the allotted period of man's life, and they look for the bound of their earthly existence at no very remote period. But no good citizen, no true patriot, wants his country ever to die; but wishes rather that, when buried and cold in the tomb, his country may live on, and be immortal! But here the question arises—"Is immortal life a possible element in a nations being? Such a thing has never been. Man has never witnessed vitality of this kind and of such a measure in history. China, though dating back, it is said, to the time of Noah—China, whose age numbers thousands of years—China, the oldest of all governments, is going to ruin! And when we read the history of mankind, we see nothing but the rise and fall of nations; but permanent, national existence—nowhere. Even Macaulay looks forward to the time when some civilized New Zealander shall come across the wide Ocean; and standing on London bridge, look around upon the ruins of St. Paul, and the fragmentary and columnar remains of the fallen Metropolis of Britain.
But though this has been the fashion of past national existence, yet I must confess, that I cannot approve the reasoning, which would necessarily make it the certain destiny of all future nationalities. For one thing seems quite clear, that the promises of perpetual endurance of divine favor, for "thousand generations," were made to the Hebrews in their corporate, capacity; and imply also, that if that people had been true on their part, to the covenant made with them; God, on His part, would have been faithful forever to them. Moreover, there are causes which
