CONCLUSION. 299 



tion of thought by variety. We have no reason to fear, 

 therefore, our being forgotten, or overlooked, or neglected. 



The existence and character of the Deity, is, in every 

 view, the most interesting of all human speculations. In 

 none, however, is it more so, than as it facilitates the be- 

 lief of the fundamental articles of Revelation. It is a step 

 to have it proved, that there must be something in the world 

 more than wliat we see. It is a further step to know, that, 

 amongst the invisible things of nature, there must be an in- 

 telligent mind concerned in its production, order and support. 

 These points being assured to us by Natural Theology, we 

 may well leave to Hevelation the disclosure of many particu- 

 lars, which our researches cannot reach, respecting either the 

 nature of this Being as the original cause of all things, or 

 his character and designs as a moral governor ; and not on- 

 ly so, but the more full confirmation of other particulars, of 

 which, though they do not lie altogether beyond our rea- 

 sonings, and our probabilities, the certainty is by no means 

 equal to the importance. The true theist will be the first 

 to listen to muj credible communication of divine knowl- 

 edge. Nothing which he has learnt from Natural Theolo- 

 gy will diminish his desire of further instruction, or his 

 disposition to receive it with humility and thankfulness. 

 He wishes for light : he rejoices in light. His inward ven- 

 eration of this great Being, will incline him to attend with 

 the utmost seriousness, not only to all that can be discover- 

 ed concerning him by researches into nature, but to all that 

 is taught by a revelation, which gives reasonable proof of 

 having proceeded from him. 



But, above every other article of revealed religion, does 

 the anterior belief of a Deity bear with the strongest force, 

 upon that grand point, which gives indeed interest and im- 

 portance to all the rest — the resurrection of the human 

 dead. The thing might appear hopeless, did we not see 

 a power at work adequate to the effect, a power under the 

 guidance of an intelligent will, and a power penetrating the 

 inmost recesses of all substance. I am far from justifying 

 the opinion of those, who " thought it a thing incredible 

 that God should raise the dead ;" but I admit that it is first 

 necessary to be persuaded, that there is a God to do so. 

 This being thoroughly settled in our minds, there seems to 

 be nothing in this process (concealed and mysterious as we 

 confess it to be,) which need to shock our belief. They 

 who have taken up the opinion, that the acts of the human 



