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SECTION III. ENTHUSIASTIC PERVERSIONS OF THE DOCTRINE OF DIVINE INFLUENCE. A Sentiment natural to the human mind, leads it to entertain and to dwell with pleasure upon the belief of the stability and permanence of the material world. Whether we view the multiform ranks of organized and animated beings which cover the earth, or examine the occult processes of nature, or look upwards, and contemplate distant worlds, the regularity with which the great machine of the visible creation effects its revolutions, inspires a deep emotion of delight. This feeling brings with it involuntarily the supposition of extended duration; nor is it without extreme difficulty that we can separate the idea of so vast a combination of causes and effects moving forwards with unfailing precision from the thought if not of eternity yet of unnumbered ages gone by, and yet to come. While these natural impressions occupy the mind, a strange revulsion of feeling takes place, if suddenly it is recollected that the massy pillars of creation, with its towering superstructure, and its high-wrought embellishments, and its innumerable tenants, are absolutely destitute of intrinsic permanency, andthat the stupendous frame, with its nice and mighty movements is incessantly issued anew from the fount of being. Apart from the Divine volition, perpetually active, there can be no title to existence; and in the moment which should succeed to the cessa- ; tion of the efficient will of the First Cause, all creatures must fall back to utter dissolution. Reason as well as faith justifies this doctrine, and demands that we deny independency to whatever is created, and devoutly confess that God is " all in all.'' In Him, by whomthey were formed, " all things consist ;" in Him all " live and move and have their being."...
