INTRODUCTION.-Importance of the question which relates to the
reality of a future world-folly of the indifference which prevails in
relation to this point, 17-22.

PART I.

CHAPTER I.
.-PROOFS OF A FUTURE STATE FROM THE LIGHT OF NATURE.

SECTION I.-On the universal belief which the doctrine of Immortality has

obtained in all
ages, 23.

Opinions of the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Scythians, &c.-Doc-

trines of Zoroaster, 24. Of Socrates, 25. Allusions of the ancient

Poets, 26. Opinions of the inhabitants of the Society and the Friendly

Islands, of the New Zealanders, the Samoiedians, the Kalmuc Tartars, the

Birmans, the Japanese, the Africans, the American Indians, &c. 27—30.

Force of the argument in favour of Immortality derived from these

opinions, 30-33.

SECTION II. On the desire of future existence implanted in the human

mind, 33.

This fact illustrated by various examples, 33, 34. Desire of posthu-

mous fame, 35. Desire of immortality most ardent in cultivated minds,

36. Force of the argument derived from these facts, 37. Fears and

apprehensions in regard to futurity, 38. Doctrine of immortality

renders the Creator's conduet consistent with itself, 39.

SECTION III.-On the intellectual faculties of man, and the strong desire of

knowledge implanted in the human mind, 40.

Desire of knowledge natural to every rational being, 40. Reasons

why it is not more ardent, 41-43. Sublimity and energy of the in-

tellectual faculties, 43-46. Memory, its utility, 47. Instances of the

improvement of which it is susceptible, 48. Argument in favour of a

future state founded on these considerations, 49-52.

SECTION IV. On the perpetual progress of the mind towards perfection, 52.

No limits to the excursions of the intellect, 53. Extract from Ad-

dison, Ibid.

SECTION V. On the unlimited range of view which is opened to the human

faculties throughout the immensity of space and duration, 53.

Immensity of the universe, 56. Intention of the Deity in directing

the human mind in the path of discovery, 57. Desires excited by the

boundless views which the universe unfolds, 58. Inquiries suggested

respecting other worlds, 58, 59. Man endowed with capacities for

acquiring an indefinite extent of knowledge respecting the wonders of

creation, 61. Limited nature of his present knowledge, 61. Universe

intended to display the Divine perfections, and to afford gratification to

intellectual beings, 62. The desires of the human soul will not be dis

appointed, 63. Conclusion from these premises, 64.

SECTION VI.-On the moral powers of man, 64.

Sublimity of these powers exemplified-Regulus, Phocion, Cyrus,.

Scipio, Aristides, 65-67. Paul, Howard, Sharpe, &c. 67-69. Argu-

ment founded on the moral faculties, 69, 70. A system of benevolence

going on throughout the universe, in the agency of intelligent beings,

71, 72. Summary of the arguments derived from the moral and intel-

lectual powers, 72-75.

SECTION VII.-On the apprehensions and forbodings of the mind when under

the influence of remorse, 75.

Examples of remorse-Belshazzar, Tiberius, Antiochus, Charles IX.

Richard III. Bessus, Hobbes, &c. 76-79. Conclusion deduced from

such facts, 80.

SECTION VIII.-On the disordered state of the moral world, when contrasted

with the regular and systematic order of the material, 81.

Harmony and order of nature in the heavens-the earth-the

animal system, &c. 81-83. Disorders in the moral world-Ravages

of Alexander, Alaric, Tamerlane, Jenghiz Kan, &c. 83—84. Of the

Goths, Vandals, Huns, &c. 85. Scenes of carnage and devastation, 86.

Present state of the moral and political world, in Asia, Africa, Europe,

and America, 86-90. Argument founded on these disorders, 90–92.

SECTION IX. On the unequal distribution of rewards and punishments in

the present state, 92.

Examples of unequal distribution of rewards, &c. 93. The Waldenses,

French Protestants, in the reign of Louis XIV. Persecutions in Eng-

land and Netherlands, Irish Massacre, Ali Pacha, &c. 94-96. Force

of the argument derived from this source, 97-99. Moral perceptions

implanted in man, 99.

SECTION X.-On the absurdity of supposing that the thinking principle in

man will ever be annihilated, 101.

Changes in the material system, but no instance of annihilation, 101.

Transformations of insects, 103. Considerations which prove the

duration of mind, 104. Conclusions from this subject, 104.

SECTION XI.-On the gloomy considerations and absurd consequences involv-

ed in the denial of a future state.

The denial of a future state involves in impenetrable mystery the

nature of man and the end of his existence-the scenes of nature-

the moral government of God-the sufferings to which man is subjected

-the attributes of the Creator-and damps the mind in its researches

after truth, 106-112. Argument for a future state founded on such con-

siderations, 113-115.

Summary of arguments, 115. Their force when combined, 116.

Principles of Atheism do not necessarily exclude the possibility of a

future state, 117. Impression which the arguments adduced ought to

make on every mind, 118-120. Why the Author has set aside the

argument founded on the immateriality of the soul, 120—122.

CHAP. II.-PROOFS OF A FUTURE STATE FROM DIVINE REVELATION, 123.

A future state revealed to the Jews, 124-126. Why it is not more

frequently adverted to in the Old Testament, 127. Proofs from the

writings of the New Testament, 128, 129. Resurrection—qualities of

the resurrection-body, 131, 132.

Practical influence which the doctrine of a future state ought to have upon

our affections and conduct, 132.

PART II.

ON THE CONNECTION OF SCIENCE WITH A FUTURE STATE.

Prejudices which exist in relation to this subject, 140--143. Object

of scientific investigation, 143. Objects on which the faculties of celestial

intelligences will be employed, 146. Inquiry into the extent of the

general conflagration, 147. Explanation of scriptural allusions to this

subject, 148-151. Permanency and perpetuity of the material

universe, 152, 153. Figments of poets in regard to this subject, 154.

Predicted changes in the system of nature, 156. General relations of

the universe, 158--161.

Sciences which will be prosecuted in a future state, 161.-Arithmetic, its

objects-utility of numbers and their combinations-illustrations from

Scripture, 161–165. Mathematical sciences, their utility-angels

recognise the principles of these sciences--the Creator has laid the

foundation of these sciences in his works, 165-169. Astronomy, its

objects--presents an immense field of contemplation, 169--171. The

heavens constitute the principal part of the Divine empire--illustrations

from Scripture, 171, 172. Limited extent of our present knowledge

on this subject, 172. Communications of superior beings in relation to

the universe, 173. This subject can never be exhausted, 174. Natural

Philosophy, 176.-its objects and discoveries, 176,--unveils the divine

attributes, 177. Abundant scope for its prosecution in the future world,

178. Chemistry, 180. Anatomy and Physiology, their objects--wonders

of the human frame-resurrection-body, &c. 180-183. History--

contains a record of the ways of Providence-our ignorance of many

important facts in history--history of angels and other intelligences,

183-186. Connection of the different branches of science, 186.

Locality of heaven, 187. Different opinions which may be formed on

this point, 188. Sciences applicable in every supposed case, 189.

Arts and sciences which will not be cultivated, 190. Intellectual ener-

gy of the inhabitants of heaven, ibid. Sublimity of the mental powers

in several human beings, Pascal, Martianus Capella, Crichton, Gassendi,

Horrox, Grotius, Newton, Baratier, 191-193. Our knowledge in heaven

will not be diminished, 194. Distinctions, in point of knowledge, among

the inhabitants of heaven, "degrees of glory," 197. General remarks,

198. Objection obviated, 199.

PART III.

ON THE AIDS WHICH THE DISCOVERIES OF SCIENCE AFFORD FOR ENABLING

US TO FORM A CONCEPTION OF THE PERPETUAL IMPROVEMENT OF THE

CELESTIAL INHABITANTS IN KNOWLEDGE AND FELICITY, 202.

Vague and distorted conceptions in regard to the employments of

heaven, 202. Whether the subject of human redemption will occupy
the whole attention of redeemed men, 204. Its mysteries-analysis of

its leading facts, 205--208. Glorified humanity of Christ, 208. Ob-

jects of contemplation in heaven, 209. Planetary and starry systems,

210-212. Number of worlds in the visible universe, 213. Analysis of

the objects and scenes which the universe presents, 214. Mate

rial structures, ibid. Infinite diversity of scenery, 215-may be pro-

duced from a few general laws, 216 Variety in the animal vegetable,

and mineral kingdoms-and in the solar system 217, 218. Organized

and intelligent beings-gradation of intellect-powers of the highest

order of intelligences, 218-220. Perfections of angels, 221, 222.

Vehicles of celestial beings-material vehicles of angels, &c, 223-225.

Variety of senses, 225. Leading transactions in the history of other

worlds, their moral economy, &c. 227-229-will unfold the moral

character of Deity, 230. Illustrations from Scripture, 230. The REDEEMER

-Lectures on the moral history of other worlds-Examples in re-

ference to two different worlds, 234-240. Extract from Dr. Watts, 240.

Worlds belonging to the solar system-their peculiarities-changes

-diversity of scenery, &c. 243-246. Universe extends far beyond the

limits of human vision, 246, 247. The empire of the Almighty bound-

less to the view of finite beings-new creations, 248. THRONE OF

GOD, 249. Capital of the universe, 249. Astronomical observations

which illustrate this subject, 251. Nothing less than the most sublime

conceptions of the extent of the universe, comport with the idea of an

infinite being, 252. Preceding views corroborated by Revelation, 253.

-open an interesting train of thought in relation to the Deity, and the

scenes of futurity, 254. Subjects of study in the heavenly world, 256

-259. One constituent part of the misery of the wicked in the future

world, 259. Their moral state in that world, 260. Sources of misery,

261. Boundless nature of Divine love, ibid. Summary of topics illus-

trated, 262. Value of the human soul, 263. Importance of man's

eternal destiny, and the folly of overlooking it, 264.

PART IV.

ON THE MORAL QUALIFICATIONS REQUISITE TO THE ENJOYMENT OF THE

FELICITY OF THE FUTURE WORLD, 266.

Fallacious views in relation to this point, 266. Requisites in order

to the enjoyment of happiness, 267. Infatuation of the bulk of man-

kind in reference to their eternal interests, 268. Foundation of future

felicity, 269. Love to God, its foundation, reasonableness, and pro-

perties, 270, 271. Love to man, its foundation and obligation, 272,

273. Love to angels, 273. Necessity of this affection as a qualifica-

tion for heaven, 274. Humility, its reasonableness, and conformity to

the condition of man, 275-forms a trait in the character of angels,

276-280. Folly of pride, 281. Active beneficence, 282. Ministry of

angels, 283. Effects of malignity, 285. Society of heaven, 236-288.

Examples of malignity-Antiochus Epiphanes, 289--291, the Turks,

292, the Norman barons and chevaliers, 294. Examples of depravity--

Buonaparte, 295-297,-Lord Byron, 298. Examples from Cochrane's

Travels, 299. Effects of malignity, 302, &c.—General conclusion, 303.

APPENDIX.

Mr. Shepherd's Letter to Lord Byron, 305. His Lordship's reply-

his last sentiments in reference to religion and eternity, 307. Buona-

parte's opinion of the morality of the New Testament, &c. 308.