The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-03-07

also as to his corporal frame? 1t is tru
that historically considered the Eternal Sol
was made ia the likeness Of sinful flesh, ant
this is the practical way f0'- sinful flesh t.
consider it. But think you, on the othel
hand, that the form of Adams body in hil
creation vas so wanting in special design IL
view of Him that was to follow, that thai
body which before the foundation of che
world it was purpo8ed tLo Eternal Son
should take once in time, fof eternity, was
thus the result of accidentl 1t cannot be
SO. Jesus, the Messiah, is " THE FIRST BORN
OF EVERY CREATURE" as Hs is " the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world. y
He is the first as we'll as the last To Him
then We have come who is the source of ell
life. In Him We find the psTtern of all cre-
ated things. He is the cen 'e of all things,
and "by Him all things consist. Also Sin
Him dweletb all the fullrSss of the God
head bodily" Thue sersIgt this end of
creations long line we '3ss py the region of
the known. As we descend from this point
we gradually approach the unknown. For
here at the summit and centre of creations
long line, the Creator is cdnnected with the
remotest forms of life, udiwith the ultimate
forms of mstter. We see Jsqus standing in
the centre; all creatures, oil living things
are ranged about him in ever widening cir
eles. This mode of regarding the world
makes it all luminous wish the Divine
presence. 1t brings the operations of the
Great Architect in Nature il direct line
with His revealed purposes Of grace. 1t ire
veals the conceptions which occupied the
Omniscient Mind before they were embodied
in actual existence by the word of his power.
That study of the world which is not con-
Quoted upon the basis of the known, and
which does not conduct med to Christ, is
worth nothing. Nay, more,. it indicates a
secret desire to get rid of God, aud Of His
known power over the conscience. "For the
invisible things of Him are clearly seen from
the creation of the wsrld, being understood
by the things that are made, even His eter-
nal power and God-head;" so that they are
without excuse. Bat that when they knew
knew God they glorifed Him not as God,
neither were thankful; but became vain in
their imsginations, and their foolish heart
was darkened. Processing themselves to be
wise, they became fools, and changed the
glory of the inCorruptible God into an image
made like to corruptible man, and to birds,
and four-fOoted animals and creeping things.
Whereupon God also gave them up, through
the lusts of their own heart to dishOnor their
own bodies between themselves. He dis
houorS the human body who finds for it no
origin higher than itself; wbk Iscogpizes for
it no connection Will G teS.af cr8on
of Christ. The honor of the human body
consists not SO much in this that God made
it, but that He made it in the image of Hie
own glorious body. Therefore, says God,
Z" thou shalt not Smite thy brother he is
made in the image of God" And in this
doctrine of the unity of the creation is found
a natural origin for that righteous law
against cruelty to all animals. For we are
all members one of another.
(To BE OoNoLUDED)