that word in Hebrew fignifies earth or ground) and infufed into him the breath of life: fo that he is related both to spirit and matter, and hath both united in himself.

It was not good, however, for man to be alone; to remain deftitute of a rational companion: therefore the Almighty having taken one of his ribs, while he was fleeping, made a woman of it, and fhe became his wife.

God probably formed the woman in this particular manner, to remind husbands and wives of their near relation, and the tender love which ought always to fubfift between them. Adam called her Eve, that word fignifying life, because the was to be the mother of all living. On the feventh day God refted from his works; not that the creation was attended with any labour and fatigue to him; but having finished the things which he intended to make at that time, he left off. He then viewed them with pleasure, and pronounced them to be very good.

What an idea of the power of God does the creation give us! He only faid, Let there be light, and there was light. He pake, and the earth was made; the heavens and all the host of them had their being by the breath of his mouth.--He is as wife too as he is powerful; the more

we confider the beauty, the variety, and the usefulness of the things which are made, the more clearly do we fee, that they are the works of the highest wisdom and contrivance. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wifdom haft thou made them all.-How great alfo is the goodness of God! It is owing to his free goodness that any creatures were formed; and his tender mercies are over all his works. In him we live, and move, and have our being. He giveth us all things richly to enjoy, and hath bellowed fuch love upon us, that we Should be called the fons of God.

Who can fufficiently declare the works of thy power, wifdom, and goodness, O thou all-creating and all-fupporting God? who can utter all thy praife?-Imprint upon my mind a deep fense of thine infinite excellencies; and teach me, O thou Father of Spirits, to love thee with all my heart, to fear thee with the profoundest reverence, to put a steady truft and confidence in thee, to worship thee with a pure adoration, and to honour and obey thee in the whole courfe of my life.

MAN

CHAP. II.

THE FALL.

AN was created innocent and upright, with powers of underftanding and will, after the image of God; (for it is in these refpects that the fcriptures fay, man was made in the image of God.) He was immediately placed in the fruitful and plea, fant garden of Eden, where he enjoyed many happy tokens of his Maker's love, and was indulged in the free ufe of all the delights that furrounded him with one only restraint, as a teft or trial of his obedience. He was forbidden to touch the fruit of one tree, in the middle of the garden, which was called the Tree of Knowledge, the knowledge of Good and Evil; with a folemn affurance from God, that if he did touch it, he fhould die.

Our first parents, while they were obcdient to God, enjoyed uninterrupted ease and happiness; and if they had preferved their innocence in this ftate of trial, would have been raised, in due time, from earth to heaven. But they ungratefully broke the divine command; and ate of the fruit of that tree, which they were forbidden to eat. Thus fin entered into the world; and death by fin: the human conftitution

was immediately debased and impaired; and a finful corrupt nature, fubject to disease and death, was derived from Adam to all his pofterity.

What could be the cause of their guilt? What could induce them to commit an act, by which they forfeited their life and happiness? and how could they be prevailed upon to difobey their great Creator and Benefactor?-It was by giving ear to evil counfel: for the Devil, the grand ad. verfary of God and Man, appeared in the form of a fiery Serpent, or, as fome think the original word may be tranflated, a flaming angel, like one of those who attended the Lord. He was originally an angel in heaven, but was caft down for his pride and difobedience; and is reprefented in fcripture, as full of malice, envy, and deceit, feeking to fpread mifery and ruin through the world, by fuggefting evil thoughts, and tempting men to fin. With this dreadful defign he accofted Eve, and by artfully raifing in her mind a foolish wicked curiofity, and a defire of happiness above her ftate, prevailed on her to tafte the forbidden fruit. She was pleafed with the relish of it, and perfuaded her husband alfo to eat fome. Their eyes were immediately opened; they faw their guilt and their wretchedness,

and felt the ftings and lafhes of an avenging confcience. The wicked are like the troubled fea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cuft up mire and dirt.

Before they had finned, they had been graciously admitted to converfe with their Maker, and had unfpeakable delight in the facred intercourfe; but as foon as they had tranfgreffed his command, fhame and confcioufnefs of guilt took place; they were afraid of his looking on them, and when they heard the found of his presence in the garden, endeavoured to hide themselves from him. But, alas! there is no darkness nor fhadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themfelves. He called forth the criminals, who tried to excufe themfelves by throwing the blame of their wickedness upon others. Adam laid the blame of what he had done upon his wife; and Eve, on the other hand, accufed the Serpent. God, however, is not mocked palliating excufes are but as a fpider's web; while an honeft confeffion and refolution of amendment will effectually recommend the finner to mercy.--He immediately pronounced fentence upon the offenders; but at the fame time, to comfort them under their diftrefs, He gave them a gracious intimation, that he would raife up in future