Sermon Preached Before The Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berks And Bucks.

Ave may discover in Avhat manner a plurality , or the belief in a number of gods , is so common a tenet in the superstitions of barbarous nations ; why the Deity is supposed to be traced rather in the irregular convulsions of nature than in its

steady uniformity ; and in Avhat Avay the mind is more inclined to fix on the gloomy and horrible than on the amiable and conciliating views of

religion . "The mind of untutored man looks for its gods in ' the Aviud , ' in ' the earthquake , ' and in " " the fire , ' AA hile it is deaf to c tlie still small voice , ' which speaks from every corner and crevice

of creation . The -Jews Avere , therefore , told that traces of God they might find everywhere , but He Himself Avas nowhere to be seen ; that it is superstition alone Avhich seeks to embody the Deity and to fix Him in any particular

department of His Avorks , or pre-supposes that He is chiefly to be found in the midst of noise and fury , and desolation ; and that it is true religion and real philosophy Avhich traces through all the mechanism of nature , and in all the

course of events , silent marks of the DiA * ine hand , Avhich , without pretending to find Himself , bends before the footsteps of an all wise Creator and listens Avith stern composure to " the still small voice " that speaks from the harmony and the order of the universe ! The inclination of the

present time is not to superstition . Inquiries are made , and with admirable success , into the natural causes of things ; and many appearances which , to the mind of a savage might seem miraculous , are found to folloAV from the common laAvs

of nature . The proper tendency of such inquiries is to throw light upon the plan of the universe ; to discover , the further they are conducted , more traces of infinite wisdom and benevolence in nature ; and to confirm the proofs of revealed

religion . But in some minds they have a different effect ; and resting in second causes , some men seem to overlook the existence of the- supreme cause of all . As if a person , examining a complicated machine , Avere to attribute the movement

of certain portions to the working of other parts only , utterly forgetful of the Avondrous motive poAver Avhich put the Avhole in motion , and of the Avise and skilful hand Avhich guided , directed , and modified both parts and poAver . Not finding the

Creator in the " Avind , " the " earthquake , " or the " fire , " such inquirers as I have been describing are led to conclude that God is not everywhere to

be discovered in nature . Thus the errors of the so-called philosopher and of the uninstructed barbarian proceed on the same gross conceptions of religion—on the supposition that God , if anr-Avhere , is , in a manner , to be seen and touched .

The only difference is this—the savage fancies he sees Him , whereas the atheist is blind , or , what is far more likely , will not see . In opposition to both these delusions , the Avorcls of my text point out very beautifully the nature of the proofs that

religion produces— " After the fire , a still small voice . " The general thought here expressed is , that God does not force Himself on our notice , at least usually . There is indeed a voice , and a voice which may at all times be heard . " Day unto

day uttereth speech , and night unto night sheAveth knoAvledge ; there is no speech nor language Avhere their voice is not heard , " yet it is " a still small voice . " In fact , it is always heard , but men do not always attend to its import . There

is not a man in existence Avho does not constantly perceive , and invariably act upon the supposition , that nature is an established system or plan ; but few men consider as they ought , and some appear to forget entirely , that a plan , by the force of the term , implies a planner , an author , a designer .

The very regularity of nature , the very constancy of its laAvs , too often make us lose sight of Him Avho ordered and disposes it . The voice is so unvarying in its sound , like the beat of the clock that marks the lapse of time , that it scarcely affects

the ear . This reads us a great lesson . Let none of us fondly imagine that the voice has ceased to sound , because Ave have ceased to hearken—no doubt a time may come Avhen Ave shall not hear "the A oice of the charmer , charm He never so

Avisely "—or that the language of nature does not convey the same meaning , although Ave have forgotten the interpretation . And as in matters of belief , so also in practice , . is this , " still small voice " both uttered and heard . It must contend

Avith internal convulsions in the mind , the fury of the passions , worldly principles , and innumerable corruptions . " It must oppose the poAver of present objects , and point to the riches of a future inheritance . No Avonder , then , my brethren ,

that it is so often not heard at all , or heard only to be stifled and overpoAvered . Yet , Avhether Ave hear it not , it speaks , and will make itself to be heard at one time or another . It will be heard in adversity , or in death if it is unattended to in the hour of prosperity , and in the thoughtless or