all ages

and nations; among the ignorant and rude, as well as the informed and

cultivated.

Whence hath it arifen? From the conclufions of reafon and the deductions of argument? Such never was nor could be the fource of any one general opinion or perfuafion. For reafoning, the great body of mankind have neither leifure nor capacity. With abstract arguments they are totally unacquainted, and when proposed to them they have no force or effect upon their minds, As to the immortality of the foul, it is certain, that fo far was the belief of it from originating from learning and philofophy, that fcepticism with refpect to it never prevailed, till it be came the fubject of reafoning and argu

mentation.

We are forced, therefore, to feek for another and more probable fource of this univerfal perfuafion. And no opinion, on this point, feems to be fo well fup,

ported as that of those who maintain that the doctrine of immortality is co-eval with man himself, that it was conveyed to him at his creation, by the Author of his being, and handed down by tradition through fucceffive generations.

Certain it is, that the farther we trace back the history of the human race, the deeper and firmer we find the belief to have been of this great principle of religion and morals.

But it is natural to fuppofe that all traditional knowledge, the farther it removes from its fource, the more it will be corrupted in its purity, and impaired in its influence.

And fuch was the fate of the doctrine under confideration. It degenerated from age to age, till at length, about the time of our Saviour's appearance, it was clothed in fuch extravagant forms, and fo disfigured by the abfurdities of vulgar fuperftition or poetical fiction, that men of

"thy worldly poffeflions may take wings, and leave thee poor indeed; thy good CC name may be wrested from thee by envy and mifrepresentation; thy friends

may

prove cold and treacherous, and death

may tear from thee, thofe on whom thy heart leaned with fondest affec

tion; but still if thou retaineft thy con"fidence in the doctrines and promifes "of thy Lord, thou canft never be be

reaved of comfort." These are confolations addreffed not to reafon and the pure intellect alone, but to the strongest affections of the heart. Supported by thefe, feelings may be oppofed to feelings; fuch as are grateful and cheering, to thofe that are difinal and fad.__The view of futurity, in an especial manner, unfolded by the gofpel, like the fun burfting from behind a dark cloud, will diffipate the gloom, and enliven the darkest fcenes of life. It will fingothe the pillow of a fick-bed, and reconcile the mind e

ven to poverty and pain. It will bring compofure to the Chriftian when bidding a laft farewell to a dear departing friend; nay amidst the laft pangs of the diffolving frame, it will fuftain his fainting spirit.

AND this naturally introduces the laft proposition stated in order to prove the fitnefs of the gofpel to remedy the defects of nature, viz. That reafon unaided, affords no fixed principles upon which the belief of immortality can be established.

There is unquestionably in the human mind, a capacity of extending its views beyond a prefent world, and the exercife of this faculty is ever accompanied with fecret prefages and hopes of future exiftence. Anxious wishes and foreboding fears, it is true, do of themfelves afford no certain evidence of the prolongation of our being, yet it is an undoubted fact, that the belief of immortality in one form or other has prevailed among mankind in

all ages and nations; among the ignorant and rude, as well as the informed and cultivated.

Whence hath it arifen? From the conclufions of reafon and the deductions of argument? Such never was nor could be the fource of any one general opinion or perfuafion. For reasoning, the great body of mankind have neither leifure nor capacity. With abstract arguments they are totally unacquainted, and when propofed to them they have no force or effect upon their minds, As to the immortality of the foul, it is certain, that fo far was the belief of it from originating from learning and philofophy, that fcepticism with refpect to it never prevailed, till it be came the fubject of reafoning and argumentation.

We are forced, therefore, to feek for another and more probable fource of this univerfal perfuafion. And no opinion, on this point, feems to be fo well fup