132 Of the Immortality of the Soul, Vol. II. SERMON CXXIII. Of the Immortality of the Soul, as difcover'd by Nature, and by Revelation. 2 Tr M. I. Io. The fourth But is now made manifeft by the appearing of our Saviour Jefus Chrift, tbiSerr Textmon on . who bath abolifhed Death, and bath brought Life and Immortality to light, through the Gofpel. jAving in my three former Difcourfes Ihewed what Arguments natural Reafon 1j doth furnifh us with, for the Immortalityof our Souls, I come now to the Se- cond thing I propounded, which is to thewwhat Affurance the World had de fatïo, of this great Principle ofReligion, the Soul's Immortality, before the Revelationof the Gofpel. Before our Saviour's coming into the World, there were but two different Religi- ons; thatof the Heathens, and that ofthe 7ews. The Religion of the Heathens was natural Religion, corrupted and degenerated into Idolatry : TheReligion of the Yews was revealed andinftituted by God ; but did fuppofe natural Religion, andwas fuper- added to it. Therefore I (hall confider the Heathens and the Jensdiftin&ly. And, Firfi, Shew what affurance the Heathens had of this Principle of theSoul's Immor- tality. Secondly, What the Jews had of it. Firfi, What affurance the Heathens had of the Soul's Immortality. a. It is evident, that there was a general Inclination in Mankind, even after its greateft Corruptionand Degeneracy, to the belief of this Principle; which appears in that all People and Nations of the World, after they were funk into the greateft Degeneracy, and all (except only the Jews) become Idolaters, did univerfally agree in this Apprehenfion, that their Souls did remain after their Bodies, and pals into a Rate of Happinefsor Mifery, according as they had demeaned themfelves in this life. Not that they did generally reafon themfelves into this Apprehenfion, by any con- vincing Arguments, but did herein follow the bent and tendency of their Natures, which did incline them thus to think. For noother reafon can begiven of the Uni- verfal Confent, evenof the molt rude and barbarous Nations in this Principle, be- tides the Inclinationof human Nature to this Opinion ; that is, either Mencome into the World with this Notion imprinted upon their Minds, orelfe (which comes all to one) the Llnderftanding ofMan is naturally of filch a Frame and Make, that left to it Pelf, and the free exerci e of its own thoughts, it will fall into this Apprehenfion. 2. The unlearned and common People among the Heathen, feem to have had the trueft and leaf} wavering Apprehenfions in this matter ; the Reafon of which teems to be plain, becaufe their belief followed the byafs and inclination of their Nature, and they had not their natural Notions embroil'd and diforder'd by obfcure and un- certain reafonings about it, as the Philofophers had, wholeLinderfiandings were perplex'd with infinite Niceties and Objeftions, which never troubled the heads of the common People. By which means the vulgar had thisadvantage, that the natu- ral di&ates of their Minds had their free courte ; and as they did not argue them- felves into this Principle, fo neither were their natural Hopes and Fears check'd and controli'd by any Objeftions to the contrary. But then, this Principle being only a kindof natural Inflin& in them, which did not awaken their Minds by any deep confideration and reafoningabout ir, it had no great influence on their Lives. For as they were not much troubledwith doubtscon- cerning it, fo neither did they deeply attend to theconfluences of it `. but as they followed the inclination of Nature in the entertainingof this Notion, fobecaufe it was not entertained upon deep confideration, it had no great effeft upon them. ;. The Learned among the Heathen did not fo generally agree in this Principle, and thole who didcontent in it, were many of them more wavering and unfettled than
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=