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    imagery of the itosicrucians , down to the ^ domestic fairies of our own cpuntry , have a ^ h *^ their dominion over popular feeling from this soureie * With such a host of allies to combat , serious as well as profane , with all our early impressions , our " fond

    desires , our longings after immortality , the " dying entire , " the " perishing whole , " , is a state to Which sentient beings will never bring a perfect acquiescence , until Christianity and philosophy shake bands , piety and the Divine promises ' * kiss one

    another . " The metaphysical arguments brought to the discussion of this important topic , in the present view of it , will be altogether omitted . The Mosaic account of the ' fall of man , it is presumed , is in perfect accordance with

    the glad tidings of his restoration by the second . Adam . However the learned vary in their opinions on this subject , whether Moses has given us a fragment only of a more perfect history irretrievably lost , or an ancient allegory , the true meaning of which time had obliterated from the account

    handed down to us , all are agreed that disobedience to a Divine command altered the condition of our first parents . Formed of the dust of the earth , the privilege of paradise , the reward of a perfect obedience appears to have been to live for ever . " This

    perpetuity of existence , the tree of life possessed the power of continuing , more potent than the fabled power of the goddess , who " Promised , vainly promised to bestdw Immortal life exempt from age and woe "

    Banished the seat of bliss , prevented from " putting forth his hand and taking also of the tree of life , " man became mortal , and his doom was , to return to dust . This complete forfeiture of immortality would necessarily become the subject of longing regret to Adam and his immediate

    descendants . Their wishes , however blighted , would still continue ; ^ and the fondness of anticipation lingering over the termination of present existence , would naturally transfer the realization of its hope , to the ideal hereafter of the grave . Hence all the beautiful illusion by which the first philosophers and poets wfere trans-

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    ported , still to exhibit that as belonging to our nature , which " Man ' s first disobedience * , and the fruit Of that forbidden tree' '

    had altogether pat out of our reach . Upon this total mortality of man the gospel comes " With new-born day to gladden mortal si ff ht , And gild the courts of heaven with sacred . light . ' *

    The perfect obedience of the second * Adam has restored to his followers all that was lost by the transgression * of the first . Hence the peculiar propriety of his name . Hence all tjiose

    radiated expressions of triumph 5 the leading " captivity captive , " the " first-born , " «« the only-begotten , " by whom " life and immortality were brought to light , " the " captain of our salvation !

    should this view of the subject prove correct , divesting tnan of all physical and constitutional claims to immortality , what a lever of incredible power will be afforded to the spreading of Christianity I Much that has been thought ambiguous , will become plain , much understood

    metaphorically , will appear direct and appropriate forms of expression . Should the natural immortality of man be found as repugnant to sound philosophy , as it is uncpuntenanced by divine revelation , the importance , the paramount obligation , the infinite advantages of the Christian dispensation are all strengthened and exalted !

    To follow this up , Mr- Editor , by appropriate argument and scriptural illustration , would far exceed the limit of your pages . Those who think it deserving of attention , are requested to read their Bible , with this predominant feature of it annexed to the

    perusal . With this humiliating view of fallen man , " fallen from his high estate , " contrast the perfect obedience of our Lord ; the advantages he has procured in the Divine promises of future life ; and a super-human

    nature will appear incompatible with his character . Our surprise will be much lessened in finding Paul a Materialist , and the Scriptures , previous to the appearance of Christ , altogether silent on the rewards of a future life . On the retrospective influence over futurity , annexed to the resurrection

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    HeligioxU Viewof HieTotal Mortality of 3 fati . 36 $

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1819, page 363, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1773/page/19/