Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/49

 springs. These springs  feed  the  streams  and  rivers  which  carry  the water back  again  to  the  sea. It is  owing  to  this  continuous  circulation of water  that  the  sea  does  not  overflow,  or  the  rivers  dry  up. Moreover, those damp  exhalations  supply  the  air  with  that  moisture  which is necessary  to  the  life  of  men  and  beasts,  and  to  the  growth  of  plants. One thing  more. You know  that  water  turns  foul  when  it  remains for some  time  without  being  stirred. How is  it  that  though  it  is  shut in one  place,  the  water  of  the  sea  never  turns  foul? The goodness of God  has  provided  against  this  by  the  constant  motion  of  the  sea. Twice every  day  the  water  flows  from  the  centre  of  the  sea  towards the shore,  and  back  again. Besides this,  from  time  to  time  God  sends winds and  storms  which  stir  the  sea  to  its  very  depths. Such phenomena as  these  show  us  the  wonderful  wisdom  manifested  in  the  creation and preservation  of  the  world. In like  manner  all  other  creatures  bear witness to  the  wisdom  of  God. Bees, ants,  ears  of  corn,  leaves  of  the trees — in a word,  all  things  teach  us  to  admire  His  wisdom. Whether we contemplate  nature  in  its  greater  or  lesser  aspects,  we  must  exclaim with David: “How  great  are  Thy  works, O Lord! Thou hast  made all things  in  wisdom. The earth  is  filled  with  Thy  riches”  (Ps.  103,  24).

The infinite  Greatness  and  Majesty  of  God  are  also  revealed  to  us by  creation. Think how  enormous  this  earth  is! It is  24,899  miles  in circumference;  the  total  area  of  its  surface  covers  197,000,000  of  square miles, the  corresponding  volume  is  260,000  millions  of  cubic  miles. Enormous as  this  seems,  the  sun  is  1,400,000  times  as  large  as  the  earth, though it  is  not  so  dense. The number  of  stars,  most  of  which  can  be seen  only  through  a telescope,  amounts  to  millions,  though  their  number cannot be  accurately  fixed  by  man. The nearest  fixed  star  is  about twenty billions  of  miles  away  from  us. If, then,  the  universe  is  so great,  how  much  greater  must  He  be  who  called  all  these  spheres  into existence, and  who  keeps  and  sustains  them  in  space,  pointing  out  its path to  each  one! He “telleth  the  number  of  the  stars,  and  calleth them all  by  their  names. Great is  our  Lord,  and  great  is  His  power, and of  His  wisdom  there  is  no  number”  (Ps.  146,  4.  5). Full of  awe and reverence  we  ought  to  pray  in  some  such  words  as  these:  “Great God, we  praise  Thee! We praise  Thy  power,  O Lord! The earth  bows down before  Thee  in  wonder  at  Thy  works! Even as  Thou  wast  in all  time,  so  wilt  Thou  be  to  all  eternity. Heaven and  earth,  sky  and sea are  full  of  Thy  glory. All things  are  Thine!”

God being  so  infinitely  great  and  wise,  we ought  to  be  filled  with  the  deepest  reverence  for  His  divine  majesty. He is,  indeed,  the  Eternal,  the  Most  High,  the  Creator