65 



with his reasonings on professional subjects. 

 It is one main object of these Lectures to es- 

 tablish, not only the connexion, but the iden- 

 tity of life with organization nay, I fear to 

 show, that we have no clear or certain assu- 

 rance of the immortality of the soul, and of its 

 existence in a future state. Now, before you 

 admit these conclusions, let me beg you to read 

 the " Natural Theology" of Paley, a work, 

 which I am sure will protect you against the 

 influence of this debasing materialism, and will 

 show, that the knowledge of your own profes- 

 sion may furnish you with the best defence 

 against these physiological perversions. 



It is probable that many of you have re- 

 ceived a religious education, and that you are, 

 in some degree, acquainted with the doctrines 

 and evidences of the Christian religion. Now, 

 you need not be informed, that sneers at priests, 

 and ridicule of religious forms and ceremonies, 

 should not be allowed to destroy the force of 

 those habits of piety in which you have been 

 brought up. If you preserve the habit of at- 

 tending constantly at public worship on the 

 sabbath, you will possess a strong preservative 

 against the infection of these immoral and irre- 

 ligious principles. 



I can, in some degree, sympathize in the 

 dangers with which you are surrounded, be- 

 cause I was once placed in a similar situation. 

 The metropolis affords many temptations to the 

 passions of youth, and your own profession 



