HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-" Beginning" is a word familiarly on our lips ; but, for the most part, wo mean only rearrangement, or the commencement of one link in the chain of e,ents. But who can conceive the beginning of creation? Who can travel back in thougl,t to the first moment of its existence, and look into the eternity beyond ? The Bible carries us back to that beginning, the first moment when the universe existed. How far back was the starting-point of time we know not, nor in what form the universe came into being, whether completed, or in germs to be developed in the course of ages. Only we are taught that before that "beginning" the universe was not, anrl that "the worlds were framed by the word of God" (Heh. xi. 3)-their substance, nnd the laws by which they are governed. With this the conclusions of science agree. They point out that the forces of nature tend to extinction, and hence roust have had a beginning. To the question what was that beginning, the Bible gives the answer. 1. What was before the " beginning" 1 God was ; he created all (Ps. xc. 2); nnd if it surpass our power to conceive an eternal self-existent Being, still less can we realise life, power, law coming into existence without a cause. And "in the beginning was the Word;" and the Holy Ghost, through whom Christ offered himself (Heh. ix. 14). But further, before the beginning the Lamb was slain (Rev. xiii. 8)-i. e. the necessity for redemption was foreseen and the plan provided-and we were chosen (Ephes. i. 4), and a kingdom prepared for us (Matt. xxv. 3-!). Thus, redemption was no afterthought, no repairing of failure; but God's purpose from eternity, and therefore that which is best. 2. What was the II beginning"? The creation of o. field on which God's plans were to be carried out and bis perfections manifested. And in the course of his work the creation of beings to whom and in whom he might make himself known, who might glorify him here and enjoy him for ever, 3. We mark tlien-At the beginning God brought forth what had been ordained in eternity-his plan complete to the end-our salvation-redemption a~ well as creation. "Very g·ood" (Gen. i. 31) went far beyond the things then exist- ing on the earth. And if it be urged, How is II very good" consistent with sin?- An enemy has sown tares and marred the Creator's work-the world is a ruin. Oh, faithless I why fearful? If God could give life to dry bones (Ezek. xxxvii. 6), if he could of stones raise up children to Abraham, can he not out of. seeming ruin raise up a more glorious temple? But thou sayest, How can this be? Canst thou solve 01:e of the least mysteries of crention? And is it strange thou canst not solve that mystery into whicn angels desire to look? Enough to know II where sin abounded," &c. (Rom. v. 20); to remember," we see not yet," &c. (Heh. ii. 8); and humbly to wait our Fathel"'s time and way. 4. For persrinal enco1tra9ement. Our state fore- 1,cen and provided for from the beginning. Thns our right to trust God's promis~~ THE BOOK OF GENESIS. (<11, I. 1, 2.
depends not on anything in us, but is part of his original plan, Our Lord'e call to sinners is in closest agreement with what was ordained II in the beg'inning." 11 \Vho- soeYer will" ( Rev. xxii. 17) but echoes the word which called the uni\•erse into being.-lll.