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The Atheist and the Sage.
185

descended to regulate the universe, it could only be to make others happy. Has He done so?

Freind.—He has doubtless succeeded with all just spirits. They will be happy one day; if they are not so now.

Birton.—Happy! How? When? Who told you so?

Freind.—His justice.

Birton.—Will you tell me that we shall live eternally —that we have immortal souls—after admitting that the Jews, whom you boast of having succeeded, did not entertain this notion of immortality up to the time of Herod? This idea of an immortal soul was invented by the Brahmins, adopted by the Persians, Chaldæans, and Greeks, and was for a long time unknown to the insignificant and superstitious Jewish tribes. Alas! sir, how do we know that we have souls? or how do we know but other animals, who have similar passions, wills, appetites, and memories, so incomprehensible to us, have not souls as well?

Hitherto I have thought that there is in nature a power by which we have the faculty of life in all our body,—walking with our feet,—taking with our hands,—seeing with our eyes,—feeling with our nerves,—thinking with our brain,—and that all this is called the soul, which is merely a vague word, signifying the unknown principle of our faculties. With you, I will call God the intelligent principle

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