THE CONCLVSION. 131 



drowned in this prefcnt thought, and never wake againe, but into 

 the en joying, and accompletionof my prcfent enfhmed defires. But 

 alas, that may not be. The eternall light whom my fouleand I 

 have chofen for Arbiter, to determine unto us what is molt expedi- 

 ent for us, will not permit it. We muft returne ; and that into teares 

 and miferies : For as a good life breedeth encreafe of happinefle, (b 

 doth an evill one, heape up Iliads of woe. Fii ft ( my foule ) bsforc 

 I venture, we fhould be certaine,that thy parting from this life,waft 

 thee over to allured happinefle : For thou well kno weft, that there 

 are noxious a&ions, which deprave and infeft the foule, whiles it is 

 forging and moulding here its body , and tempering for its future 

 being : and if thou (houldeft (ally hence in fuch a perverfe difpofix 

 tioiijunhappinefle would betide thee in ftead of thy prefumed blifle. 

 f lee fome men (b ravenous after thofe pleafures , which cannot bee 

 enjoyed out of the body, that if thofe impotent defires accompany 

 their fbules into eternity, I cannot doubt of their enduring an eter- 

 nity of mifery : I cannot doubt of their being tormented with fuch 

 a dire extreamity, of unfatisfiable define and violent greife, as were 

 able to toare all this world into pieces > were it converted into one 

 heart; and to rive in funder, anything lefle then the necefficy of 

 contradiction. How high the blifle of a well governed foule is above 

 all power of quantitie, fo extreme muft the ravenous inclemency, 

 and vulturelike cruelty, bee of fuch an uncompaflable defire gnaw- 

 ing eternally upon the foule j for the fame reafon holdeth in bot'h : 

 and which way loever the gravitation and defires of a Separated 

 foule doe carry it, it is hurried on with a like impetuoufity and un- 

 limited activity. Let me then caft an heedfull and warie eye, upon 

 the acVions of the generality of mankind,from whence I may gueflfe 

 atthewealcorwoe, of their future ftate: and' if I finde that the 

 greateft number weigheth downe in the fcale of mifery, have I not 

 reafon to feare leaft my lot (hould prove among theirs ? For the 

 greateft part fweepeth along with it every particular, that hath not 

 fome particular reafon to exempt it from the general! law. In 

 ftead then of a few that wifely fettle their hearts on legitimate de- 

 fires, what multitudes of wretched men doe I fee , fome hungry 

 after flelh and blood ; others gaping after the empty winde of ho- 

 nour and vanity Bothers breathing nothing but ambitious thoughts; 

 others grafping all, and grovelingupon heapes of melted earth ? So 

 that they put me all in a horrour, and make me feare, leaft very few 



(Kkk i) they 



