of miracles must be nullified by the arts of magic; the announcements of prophecy, by auguries, oracles and diabolical inspiration of false prophets. Men must be trained to deceive, corrupt, torment and destroy each other. The world must be filled with darkness, error, superstition, misery, crime and blood. Ignorance, intolerance, vice, cruelty, oppression, persecution, tyranny, selfishness, malice, murder and war, must prevail in the minds and occupy the hands of men, to render certain and speedy their temporal and eternal destruction, and counteract the designs and offices of mercy.

5. "The intention of the devil in seducing our first parents, was to destroy them, and thereby to put an end to the human species. This malicious design the Son of God rendered ineffectual, by assuming our nature, and in that nature dying as a sacrifice for sin. "Him who had the power of death.' The Apostle's meaning is, that the devil, at the beginning of the

world, had the power of bringing death on all mankind, by tempting their first parents to sin. Hence, he is called a murderer from the beginning, and a liar and the father of it. It was a power usurped by guile." -MACKNIGHT's note on Heb. xi. 14.

6. Exaltation was the result and reward of Christ's humiliation. He voluntarily humbled himself, even to the death of the cross; and therefore God exceedingly exalted him, in the view of the universe, giving him a name which is above every name—that thenceforth, the angelic hosts and the whole human race should bow to him, and every tongue should acknowledge him as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

7. This, and passages of similar import, seem to indicate, that in the delegated official works of creation and providence, in which he was subordinate to the Father, the Son of God assumed such a relation and connection with created natures, that his supreme lordship over all creatures, was denied by apostate angels and men; viewing him in that connection, they refused him Divine honors; especially after taking, or making known his intention to take, the nature of man, a creature inferior to Angels, into union with his Divine person.

8. But his mediatorial work, from the first, required this connection; and by carrying out that work, becoming incarnate, suffering an expiátory death, conquering death and subjecting all enemies, and all opposition to his claims, he at length secures the homage of all creatures to his person as God-man :