DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.33700#0158
i$4- Time aud Eternity tontraRed.
what would ids notions of us be ? Would not.
be dunk , that we are a species of beings made
tor quite- different ends and purposes than what
we really are ? Mull not he imagine that we were
placed in this world to get riches and honours ?
Would not he think that it was our duty to toil-
after wealth, and Ration, and title? Nay^ would
not he believe we were forbidden poverty by threats
of eternal punilhment , and enjoined to" pursue
our pieasures under pain of damnation? He would
certainly imagine that we were influenced by a
scheme of duties quite oppohte to thoie which are
indeed prescribed to us. And truly , according
to such an imagination , he muss conclude that
we are a species of the mosf obedient creatures in
the universe ; that we are constant to our duty:
and that we keep a Ready eye on the end for which
we were lent hither.
But how great would be his aRonishment,
when he learnt that we were beings not designed
to exiR in this world above tbreelore and ten years ;
and that the greateR part of this busy species fall
iliort even of that age ? How would he be loR in
horror and admiration, when he should know that
this let of creatures , who lay out all their endea-
vours dor this life , which scarce deserves the na-
me ofexiRence ; when , I say, he should know
that this set of creatures are to exiR to all eternity
in another lise , sor which they make no prepara-
tions?- Nothing can he a greater disgrace to
reason than that men , who are persuaded os thele
two disferent Rates of being, should be perpetual-
ly employed in providing sor a lire of tbreescore
and ten years , and negkffing to make provihon
for Q?at; which, aster many minads of years,
* will
what would ids notions of us be ? Would not.
be dunk , that we are a species of beings made
tor quite- different ends and purposes than what
we really are ? Mull not he imagine that we were
placed in this world to get riches and honours ?
Would not he think that it was our duty to toil-
after wealth, and Ration, and title? Nay^ would
not he believe we were forbidden poverty by threats
of eternal punilhment , and enjoined to" pursue
our pieasures under pain of damnation? He would
certainly imagine that we were influenced by a
scheme of duties quite oppohte to thoie which are
indeed prescribed to us. And truly , according
to such an imagination , he muss conclude that
we are a species of the mosf obedient creatures in
the universe ; that we are constant to our duty:
and that we keep a Ready eye on the end for which
we were lent hither.
But how great would be his aRonishment,
when he learnt that we were beings not designed
to exiR in this world above tbreelore and ten years ;
and that the greateR part of this busy species fall
iliort even of that age ? How would he be loR in
horror and admiration, when he should know that
this let of creatures , who lay out all their endea-
vours dor this life , which scarce deserves the na-
me ofexiRence ; when , I say, he should know
that this set of creatures are to exiR to all eternity
in another lise , sor which they make no prepara-
tions?- Nothing can he a greater disgrace to
reason than that men , who are persuaded os thele
two disferent Rates of being, should be perpetual-
ly employed in providing sor a lire of tbreescore
and ten years , and negkffing to make provihon
for Q?at; which, aster many minads of years,
* will