heavens do rule, and begins, like the king of Babylon, to ascribe all
his success to his own power, foresight and management, and is
practically an atheist. But however thoughtless men may be, yet there
is a God who governs the world, and will so order and direct his
providence, that every one who goes counter to the principles of
rectitude is _doomed, inevitably_ doomed, to suffer the consequences.

There is too much practical atheism in the world. By this we mean that
there are too many of those who acknowledge a God in words, that deny
him in conduct. Every one, who lives upon the bounties of heaven, who
enjoys the sweets of existence, and remains thoughtless of God, is
practically an atheist. As saith Paul, "They profess that they know
God, but in works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and
unto every good work reprobate." He, who goes on in the ways of
transgression and multiplies his iniquities, must either believe there
is no God, or else conclude that he does not rule over the affairs of
men; and on this ground flatters himself that he shall escape
punishment. And not only so, but in opposition to the express
declaration of Jehovah, he believes that he shall enjoy a degree of
happiness in the indulgence of sin. All such are driven from those
rational reflections and moral principles, which virtually constitute
the man, and have yet to learn, "that the heavens do rule."

SERMON IV

"And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with
the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as
oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee until thou know that the
Most High ruleth in the kingdom of, men, and giveth it to whomsoever
he will." Daniel iv:32.