3dly, Since Pain is the immediate Infliction of the Divine Will, we may expect that in the Future State, the Degrees of it will be rais'd, and the Sentence charg'd in Proportion to the Crimes of the Malefactor. Then the unhappy Person will be made more pasfive in the Sence, and ftronger for Endurance.

"

At prefent, 'tis a great Bleffing of Providence, that Pain can take no fafter hold of us. That when the Paroxism grows violent, and the Anguifh outrageous, the Spirit is quickly releas'd, and fuffer'd to retire. God has fo mercifully order'd the cafe, that the Extremity of Torment fhould quickly break the Sences, and extinguish the Punishment, Nay fometimes in the height of a Fever, when the Veins are all on fire; when the occafional Caufes of Pain are most active and formidable; the Soul is as it were taken afide, and the Feeling laid afleep for a little time: Juft as if a Man fhould have a friendly pull out of a Houfe when part of it was tumbling, and not fuffer'd to go in till 'twas better repaird. To lie thus under fhelter till the Storm of the Difeafe is fomewhat over, is next to a Miracle of Mer→ in the Make of us,

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Were

Were the Union of the Soul and Body so contriv'd that the Extremity of Pain could prey upon us for Months or Years together, were we fo unhappy as to grow under Torment, and like Prometheus be renew'd as faft as we wafted, Patience would have a fevere Tryal: In fuch a cafe the Power of ill Men would be frightfully enlarg'd, and the Practice of Vertue become much more hazardous, and difficult. But God has been pleas'd not to fet the Terms of Obedience fo high, nor give Malice and Cruelty fo great an Advantage. Tyrants must put good People out of their Pain in a little time, tho' never fo unwilling, For Torment like a Storm fpends it felf, and is deftroy'd by its own Force.

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SW

Acci

The best Enfurance against any dent of this Nature, will be to manage with that Regularity, that when we are attack'd either by Difeafes within, or Violence from without, we may have nothing but Corporeal Pain to struggle with. When a Man is eafy in his Thoughts, and tolerably pleas'd with the Courfe of his Actions, he is well pre

d for the Combat Innocence is a bold Quality, and Vertue a most admirable Defence. It throws Chearfulness

and

and Vigour into the Spirits, and gives us the Countenance of a Superior Being. There's a vaft difference between aMartyr and a Malefactor in the point of Suffering; the first feldom feels half with the other. The Caufe is a powerful Lenitive; and rebates the Edge of the Calamity. But remorfe of Confcience, and difmal Profpects, load the Execution, and are terrible Additions to Pain.

3

Sickness and Suffering come with double Force upon Guilt; Anguish of Mind leffens the Strength, as well as encreases the Smart. 'Tis like a Wound in the Sword Hand, the Man is difabled in that which should defend him; he drops his Guard, and his Heart lies open to the next Pafs. To conclude we ought to fummon in all our Force upon this Occafion; and to fortifie our felves with Recollection and good Pratice. To animate our Courage from the Topicks of Honour and Interest, from all the weighty Confiderations of this World, and the next: To take in the Auxiliaries of Religion, and implore the Affiftance of Heaven: That Pain may never force us to out-live our Patience, or our Honefty. That we may stand firm against the last Affault of what kind foever, and meet Death

with Resolution; as it lies in the Order of Providence. In fhort, that we may die, without being conquer'd, carry a good Confcience along with us, and leave an ufeful Precedent behind

A

MORAL ESSAY

Concerning

REVENGE.

In a DIALOGUE between

-Philotimus and Philathetes.

Philal.

M

Y old Friend Philotimus! Methinks 'tis an Age fince our last Meeting; I fuppose you have been abroad, and are lately come off your Travels.

Philot. In my Opinion, that Conjecture upon You had been more probable; but to ftop your Enquiry, I must tell you I don't converse with Apparitions; if People are for Darkness, and diving out of fight, they may live by themfelves, for I have something else to do than to dance after them.

Philal. It may be fo, but why fo much plain Dealing at the first Salute? I should be glad to take you in jest, but that I perceive