'DEG.d:D.IIL as far from fincerity as continuancc~Y er the true apprchenfion oflife (though joyoed 1 , A with contempt) is DOt enough to fettle us, ifeither we be ignorant ofdeath, or ill per• fwadcd: for iflife have not worth enough to allureus, yet death bath horror enough ' affright us. He that would die chearcfully, muft k~ow death his fri~nd : ~vhat is he butthcfaithfullofficcrofour Maker, who cvcrfmt!esorfrowncs w~thhts Matlcr; , neither can either lhew or nourilh cnmitie, where God favours : when he · fiercely, and puis a man by the throat, and fummoDs him toHell, who can I ble ~ The mclfcngcr.is tcrrib.lc; bttt the. melfag~ worfc: hence have rifcn the ble dcfpaircs,and funous ravmgs ofthe Ill confe~cocc,t~at finds Do pcace_w"r""' ' '"'' without, But when he comes lwcct!y, not asan cxccuttoDer, but as a gutdcto and profcrs his fctvice, and lhewcs our happinclfe, and opens the door< to our ven; how worthy is heof entertainment~ how worthy ofgratulation ~ Buthis falu. ration is painful!, ifcourtcous, whatthcn~ he Phyfitian healcs us,not without painc; and yet we reward him. Iris unthankfulnelfe to complainc, where the anfwcrofpro· fitisexcdlivc. Death paineth :how long~ how much~ with what proportion to the fcqucll of joy~ 0 Death, if thy pangs be grievous; yet thy roll is ll•ect, The con· tlantcxpcaation that bath polfclfed that roll, bath already {wallowed thofepangs, and mak<sthe Chritlian at once wholly dead to hispaine, wholly alive to his glory. The foulc bath not leifureto care for her fuffering, that beholds her crownc ; which if lhewere conjoyncd to fetch rhorow the flames of Hell, h<r faith would not ftick at the condition. Thus in bricfe, he that lives Chritlianly, lhall die boldly; he that finds his life fl1orr and mifcrable,lhall die willingly ; he that knowes death, and fore· fees glory, flllll die cheerfully and dcfirouOy. To M. Samuel'Burton, Arch~deacon oHjloce~er. E P. II I. A dij{DIIr{e •ftbetry•U•ndehDi<tlfthtlrue Jl.eligi•n. Sir : Tbu difcourfe ;,~l!Jned by yo11, I fend toyour cenfure, to your the ufe ofotiJtrs. Vpon your charge I have writtm it for '"'",.."""'inu worthy, communiGate it ; elfe it is but adajh ofyourpm. I ftare a VoltmHte were too little for thu SubjeEl. It is IUlt moreyours Ft~rtroe/1. VE doe not more affeCt varictie in all other things, then we abhorrc it in Religion. Even thofc which have held the grcatctl fallhoods, hold that there is but one truth. I never read of more then one Hcrctick, all H<refics true.; ncirher did hisopinion fccmemore incredible, then the · ofit. God con neither be multiplied, nor Chritldividcd: ifhiscoat might be parted, his body was intire. For that then all fides challenge truth,and botone can poffelfe it; lotus fee who have found it, who enjoy it. There arc not many Religions that firivefor it,tho manyopinions. Every Heretic, fundamental~, makes nota Religion. We faynot,The Religion of Arrians,Ne. Sabtllians, Macedonians, but the feCI or hercfie. No opinioq challenges this name in our ufuall fpeech, (for I difcuffe not the propricrie) but that which, arifing from many differen~es, bath fetkd it fclfe in the world, upon her owne principles, not without an univerfall divifion.Such may foonc be counted:Though iris true,there are by fo much too many,as there are mQre then onc.Five religions then there areby this rule,upon carrh1wbich !land in competition fortruth;ItJOijh,T•rkijh,Gmkifh,P•· pi/h, Rtfirmtd; ..hereofeach pleads forit fclfe,with difgraccoftheoth<r. The plaine ! Reader doubts, how he may fir Judge in fohigha plea: God bath JlUtthispcrfon up. on him;while bechatgeth him torric theSpirits1to retainerhe good, rejeCt thecvill I If fiill h~ plead with Mo{ts, infufficiency; let him but attend: God lhall decide ,cafe in his filence, wirhout difficulty. The Jew bath little to fay for I pu.dcnt denials ofour Chritl, oftheir Prophecies : whofe very rcfufall
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