This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1853. Excerpt: ... LECTURE III. 1 Peter L 8. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." i There are many characters under which God may be surveyed by the sinful, but only one under which He may be surveyed without fear. I may think of God as Creator; and very noble is the contemplation, as immensity, with its troop of worlds, opens itself before me, and every where reveals the work of one hand. I may think of God as the moral Governor of the Universe, and then, again, it is a magnificent contemplation, that one Being should be sending out his inspections over whatsoever liveth, and that, neither overcome by magnitude, nor perplexed by multiplicity, He should note every action, and register it for judgment. Or I may survey God in his several attributes; I may consider Him as omnipotent, and marvel at a power to which there is nothing great, and nothing small; I may regard Him as omniscient, and amazement may well possess me, as having " about my path and about my bed" the very Being who is occupying the furthest corners of infinite space; I may think of God as just, for how otherwise shall He judge the world? I may think of Him as holy--the very Heavens are not clean in his sight; I may think of Him as benevolent--the countless tenantry of earth, sea, and air, attest that his mercies are over all his works. But what is it to me, a transgressor from the womb, that, as Creator, God has strewed immensity with his workmanship? Can I bless Him as Creator, when I may have been created only to be miserable? What is it to me that He should sit as universal King, and trace upon his book all deeds and all thoughts? Can I bless Him as moral ...