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the earth; and every tree bearing fruit, within which is the seed of a tree: to you it is sustenance. And it was established. And Elohim surveyed every thing which He had created, and, behold, it was beauty and perfection. The evening was, and the morning was, the sixth day! Thus were finished the heavens and the earth, and all the hosts thereof; a decorated system.

On the sixth day finished Elohim His work which he had created and formed; and on the seventh day rested He; ceasing from all the works He had created and formed. And upon the seventh day put Elohim His blessing, and sanctified it; because on that day He rested from all His work; the works which Elohim created and formed.

Creation, throughout its progression, appears in the inspired details of Moses, not only daily to increase in the multiplicity of its forms, but daily to advance in the dignity of its subjects, until on this day it arrives at the summit. The first day was a day of creation; for on that day the material atoms and light were separately created. The second, third, fourth, and fifth days, were exclusively occupied in formations, wherein, by compounding the material atoms and light, the beauty, use, and perfection of creation were displayed. It is on the sixth day that the crown is placed upon the head of the whole, by a new creation-viz. the creation of the spirit of man; and the act is consummated by the union of this spirit with the material atoms and with the light; man being a warmblooded animal, and his body being formed of the material atoms, here called the dust of the earth. It was not until the sixth day that Elohim exclaimed, "Let us create man in Our own image-Our similitude: and out of the dust of the earth formed Jehovah-Elohim man; and He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Gen. i. 26, 27.)

The two first creations, viz. the material atoms and light, were performed on the word pronounced by Elohim; but the third creation, using the similitude of affinity with Deity, is achieved by the breath of Jehovah-Elohim. The Self-Existent Plurality in Unity, in a breath, creates immortal spirit in man, and man becomes a living soul-at once the image and representative of the Creator, bearing rule amidst His creation, and connecting dead matter with the living God. The economy so eminently manifest throughout the work of creation, is in this instance as manifest as on all other occasions; the material atoms were at hand, and light was at hand, and these

were formed into the animal man: the only portion lacking was the spirit, and this alone is supplied by a new creation: and the manner of this creation, so different from the preceding acts, sets upon man the seal of affinity with the Creator, in so obvious a manner that, "whoso runneth may read."

The marked difference in the creation of the spirit of man, from any other act of creation disclosed to us by the Creator, demands our serious attention. The body of man is formed of, and similar to, other portions of the visible creation; but the spirit, that which crowns and distinguishes man from every other animal or thing in the visible creation, is in the image of God, a living soul-and was breathed into the body by the self-existent God, in a distinct act of creation. Now, as no other animal or thing shared in the boon of this distinct act of creation, we cannot but conclude that the spirit of man differs from every other animal, and from every other thing, in the visible creation; and on a careful examination of this subject, we shall, I doubt not, find this to be the case. We must examine this subject at large; and I know of no better mode to effect this, than that of tracking up the forms of the two first created substances, viz. the material atoms and light, and comparing these with this last creation, the spirit, or living soul, of man.

Matter, in its primitive atoms, is invi sible, a subtle fluid without form; but in its combinations it becomes visible, and amidst its modifications, in union with light, assumes forms and modes at once interesting, impressive, and beautiful. Several of these forms, when broken or dissolved, may be, and are, reproduced. Such is the case with water, which may be resolved into its elemental gases; with vapour, which may arise from water, form clouds in the atmosphere, and be resolved again into water; and running a similar round, may re-become water, vapour, &c., from time to time. But these variations are determined by the fixed laws of creation, and out of these not an atom can wander.

Crystallization presents another form or forms of matter; it is, in fact, the effect of chemical affinity, in unison with polarity or electricity, disposing certain atoms or molecules, or both, to take and retain certain forms; and when the crystal is perfect, the form is perfect, as perfect as the forms of vegetables or animals and if some of these crystals are dissolved, they may be, and often are, reproduced in precisely the same form. But here the whole process ends: farther than the production ar

reproduction of its peculiar forms, crystalli zation cannot proceed.

Vegetation presents also a form or forms of matter; forms induced by infinite wis dom, during the third day of creation, and perpetuated by the vegetation of miniature forms of plants, called seeds, or by buds, or by slips and cuttings, which the plants themselves produce and multiply, in the order of vegetation. If cut down nearly to the root, certain plants will shoot out anew, with vigour equal to those which the original plant displayed; but the result invariably is, the production or reproduction of forms similar to those which have passed away : and here the whole process ends; for farther than this, vegetation cannot proceed.

Animation is likewise a form or forms of matter, induced by infinite wisdom on the fifth and sixth days of creation; and these are perpetuated by seed, containing the form in miniature, on impregnation. Animals differ from vegetables, inasmuch as the first are locomotive, while the latter are local. The result, however, here is similar to that of vegetation: every peculiar form produces and reproduces, and multiplies forms similar to the original: and here the whole process ends; for farther than this, animation cannot proceed.

Man is a species of animal, capable of those acts, and endued with those faculties, which distinguish other animals; and mankind are produced, reproduced, and multiplied in a manner similar to that of several animals but man differs from all other animals, in that, “Into him was breathed," on his primeval day, "the breath of lives -a living soul." If we contemplate the animal man like the other animals, we behold mankind producing, reproducing, and multiplying themselves, in forms similar to the original: and of these we must exclaim, here the whole process ends; for further than this the animal-man cannot proceed. But when we contemplate the spiritual man, far different to these are the results which we behold; for here, although incarnated, we note an immortal spirit with capabilities which no modification of matter can at all approach. Hence, instead of exclaiming in respect of these capabilities at any given point, Here the whole process ends, for farther than this the spiritualman cannot proceed,- -we cannot refrain from the exclamation that, Boundless as space, and endless as eternity, they are yet merely budding into bloom, the bloom of fruit which time cannot ripen, and which eternity cannot decay-immortality-life eternal!

Crystallization and vegetation are so ob

viously inferior to man, that few, and seldom, are arguments founded on a compa. rison of these, called forth against the immortality of man; but from the animal portions of creation, which are furnished with the senses, and endued with instinct; which seek and eat their food, exercise themselves at will, sleep, dream, erect nests, construct dens or lairs, propagate their species, foster and defend their young, arguments are ever and anon launched against the living soul of man; and the instinct of animals is thus set side by side with the image of the eternal God.

Instinct, however, on a serious examination, will be found to claim kindred with the things of time, rather than with the beings of eternity. Instinct is stationary as to degree; it is what it ever was. Every animal of the same species possesses the same kind of instinct, and of the same degree; and this instinct, by the wise providence of the Creator, moves with the animal through the several stages of its existence, and further it cannot proceed. The instinct in a lamb, in a yearling, in an ewe, in a mother, goes forward with the ages and relations of the animal, and is to that animal what it needs, then and there, throughout the several stages of its existence, identically and without improvement. A naturalist knows the animal by its action, as well as the action by the animal; they are identical in individuals of the same species throughout, following the laws of creation, minutely in every age of time, from generation to generation.

The living soul in man, however, is bounded by no time, no age, no circumstances, no place; and thus boundless in its scope, it is ever looking to the future; even while in retrospect it views the past or contemplates the present, comparing them with a view to futurity; and by experience, by study, and by inventions, the living soul incessantly develops its capabilities, in a series of improvements extended, not only through the life of the individual, but recorded and pursued from generation to generation with kindred fervour and increasing success. Even God himself, he who created the living soul, is accessible to its energies; it receives from, and glories in, his revelations; in the word and in the spirit of the living God, drawing from him wisdom, joy, and power; and in him, and through him, beholding, even while yet afar off, glories which shall in due time be fully revealed-the glories which are at his right hand for evermore; of which, by faith in the redemption by Christ Jesus, man fully hopes to partake in

the immediate presence of Jehovah- Elohim, with angels and kindred spirits eternally ; and for this enjoyment he was created, even in time as well as in eternity. Yea, although death entered into the world by sin, in death itself the immortal soul lives, and will live for ever.

We will now conclude this dissertation, as proposed on its outset, "after tracking up the forms of the two first created substances, namely, the material atoms and light, by comparing these with this last creation, the spirit or living soul of man." But is the creation of a single spirit (for the woman was formed from the man) to be placed side by side with the creation of the material atoms and of light, the atoms and light of the whole universe? I answer, yes; and with every propriety, also. Mark the language of this creation, "Out of the dust of the earth formed Jehovah-Elohim, man; and he breathed into his nostrils the breath of lives; and man became a living soul." In creating this single soul, the great Creator virtually created the millions of millions of mankind, throughout every age to us, past, present, and future : for all these have been, and will be, generated from this single creation.

During the awful catastrophe of the general deluge, which overwhelmed the old world, eight souls, generated from this creation, were preserved in an ark; and from these was the new or present world peopled. No new creation has, therefore, become needful, nor has a new creation been resorted to, even up to this hour. Thus truly was this creation, "the breath of lives,"-lives innumerable by man, the multitudes of which are only known to the great Creator. There will come up a period in eternity, when, instead of apparent disparity on the part of the creation of this single spirit, the disparity will be so manifest on the other part, that a grain of sand compared to this whole universe, will not be lighter in the scale of equity, than the whole universe weighed against these millions of living souls.

"And Elohim pronounced over them, Be ye prolific, multiply, replenish the earth, and rule over it." Under the divine blessing, this soul has been prolific indeed. The multiplication of mankind into millions took place at an early period of time; and although the general deluge awfully reduced these millions to eight persons, soon did these again become millions upon the face of the earth; and every age pronounces the prolific to be the characteristic of man. However unfavourable the circumstances of certain communities may have been,

however plagues, pestilences, famines, and wars may have thinned, for the time, the districts in which they have raged, soon has the fecundity of mankind replenished the earth; and again and again have they exclaimed, "Make room for us, that we may dwell." And not only has man replenished the earth, but he has and does rule over it. The superiority of the living soul over the united instinct of the beasts of the field is here conspicuous. Yea, even in a savage state, where wild men contest the sovereignty of the forest with wild beasts, the superiority of the living soul, however fallen and depraved, is so conspicuous, that we behold rule invariably to be the station of man, notwithstanding the evident weakness of his bodily structure, and its incapacity to enter the lists, body to body, with many of the beasts of prey. But the communities of civilized man have so evidently the dominion over every living creature of motion upon the earth, that this has long ceased to be a question among men.

"And Elohim surveyed every thing which He had created, and, behold, it was beauty and perfection.” The line of beauty and the serenity of perfection dwelt upon the surface of creation, on its completion by the great Creator, and the fitness of every part characterized the whole,—all was harmony, without and within were union and peace. Constructed by weight and measure, perfect equilibrium pervaded the universe at large, and all its spheres were finished with exquisite skill; for although the furniture, animate and inanimate, is only described to us as our earth was garnished, yet, may we not conclude, it is given to us as a sample of the whole!

"The evening was, and the morning was, the sixth day." Instead of despising, as, alas, some profane persons do, this brief, yet luminous and particular account vouchsafed, in infinite condescension, to His creatures by the great Creator, how ought we to value it, as the only authentic record in existence of works performed by Him long prior to our existence ; and, indeed, before a single living soul was capable of observing any portion thereof? As man was the very last in the order of creation, and every other act was done prior to his existence, he could not take cognizance of any one act of the Omnipotent, therein ; and who could, if the Creator had not, have afforded him this information? this circumstantial and minute account, from day to day, even to the last day of His works; therefore, as in duty bound, let us praise Him.

For

"Thus were finished the heavens and

the earth, and all the hosts thereof; a decorated system." Here we are called back by the inspired penman, Moses, from the detail of formations upon a single sphere of our earth, to the whole universe; and the, "Thus," confirms what we before hinted, namely, that every sphere throughout the system was finished, and furnished with animate and inanimate, period by period, at the same time, and in a manner similar to the earth. Omnipotent Omnipresence is every way equal to the performance of similar acts, in different, and even distant places at the same moment, and we are here told that, "On the sixth day Elohim finished His work which He had created and formed." Creations and formations were, therefore, all terminated together on this day throughout the whole universe. Could we be favoured with an inspection, at this moment, of every sphere in the universe, the primeval beauty, the purity and loveliness of some of these, which, we hope have escaped the catastrophe of the fall, that, alas, the living soul, and with it this whole sphere have so awfully experienced through disobedience, would delight our souls; and how should we be consoled for the woes and deaths, which reign through sin, amidst the sphere on which our lot is cast.

"And upon the seventh day put Elohim His blessing, and sanctified it; because on that day He rested from all His work; the works which Elohim created and formed." Every day is recorded throughout the eventful series of creation, and every day is memorable therein; for so great, so extensive were the works performed during these six days, that to each a memorable act pertains.

But if the six days were memorable for the works performed therein, the seventh day is yet more memorable for the sanctity which the Holy God has impressed upon it. On this day Elohim rested from His labours, and this day he sanctified. What Hallelujahs were reared to the Omnipotent on this holy day, by angels and archangels, and the hosts of heaven, we may gather from the circumstance that, when Elohim laid the corner-stone of the universe, "the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy." No doubt, the first human pair joined in the celebration of this first sabbath; and what rapture would pervade the angelic hosts on entering this heaven upon earth, where the voice of Jehovah-Elohim was heard, Gen. iii. 8. and which He sanctified by His immediate presence, and wherein incarnated living souls enjoyed the

favour and image of the Holy God, and partook their joy-living souls which, under the blessing of the Creator, were pronounced to be prolific; and would ere long increase into millions. The sabbath, thus instituted, became an ordinance to man throughout his generations. The profanation of this holy day has brought down judgments from heaven upon millions of the human race, and the observance thereof has been a means of grace a blessing to millions who have kept it holy unto the Lord.

Thus have my feeble efforts been directed to the elucidation of that brief, yet scientific narrative, of the process of creation, contained in the Bible; and if but a few of those who despise or neglect the sacred volume, are thereby led to value and peruse it for themselves, and receive the truth, I shall rejoice that my labour has not been in vain. To Jehovah-Elohim be praise!

W. COLDWELL.

King Square, Oct. 20, 1832.

PASSAGES FROM MY NOTE BOOK- NO. V.

THE CONTINGENCIES AND FLUCTUATIONS OF DOMESTIC LIFE: AN AFFECTING AND REAL INCIDENT.

"If life be compared to the sky, it is not cloudless : it is often dark, gloomy, and appalling. The thunder often rolls-the lightning often flashes; and sometimes when we least expect a change."Old Writer.

Ir was on a lovely evening during the month of May, that I proceeded from home, for a short period, to enjoy the pleasure and advantage realized from a quiet and beautiful ramble. The sun was rapidly sinking in the west; the heavens were glowing with his parting radiance, and the earth was rendered inexpressibly lively by his farewell smile; the air was breathing fragrance from unnumbered shrubs and flowers, and the most soothing and delightful stillness pervaded creation. It was a luxury to gaze upon the scene, and to drink in the beauties which were poured around. I strolled a considerable distance, and ascended, under the influence of the most delightful emotions, some of those beauteous and romantic hills, by which the city of B is encircled, when, as I was returning to my habitation, I was accosted by an old infirm man, who, with much modesty and respect, solicited a trifle, to accommodate him for the night. There was something so remarkably

interesting about his appearance, with all his evident poverty and destitution, that I was peculiarly struck, and felt resistlessly induced to enter into a little familiar conversation with him.

The person I addressed was about sixtyfive. His stature was somewhat short; his form was rather spare; his hair was silvered from anxiety and years. His garb was patched, but decent and clean. His eye sparkled with good feeling, and though deep furrows, occasioned principally by solicitude and suffering, were legibly imprinted on his brow; there was something in the cast of his countenance, which produced a very pleasing impression on my mind. "Well, friend,” said I, desirous of gaining accurate information respecting him-"how is it, that, at your advanced period of life, you are so circumstanced? It is very distressing to think, when you are so rapidly declining towards the tomb, that you should be compelled to implore charity from those who meet you on the road. Whence has your present situation arisen ? There is something about you which prepossesses me, though a stranger, in your favour; and I am disposed to think you have no wish to impose on the humanity or benevolence of any who may proffer you aid. I should like to be made acquainted with a little of your history, and perhaps you will inform me how your present distresses were occasioned."

I saw that the old man could scarcely repress his emotion; however, after a tear, which he was unable to prevent, had started into his eye, and trickled down his cheek, he looked earnestly at me, and replied, "Ah, Sir, my case is one of a peculiarly trying nature, and I hardly know whether I can unfold it; however, I will endeavour to command my emotions, and give you a short outline of my history; but, if I should weep, while relating it, you must excuse me, for I cannot refer to past days, without feeling that my heart sinks within me."

We sat down on an elevated part of one of the loftiest hills by which the city of B entitled "The Queen of the west," is surrounded, and the old man communicated to me the substance of the following relation :—

"I was born in a beautiful and retired village in the north of England, where every thing that is delightful and luxuriant in creation was richly enjoyed. There I grew up, and received my education, which was somewhat superior. I was never wild or dissipated, but uniformly regular and domestic in my habits. I loved my parents, was fond of their home; and

delighted in what was quiet and happy. I was trained to an industrious, though somewhat laborious, employment; but I was contented, and wished to do all I could to promote my respectability and comfort. I acquired an intimate knowledge of my business, became generally respected, and, after a certain time had elapsed, commenced making an effort for myself. An interesting and excellent girl, that I had long known and loved, accepted my proposals of marriage, and we were soon united. My business was pretty flourishing. I was steady, respectful, and industrious; and my wife was contented, frugal, and happy. We loved our home, and loved each other. About a year after our marriage, we were blessed with a lovely infant, and our happiness seemed complete. The child, however, was destined to be early removed, and, after the poor little innocent had suffered much, we were called to place his sweet head low in the silent grave. I thought my wife's heart would have broken, for she doted on the babe.

"Lapse of time, however, and my unceasing attentions and kindness to her, dimmed, though not extinguished, the feelings which had been so powerfully excited. In the course of three years we were blessed with another dear child, and our former afflictions were comparatively forgotten. A fine, healthy boy was given to us; and how often have we gazed with inexpressible delight on him, when he was smiling on his mother's knee, and fixing his beauty-beaming eye on our anxious, though happy, countenances !

"Our boy grew up, and pleased us. His form was elegant, his complexion fair, his disposition ingenuous and pleasing, and his habits were regular and obedient. I had always been fond of books, and I accustomed him to some of the best which my little stock afforded. He loved his mother and me exceedingly, and we, perhaps, were too much attached to him. Alas! little did we consider how soon, and how dreadfully, we should lose him!

"It was on a beautiful morning in June, that he met with some playmates, who were 'going to bathe in the river adjoining our village, and they prevailed on him to accompany them. He, not thinking of any danger, and considering, perhaps, that the bath would be refreshing and beneficial, plunged into the water, at that part of the river, which, they said, was very shallow. However, poor boy! he was mournfully deceived. He rose to the surface, but was unable to reach the bottom with his feet,

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