SERMON.

ISAIAH 45: 7.

I form the light and create darkness: I make peace and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.

Some ancient philosophers supposed the empire of the world to be divided between two independent beings of opposite characters; the one the author of all good, the other the author of all evil. Thus they accounted for that mixture of pleasure and pain so constantly experienced in life; attributing the pleasure to the agency of the good being, and the pain to the agency of the evil being. Where Christianity is received, no such views of course are entertained; and in a Christian community every sentiment ought to be worthy of the light enjoyed. It deserves to be considered, however, whether there are not, sometimes, even in Christian communities, sentiments and views unworthy of the Christian name. How often, without recognizing the providence of God, prosperity and adversity are spoken of as the results of mere human agency, or of blind casualty.

The association of thought which led to the use of the terms in the text, is not important to be ascertained. The

sentiment of the passage is clear, be the origin of the terms what it may. And what the text presents is: The Providence of God,-or, God's hand in all things. Disowning fate and chance, it teaches that whatever takes place, takes place according to the good pleasure of God ; in other words, that nothing is fortuitous, but every thing connected with the purpose of God. The prophet speaks in the name of God, and what he means to assert is the universal agency of God in all things. The passage has reference to both the natural world and the moral; and it declares alike of good and of evil in each, that it is of God, -that it comes through his good pleasure in appointing it, or in not preventing it.

That the subject may appear in its true light, let the following things be considered:

1. God is the originator, or creator of all things. Evidence of this is incontestible and overwhelming. No argument is more full, or clear and certain, than that which proves the existence of an intelligent First Cause. The most simple inductions from consciousness, observation and reflection, bring us irresistibly and at once to the conclusion that there is a God. Atheism is weak, foolish, and ignorant, as well as inexcusable and wicked. Nor is infidelity any better. The polytheism too of both ancient and modern times is rebuked out of countenance by one sober look only of enlightened reason. "For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. Rom. 1: 20.

The origin of all things, then, is with God. "In the