LXIII. Obfervations upon thefe feveral inftances of right reafon in the heathen world. Modes of reafoning, by which natural religion might deduce the probability of a future ftate of rewards and punishments. Confufion of systems in the philo- fophy of the heathens. Of the peculiar nation of the Jews; their character, hiftory, government, LXIV. Reasons offered a priori for the neceffity of a mediator. The appearance of Chrift on earth accompanied with fuch evidences as put it out of doubt that he was the true Meffias. Arguments of David Levi, in a pamphlet lately published, for the non-accordance of the evangelical genealogies examined. The gospel account of the birth of LXV. Argument of David Levi for the fuperi- ority of the miracles wrought by Mofes over thofe, which the evangelifts record of Chrift. His cavils against two particular miracles of LXVI. Further defence of the miracles objected to - LXVIII. On natural and acquired tafte. Virgil's 90 - LXXIV. Ben Jonfon's imitations of Philoftratus compared with the original paffages. His fatiri- cal glances at Shakespear inftanced. His hags in the mafque of the Queens compared with Shakespear's Witches in Macbeth LXXV. Review of Ben Jonfon's comedy of the LXXVI. Review of the Samfon Agonistes. The LXXVII. Comparative review of Rowe's Fair - 166 198 LXXXI. Obfervations on the various forts of file. LXXXII. Converfation in a coffee-houfe upon the time paft compared with the time prefent. The merits of the authors in each period candidly con- LXXXIII. The coffee-house debate on the afore- LXXXIV. General obfervations on the focial cha racter. Certain rules recommended for the im- provement of our manners and habits in fociety. Example of an egotift, and the rebuke which he LXXXV. Advice to a man of landed property. THE OBSERVER. I All to the fame last home are bound; Snaps like a thread betwixt the fhears of Fate. REMEMBER to have been told of a certain humourist, who fet up a very fingular doctrine upon the fubject of death, afferting that he had discovered it to be not a neceffary and inevitable event, but an act of choice and volition; he maintained that he had certain powers and refources within VOL. III. himself B himself sufficient to fupport him in his refolution of holding out against the fummons of death, till he became weary of life; and he pledged himself to his friends, that he would in his own person give experimental proof of his hypothesis. What particular address death made ufe of, when this ingenious gentleman was prevailed upon to step out of the world, I cannot take upon myself to fay; but certain it is, that in fome weak moment he was overperfuaded to lay his head calmly on the pillow and furrender up his breath. Though an event, fo contrary to the promife he had given, must have been a staggering circumftance to many, who were interested in the fuccefs of his experiment, yet I fee good reason to fufpect that his hypothefis is not totally difcredited, and that he has yet fome furviving difciples, who are acting fuch a part in this world as nobody would act but upon a strong prefumption, that they fhall not be compelled to go out of it and enter upon another. Mortality, it must be owned, hath means of providing for the event of death, though none have yet been discovered of preventing it: |