1791] REV- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 343 



stood in need of illumination from on high ; and that the Divine 

 Creator has not left mankind without such illumination, and evidence 

 of himself, both internal and external, as may be necessary to their 

 present and future happiness. 



If I could not speak this from full and experimental knowledge of 

 his character, I should have considered all the other parts of it, how- 

 ever splendid and beneficial to the world, as furnishing but scanty 

 materials for the present eulogium. 



An undevout philosopher is mad. — YoUNG. 



The man Avho can think so meanly of his own soul, as to believe that it 

 was created to animate a piece of clay, for a few years, and then to be 

 extinguished and exist no more, can never be a great man ! But Frank- 

 lin felt and believed himself immortal ! His vast and capacious soul was 

 ever stretching beyond this narrow sphere of things, and grasping an 

 eternity ! Hear himself, " although dead, yet speaking" on this awfully 

 delightful subject ! Behold here, in his own hand-writing, the indubit- 

 able testimony ! In this temple of God, and before this august assem- 

 bly, I read the contents, and consecrate the precious relic to his 

 memory ! It is his letter of condolence to his niece, on the death of 

 his brother ; and may be applied as a fit conclusion of our present con- 

 dolences on his own death : 



We have lost a most dear and valuable relation (and friend) — But, 'tis the will of 

 God that these mortal bodies be laid aside when the soul is to enter into real life. 

 Existing here is scarce to be called life; it is rather an embryo state, a preparative to 

 living; and man is not completely born till he is dead. Why, then, should we grieve 

 that a new child is born among the immortals, a new member added to their happy 

 society ? 



We are spirits ! — That bodies should be lent while they can afford us pleasure, as- 

 sist us in acquiring knowledge, or doing good to our fellow-creatures, is a kind and 

 benevolent act of God. When they become unfit for these purposes, and afford us 

 pain instead of pleasure, instead of an aid become an incumbrance, and answer none 

 of the intentions for which they were given, it is equally kind and benevolent that a 

 way is provided, by which we may get rid of them — Death is that way: we ourselves 

 prudently choose 7i partial death, in some cases. A mangled, painful limb, which can- 

 not be restored, we willingly cut off. He who plucks out a tooth, parts with it freely, 

 since the pain goes with it; and he that quits the whole body, parts at once with all the 

 pains, and possibilities of pains and pleasures, it was liable to, or capable of making 

 him suffer. 



Our friend and we are invited abroad on a party of pleasure, that is to last forever. 

 His chair was first ready, and he is gone before us. We could not all conveniently 

 start together; and why should you and I be grieved at this, since we are soon to fol- 

 low, and we know where to find him. 



Yes, thou dear departed friend and fellow-citizen ! Thou, too, art 

 gone before us — thy chair, thy celestial car, was first ready ! We must 

 soon follow, and we know where to find thee ! May we seek to follow 

 thee by lives of virtue and benevolence like thine — then shall we surely 



