thofe actions to which they are accustomed, whilst in this life'; but when they are removed from all those objects which are here apt to gratify them, they will naturally become their own tormentors, and cherish in themselves those painful habits of mind which are called, in Scripture phrase, "the worm which never dies."

To be good is to be happy; angels

are happier than men, because they're better:
guilt is the fource of forrow; 'tis the fiend,

th' avenging fiend, that follows us behind

with whips and ftings: the bless'd know none of this,
but reft in everlasting peace of mind.

This notion of heaven and hell is fo very conformable to the light of nature, that it was discovered by feveral of the most exalted heathens. It has been finely improved by many eminent divines of the last age, as in particular by Archbishop TILLOTSON and Dr. SHERLOCK: but there is none who has raifed fuch noble fpeculations upon it as Dr. SCOTT, in the first book of his Christian Life, which is one of the finest and most rational schemes of divinity, that is written in our tongue, or in any other. That excellent author has fhewn how every particular cuftom and habit of virtue will, in its own nature, produce the heaven, or a state of happiness, in him who fhall practise it: as on the contrary, how every

custom

custom or habit of vice will be the natural bell of him in whom it fubfifts*.

Many parents, by studying the health and comforts of their children, bring on babits that prove the fources of perpetual sickness, or the certain prefages of an early death. The mother certainly forsakes the intention of Nature when the carries her fondness to excess; when

When we had occafion before to mention the refurrection (p. 338), we obferved that the spirit on that day would be "embodied,” and “GOD would "give it a body, as it pleaseth him, and to every one its own (or proper) body;

and as the fun, moon, and stars, differ from each other in glory, and there is "one flesh of birds, another of fifh, another of beafts, so would it be with us on "that grand and awful day."—An inquiry here naturally starts itself, "IM"MEDIATE UPON THE DISSOLUTION OF THE BODY WHAT BECOMES "OF THE IMMORTAL SPIRIT ?" This we can only learn from Scripture. "It is not expedient for me, doubtless," fays St. PAUL, "to glory. I will "however come to revelations vouchsafed unto me from the Lord-I faw “CHRIST above fourteen years ago, whether embodied, or no, I cannot tell, "GOD knoweth, he was caught up to the THIRD HEAVEN.”—“ I also "know how he was caught up into PARADISE, whether embodied or not I can"not tell, GOD knoweth, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not allowed " for man to utter."-The Jews make mention of three heavens. The first is properly the ambient air; the second the visible firmament, wherein the fun, moon, and ftars appear; and the third is the invifible heaven, the throne of GOD and the habitation of the holy angels.-St. PAUL diftinctly speaks of two vifions.—First, the afcenfion of CHRIST to HEAVEN; and secondly, his ascension into PARADISE. That these are distinct, appear also from the refurrection of LAZARUS, and the words of our Saviour to the penitent finner on the cross: "This day fhalt thou be with me in PARADISE.”—MOSES and ELISHA appear to CHRIST at the transfiguration; and we have several other demonftrative proofs in Scripture, that the foul, from the moment it quits the body, ceases not its active energies.

the

the makes an idol of her child; increasing his weakness by preventing its fenfe of it; and, as if she could emancipate him from the laws of Nature, tries to prevent every approach of pain and diftrefs; not confidering, that for the fake of preferving him at present from inconveniences, she is accumulating on his head a load of anxieties and misfortunes, and, by bringing up her child in softness and effeminacy, she absolutely renders him more tender and vulnerable; and lays open, as it were, his nerves to every fpecies of afflicting sensations, to which he most affuredly will fall a prey as he grows up.

Nor do I recommend the oppofite extreme. The middle is the only right path. When men, whom the world hath celebrated for profound thinking, fpeculate upon innate ideas, or liberty and free will, they may be permitted to have their opinion; but when they alledge * that children are to be every day plunged into cold water, and, whatever be their conftitutions or parents, indifcriminately enured to cold and moisture; that they are to have no covering on their and are to go half naked, &c. These are fuch

feet;

* Vide Lock's Treatife on Education.

noxious

noxious errors, that all reasonable men fhould endeavour to oppose them. Many have been the children whom these opinions, begun in speculation, have injured or destroyed in practice, and I have seen many a little philofophic martyr whom I wished, but was unable, to relieve.

Let

I cannot conclude this section without an exhortation against the delufion of Spirituous liquors. those who have been enticed frequently to taste fpirituous liquors, or rich cordials, till at length they begin to have a fondness for them, reflect a moment on the danger of their fituation, and resolve to make a speedy and honourable retreat. Remember, that custom soon changes into habit that habit is a fecond nature more stubborn than the first, and of all things most difficult to be fubdued. Remember that it is by little unfufpecting beginnings, that this unfortunate vice is generally contracted, and when once confirmed, rarely terminates but with life! Learn then, in time, to

refift this bewitching fpirit,

whenever it tempts you.

Then will you find yourself so perfectly easy without

it, as at length never to regret its abfence; nay, pecu

8

liarly

liarly happy in having escaped the allurements of fuch a dangerous and infidious enemy.

To those who pride themselves in living faft, and are bent upon "a fhort and merry life;" though, in truth, it is a fhort and miferable one; they will doubtless fpurn at these admonitions, and run headlong to their own deftruction. Strange infatuation! Can you, as men, submit to fuch despicable bondage, and tamely give up your freedom without one generous struggle. The prefent conflict, remember, is not for the fading laurel, or tinfelled wreath, for which others fo earnestly contend, but for those more blooming, more fubftantial honours, which HEALth, the daughter of TEMPERANCE, only can bestow. For it is thine, O HEALTH, and thine alone, to diffuse through the human breast that genial warmth, that serene sunshine, which glows in the cheek, shines in the eye, and animates the whole frame! But if still you have no regard for this bleffing, let me then remind you of an HEREAFTER. "To die-to fleep-nay, "perchance, to dream"-yes, there's the rub!-How great will be your furprise and terror fhould you be fuddenly roused by that dream!-When the thick mist is difpelled-when the day begins to dawn, and difVOL. IV. 6 B

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