increasings and decreasings of that heavenly body; and the various risings and settings of all the celestial luminaries; and, finally, when such astonished and contemplating strangers on the earth’s surface should know the appointed and never-erring and never-varying courses and revolutions of all these glorious creatures,—they would, with one voice, confess that there was a God, and that all these creatures were the works of that God! But our minds, by daily use, become insensible to these things; and as we daily see all these creatures we inquire not their nature, nor wonder at their glory: as if the novelty of such things, and not their greatness and glory, is that which should lead us to meditate on their natures, and the ends of their creation.”’ Thus far Cicero, the heathen! I shall perhaps be deemed by some a silly man for bringing forth these things out of the books of a heathen! Let those that would fear God, then, remember what is required of them! PSALM CV. _An exhortation to praise God, and to seek out his works.—The story of God’s providence over Abraham,—over Joseph,—over Jacob, in Egypt,—over Moses delivering the Israelites,—over the Israelites brought out of Egypt, fed in the wilderness, and planted in Canaan._ O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen. He _is_ the LORD our God: his judgments _are_ in all the earth. He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word _which_ he commanded to a thousand generations. Which _covenant_ he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, _and_ to Israel _for_ an everlasting covenant: Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance: When there were _but_ a few men in number: yea, very few, and strangers in it. When they went from one nation to another, from _one_ kingdom to another people; He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; _Saying_, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. Moreover, he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread. He sent a man before them, _even_ Joseph, _who_ was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. The king sent and loosed him: _even_ the ruler of the people, and let him go free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance: To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.