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of the world no longer possessing any interest, nor the enio-» 

 tions of passion any power. The memory feels no pain in 

 looking back even on afflictions — the imagination no plea- 

 sure in the foretaste of any earthly delight. Peace, quiea-» 

 cence and comfort take possession of the mrnd — and joy, 

 rapture and extacy are for ever excluded, unless their sun- 

 beams find admission through a vista that opens beyond the 

 grave. 



• The moral progress of mankind differs little from that of 

 an individual; and many of the difficulties occurring in the 

 consideration of God's moral government, find an easy solu- 

 tion in the nature he has bestowed on man, and the powers 

 and privileges Avith which he has endowed him : ordaining as 

 one of his original laws, that the constitution he has esta- 

 blished for this peculiar being, shall not under any circum- 

 stances, however cogent they might appear to a superficial 

 inquirer, be infringed or violated, even by divine control, 

 restraint or interference. 



The constitution of man comprehends those appetites and 

 passions so necessary, in their allotted uses, to the happiness 

 and very existence of the species, yet in their abuse so per- 

 nicious and destructive. It also comprehends the faculties 

 of conscience and reason — the one to check the wild career ' 

 of passion, at the moment, by an instinctive communica- 

 tion, that to proceed is criminal,- — the other, to look into fu- 

 turity, to measure effects and discover consequences ; to- 

 ad nionish us of the perils, sure though remote, of impru- 



