more probable than many things: additionally; Wisdom and Power are always economical, and where one will suit the purpose, superfluities are rejected. That this one seed, covering with its product a various globe under all imaginable differences of circumstance and climate, should, in the lapse of ages, generate many species of the genus Man, was antecedently probable. For example, morality, peace, and obedience would exercise transforming powers: their opposites the like in an opposite way. We can well fancy a mild and gentle race, as the Hindoo, to spring from the former educationals: and a family with flashing eyes and strongly visaged na tures, as the Malay, from a state of hatred, war, and licence. We can well conceive that a tropical sun should carbonize some of that tender fabric the skin, adding also swift blood and fierce passions: while an arctic climate would induce a sluggish stunted race. And, when to these considerations we add that of promiscuous unions, we arrive at the just likelihood that the whole family of man, though springing from one root, should, in the course of generations, be what now we see it.

Further. How should this prolific original, the first man, be created? and for a name let us call him Adam; a justly chosen name enough, as alluding to his medium colour, ruddiness. Should he have been cast upon the ground an infant, utterly helpless, requiring miraculous aid and guidance at every turn? Should he be originated in boyhood, that hot and tumultuous time when the creature is most rash, and least qualified for selfgovernment? or should he be first discerned as an adult in his prime, equal to obedience alike and rule, to moral control and moral energies ?-*

Add also here; is it probable there would be any needless interval placed to procreations? or rather, should not such original seed be able immediately to fulfil the blank world's call upon him, and as the greatlyteeming human father be found fitted from his birth to propagate his kind?-The questions answer themselves.

Again. Should this first man have been

*See note at the end of the chapter.

discovered originally surrounded with all the appliances of an after civilization, clad, and housed, and rendered artificial? nor rather, in a noble and naturally royal aspect appear on the stage of life as king of the natural creation, sole warder of a garden of fruits, with all his food thus readily concocted and an eastern climate tempered to his nakedness?

Now, as to the solitariness of this one seed. From what we have already mused respecting God's benevolence, it would seem probable that the Maker might not see it good that man should be alone. The seed, originally one, proved (as was likely) to resemble its great parent God, and to be partitionable, or reducible into persons; though with reasonable differences as between creature and Creator. Woman,-Eve, the living or lifegiving,—was likely to have sprung out of the composite seed Man, in order to companionship and fit society. Moreover, it were expectable that in the pattern creature, composite man, there should be involved some apt mysterious typification of the same creature, after a foreknown fall restored, as in its per

fect state of reunion with its Maker. A posteriori, the figurative notion is, that the Redeemed family, or mystical spouse, is incorporated in her husband, the Redeemer: not so much in the idea of marriage, as (taking election into view), of a co-creation; as it were rib of rib, and life woven into life, not copulated or conjoined, but immingled in the being. This is a mystery most worthy of deep searching; a mystery deserving philosophic care, not less than the more unilluminate enjoyment of humble and believing Christians. I speak concerning Christ and his church.

Note to new Edition. With reference to the periods of Adam's birth and Christ's death, a curious but fanciful probability occurs to me; which may be worth mentioning, as it supplies an answer to the objection implied in the following question. As Christ was to be the great human exemplar, was it not likely and fitting that he should live through every year of man's usual life, so that

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he might have a practical sympathy with the old, as well as with the young and the matured? Was he not more probable to have lived threescore years and ten, than to have been cut off at thirty-three? A shrewd unbeliever might reasonably ask this. But,Answer. The first Adam appears upon the stage of creation at full maturity; a ripe man of thirty-three. Is there not a poetical justice and prelikelihood that the second Adam's life upon earth should be a filling-up of those thirty-three years of pre-existent innocence? It is as if the model-man Jesus had prearranged to redeem the race, within those years which Adam's birth had overleapt. I think that (to a keen and quick discernment) there existed an antecedent probability that Adam the sinner should have been born at thirty-three; to leave space for Adam the Saviour to live and work out righteousness, and give Himself in Sacrifice within those predetermined years.