A Moral Proof of the Certainty of a Future State (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1725. Excerpt: ... we fhould be as eafy in remembring, as we were in doing them. But now, the Memory of our paft Adions often difturbs us; and we are often wifhing that we had done otherwife than we did: Which would be perfectly ia vain, and to no purpofe, if we had never done what was Evil, and were not obnoxious to 'Punijbment. But, upon a Suppofition that we have finned, and done wickedly, the prefent Pain, which arifes from Refle&ion, is not only a fuitable Punifliment for our Offence, but a proper Method of exciting us to repent of the Evil, and to take more Care to avoid the like for the future, left Jbme worfe thing come unto us. Upon thefe Grounds, it is very fit and reafonable for us, to be concerned for what is paft; but, if there be no fuch things as Sin, and funtfljmentt then is all our Trouble of this kind vain, and Memory and Reflection ferve only to create us unneceflary and unaccountable Torments. Another common Obfervation, which leads us into the Belief of a future State, is, the natural Averfion we have to 'Death, and the (Irong Defire we find in our felves to contipue our Being for ever. This This we are fenfible of in all the various Circumftances of our Condition here. For, let a Man's Life be never fo long, and eafy, he will alwaysdefire to live, and to be eafy, longer. And, let him abound as much as he will in all the good things of this World, he will never have enjoyed fo much of them, as to be able to quit them all freely, and to depart, as a Man rifes from a Feaft, full and fatisfied. And on the other hand, tho' our prefent Eftate be very low and mean, tho'Difficulties and Troubles compafs us about on every fide; and tho' we are told, that there is no Pain or Sorrow in the Grave, that there the Weary be at reft, and the Poor are free from Opprefi...