and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; teaching us, by all things, that man was created both happy and free. All things that came forth from the hand of the Creator were pronounced to be very good. In this primeval time, when man was placed in the paradise that God Himself had made, we can recognize a state of the purest peace and innocence, when love to God issued warm from the heart, and wisdom directed every thought to the noble purposes of a holy life. O happy, happy state! when every hour found sweet employment in cultivating and dressing the garden of the mind, and in raising each affection above the ground of earthly selfishness to the love of all that was good and true. It was then that human love rose to meet with and conjoin itself to the love of God, while thoughts, in harmony with the love of heaven, were seen to be put forth in an almost infinite variety, giving, as from the flowers of paradise, a sweet fragrance and richness to the mental scene!
But now, O Lord, since disobedience has found an entrance into our souls, we discover two things in our nature—goodness which thou hast imparted, and sin which we have added. What we have daringly added, has caused us to dress no longer the garden of the mind; this sinful neglect has deprived us of the celestial state; so that we have not kept but lost the garden. We have thus laid our honour in the dust, and turned our glory into shame. Still, blessed, for ever blessed be thy name. O Father of mercies! for in all our wanderings from thee, thou hast followed us in our distresses. Oft in thy Word have we heard thy paternal voice of tenderness—"Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways: for why will ye die, O house of
