could continue in exiftence, duringa, certain tinne only for a period, it was apprehended, would arrive, when a general conflagration would take place, and all things be reduced to their primitive chaotic itate. "The region of departed fouls was fuppofed to have been beneath, in the depths of the earth, where those who had practifed virtue had elyfiurh for their portion; but that thofe who had been influenced by vice, were configned to prinifhment in Tartarus. But the permanence of the fituation of thefe fouls, in happinefs of mifery, was not determined; and as the opinion of their future exiftence was founded on no authority, and "accompanied with extravagant fables, many fects, therefore, of philofophers rejected this doctrine, and believed that the foul tied with the body. This fentiment was inculcated in fome beautiful fines by Catullus. L. ck. The fud may fet and rife again; but we "The poet Mofchus, expreffès hinfelf to the fame purpote, in his epitaph upon Bion. 011 1 + Some faid, that after death, the foul was diffipated and left Others, that it remained for a feafon; and fome, that it would never cease to be. Cicero tufc. queftelli 2 movie " **Alas! the mallow in the garden fair, Rife up to life, and have their birth renewed, Seneca, in the troades, makes a perfon fay, "There is nothing in death, and death itself is nothing." And Caefar, in his fpeech on occafion of Catiline's confpiracy, declared, that “ To those who live in forrow and mifery, death is a repofe from their calamities, not a torment; that it puts an end to all the evils mortals are fubject to, and that beyond it, there is no place left for anguilh or joy."* The doctrine of a life hereafter, and of future vrewards and punishments, having been fo obfcure. ly made known, and fo partially maintained in -the gentile world, proved a great impediment to virtue, and incentive to vice; but, happily, this defect is remedied by chriftianity, which expreffly teaches, that there is a life after this ; that there will be a refurrection of the body, and a day of public retribution, of everlasting happinefs, or mifery, according to our prefent actions. It is thus manifeft, that the articles in Mr. Paine's creed, which can be approved of, are almost entirely, though it is probable he is insensa Apud Salluft. Bel. Catilin. cap. 51. ble of it, purloined from the holy feriptures. But vour and ; obat ya sawod vapor david d it oved bus,Hors For the truth, that pagans as wellas deifts, are indebted to divine revelation for whatever excellence sisicontamed in their religion, (which fact hath before been noticed) fee Stackhoufe'sbody of divinity, vol. I. p. 519, 520. Shukford's connection, vol. I. p. 157% Billiop: Gibfon's hi paftoral letter, p. 66, &ca do bo noflove in honded A The notions, fays Mr. Rollin, (belles lettres, vol I p. 337,1g38) which the cheathens had of a providence: that governs and prefides over åll I things, even the inhalleft events, and confequently condefcends to take cognizance of every particular circumftance, was the effect of a tradition as old as the world, and derived from revelation. The good thepherd Eumeus afcribes the happy fuccefs of his cares to the: protections of God, of' who bleffed his labor and everything countted to his truft.”*. Ulyffes owhs, that it was God who had fent shim plenty of game. ɔ je robudimet ɔding, to wh That fate, or providence was thought totend its care to animals, may be deduced from a principle that prevailed in Homents time. Spleak-graf ardave, he fays, that fare would not f Berit tebe taken We must not therefore be furprized, that Ho1581Ibux. 495. when divested of its impieties, how contracted is á mér fhould make all the events which happen to mankind to depend upon providence, even to the exprefs moment when they hall take place, as in the inftance of the continuance of Ulyffes in the castle of Ogygia; "from whence he was not to depart, until the time fixed by the Gods for his return to Ithaca.”* There is nothing wherein chance feems fo much to prevail as in cafting of lots. Yet the decifion was afcribed to jupiter, fince prayers were offered up to him for the fuccefs of it; as when the lots were caft, who fhould fight with Hec. tor.f Homer, in an adınirable manner, defcribes this watchful care of providence over mankind, by the ingenious fiction of two urns, to fhew that providence alone directs and difpenfes good and evil. "Man-is born to bear; Such is, alas! the Gods fevere decree, They, only they are bleft, and only free. Two urns by Jove's high throne have ever flood, The fource of evil one, and one of good; * Od. i. 17. † Ib. vii. 179. his fcheme of religion? How much inferior to Toft he mingles both the wretch decreed Horate the bad unmixed, is curst indeed; i'd by wrongs, by meagre famine driven, angers outcaft both of earth and heaven." POPE. by a fecond fiction, not lefs noble Brit, Thews that this difpenfation of good advi, in conducted with the most perfect equiring, fcales in the hands of jupiter, e wohs the fate of mortals ;* which providence that prefides over dt.bates corrections and rewards; the time and meafure, and alfo, that sare always founded on juftice and ftern nations, fays a learned author, nous for their excellent moral maxins, won, from the most ancient times. rible of the ancient wife men among abylonians, Bactrians, Indians and he celebrated Chinese philofopher quity's efpecially of nefe legillator 123. acious, did not pretend to be moral precepts he delivered, but tha fom men of greater anti om Pung, who lived near e-Lim: and who alfo proCorine of the ancients, and Fin, who were eminent Chiavarett's hift. China, p. |