Who_art diffidence by faying openly-* Who art thou, Jupiter? for I know nothing of thee but by bearfay. The Want of a proper Remedy. The first philofophers made noble efforts to establish some falutary doctrines: but they had no good foundation, upon which they could proceed. The Stoicks in particular obferved, that there was a fitness and beauty in virtue, and recommended it ftrongly. But they were unable to ascertain its principles, and to maintain it unfophisticated: and therefore could never place it upon a proper bafis. They were accordingly forced to make virtue its own reward: which did very well in theory, but was not fufficient for practice. Hence, when difficulties arofè, their best disciples fell off, and were obliged to give up the cause. For they often faw virtue debased, and vice triumphant, and the worst cause contrary to seeming juftice prevail. For * Quoted by Justin Martyr, and Athenagoras. N 3 this this they could not account: nor had they any resources, to which they could apply. The confequence was doubt, and despair. Hence Cato flew himself, and Brutus followed his example *,-declaring, when he died, that he had followed virtue, as a reality, but found it a mere illufion. Such was the uncertainty, which prevailed among fome of the most enlightened nations. All beyond was horrour, gloom, and Stygian darkness. In confequence of this mental obfcurity, many, who admitted the immortality of the foul, feem to have rather held, that it did not immediately † die, than that it exifted for ever. According to Seneca it could laft only for a determined period: for a time was to come, when a general Dion Caff. 1. xlvii. p. 525. Some faid, that the foul was diffipated and lost: others that it remained for a time: others that it furvived always. Cicero Tufc. Quæft. 1. i. § 9. p. 1144. Again, p. 1151. § 31. It did not die with the body: but still was not immortal. ↑ Confolation ad Marciam, vol. i. p. 300. See Marcus Antoninus, 1. xi. § 3. conflagration conflagration would take place, and all things be reduced to their primitive chaotic ftate. The region of departed fouls was fuppofed to be beneath in the depths of the earth, where thofe, who had led a good life, had Elyfium for their portion, and enjoyed bowers, fhades, and fountains; and roved in meads of afphodel: and the wicked were configned to punishment in Tartarus. But how permanent this fituation was, thofe who maintained it, do not feem to have inquired. Befides, the opinion was founded on no authority; and accompanied with fuch extravagant fables, as no perfon of found reafon could admit. Hence many individuals, and fome whole fects of philofophers, believed, that the foul perifhed with the body. This was unhappily maintained in fome beautiful lines by Catullus The fun may fet, and rife again: but we, And no more wake to day. N 4 The The poet Mofchus writes to the fame purpose in his epitaph upon Bion Alas! the mallow in the garden fair, And herbs, and flowers, may fade: but they again But we, the great, the powerful, and wife, A deep, a deadly, ever-during fleep, Hence Seneca in the Troades makes a person say-There is nothing in death: and death itself is nothing. And in Salluft we read to the fame purpose the words of Julius Cæfar-Death is a diffolution of all mortal evils. Beyond it there is no room for either happiness or care. This Uncertainty attended with a bad Influence on the Morals of Men: but rectified by Christianity. This doctrine of a life hereafter, and of future rewards and punishments, being so obfcurely made known, and fo partially maintained, in the Gentile world, proved a great 1 great difcouragement to virtue, and an incentive to vice. But this defect was made up in the Christian fyftem, which is founded upon these great truths, that there is a life after this, and a future refurrection; alfo an appointed season, when all men shall be tried for their works. Our Saviour therefore, that the refurrection from the dead might not be esteemed an ideal notion, put the proof of his miffion upon his rifing again. This he effected paft all controverfy, and became the first fruits of them that flept. Of this his difciples were eye witneffes: * to whom he fhewed himself alive after his paffion by many infallible proofs, being feen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. St. Paul accordingly mentions to the Corinthians the certainty of the fact-For I delivered to you first of all, that which I alfo received: how that Chrift died for our fins, according to the Scriptures: and that he was buried; and that he rose again the third day, • A&ts i. 3. † 1 Corinth. xv. 3, &c. according |