In this world, again, our friendships
are limited not only to those who live in
the same Age and Country, but to a small
portion even of them ;_to a smaU portion
even of those who are not unknown to us,
and whom we know to be estimable and
amiable, and who, we feel, might have been
among our dearest friends. Our command
of time and leisure to cultivate friendships,
imposes a limit to their extent ; they are
boimded rather by the occupation of our
thoughts^ than of our affections. And the
removal of such impediments in a better
world, seems to me a most desirable, and
a most probable change.
I see no reason, again, why those who
have been dearest friends on earth, should
not, when admitted to that happy state,
continue to be so, with fuU knowledge and
recollection of their former friendship. K
a man is still to continue (as there is
every reason to suppose) a social Being,
and capable of friendship, it seems con-



280 occurATiONS and state op [l, X.
trary to all probability that he should cast
off or forget his former friends, who are
partakero with him of the like exaltation.
