Let. 23. Lord BoLrINGBROKE. 23

plied to every particular incident conſidered independently, and as confined to the preſent moment, without any depend- ence on what went before, or follows after. The maxim would not be true or juſt, taken in this view. The meaning therefore muſt be, that whatever is, conſidered as a part of the univerſal ſcheme of providence, and taken in its proper har- mony and connection with the paſt and future, as well as with the preſent appointed courſe of things, is rightly and fitly ordered. Thus, e. g. ſuppoſe a good man reduced to the greateſt miſery and diſtreſs, and conflicting with the ſoreſt evils and calamities, it is fit he fhould be ſo, becauſe conſidering that event in its connection, and taking in the paſt and future, it is permitted or appointed for wiſe reaſons, and is therefore beſt upon the whole: But conſidered independently, and as no part of the ſcheme of providence, or as ſeparated from the other parts of that ſcheme, it is not in itſelf the beſt nor fitteſt. This maxim therefore which this writer makes uſe of with a view to ſet aſide a future ſtate, is, if underſtood in that ſenſe in which alone it is true, perfectly conſiſtent with the belief of a future ſtate, and even leadeth us to the acknowlegement of it. If we believe that God always does that which is fitteſt to be done, and yet meet with ſome things which we find it hard to reconcile to our ideas of the divine wiſdom, righteouſ- neſs, and goodneſs, our perfuaſion, that he always does that which is right, will put us upon endeavouring to reconcile thoſe appearances: and if a probable hypotheſis offers for re- conciling them, it is perfectly conſiſtent with the veneration we owe to the Deity to embrace that hypotheiis; eſpecially if it be not arbitrary, but hath a real foundation in the nature of things: and fuch is the hypotheſis of a future ſtate of re- tributions. There is great reaſon to believe, that the thinking principle in man is an immaterial ſubſtance quite diſtinét from the body, and which fhall not be diſſolved with it. And there are many things that ſeem to ſhew he was not deſigned merely for this preſent tranſitory life on earth.— The ſtrong deſire of immortality ſo natural to the human mind; the vaſt capacities and faculties of the human ſoul, capable of making an immor- tal progreſs in knowlege, wiſdom, and virtue, compared with the ſmall advances we have an opportunity of making in this preſent ſtate; our being formed moral agents, accountable crea- tures, which ſeems plainly to ſhew, that it was deſigned by the Author of our beings, and who hath the rule of our duty, that we ſhould be her

account for our conduct; of which we have ſome forebo

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