402 RUIN AND RECOVERY, &C. some or other stage of life, as must pronounce mankind upon the whole a miserable being ? Whatsoever scenes of happinessseem to attend him in any shining hour, there is adark cloud that sud- denly casts a gloom over them, and the pleasing vision vanishes as a dream. And after all these sufferings of real sorrow, and these painted delusions of joy, how constant is the tyranny of death in its ravages, through our whole race ? How formidable and pain- fuI are the avenues to his dark dominion ? How fullof terror and darkness, of thorns and briars, and of extreme anguish, is our descent to the grave ? The distresses and miseries of our course through this life, as well as the entrance into it, and the departure out of it, are so numerous and so mournful among all our race, that we can only say, he is the happiest of menwho has the fewest of them : But even the fewest miseries that any man has, if put hito an equal balance, perhapswould outweigh all the real and solid comforts of his present lifeput together, if it were utterly abstracted from all future hopes. And does mankind now look like a creature in favour with his Maker ? Or has he not rather evident marks upon him of the great displeasureof the God that created him ? Perhaps some will cry out here, in direct opposition to this sentiment, that notwithstandingall these scenes of misery which are opened and spread abroad in the world, yet still the greatest part of men live comfortably enough, andwith tolerable satisfaction, according to the condition and rank oftheir natures on this globe of earth. Are therenot a thousand delights and satisfactions still found among mankind in every age and nation ? How sweet and relishing are the pleasures of daily food to satisfy appetite, and to repair nature, and all the rich variety of fruits to refresh us, 'and of drinks to quench our thirst ? Is it not sweet sleep that renews our vigour, and gives ease to our weary limbs and spirits ? What is the delightful conversation of friends, and the mutual blessings of love and friendship, of advice comfort and assistance frem our natural kindred and our neighbours ? Do not these render human life among the bulk of mankind tolerable and easy, if not a chosen and a desirable. good ? In answer to this : Let us enquire a little, what are these boasted pleasures which are supposed to recompense the sorrows of life, and give the balance to happiness in this present state ?' Are they not most of them owing to some previous pain or uneasiness ? It is the painof hunger and thirst that makes food and drink so relishing : It is the pain of 'weariness or grief that renders sleep so refreshing. And as for the blessings of love and friendship, among neighbours and kindred, &c. do they not very often, and for the most part produce as muchor more vexing disquietude than they do satisfaction and peace ? I mean they
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