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    kind , in which we are assured in the most express terms of the resurrection of the dead , and of a future state of retribution 5 independently I say of this revelation , there are many appearances in the present system which seem strongly to countenance the hope of futurity .

    If we consider the powers of the human mind , and the situation and circumstances of man , we must clearly perceive that his present limited sphere of existence can never afford sufficient exercise for th ^ se noble fa cullies of

    mind which give him such a distinguished superiority over the lower orders of creatures . Is it not then highly reasonable to suppose that those powers have been conferred on him in order to qualify him for a much higher sphere of action than is at present allotted to him ? Of all the various

    tribes of beings which inhabit this lower world , man alone seems capable of becoming a subject of moral discipline , and of being made acquainted with the attributes , will and perfections of his Creator ; and does not this peculiar trait , this

    characteristic feature of the human mind , strongly indicate some striking peculiarity in our ultimate destination ? All other beings appear to answer the end for which they were created ; they attain their utmost perfection in a short space oftime . Man alone is in a state of

    continual progression , without ever being able to arrive at the summit . Is it not then highly reasonable to suppose that in some future period of his existence , his faculties also shall have room to expand themselves , and that a degree of light and knowledge shall be poured in upon him , suitable to his exalted capacity ?

    This argument will acquire a much greater degree of force , if we consider the case of those exalted characters who , from a piiuciple of love to their Creator , and of the purest benevolence and goodwill to their fellowcreaturts , have devoted their time , their talents and their property to

    the promotion cf those objects which they conceived to be the most eminently subserv ient to the welfare and improvement of the whole human race : and this , not only without the least prospect of any remuneration in the present state , but often at the hazard of every thing dear to them in i fe j and have even encountered death

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    itself in its most horrid forms , rather than commit the smallest deviation from what they beliered to be the will of their creator . In the case of Jesus Christ , of the Apostles and primitive Christians , as well as of innumerable others of the best and

    wisest of men in all ages since , we see such examples of disinterested piety , virtue and benevolence , and -such fearless sacrifices in the cause of truth and integrity , as it seems impossible to suppose can be intended to go without an appropriate and distinguished reward . And as we have seen in fact

    that their portion here consisted of little more than a life of suffering , terminated in a violent and a painful death , it seems perfectly agreeable to all our ideas of the wisdom , justice and goodness of the Creator to suppose that at some future period , they will not only

    be restored to existence , but will be placed in circumstances suited to their distinguished excellence and merit . For can we for a moment suppose that the worthiest , the most amiable , and the most truly valuable of human

    characters were formed , only that they might pass through this life , in a state of the most extreme suffering , and then to be for ever buried in oblivion , and no further notice taken of those highest instances of virtue which would have reflected honour

    011 superior beings ? The desire of immortality has been evidently implanted in the human breast by the Creator of all things ; is it not then the highest reflection both on his wisdom and goodness to imagine that he should have afforded such hopes to the wisest and best of men only in order to deceive them into acts of

    virtue so exceedingly painful to themselves , and which in this case do not appear to be of the least utility to the world ? That Almighty Being who at first

    called us into existence , who has given us bodies fearfully and wonder * fully made ; and who has adapted every part of our frame with the most consummate wisdom and the most

    exquisite skill to the purposes for which they were designed ; who has bestowed on us powers of mind vr hereby we are made capable of admiring arid imitating his divine perfections ; this same almighty power , we cannot doubt to be equally competent to restore the ejristej | €$ ? he at fuc » t be-

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    26 Natural Arguments for a Future State .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1815, page 26, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1756/page/26/