It may be objected that there is in the Scriptures expressions by which his eternity is described by differences in time, particularly that which describes him as one "who was, and is, and is to come." But it may be answered that human language is imperfect, and that there are no words which can properly express the stable nature of his eternity, and when we speak of it we are under the necessity of using words in common use founded on the divisions of time. From this cause, also, when we speak of the other perfections of God, we have to use terms which attribute corporeal members and human affections to the Deity; thus, The eye of the Lord is over ail; his hand is stretched out; he is angry with the wicked, etc.

tionary, and not like ours, in motion." | can find out the Almighty to perfection? We feel assured that he possesses certain attri butes which we designate by names by which We ascribe to him every idea of virtue and we distinguish certain excellencies among men. spiritual beauty exalted to infinite perfection. But how," says another writer, "the Divine Being himself exists in an essential and eternal nature of his own; how he can be present at the same moment every-where; how, unseen and unfelt by all, he can maintain the most perfect acquaintance and contact with all parts and portions of the universe; how he can be at once all eye, all ear, all presence, all energy, yet not interfere with any of the thoughts and actions of his creatures, this is what baffles the mightiest and meanest intellect; this is the great mystery of the universe, which is at once one of the most certain and incomprehensible flood of light, and an abyss of darkness! In. of all things-a truth at once enveloped in a explicable itself, it explains all beside; it casts a clearness on every question, accounts for every phenomenon, solves every problem, il luminates every depth, and renders the whole mystery of existence perfectly simple, as it is otherwise perfectly intelligible, while itself displacing every other difficulty, it remains, the alone remains in impenetrable obscurity! After

With regard to space-the creation of God--what is its extent? Where is its beginning or ending? These questions force themselves upon us; we are bewildered; they are incomprehensible as Deity itself. Where," says a colebrated writer, "is the region in which God may not be found? Go to the most dismal spot upon the globe-to a spot, if such there be, where no plant grows, where no creature breathes; in this lone solitude you shall find him in the eternal snow which covers it, in the rocks which rear their dark pinnacles to the sky, and in the waves which beat upon its desolate shores!" Go into the wilderness, where no human foot has trod, and you shall see him in every thing which lives-the bird that sings among the branches, the waving grass, and beauteous flowers, all live, move, and have their being in him! Look up to the heavens! behold the shining stars, who can number them? Who lit up the fires with which they glow? who guides them in their course but the same Being whose center is every-where, and whose circumference

is nowhere?

Who, by searching, can find out God? who

greatest of all, in solitary, insurmountable, unapproachable grandeur! So, truly, clouds and sunshine are round about him. He maketh darkness his secret habitation; his pavilion to cover him, thick clouds.'

"We ascend from effects to look at the cause of them; from the marks of contrivance

and design to the necessary existence of an Almighty Contriver. But what sort of being he is, and what is the nature of his contact with his creatures, must, in the present state at least, remain an unfathomable mystery. We are utterly at a loss in all such speculations; yet this affords no diminution of the motives of piety. Our belief in the being of a God is the belief of a profound mystery. The very idea of such a being would appear incredible were it not that it is necessary, because the greatest absurdities would flow from supposing the contrary. Nothing can be accounted for unless we admit of the existence of a causeless cause a presiding Governor of the universe. We are compelled, therefore, to choose the less difficulty of the two; or, rather, to choose difficulty instead of impossibility, mystery instead of absurdity; and, hence, we repose on this grand truth."

The temple is surmounted by a cross, which is, in a religious sense, the prominent object to be set forth in all Christian assemblies.

Back from the temple the angry clements are in commotion; the lightnings flash, the thunders roar, and the billows swell, dash, and foam, but the rock, and the temple founded upon it, will remain secure. So the truth of God, and whatever is founded upon it, will stand forever, though storms of opposition, fiery tempests and dashing billows roar around.

The Christian Church is defined to be the "whole system of Christianity, as laid down in the New Testament, and built on the foundation of prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone. It is composed of all who hold the doctrines of Christianity, who acknowledge Jesus as their thief Teacher and only Advocate, and of all who love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and their neighbor as themselves, or are laboring after this conformity to the mind and commands of their Creator.

belong, they are without the pale of the Christian Church.

Seven of the Christian graces, which may be considered as pillars in tho Christian temple, or Church, are Faith, Virtue, Hope, Godliness, Knowledge, Patience, and Temperance.

Faith, the first in order, is a prominent pillar, and to which all the others are conformed. It is sometimes used to designate the whole of the Christian system.

Virtue has been variously defined by commentators. By some it is said to be the doing of good to mankind, in obedience to the will of God, and for the sake of everlasting happiness; others, that it denotes that courage or fortitude which enables one to profess the Christian faith before men, in all times of persecution.

Hope is one of the strong pillars in the Christian temple; when we are in trouble or affliction, the hope of happiness and glory hereafter sustains us in our present trials, and relieves us, in a great measure, from the dread of those to come.

"It

Godliness, strictly taken, is right worship or devotion. It is difficult, as one observes, to include an adequate idea of it in what is called a definition. supposes knowledge, veneration, affection, dependence, submission, gratitude, and obedience; or it may be reduced to these four ideas: knowledge in the mind, by which it is distinguished from the visions of the superstitious; rectitude in the conscience, that distinguishes it from hypocrisy; sacrifice in life, or renunciation of the world, by which it is distinguished from the unmeaning obedience of him who goes as a happy constitution leads him; and, lastly, zeal in the heart, which differs from the lan guishing emotion of the lukewarm."

It is not known by any particular name; it is not distinguished by any particular form in its mode of worship; it is not exclusively here or there. It is the house or temple of God; it is where God's spirit dwells, where his precepts are obeyed, and where pure, unadulterated love to God and man prevails; it is not in the creed nor religious confessions of any denomination of Christians, for as all who hold the truth and live a holy life, acknowledging Jesus alone as the head of the Church and Savior of the world, are members of his mystical body-and such may be found in all sects and parties-so the Church of Christ may be said to be every-where, and to be confined nowhere, in whatever place Knowledge denotes learning, or the Christianity is credited and acknowl- improvement of our faculties by readedged. The wicked of all sorts, no mat-ing, observation, and conversation; exter what their professions may be, or to perience, or the acquiring new ideas or what order or denomination they may truths, by seeing a variety of objects,

and making observations upon them in scure virtues, belonging chiefly to those our own mind. Religious, saving knowl- who groan on a sick bed, or who lanedge consists in veneration for the Di-guish in a prison; but in every circumvine Being, love to him as an object of stance of life no virtue is more imporbeauty and goodness, humble confi- tant both to duty and happiness. dence in his mercy and promises, and must enter into the temper, and form sincere, uniform, and persevering obedi- the habit of the soul, if we would propence to his Word. It may be further erly sustain the Christian character. considered as a knowledge of God, of his love, faithfulness, power, etc. Knowledge will also enable us to instruct and benefit mankind, and we thus may be come truly a pillar in the temple of God.

Patience, bearing all trials and afflictions with an even mind: enduring in all, and persevering through all, an important and ornamental pillar in the Christian temple. "Patience," says an eminent writer, "is apt to be ranked by many among the more humble and ob

Temperance, a proper and limited use of all earthly enjoyments, keeping every sense under proper restraints, and never permitting the animal part to overcome the rational. Sobriety may be properly included under the head of this virtue, and is both the ornament and defense of the Christian. Sobriety is a security against the bad influence of turbulent passions. It is necessary for the young and the old, for the rich and the peor, for the wise and the illiterate-all need to be sober and temperate.

THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN.

Which say they are Jews and are not, but are the Synagogue of
Satan. Rev. II: 9.-The floods came and the winds blew and
beat upon that house; and it fell. Matt. VII: 27.

THE Synagogue of Satan here appears,

On crumbling sands the tottering structure rears
Its trembling columns, which their roof uplift,
While raging billows round it madly drift.
No tapering spires that seem to cleave the skies,
Pointing to Heaven, from out its roof arise;

Only an earthly globe full soon to fall,
While folly writes her characters o'er all.
On Unbelief the superstructure stands,
A tottering fabric reared on trembling sands;
While underneath their burden soon give way
The work of Satan, fit but for decay.

As there is a Christian Church among | Self-will, etc. Hatred of the truth may men, so the great Adversary of God and mankind has his church, or synagogue, in the world. It, however, stands on a different foundation; its form is different, and is also constructed of different materials. Among the prominent pillars, or columns, are the Lust of the Flesh, Lust of the Eye, Pride of Life,

be considered as the foundation of this synagogue; on this are the columns raised. The roof, or covering, of the structure is Selfishness; this is sur mounted by a terrestrial globe, emblem atical of the nature of the building, showing that it is erected for no other object than what relates to this world.