Considerations of the existence of God and of the immortality of the soul, with…

I answer; the inference is very preposterous, for the reason of their choice is, because they are attentive to an object infinitely more^‖ sad and afflictive, that is, a state of everlasting torments, which the guilty conscience presages to be the just recompense of their crimes. So that enclosed between two evils, an eternal state of not Being, and an Eternity of misery, 'tis reasonable to venture on the least, to escape the greater. But supposing any hopes of future happiness, they would desire immortality as an excellent benefit. As one that has lost the pleasure and taste of Life, by consuming sickness, and sharp pains, or some other great calamities, may be willing to die, but supposing a freedom from those evils, the desire of Life as the most ⟨p. 191⟩precious and dear enjoyment would strongly return. And that the desire of Immortality is natural, I shall add one most visible testimony. For whereas the lower sort of Creatures that finally perish in Death are without the least knowledge of a future estate, and are therefore careless of leaving a memorial after them: on the contrary, Men are solicitous to secure their names from oblivion, as conscious of their souls surviving in another World. This ardent passion not directed by higher Principles, excites them to use all means, to obtain a kind of immortality from Mortals. They reward Historians, Poets, Orators to celebrate their actions. They erect Monuments of durable Brass and Marble to represent the Effigies of their faces: They endeavour ⟨p. 192⟩by triumphal Arches, Pyramids, and other works of Magnificence, to eternize their Fame, to live in the eyes, and mouths, and memories of the living in all succeeding times. These indeed are vain shadows, yet argue the desire of immortality to be natural. As 'tis evident there is a natural affection in Parents to preserve their Children, because when they are deprived of their living presence, they dearly value and preserve their dead Pictures, though but a poor consolation.

I answer; the inference is very preposterous, for the reason of their choice is, because they are attentive to an object infinitely more^‖ sad and afflictive, that is, a state of everlasting torments, which the guilty conscience presages to be the just recompence of their crimes. So that enclosed between two evils, an eternal state of not Being, and an Eternity of misery, 'tis reasonable to venture on the least, to escape the greater. But supposing any hopes of future happiness, they would desire immortality as an excellent benefit. As one that has lost the pleasure and taste of Life, by consuming sickness, and sharp pains, or some other great calamities, may be willing to die, but suppossing a freedom from those evils, the desire of Life as the most