of giving into. As for instance, to be deceived by the falfe intelligence of a fpy, or an intercepted letter, a man must have reason, or he could not argue about the confequences, nor act in pursuance of fuch advice; for a fool would not trouble himself about the matter, and therefore could be in no danger of drawing false conclufions by mistaking probabilities for truths. And to mistake some high and subtle point of philosophy, or divinity, feldom happens to an illiterate man, because he rarely employs his thoughts on matters of fo fpeculative a nature. In fhort, whoever maintains, that the foul perishes with the body, because it feems to be affected, when that is difordered, might as well fay, that a child in the womb must die, if the mother dies, because it moves when the does, and participates with her in her forrows, by reafon of the ftrict union between them; whereas we fee infants in the womb often furvive their mothers, and owe their birth to their parent's death. Once more, it be objected,may "that fince the mind has no conception here, but through the imagination; when the imagi"nation, and the fenfes which are annexed to it, are all loft, the "foul cannot operate by itself, and confequently cannot exist with" out the body." This, however, is just the fame weak argument as if any one should maintain, that an infant cannot live in this world, because he cannot receive his nourishment in the fame individual manner, as he did in his mother's womb:-But the contrary is the truth; for it is not till he quits that first life, and enters upon the next, that he finds the true ufe of his limbs, which, in his first state, were of no ufe but to prepare him for his fecond. Thus the imagination affifts the mind, and prepares it for a future ftate, where it will act like itself, and not be liable to any delufions, through the misrepresentation of the bodily fenfes, or a distempered imagination; but shall fee face to face, and know even as it is known. Then the will fhall command the fenfual appetite; and the the imperfections which attend the foul, by reafon of its union with the body, shall be removed, and the former shall animate the latter after a more noble manner. 1 "See, how man's foul against itself doth ftrive! 66 Why should we not have other means to know? "These children, if they had fome use of sense, "And fhould, by chance, their mother's talking hear, "They would cry out, if we this place fhall leave, "Since our fweet food no other conduit brings? "And if a man fhould to thefe babes reply, "That into this fair world they fhall be brought, "That there ten thousand dainties they fhall meet, "Which shall be cordial too, as well as sweet, "And of their little limbs tall bodies make "This would they think a fable, even as we "Or as fome fenfual fpirits amongst us be, “Which hold the world to come to a feigned stage; "Yet "Yet fhall these infants after find all true, Though then thereof they nothing could conceive; "As foon as they are born the world they view, "And with their mouths the nurfe's milk receive: "So when the foul is born,-for death is nought "Then doth she fee by spectacles no more, "For each thing's present and before her lies." SECTION NOSCE TE IPSUM. VII. NOTWITHSTANDING the vain, weak, and evafive reafons of wicked and worldly minded men, we doubt not, but that you are firmly convinced of this great and important truth, that we are endowed with a rational foul, which, though it be united to the body, in order to direct and govern it, is liable neither to death, nor corruption. And, if we have omitted any thing material, that might further demonftrate the doctrine, we have endeavoured to establish, as it is very probable we have; yet are we confident of this, that enough has been said to confirm those in the belief of it, whofe consciences bear witness to us; and whose unspeakable interest it is to believe, and confefs it: but if any one continues ftill obftinate and perverfe, and is refolved to offer violence to his own reason, let him try whether he can fairly answer what we have already offered. And, in the mean time, let us fee what arguments the miferies of this life, and the unequal diftribution of the good things thereof will will furnish us with, to prove the truth in agitation, namely,THE REALITY OF A FUTURE STATE. Though we should fet mankind before our eyes in the most favourable light, yet the profpect will afford a contemplative perfon but very little, if any confolation; a moment's happiness, that is bought, perhaps, at the expence of years of mifery, and at best, but a fhort-lived joy, which fickness or misfortune may interrupt, and death will most affuredly put an end to.-What difference is there between wretchedness in state, and misery in rags? Let us put the cafe as fairly as we can, and confider the condition of thofe whom the world calls the happy, the profperous, the favourites of fortune:-They are furrounded, it is true, with attendants, and refide" in pompous habitations ;-but will not the joy which thefe glittering objects create, foon grow familiar? Will they not foon cloy, and leave nothing behind but impotent wishes for fome yet untafted trifle ?-How few are there amongst these envied mortals, that are not, when young, allured to wantonnefs and fome fenfual delights? How foon do they grow tired with what is falfely termed pleasure, and how easy is the tranfition from joy to forrow? The flashings of a gay fortune make them but the furer prey to the deepest dejection. Could we change our ftation in life, as much and as often as we thought fit, what would the gain be, but a different kind of mifery? Are not the rich and powerful as fubject, if not more, to the violent shock of contending paffions, eager appetites, and wild defires than other men? Are they not as often fcorched with fevers, chilled with agues, and tormented with gouts, and racking pains? And if this be the condition of the man who has gained this world, what profpect will the other fide afford us, but multitudes worn out with age, labour, and infirmities, ftruggling with penury and want, I made a prey to cruelty and oppreffion; and amidst a variety of other cares, devoured by difeafes, and enfeebled with ficknefs? Is VOL. III, N there there fuch a thing in nature as a perfectly happy, or thoroughly contented man? We imagine not. True it is, we daily fee many fimiling faces, and promifing outfides; but upon examination, they will most affuredly be found full of dreary thoughts and melancholy reflections, emblems of those painted fepulchres, which they are haftening to inhabit. Some will fay, perhaps, this is carrying things too far; mankind are not fo very wretched as fome would defcribe them. But could we fee the inward motions of the foul; were we acquainted with what paffes in the mind, when the body is difcompofed, and the fpirits drooping, we are apt to imagine, thofe very objectors would fecretly affent to thefe affertions: there are none, I believe, but what have either real or imaginary evils to interrupt their delights, dash with gall their joyous moments, and leave them only vivacity enough to make a specious fhew of happiness to the world. To feem easy and happy, and really to be so, are very different things; but it shocks the pride of man to discover his fecret difcontent. I know no article in life, wherein mankind are so univerfally hypocrites; there feems to be a general combination to deceive one another in this particular; there are few, but very few, who are fo open and ingenuous as to confess that they have no relish for any earthly enjoyments, but on the other hand, there are numbers who take a pride in entertaining you with their eafy circumftances, their fullblown fatisfactions, the tranfports of friendship, the charms of wit, and gay diverfions. If you will credit them, their lives flow in a continued ftream of gentle eafe and happiness; but alas! is not this grimace? How diftant from truth are all these boafts ? How is it poffible for man to be this happy creature here on earth? For can we conceive any one fo fortunate, as to have nothing to wish for? No fears to alarm him, no anxious thoughts to deject him, no imprudent child, no relation, or friend, labouring under fuch misfortunes as are not in his power to remove? Has he a conftant |