GOD'S PURPOSE IN CREATION.
By William Covert
NO being of intelligence works without a plan. Builders think and construct their work in harmony with their thoughts. The psalmist, while writing of providential care, exclaimed, "All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord; and Thy saints shall bless Thee." Ps. 145:10. Of the purposes fulfilled, he declares, "Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that hath He done, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps." Ps. 135:6, R. V. The beloved and venerable John had been exiled from home and friends to a lonely island of the sea, and thus situated, he was wrapped in vision on the Sabbath day, and heard the choir of heaven sing. In holy joy they proclaimed, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." Rev. 4:11. The singing announced the reason of heaven's blessedness. God's pleasure, moving upon the hearts of those who inhabit the holy court, expresses the true joy of the place. Nature, unaffected by sin, constantly utters the Lord's praises. When Robert Fulton applied steam power to machinery, and caused it successfully to propel a boat on the Hudson, that achievement became his glory. When Morse harnessed electricity, and taught men to make it a swift servant of humanity, that became a source of glory to Morse. As Edison and others have studied the power of electricity, and have made it to lift and to pull, to sing and to talk, their praises have been spoken in all lands. Elias Howe gave to the world that useful invention, the sewing-machine, and, therefore, his name has become a household word, and his praises are sounded as far as civilization has reached. But God, who is infinite in wisdom and power, has enabled men to do these things. Therefore praise Him. "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord." Jer. 9:23, 24. If man is glorified by men, because he can make an intricate machine or a beautiful house, out of material prepared to his hand, what should be the praises rendered to Him who created the world, and then by His own life formed man into flesh from the dust, and made him breathe and hear, feel and smell, see and think, talk and eat, walk, work, and bear responsibilities, and then multiplied him into millions? As all things were created for God's pleasure, it is clear that in the beginning a man must have been made whom the Creator could enjoy. He was made capable of doing what was for his best good, and of appreciating his environments. God placed the highest type of man in the earth. He gave him dominion over the fish of the sea, over the fowl of the air, "and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." Gen. 1:26. A special and direct impartation was required to fit him for such responsibilities. It was necessary that he should know the habits and the homes of all the creatures he was to control. The Bible shows that he had this knowledge at the earliest dawn of history. He was then required by his Maker to name the beasts and the birds as they were called before him. He gave them names that were expressive of their nature and habits. "And whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof." Gen. 2:19. He made no mistake, because the Infinite Mind enlightened his thoughts as he looked upon the Maker's handiwork. He understood the animals not only by direct endowment, but by the open book of nature, which taught him the ways of the Lord. Every object that greeted his eyes served as an illustration to the volume which he studied. To Adam and Eve in their Eden home, the grass, the foliage, and the flowers proclaimed God's praises. The heavens above declared His glory, and the firmament in all its appointments spake of His infinite power.