Though many a year since that has flown," And many a grief my heart has known, Yet still that heart with rapture swells, And hails your sound, sweet Sabbath bells !"

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SERMON VI.

66

THE VOICE OF THE WAVES.

PSALM Cvii., 23, 24.

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep."

The God of nature is also the God of grace. And, since He cannot act inconsistently, but manifests the same attributes in governing the world of matter that He exhibits in His dealings with the souls of men, a better commentary upon the Scriptures cannot be resorted to by a serious mind than the "witness which the Almighty has given to "Himself" in the works of His creative power. Indeed, so plain are their testimonies to the wisdom, might, and lovingkindness of Him who made them--so decided are the indications of His will and the proofs of His providence, which they convey to the attentive observer-that we are assured in the Bible that their disregard will be found at the day of

judgment to constitute a prominent feature in the guilt of the condemned, "The wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, because that, which may be known of God, is manifest to them, being understood by the things that are made; so that they are without excuse!" Accordingly, we must regard it as a solemn obligation imposed on us, as well as a high privilege conferred on us, by God Himself, to reverently trace out many of His gracious purposes and much of His glorious perfection and many a lesson respecting His moral governance, as we tread the hills and valleys, or are borne upon the waters of this earth-so teeming with contrivances of the highest wisdom-so magnificent in its proportions-so lovely in its countless creations! Scripture tells us this. Instinctively our better feelings accept the lesson, when our attention is called to it. But, unhappily, the labors and competitions and amusements of daily life in the world intercept the thoughts; and fasten them on less worthy objects to such an extent, that the inspired servant of God has placed in record the sorrowful reproach, "Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and declare the wonders which he doeth for the children of E2

men!" Let us not evade our duty and despise our privilege by thus disregarding the witness, which God gives to Himself in His created wonders; but ever be it our delight to derive from the beauties and mysteries of the world we inhabit those impressions, which the Almighty intends them to convey to us. "There is no speech, nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the ends of the earth :" "the voice of the Lord is upon the

waters the voice of the Lord thundereth: the voice of God divideth the flames of fire!" At Nature's accents man may well be humbled, for Nature's voice is God's utterance :

"Thou art, O God, the life and light

Of all this wondrous world we see ;
Its glow by day, its smile by night,
Are but reflections caught from Thee!
Where'er we turn, Thy glories shine

And all things bright and fair are Thine!" Wherefore, let us "give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name," and reverently heed the important lessons with which His works are instinct.

On the present occasion, let us dwell in

thought upon one of Nature's instructive scenes. Let us follow, in mind and reflection, the shipmen, whose business lies in the "great waters," and contemplate a few of the mysteries of the mighty sea-from whose bridled swell and coral cayes, and fathomless depths, and fishes innumerable that traverse its vast area, proceeds the testimony of a wise and all pervading governance to the fact that the Divine Creator's "way is in the sea," and His "path in the great waters," and His "footsteps are not known!" "Beautiful, sublime, and glorious, Mild, majestic, foaming, free; Over time itself victorious,

Image of Eternity!

Such art thou-stupendous ocean!
But, if overwhelm'd by thee,
Can we think without emotion
What must Thy Creator be?"

Among the wonders of the great deep, none is more remarkable than the limitation of its billowy rush against the dry land, which is our appointed habitation. "I," saith God "shut up the sea with doors, when I said, Hitherto shalt thou come and no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed!"