solutely necessary to the eternity of its duration,4 has, I think, been evinced to almost a demonstration. 3. Secondly, from its passions and sentiments; as, particularly, from its love of existence ;5 its horror of annihilation; and its hopes of immortality; with that secret satisfaction which it finds in the practice6 of virtue; and that uneasiness which follows upon the commission of vice. 4. Thirdly, from the nature of the Suprene Being, whose justice, goodness, wisdom, and veracity,7 are all concerned in this point. 5. But among these, and other excellents arguments for the immortality of the soul, there is one drawn from the perpetual progress9 of the soul to its perfection, without a possibility of ever arriving at it; which is a hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved by others who have written on this subject, though it seems to me to carry a very great weight with it. 6. How can it enter into the thoughts of man, that the soul which is capable of such immense perfections, and of receiving new im provements to all eternity, shall fall away into nothing, almost as soon as it is created? Are such abilitiest made to no purpose? A brute ar- : contrive, fancy. 4 Annihilation, s the act of reducing to nothing. 7. Were a human soul thus at a stand in her accomplishments; were her faculties to be full blown, and incapable of further enlargements; I could imagines she might 3 Imagine, to fall away insensibly, and drop at once into a state of annihilation.4 But can we believe a thinking being, that is in a perpetual progress of improvements, and travelling on from perfection to perfection, after having just looked abroad into the works of its creator, and made a few discoveries5 of his infinite goodness, wisdom, and power, must perish at her first setting out, and in the very beginning of her enquiries ? 8. 'A man considered only in his present state, seems sent into the world merely to propagate his kind. He provides himself with a successor;6 and immediately quits his post to make room for him. He does not seem born to enjoy life, but to deliver it down to others. This is not surprising to consider in animals, which are formed for our 5 Discoveries, s acts of finding things hidden; the discharging of secrets. -6 Successor; & one that follows in the place or character of another. use and can finish their business in a short life. 7 Silk worm, › produces silk. 9. The silk-worm,7 after having spun her task, lays her eggs and the worm that dies. But a man cannot take in this full measure of knowledge, has not time to subdues his passions, establish his soul in virtue, and come up to the perfection of his nature, before he is hurried off the stage. 10. Would an infinitely wise being make such glorious creatures for so mean a purpose? Can he delight in the production9 of such abortive2 intelligences, such short Lived reasonable beings? Would he give us talents that are not to be exerted? Capacities3 that are never to be gratified? How can we find that wisdom which shines4 through all his works, in the formation of man, without looking on this world, as only a nursery for the next; and without believing that the several generations of rational creatures, which rise up and disappears in such quick succession are only to receive their first rudiments of existence here, and afterwards to be transplanted6 into a more friendly climate, where they may spread and flourish to all eternity? 11. There is not in my opinion, 8 Subdue, v to crush, to op pose, to sink, to conquer, to re duce under a new dominion, to tame, to sub. ject. 9 Production, s the act of producing 2 Abortive, a unsuccessful, untimely 3 Capacities. abilities powers of containing. 4 Shines, makes bright, room in which trees. 5 Disappear, to vanish away. 6 Transplanted part planted in another place. a more pleasing and triumphant consideration in religion than this of the perpetual progress, which the soul makes towards the perfection of its nature, without ever arriving at a period in it. 12. To look upon the soul as going on from strength to strength; to consider that she is to shine for ever with new accessions8 of glory, and brighten to all eternity: that she will still be adding virtue to virtue and knowledge to knowledge carries in it something wonderfully agreeable to that ambitiong which is natural to the mind of man. Nay, it must be a prospect pleasing to God himself, to see his creation forever beautifying in his eyes and drawing nearer to him by greater degress of resemblance.‡ 13. Methinks this single consideration, of the progress of a finite spirit to perfection, will be sufficient to extinguish all envy in inferior natures, and all contempt in superior. That cherub,2 which now appears as a god to a buman soul, knows very well that the period will come about in eternity, when the human soul shall be as perfect as be himself now is; nay, when she shall look down upon that de Triumphant, celebrating victory. 8 Accession, increase by something added; the act of coming to, addition. 9 Ambition, earnest desire; pride. Resemblance 8 Likeness, si militude, representation. 2 Cherub, & a celestial spirit, which in the hierarchy, is placed next in order to the seraphim. gree of perfection as much as she now falls short of it. 14. It is true, the higher nature still advances, and by that means preserves his distance and superiority3 in the scale of being; but he knows that how high soever the station is of which he stands possess ed at present, the inferior nature will at length mount up to it and shine forth in the same degree of glory. Superiority, s the quality of being greater another. or higher than 4 Veneration, s reverence, re gard. 15. With what astonishment and veneration,4 may we look into our own souls, where there are such hidden stores of virtue and knowledge, such inexhausted sources5 of 5 Sources, & perfection! We know not yet what we shall be; nor will it ever enter into the heart of man, to conceive the glory that will be always in reserve for him. springs, heads, first causes. 6 Mathemati cal, a consider ed according to the doctrine of 16. The soul, considered with its creator, is like one of those mathematical6 lines that may draw nearer to another for all eternity without a possibility of touching it: and can there be a thought so transporting,7 as to consider ourselves in these perpetual approaches to him, who is the standard not only of per- with pleasure. fection, but of happiness? the mathematicians 7 Transporting part Ravishing |