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A=AGG M„ A VIEw of the

DESITICAL WRITERS, Scc.

In ſeveral LETTERS to a FRIEND.

LETTERXXV.

Favourable declarations of Lord Bolingbroke concerning

tbe immortality of ibe ſoub, and a future ſtate. He repreſents it as baving been believed from the carlieſt antiquity, and acenovoleges ibe great uſefulneſs of ibat docélrine. Tet it appears from many paſſages in his works, tbat be bimſelf was not for admitting it. He treats it as an Egyptian invention, taken up wit hout reaſon, a vu gar error, wbich was rejected wben men began to examine. He will not allou tbat thbe ſoul is a ſppiritual fubſtance diſtintt from the body, and pretends that all tbe pbænomena lead us to think that ibe ſoul dies witb the body. Reflexions upon tbis. Tbe imma- teriality of tbe ſoul argued from its eſſential properties, wbich are intirely different from the properties of mat- ter, and incompatible witb them. The author's objeklions anſcyered. Concerning tbe moral argument for a future ſtate drawn from the unequal diſtributions of this preſent ſtate. Lord Bolingbroke's charge againſt this way of arguing as Blaſpbemous and injurious to divine provi- dence conſidered. His great inconſiſtency in ſeiting up as an advocate for the gocdneſs and juſtice of providence. That maxim, Whatever is is beſt, examined. If rightly undenſtood, it is not inconſaſtent woith ihe belief of a fu- ture ſtate.

Vot. II. B§1%£,