quiet accuracy of observation; sound justness of reasoning; and apposite reflections, drawn from undesigned coincidences in the Pentateuch; as to carry the mind unhesitatingly along with it, to the full admission of the "Genuineness and Authenticity of the Mosaic History." And the Author never rose from the perusal of it, without having his convictions of the Truth of Scripture strengthened; and his heart grateful to one, whose work was calculated so effectually to serve the cause of religion; and he therefore cordially coincides in a celebrated modern writer's opinion, that it is "a work which ought to be on the table of every scholar."

In works of such a character, it is no easy matter for a compiler to do any thing like justice to his subjects; or to make such a selection of topics, as neither to obscure the general line of reasoning, nor weaken the arguments of the originals. "Brevis esse laboro, obscurus fio," has not unfrequently occurred to the Author's mind, in the progress of his work. Limits, however, there must be; and his chief endeavour has been, to give a faithful representation of the general scope and meaning of the originals, in as concise a manner as the subjects would admit of,

without introducing any opinion of his own, except in

an occasional note.

In conclusion, he ventures to express a hope, that the goodness of his motives may serve as some apology for any imperfections which may be discovered in the work now presented to the public.

Moral certainty, 5; Likely, 6; Probable evidence imperfect,

ib.; But practical, ib.; Analogical reasoning just, ib.; And

practical, 7; Speculative emendations of the natural system, 8;

Beyond our faculties, ib.; All perfection in God, 9; Natural

and moral system from the same source, 10; Affording an an-

swer to all objections, ib.; Design of the treatise, 11.

121

Of a Future Life.

BOOK I.

OF NATURAL RELIGION.

CHAPTER I.

Analogy makes it probable, 13; Changes in insects, animals,

and man, ib.; Death not our destruction, 14; Neither from the

reason of the thing, 15; nor from analogy, ib.; Consciousness,

16; Our bodies not ourselves, ib.; Loss of limbs, ib.; Change

of particles, 18; Limbs only instruments, ib.; Powers of reflec-

tion independent, 19; Death analogous to birth, 21; Suspen-

sion not destruction, ib.

CHAPTER II.

Of the Government of God by Rewards and Punishments; parti-

cularly the latter

Enjoyments and sufferings in our own power, 24; from fore-

seeing consequences, 25; Final causes constitute real go-

vernment, 26; proving God will reward and punish, ib.;

Objections against punishment answered by analogy, 27; Mortal

diseases analogous to capital punishments, 28; Examples suffi-

cient to put down objections, 29; and Atheism, 30.

CHAPTER III.

Of the Moral Government of God

Wherein it consists, 32; evidently carried on in the world, ib.;

though not in perfection, ib.; Virtue and vice rewarded or

punished as such, 35; countenanced or discountenanced, 36;

Moral tendencies in nature, 39; indicate a future state, 41;

exhibit a practical proof of moral government, 45.

CHAPTER IV.

PAGE

23

31

Of a State of Probation, as implying Trials, Difficulties and Danger 46

Natural and religious trials analogous, 48; Passions and

temptations imply each other, ib.; No valid objection from

God's foreknowledge, 50.

CHAPTER V.

Of a State of Probation as intended for Moral Discipline and Im-

provement.....

What our business is here, 53; A determinate character ne-
cessary for each state, 54; Capacities for habits, ib.; improved
by exercise, 55; Exercise of internal principles and external
acts analogous, ib.; Man incapable of duties of mature age at
once, 56; requires time and practice, ib.; to form a charac-
ter, 57; Religious character similarly formed, ib.; Future life
not inactive, 58; Virtuous principles strengthened by disci-

52

pline, 59; Creatures made upright may fall, 60; may want

acquired security, 61; World fit for moral discipline, 62; Hope

and fear legitimate incitements, 64; Passive submission re-

quired as well as active obedience, ib.; Moral character not

formed at once, 65; Our present state a theatre for exhibition

of character, 66.

PAGE

CHAPTER VI.

......

Of the Opinion of Necessity considered as influencing Practice

If fate be reconcilable with nature, it must be so with religion,

68; Fate cannot exclude deliberation and design, 69; must

include an agent, ib.; acting intelligently, 70; Fatality prac-

tically false, 71; when applied to the present life, ib.; there-

fore so as to the future, ib.; Man has a will and character, 72;

so must God, ib.; Man's moral sense an imparted presenti-

ment of futurity, 73; External evidence of religion unaffected

by necessity, 74; The whole opinion of necessity practically

false, from the analogy of Providence, 75.

CHAPTER VII.

Of the Government of God considered as a Constitution imperfectly

comprehended.

God's natural government beyond our comprehension, 78; So

by analogy his moral government, 79; Both may make up one

system, 80; Ends require means, ib.; sometimes singular

ones used, ib.; Interpositions unsuitable, 81; Our ignorance

an answer to all objections of irregularities, 82; Insulated parts

not to be judged of, 83; Conclusion, 84; the present life part

of a vast system, ib.; as beyond our conception as religion can

be, ib.; Recapitulation of previous chapters, 85.