. The book of similitudes: . o cover him, thick clouds. We ascend from effects, to look at the cause ofthem; from the marks of contrivance and design,to the necessary existence of an Almighty Con-triver. Bnt what sort of being he is, and what isthe nature of his contact with his creatures, must,in the present state at least, remain an unfathom-able mystery. We are utterly at a loss, in all suchspeculations; yet this affords no diminution of themotives of piety. Our belief in the being of a God,is the belief of a profound mystery. The very ideaof such a Being would aj)pear incredible, were itno
. The book of similitudes: . o cover him, thick clouds. We ascend from effects, to look at the cause ofthem; from the marks of contrivance and design,to the necessary existence of an Almighty Con-triver. Bnt what sort of being he is, and what isthe nature of his contact with his creatures, must,in the present state at least, remain an unfathom-able mystery. We are utterly at a loss, in all suchspeculations; yet this affords no diminution of themotives of piety. Our belief in the being of a God,is the belief of a profound mystery. The very ideaof such a Being would aj)pear incredible, were itnot that it is necessary, because the greatest absur-dities would flow from supposing the can be accounted for, unless we admit theexistence of a causeless Cause—a presiding Gover-nor of the universe. We are compelled, therefore,to choose the less difficulty of the two; or ratherto choose difficulty instead of impossibility, mysteryinstead of absurdity; and hence we repose on thisgrand truth. 192 THE BOOK OF. Upon this rock 1 will lurid my Church. Matt. xvi. 18. Ye are Godsbuilding. 1 Cor. iii 9. Which is the Church of the living God, the pillarand ground of the Truth. 1 Tim. iii. 15. THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. See here the temple, based on Christian love,No tempest rage its firm foundations move,Sure is the rock, though billows foam around,Its sacred dome by endless love is glorious light above it, brightly shines,Andsheds oer all its influence divine ; _Though storms may come, and angry billows dashAround the rock, and threatening lightnings flash,It stands upon the Eternal Word secure,To last while endless ages shall endure. SIMILITUDES. 193 The Church of God, and even individual Chris-tians are compared to a building, or temple. TheChurch is founded on Gods truth, represented inthe engraving by a rock in mid ocean. The Chris-tian Church, or Temple, has seven or more pillars,on which are inscribed various Christian will be perceived that lov
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