PREFACE.

THE following Effay is extracted from a French book, entitled “ Effai "fur la Felicité de la Vie à venir, par "C. L. de Villette." The Tranflator has selected thofe parts alone which feemed most calculated to awaken fuch ideas of the life to come, as it appears to have been the Author's principal aim to produce; and has ventured to make fome alterations and additions.

To familiarize the joys of heaven to our imagination, without degrading them by too close a comparison with

our present pleasures;-to place them in fuch a point of view, as to warm the heart without dazzling the underftanding;-to reprefent our occupations in the celeftial abodes, as holding fuch affinity with our earthly pursuits, that, in order to be admitted to the privileges of the former, we must observe the strictest rectitude in the objects of the latter;-to direct our views in every event beyond the narrow bounds of time, to a happy eternity, where that which is in part shall be swallowed up in that which is perfect;-these are the views of the Tranflator, as they evidently were those of the Author.

It must indeed be acknowledged, that, after all our endeavours to describe the joys of heaven, our mortal understanding can never acquire an adequate idea of that glorious state, in which we shall be partakers of the divine nature, and be conformed to the image of Christ. But nothing furely can so effectually detach us from low pursuits, and unworthy inclinations, or inspire the true Christian with gratitude and moderation in profperity, with refignation and fortitude in adverfity, with humble and ardent piety, univerfal benevolence, and every virtue becoming a being deftined for immortality, and a profeffor of the gofpel

gospel of Christ, as the habit of reflecting on those fuperior enjoyments which the foul will experience, when, the veil of mortality being withdrawn, we fhall fee GOD "face to face," and partake of that "fulness of joy" which is in his presence for evermore.

INTRODUCTION.

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To the fuperiority of our immortal to our mortal state; to affert that the body will be purified by death from its natural imperfections, and be raised spiritual and perfect, and that the faculties of the foul will acquire a nearer refemblance to that pure fpirit from whom they proceed, would be an useless attempt; fince to those who examine the words of eternal life, these truths are inconteftibly evident. But what the changes will be, which fhall then take place in us,