SECTION IV.

CONCERNING A

FUTURE STATE

O F

EXISTENCE to MEN:

WHEREIN

The evidence arifing from the fact of Christ's refurrection, to prove the poffibility and certainty of a future refurection to life eternal, is particularly confidered.

SECTION

IV.

Concerning a Future State of Exiftence to Men.

HAT men are, and what they are, these are questions which each individual of our species is in fome measure qualified to answer, from what he experiences of, in, and from himfelf: But then, that men will be and what they will be in futurity, are queftions that, perhaps, do not admit of so easy a folution. Man may be confidered to be the head or principal part of the animal creation, as the human powers, taken together, seem at least to excel the powers of any other species of animals, and as fuch man may be confidered to be the principal inhabitant of this globe: But then, man ftands upon a level with all other animals in this, viz. he is born to die; that is, man is not only fubject or liable to mortality, but the feeds of mortality are born with him and in him, so that fooner or later his compofition will come

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to a diffolution. For, as it is with the vegetable, fo it is with the animal creation in general, and fo it is with the species of mankind in particular; each, according to their natures, are prepared to increase and multiply, and alfo to decay and come to a dissolution, and thereby to make way for those others of their species that are prepared to fucceed them. This is the cafe of all other animals, as far as they come within our notice; and this, I think, is evidently the cafe of that compounded creature called man, as he is prepared and conftituted to be an inhabitant of this earth; he no fooner begins to be, but he enters upon that progreffion which ends in the diffolution of the human conftitution. This is a point that needs no illuftration; because it unavoidably falls within every man's notice and obfervation. We no fooner make our appearance in the world, and thereby constitute infants, which is reckoned the first stage of life, but we gradually pass on to a ftate of childhood, and from thence to another stage of life called youth, and from thence to manhood, and fo, by degrees, we arrive to the highest perfection which the compofition of each individual is capable of attaining to, under the

circumstances that attend each one's cafe: And then the conftitution of each individual does as certainly and as gradually decay, until it is diffolved by death, from which the most healthy, the most cautious and careful are not exempt. For, tho' many, by careleffness, intemperance, &c. fhorten their days, and bring life to an end much fooner than otherwise it might be; and others, thro' a healthy conftitution and a prudent care, lengthen out life to the farthest stretch that nature will admit; yet, we fee, by univerfal experience, that no care is fufficient to keep off old age, nor put off death, it's cons ftant attendant. And, as man is born to die, or brings the feeds of mortality into the world with him; fo, in confequence thereof, death has paffed univerfally upon all, without any exception that we have any certain knowledge of. As to Enoch and Elijah's not tafting death, who were faid to be tranf lated whilst alive into fome other region of the universe; these are facts of fo very uncommon and peculiar a nature, that the bare authority of one fingle hiftorian does not feem fuitable or fufficient to fupport the credit of either of them. Our forefathers are dead, and likewife their forefathers be

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fore