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though involved in, is yet distinguished from, ETERNITY.

The stupendous process, through which all material objects were brought into being by the word of the Almighty One, is summarily described by the sacred historian, who, in comparatively a few words, informs us how, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Well might the Psalmist, in contemplation of this inconceivable exertion of Infinite Power, reverently exclaim, "Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him for He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast."

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The apostle Paul, in writing to the Roman converts to the Christian faith, shows that, from the outward creation, "the invisible things of God, even His eternal power and Godhead, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made:" so that they who obey Him not are without excuse, because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."

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CHAP. II.—The last and noblest product of Creative goodness was man. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every thing that moveth upon the earth." The rational intelligence with which man is endowed, and his consequent power over all the inferior orders of being, are here strikingly illustrated. And when Jehovah surveyed the works which He had made He pronounced them good: but it is of man only that it is said, " and God blessed them." Man was not only dis

The word here used is the plural name of God, Elohim: "And Elohim said, Let us make man," &c.

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CHAP. II. The last and noblest product of Creative goodness was man. “And God* said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every thing that moveth upon the earth.” The rational intelligence with which man is endowed, and his consequent power over all the inferior orders of being, are here strikingly illustrated. And when Jehovah surveyed the works which He had made He pronounced them good: but it is of man only that it is said, " and God blessed them." Man was not only dis

The word here used is the plural name of God, Elohim: "And Elohim said, Let us make man," &c.

tinguished from all other creatures by the faculty of reason, but pre-eminently by being made in the image of God. Then was infused into him a pure and immortal spirit-a principle of an eternal nature from his Infinite Creator; for "the Lord God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul." Thus, possessing within himself an undying existence-holy and happy-and having dominion over all other creatures, he was truly an emblem, or image of God. He had access to "the tree of life," which grew "in the midst of the garden" wherein the Lord God had placed him.

CHAP. III.-But the continuance of man's felicity and perfection depended on his obedience to his Creator. His allegiance was tested by a positive command, and death was the penalty annexed to the infringement of the Divine law. Through the subtlety and temptation of the serpent,-the agent of evil— (who is called in Scripture the Devil and Satan)-he was induced to break the command of his God, and thus became liable to

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