would wish, in the last stage of life, to addrefs from his heart these words to his child? • The king of terrors approaches me with hafty steps: but I behold his • advances without dismay. Be yond that æra of my existence, I fee objects of joy and hope, which invite me to leave this ' world, and to ftep forward into eternity; into manfions of holinefs and blifs, where death fhall ⚫ be banished for ever, and where fin fhall have no place. After having finished your course, you will again meet your father in those glorious and peaceful abodes, where the idea of our frail CONTENTS. LETTER I. Comfort of Religion at the hour of death, and on the entrance into another ftate of existence. Neceffity of eftablishing faith on a firm foundation. Character of modern Sceptics. Catalogue of eminent defenders of the Chriftian faith. The Author's apology for engaging in the fame caufe. Arguments in favour of Religion come with peculiar weight from a layman. Defects and errors in the writings as well of divines as philofophers. Page 1. LET LETTER II. A defcription of that anxiety and terror which hangs over every mind in life, at death, and above all on its entrance into the world of Spi- rits. Holiness of the Divine Nature. Vice the natural object of punishment. Neceffity of punishing fin, in order to maintain the order of the universe. Many intermediate orders of intelligent beings between the Deity and man. Pride and arrogance of human nature. Delay of the punishment of fin not an argument against its certainty. Corruption, selfishness, and con- Jequently injuftice, of human nature afferted, in contradiction to certain philofophers; and defcribed, from its earliest appearance in in- fancy, to its full height and maturity. Vanity of worldly purfuits, and importance of a pre- paration for eternity. Love of the world and the things of the world, the grand source of en- vy, malice, and contention. The mind purified and tranquillized by the profpect and hope of futurity. Remaining power of corruption in the best and most pious minds. Neceffity of LE T. |