PREFACE. 



THE reasonings and illustrations contained in the following pages are intended 

 to direct the intelligent Christian in some of those trains of thought which he 

 ought to prosecute, when looking forward to the scene of his future destination. 

 The Author was induced to engage in the discussion of this subject, from a 

 consideration, that many vague and erroneous conceptions are still entertained 

 among Christians in regard to the nature of heavenly felicity, and the employ- 

 mentsof the future world. In elucidating the train of thought which is here 

 prosecuted, he has brought forward, without hesitation, the discoveries ot 

 modern science, particularly tnose which relate to the scenery of the heavens; 

 convinced, that all the manifestations of himself which the Creator has per 

 mitted us to contemplate, are intended to throw light on the plan of his moral 

 government in relation both to our present and our future destiny. He has 

 carefully avoided every thing that might appear like vague or extravagant con 

 jecture ; and he trusts that the opinions he has broached, and the conclusions 

 he has deduced, will generally be found accordant with the analogies of Nature 

 arid the dictates of Revelation. He is aware, that he has many prejudices to 

 encounter, arising from the vague and indefinite manner in which such sub 

 jects have been hitherto treated, and from the want of those expansive views 

 of the Divine operations which the professors of Christianity should endeavour 

 to attain ; but he feels confident that those who are best qualified to appreciate 

 his sentiments, will treat with candour an attempt to elucidate a subject hitherto 

 overlooked, and in which every individual in the human race is deeply in 

 terested. 



It was originally intended to publish what is contained in Parts II. and III. 

 without any dissertation on the evidences of a future state as deduced from the 

 light of nature taking the immortality of man for granted on the authority of 

 Revelation. But, on second thought, it was judged expedient, for the sake of 

 general readers, to exhibit a condensed view of those arguments which even 

 the light of reason can produce in favour of the immortality of man. In this 

 department of the volume, the Author has brought forward several arguments 

 which he is not aware have been taken notice of by ethical writers, when 

 treating on this subject. He has endeavoured to illustrate these and the other 

 arguments here adduced, in minute detail, and in a popular manner, so as to 

 be level to the comprehension of every reader; and he trusts, that the force oi 

 the whole combined, will be found to amount to as high a degree of moral 

 demonstration as can be expected in relation to objects which are not cogni 

 zable by the eye of sense. 



