weight in oppofition to other reasons, when the queftion respects the changes of which fuch a nature is capable, or the manner in -which these changes are effected. Whatever thought be, or whatever it depend upon, the regular experience of fleep makes one thing concerning it certain, that it can be completely fufpended, and completely reftored.

If any one find it too great a ftrain upon his thoughts, to admit the notion of a fubftance ftrictly immaterial, that is, from which extenfion and folidity are excluded, he can find no difficulty in allowing, that a particle as small as a particle of light, minuter than all conceivable dimenfions, may just as eafily be the depofitary, the organ, and the vehicle of confcioufnefs, as the congeries of animal fubftance which forms a human body, or the human brain; that, being fo,

it

may transfer a proper identity to whatever fhall hereafter be united to it; may be safe amidft the deftruction of its integuments; may connect the natural with the fpiritual,

the

the corruptible with the glorified body. If it be faid, that the mode and means of all this is imperceptible by our fenfes, it is only what is true of the most important agencies and operations. The great powers of nature are all invisible. Gravitation, electricity, magnetifm, though conftantly present, and conftantly exerting their influence; though within us, near us, and about us; though diffused throughout all space, overfpreading the furface, or penetrating the contexture of all bodies with which we are acquainted, depend upon substances and actions which are totally concealed from our fenfes. The Supreme Intelligence is fo himself.

But whether thefe or any other attempts to fatisfy the imagination, bear any refemblance to the truth, or whether the imagi nation, which, as I have faid before, is the mere flave of habit, can be fatisfied, or not; when a future ftate, and the revelation of a future ftate, is not only perfectly consistent with the attributes of the Being who governs

the

the univerfe; but when it is more; when it alone removes the appearances of contrariety which attend the operations of his will towards creatures capable of comparative merit and demerit, of reward and punishment; when a ftrong body of hiftorical evidence, confirmed by many internal tokens of truth and authenticity, gives us just reafon to believe that such a revelation hath actually been made; we ought to set our minds at reft with the affurance, that, in the refources of creative wifdom, expedients cannot be wanted to carry into effect what the Deity hath purposed: that either a new and mighty influence will defcend upon the human world, to refufcitate extinguished confcioufnefs; or that, amidst the other wonderful contrivances with which the univerfe abounds, and by fome of which we fee animal life, in many inflances, affuming improved forms of exiftence, acquiring new organs, new perceptions, and new fources of enjoyment, provifion is alfo made, though by methods fecret to us (as all the great proceffes of nature are), for conducting the

objects

objects of God's moral government, through the neceffary changes of their frame, to thofe final diftinctions of happiness and mifery, which he hath declared to be referved for obedience and tranfgreffion, for virtue and vice, for the use and the neglect, the right and the wrong employment, of the faculties and opportunities with which he hath been pleased, feverally, to entrust, and to try us.

THE END.

DEC 2 6 1917

PRINTED BY J. DAVIS, CHANCERY LANE.