constant flow of human life, man still regards himself as a permanent occupant of the scene around him -and labours consequently with a zeal, and devotes himself to the execution of works, which could never have been admitted into his thoughts, if he had seen, in all its wonderful and ceaseless operation, the universal fluctuation amidst which he is placed, and the momentary duration that has been assigned to his individual being amidst this everlasting mutation of all created things.

While, however, we thus account for the universal disposition of mankind to believe in the perpetual stability of existing institutions, there are some obvious considerations which are fitted to counteract this propensity-and of which minds of reflective or of far-stretching thought, ought at all times to avail themselves for improving and extending their views of the vast plan which Divine Providence is carrying forward.

For, in the first place, what has the whole past history of the human race been, but an incessant progress from one condition of social or of political life to another?-Where are now the mighty kingdoms of the Assyrians—the Egyptians—the Greeks -the Macedonians-or the Romans?-were they less likely to have endured-or less firmly believed by their cotemporaries to be destined for perpetual

subsistence, than the less powerful and more obviously fleeting forms of social or political life by which they have been succeeded-and is not the most obvious lesson which we learn from all past history, and all comprehensive reflection on human affairs, that the noblest works of man, equally with his most insignificant, have their appointed times of existence—and that even his opinions, and systems of thought, are among the most subject to modification or change, of all the other accidents of his being?

And if, from this review of the past, we stretch our imaginations into the boundless realms of the future, what is the conception that irresistibly forces itself on our minds ?-Behind us lie a few thousand years, during the greater portion of which the human race has been but emerging from the lowest forms of its existence, and not even known in its most numerous portions to each other-and before us lie the immeasurable ages of time yet to be evolved to the continuance of which human imagination can assign no limits-and during which the progressive plan of Providence will admit of no relaxation or pause. That plan, too, is evidently boundless in its extent, as well as measureless in its duration-this earth being only a portion of one vast whole, which is proceeding in majestic but

never-ceasing progression around us. And is there not thus good reason for concluding that the continuance of the scheme is to bear a proportion to the magnitude of the scale on which the whole is conducted or that as this earth is not an altogether detached portion of the scheme of providence, but in connection with all its vaster, and probably more glorious parts, it would be absurd to limit its duration by principles formed on the supposition that it had no such boundless and extended relationship. Would men thus take at once the lessons of experience as furnished by past events, and the only probable conceptions they can form of the future ages that are to come forth, as the guides of their thoughts, they could not entertain, with any permanent and unhesitating belief, the opinion that any present system of things is the last which is to exist on earth-or, indeed, that it is possible for human imagination to assign any limits to the ever-changing forms through which all earthly things may yet be destined to pass.

And the fact accordingly is, that along with the belief that present things are destined for immortality, there may always be discovered, in the imaginations of men, the corresponding impression, that the last age of the world has come-that its entire duration may be estimated by the daily and

familiar flights of their own imaginations—or at any rate, that the idea of indefinite ages, during which this great scheme is to be going forward, is but an extravagance of the human imagination, which has as little foundation in truth as it is unsuited to the fleeting and diminutive interests of human life.

But, admitting, as we may safely do,—in the character, at least, of philosophic inquirers respecting the purposes and plans of Divine Wisdomthat human imagination can set no limit to the ages that are yet to be evolved, or to the progressive work which, during these ages, Divine Providence has it in view to bring forth-how impressive is the view over the vast extent of ages which thus opens itself on our minds-and especially who can tell, or what thought of man even can conceive, the wonderful things that are to be done upon the earth, long after our short moment of existence has vanished--or through what glorious changes the vast and enduring kingdom of God has yet to pass—what alterations in policy— in arts-in knowledge—in social intercourse—in every thing that refines and enhances the enjoyment of life, may yet be expected to take place, -or even if there should be, as there undoubtedly are, limits to the attainments of the human race,

determined by their peculiar powers and subordinate station in the universe-still what alterations and modifications throughout the indefinite extent of all coming ages, may not every conceivable mode of life be destined to undergo? And though there are truths that seem to be of everlasting stability, and which cannot be subverted, or generally neglected, so long as the elements of human society subsist-still the aspects, under which these truths are contemplated, may be as various as the other conceivable alterations to which all the thoughts and institutions of men are subject—and the view of our far distant successors of their true station in the universe, may be as different from the perplexed idea which we now entertain of that station, as our idea of the material creation, illumined and extended as it has been by the discoveries of modern science, is from the fantastic and limited notions entertained on this subject by almost the whole series of our predecessors on earth.

Still we cannot but admire the wisdom and beauty of that appointment of Divine Providence which, notwithstanding these probable advances of the human mind, has still decreed, that at each moment of their course, the human race shall be disposed to consider the existing state of the world