being, whose existence is circumscribed within the short limits of this life, but that you will look upon him as one designed for some more important state of existence hereafter. But if this be insufficient to convince you, take up your Bible, look to that which we have the strongest evidence for regarding as the revealed word of God; study its evidences as I have done, (though, I confess with grief and shame, at a much later period than I ought,) and you will there see a communication to our race, from the Almighty himself, which clearly marks us as reserved for higher purposes than those which can be attained in our present state of being. Here seek for the only philosophy in this matter; and make it your prayer to God that you may rightly understand what he here teaches; and you will then, through his blessing, see and know, with deep sorrow for all your past wickedness of thought, that only by the power of an omnipotent Creator man either was or can be formed out of the dust of the earth, and have the spirit of life breathed into him. There, too, will you learn, that though the breath may leave the body, the spirit itself dies not; but goes on existing in a state of consciousness, after the

body is committed to the grave, and will rise to an eternity of glory or misery, according as the mortal man may have discharged the several duties required of him by his God. You, Sir, in the course of those operations of nature which God directs, cannot, I should think, calculate upon remaining much longer in the world."

The Anatomist, startled at these words, shrunk back a little. "I say, Sir, that in the ordinary course of events, you can be at no great distance from the grave your time must be very short, and immense is the work you have to do, if you mean either to die with a composed mind, or with a hope of any thing beyond this world; because, if you are the philosopher you profess to be, you must know that Nature (to use your own language) declares, universally and clearly, that man cannot be subject to the same end with the brute creation; that the superior faculties of the one above the other have been given for purposes beyond those of this short and miserable existence, and that this feeling is inherent in our very nature; since there is no nation or people, however barbarous or uncivilized, that have not given proofs of this sentiment being fixed in their minds, and of having derived

from it consolation and support amidst the varied sufferings of this life: in this universal feeling, it seems impossible to me, and I think, upon reflection, it must do the same with all, not to recognise a most strong, and almost certain evidence of the immortality of the soul. You may disguise your sentiments, and profess to entertain notions at variance with all this; but I call upon you, Sir, to lay your hand upon your heart, and as a man of candour and honesty to tell me, have you not oftentimes felt a something within you giving a plain intimation, if not an absolute assurance, that you should live hereafter? a something which has often whispered to you that your speculations are such as have sprung from the pride of philosophy, and not from the suggestions of true wisdom, assisting and directing your researches ?- that a love of singularity, and a desire to surpass those who have hitherto been regarded as the luminaries of the world, have led you to aim at something beyond your reach, and that you would now, but for a certain feeling of false pride, be not unwilling to own your disappointment? Now, if this be the case, and I cannot but think it is, let me beg of you, Sir, to lose no more time, but

to give way to these better thoughts. Standing, as you now appear to be, upon the very verge of the grave, it is of the last importance to consider, whether it be not wiser and better at once to remove the veil, which a perverted reasoning has hitherto thrown over your sight, but which you cannot much longer keep before you. Futurity must, ere long, present itself to your view so strongly, as to make it impossible for you to close your eyes against it. It is obstinacy and madness, therefore, now to strive longer to avoid looking upon an object, which, if you will not see, you must, at all events, shortly feel, and that with a poignancy proportioned to your present perverseness and self-delusion. Really, Sir, I tremble for you - I tremble to think how you have perverted your reasoning faculties from their right use; how you have trifled with your soul; and how you have been duped by the Tempter of mankind, setting up, as you have done, the suggestions of your frail, erring, and limited reason, in opposition to the lessons of Infinite Wisdom! I tremble for your presumption, but more for the portion that awaits you, if life should close upon you in your present state of mind and thought. Look to history, and the

experience of others, and there see what have been the bitter reflections of former philosophers of the same cast with yourself. Perhaps, however, you may have read accounts of the manner in which some of the most eminent atheistical philosophers have ended their days?"

"Never, never!" said he with emphasis.

"Then, Sir, return home, and let the last end of these men teach you how fearful a thing it is to meet death unarmed with the consolations which a knowledge of God's truth, as set forth in the Bible, can alone supply. Look, I say, into the histories which faithfully represent the feelings of these great philosophers (as you consider them) at their last hour, after they had, during life, like yourself, looked upon religion as an invention to lull its votaries into a belief of things altogether visionary. There see these men, when about to leave the world, stung with a consciousness, which they could not then resist, that annihilation was not to be their future destiny, and that there was a futurity of an awful undefined nature awaiting them. It is now pretty clearly established, that Voltaire and D'Alembert, though hardened by the instigation and encouragement of the philosophical infidels