CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. Article Object of the Book, 1 22 Two classes of speculators, 2 24 Why doubters of immortality have lately increased, 3 26

_Belief of the Ancient Egyptians_— Separation between priests and people, 4 26 The abode of the dead, 5 27 Transmigration of souls, 6 28 Embalming of the body, 7 28

_Belief of the Ancient Hebrews_— Position of Moses, 8-9 28 His task, 10 29 Belief of the Jews in an unseen world, 11 30 Their belief in a future state, 12 31 Their belief in a resurrection, 13 32

_Belief of the Ancient Greeks and Romans_— Unsubstantial nature of Elysium, 14 33 Transmigration introduced, 15 34 Rise of the Epicurean school, 16 36 Uncertainty of philosophic opinion, 17 37

_Belief of the Eastern Aryans_— The Rig-Veda, 18 37 It inculcates immortality, 19 39 Double source of corruption, 20 40 Zoroastrian reformation and tenets, 21-22 40 Reformation of Buddha, 23 41 Meaning of Nirvâ_n_a, 24 42

Observations on ancient beliefs, 25-29 43

_Belief of the Disciples of Christ_— The resurrection of Christ, 30 47 Future state taught by Christ, 31-32 49 Perishable nature of that which is seen, 33 50 The Christian Heaven and Hell, 34 51 General opinion regarding the person of Christ, 35 52 General opinion regarding the position of Christ, 36 53

Spread of the Christian religion, 37 54

Rise of Mohammed, 38 55

Materialistic conceptions of the dark ages, 39 57

Extreme scientific school, 40-41 59

Points of similarity between this school and Christians, 42 60

Varieties of opinions among Christians, 43-44 60

Believers in a new revelation, 45 62

Swedenborg and his doctrines, 46 63

Remarks on Swedenborg, 47 65

Modern spiritualists, 48-49 67