TO 

 THOMAS CHALMERS, D.D. 



PROFESSOR OP MORAL PHILOSOPHY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF 

 ST. ANDREWS. 



SIR, 



In dedicating to you this volume, which has for its object to exhibit a popu 

 tar view of the Philosophy of a Future State, as deduced from the light of 

 science and revelation, a consideration of a far higher nature than the formal 

 and customary honour of addressing a man of literary and scientific attainments, 

 induced me to shelter it under your patronage. 



In the several vocations in which Divine Providence has called you to offi 

 ciate, you have proved yourself the warm and disinterested patron of all that 

 is benevolent and good of every thing that concerns the present and eterna. 

 welfare of mankind : and your praises have been re-echoed from one corner 

 of the land to another, as the champion of the Christian religion, the doctrines 

 of which, your voice and your pen have done so much to illustrate. 



Your writings furnish ample testimony to the world of your earnest, active, 

 and unwearied solicitude for the moral and religious improvement of mankind 

 a solicitude which is not abated by any minor differences of opinion in those 

 with whom you co-operate, where the great object is, to diffuse knowledge and 

 happiness over the face of the earth. 



Your kind indulgence to me, on the slight acquaintance I have of you per 

 sonally, and your approbation of some of my labours, in endeavouring to 

 connect Science and Religion, induce me to hope, that, if the views taken of 

 the present subject in any measure correspond with your own, you will coun 

 tenance my humble attempts to dispel the prejudices which many well-meaning 

 Christians may entertain, as to the beneficial tendency of exhibiting the sciences 

 of a. present, as applicable to the circumstances and relations of a. future world. 



That you may long be spared as the advocate of vital Christianity as a 

 blessing and ornament to your country and as a zealous instructor of those 

 who are destined to promote its best interests ; and that you may enjoy, with 

 out interruption, the pleasures arising from a consciousness of the esteem and 

 approbation of the wise and the pious, is the sincere prayer of, 



SIR, 

 Your much obliged, 



and humble Servant, 



THOMAS DICK, 



Brmighty Ferry, near Dundee, 

 Dec. 28, 1827. 



