56 



has an involuntary tendency, perhaps, to dimi- 

 nish that modesty which is our natural guard 

 against the violence of sensual gratifications. 

 tJnder these circumstances, should you part 

 with your belief in Christianity, you will hardly 

 be restrained by the dictates of conscience, or 

 the considerations of expediency; but if you 

 can ever be persuaded to believe, that " death 

 <c is the termination of existence," then it would 

 be in vain to urge on you any of the arguments 

 even of natural religion, 



In. a work which has lately appeared,* the 

 causes of a sceptical turn of mind are admirably 

 pointed out, and particularly as they relate to 

 the medical profession. What has been al- 

 ready so ably accomplished, I will not attempt 

 in an inferior manner. I have endeavoured to 

 refute the positions of Mr. Lawrence, by his 

 own authority : to exhibit the inconsistence of 

 bis principles by confronting the different parts 

 of his work, and by placing them together. If 

 I have succeeded, I may say in the language 

 of Terence, " suo slbi gladio hunc jugulo." 



I remain, &c. 

 April 10th, 1819. 



* " Remarks on Scepticism, as connected with the Subjects 

 of Organization and Life," by the Reverend T. Rennell, M. A. 



To prevent mistakes, it may be proper to remark that this 

 able pamphlet was directed against a former and distinct 

 work of Mr. Lawrence's, from that which has been here re- 

 viewed. They are both suppressed ! 



