CHAPTER III. THE HUMAN SOUL. 1. Estimate of metaphysics.-2. The destinies of the soul. 1. Natural religion.-2. Origin of evil.-3. The tempter. -4. The original state of man.-5. The Fall.-6. Death. -7. The enmity of the devil.-8. The woman's punish- ment.-9. The punishment of the man.-10. The curse of Page 1. Noah and the Ark.-2. Origin of Pagan idolatry.— CHAPTER VIII. REDEMPTION. 1. The intermediate state.-2. The resurrection of Christ. -3. The ascension and the Great High Priest.-4. The sa- craments.-5. The Holy Ghost.-6. Free agency and pre- destination.-7. The general judgment.-8. The future Page NATURAL HISTORY OF RELIGION. CHAPTER I. THE DEITY. "WHAT is Religion?" The word Religion is used to denote our duty towards God and our duty towards our neighbour which include every personal virtue. "Who is God?" The infinite, eternal, incomprehensible, all-wise, and all-powerful BEING who created and still preserves all things,- In whom we live, and move, and have our being.' "In what does our duty to this Being consist?" In acting in obedience to his will, so as to make that will the rule of our lives. B From the revelation which he has given us of it, as contained in the Holy Scriptures; and by comparing what is therein contained with what we see and experience. "What are the outlines of this will prescribing our duty?" That we should reverence him as our Creator and Preserver; that we should obey his commands; that we should strive to gain a knowledge of his attributes, and the relation in which we stand to him, which knowledge is the foundation of our duty. 66 You say that we should reverence God and obey his commands, the dictates of his will, and then strive to gain a knowledge of his attributes and the relation in which we stand to him;-do you mean that we should practise our duty before we know it?" Certainly:-we must first both reverence God and practise obedience to his commands, before we can arrive at any adequate knowledge of his attributes, or comprehend the nature of our relation to him. It is our parents' duty to imprint these upon our minds, with the earliest impressions thereon made; no error being more vital in religion, than the notion that children's minds should not be impressed with the fear of God be |