This same principle tends to the belief that the soul of man continues to exist after the dissolution of the body. We have _no evidence_ that the separation of soul and body is an event that either injures or destroys the spiritual part. On the contrary, there are many analogies in nature that would lead to the impression that death gives new strength and powers to the disembodied spirit. This being so, we have the same reason to believe that the soul of man exists after death as we have for believing that our friends are living when they leave us on a journey, and we have no evidence of their death. We can not see them, hear them, or feel them, and yet we believe they are living, we know not exactly where, because we have no evidence of their death. And so, after the dissolution of the body, though all evidence of sense as to the existence of their immaterial part ceases, we believe the same thinking, sentient spirits continue to exist, because we have no evidence that they have ceased to do so. We have perfect evidence that the body ceases to exist as a body, for it moulders to dust. We have no evidence at all that the soul is either injured or destroyed. Such a thing as the destruction or annihilation of a spirit was never known or heard of from any quarter of earth or heaven. We therefore conclude, that at the moment of death the soul is still existing with all its powers unchanged. The same argument goes on still further, and leads to the immortality of the soul. We know of no cause or reason for the destruction of the soul at any future period. We never have known or heard that any soul ever ceased to exist. And so we infer, that the soul will keep on a perpetuated existence, by the same principle as that which leads us to believe the earth and the heavens will remain to future ages. In regard to the _character and condition_ of departed spirits, again we have the same principle to guide us. Without revelation, the _past experience_ of mind is our sole beacon to give light as to its future destiny. Our next inquiry, then, is, what does the past experience of mind teach us as to its condition beyond the grave? In pursuing this inquiry, we must recall, in brief forms, some of the points of mental experience set forth in previous chapters. Some of the most important of these relate to the principle of _habit_ by which the exercise of all our faculties becomes more and more easy by use. This is true of the intellect, by which we gain our knowledge of what will secure _the most_ happiness; of the _social_ nature, by which we give happiness to other minds and receive the same from them; of our _moral_ nature, by which we are guided to justice, equity, and the rule of conscience; of our _voluntary_ nature, by which we regulate all our other powers. Each and all are developed, strengthened, and facilitated in right action, by being exercised according to the laws of God.