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aboTu. Pride says, No! let it come from below, or meet upon the plain and level ground ; but Truth says, Let it come from above. Witness the act of creation to begin with, which gives us ail tliese creaiuTC- endowments : and the care nf Providence following thereupon which renewetli us with slee|), before the day's work begtoneth. and makcth the sun draw near before tbe labour of the spring commenceth: and after* wards the work of redemption, when God's eter- nal Son gave himself to become a servant, in order to set on foot tlie work of saving n world lost. WilneHs, to descend to the earth, the long needed care of fatlier and of mother, before the child ifi capable of a return: wituess also the long and irksome labour of the teacher, before the disciple can even recognise him in a higher light than as a taskmaster. Witneaa with what risk and jf^purdy the beiit'votenl rivilizerH of savage men must go to work before they can make a society of them ; and how^ in the beginning, oat of tbe family grew government, by the labour •-■!' Ll^I i so a j?i .■ -'■ 924 QOD's CONTftOVERSr TITH THE LASD- [JXs> and wisdom of the PatriaTchs; how kiDgB were anciently called the fathers or shepherds of their people; and when men got loose from t^ straints of patriarchal government, and wandervd wild, by what labours of your Hercnlea and Theseus, wisdom of your Trismegiatus, and In* giving of your Solons, were they recorded to civilttr and order. Yea, the rery animals an alive to this principle, caring for their yoaag during a long season; and the earth itself will yield no worthy return until man hath besought her with condescension of his understanding and power. And. in short, it is a uBireraal troth, that the acts of dutifulness and affectioD nmit originate frum above : seeing it is the honour and prvrii^tive and noble distinction which Qod halh conferred upon high estate, tobegiut and, by cofr tinning, to cam' onthe commerce of social dntiea. And when it si^ cometh to pass, that the upper ranks of the c^mmonitr hare forsaken this honov confcmxl upon them by God, oi originating acflb^ tii« and duty, giving heed to the suggestjons of pride, rather than ot' righteoosikessv it sood fiit toweth in the evil tr^tn that tbe low ranks &H aw^T iWm the true respect and dunfalness of their siatM. tntii> $eln^Qe»^ dcsojctectment* diacmd, aikd finally rebcHx^; wh:ch evil cvodhiottlaH now„ by th* graoe vf God, » *hew fccth «s Ae cottater^MFt ex t£ut evil exhibited abon, and Ae «vci(C<t:ou \-i xhi c«rk r^ctttrv vaicct I haro