Whatever Imperfections we may have in our Nature, it is the Business of Religion and Virtue to rectify them, as far as is consistent with our present State.  In the mean time, it is no small Encouragement to generous Minds to consider that we shall put them all off with our Mortality.  That sublime Manner of Salutation with which the Jews approached their Kings,

    O King, live for ever!

may be addressed to the lowest and most despised Mortal among us, under all the Infirmities and Distresses with which we see him surrounded.  And whoever believes the Immortality of the Soul, will not need a better Argument for the Dignity of his Nature, nor a stronger Incitement to Actions suitable to it.

’I am naturally led by this Reflection to a Subject I have already touched upon in a former Letter, and cannot without pleasure call to mind the Thoughts of Cicero to this purpose, in the close of his Book concerning Old Age.  Every one who is acquainted with his Writings, will remember that the elder Cato is introduced in that Discourse as the Speaker, and Scipio and Lelius as his Auditors.  This venerable Person is represented looking forward as it were from the Verge of extreme Old Age, into a future State, and rising into a Contemplation on the unperishable Part of his Nature, and its Existence after Death.  I shall collect Part of his Discourse.  And as you have formerly offered some Arguments for the Soul’s Immortality, agreeable both to Reason and the Christian Doctrine, I believe your Readers will not be displeased to see how the same great Truth shines in the Pomp of Roman Eloquence.

“This, says Cato, my firm Persuasion, that since the human Soul exerts it self with so great Activity, since it has such a Remembrance of the Past, such a Concern for the Future, since it is enriched with so many Arts, Sciences and Discoveries, it is impossible but the Being which contains all these must be Immortal.

    “The elder Cyrus, just before his Death, is represented by
    XENOPHON speaking after this Manner.”

’Think not, my dearest Children, that when I depart from you I shall be no more, but remember, that my Soul, even while I lived among you, was invisible to you; yet by my Actions you were sensible it existed in this Body.  Believe it therefore existing still, though it be still unseen.  How quickly would the Honours of illustrious Men perish after Death, if their Souls performed nothing to preserve their Fame?  For my own part, I never