honoured and often worshipped as divine men--as gods, thereby
shewing that the heathen, among all their idolatries, had a true and
just notion about man's practical skill and knowledge--that it could
only come from Heaven, that it was by the inspiration and guidance
of God above that skill in agriculture arose. What says Isaiah of
that to the very same purpose? "Doth the ploughman plow all day to
sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground? When he hath
made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the vetches,
and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rye
in their place? For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and
doth teach him. This also," says Isaiah, "cometh from the Lord of
Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working."
Would to God you would all believe it!

Again; wisdom and prudence, and a clear, powerful mind,--are not
they parts of God's likeness? How is God's Spirit described in
Scripture? It is called the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the
Spirit of prudence and might. Therefore, surely, all wisdom and
understanding, all prudence and strength of mind, are, like that
Spirit, part of God's image; and where did we get God's image? Can
we make ourselves like God? If we are like him, He must have formed
that likeness; and He alone. The Spirit of God, says the Scripture,
giveth us understanding.

Or, again; good-nature and affection, love, generosity, pity,--whose
likeness are they? What is God's name but love? God is love. Has
not He revealed Himself as the God of mercy, full of long-suffering,
compassion, and free forgiveness; and must not, then, all love and
affection, all compassion and generosity, be His gift? Yes. As the
rays come from the sun, and yet are not the sun, even so our love