A26782:231
Considerations of the existence of God and of the immortality of the soul, with…
Considerations of the existence of God and of the immortality of the soul, with the recompenses of the future state for the cure of infidelity, the hectic evil of the times / by William Bates ...Considerations of the existence of God and of the immortality of the soul, with the recompences of the future state for the cure of infidelity, the hectick evil of the times / by William Bates ...
London: printed by J.D. for Brabazon Aylmer, 1676
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
'Twas a wise Answer to one that asked why the* Lacedaemonians were so slow in passing Capital Judgments; why so many Examinations taken, so many Defences permitted to the Accused; and after Conviction & Sentence, such a space of time before Execution. The reason of it is, because an error in that case is incorrigible. They might kill the Living, but could not revive the Dead. Now, since after Death is inflicted on the guilty Soul 'tis lost for ever, how should it stop Men in the voluntary and precipitate Condemnation of themselves, by the wilful rejecting of the Grace, that is offered to them upon their present acceptance?
'Twas a wise Answer to one that ask'd why the* Lacedemonians were so slow in passing Capital Judgments; why so many Examinations taken, so many Defences permitted to the Accused; and after Conviction & Sentence, such a space of time before Execution. The reason of it is, because an errour in that case is incorrigible. They might kill the Living, but could not revive the Dead. Now, since after Death is inflicted on the guilty Soul 'tis lost for ever, how should it stop Men in the voluntary and precipitate Condemnation of themselves, by the wilful rejecting of the Grace, that is offered to them upon their present acceptance?
- *Plut. Apoth.
To draw to an end; it follows from what has been discoursed, that 'tis the most necessary and highest point of Wisdom, to conduct ⟨p. 282⟩our Lives with a respect to the Tribunal above, that will pass a righteous and unchangeable Sentence upon Men, for all the good and evil done here. The Consequence is so manifest and palpable that nothing but perfect Madness can deny. If there be a spark of Reason, a grain of Faith, the Mind must assent to it. For if Prudence consist in the choice and use of means to procure the Good we want, and in preventing the Evil we justly fear, certainly according as the Good is more noble and difficult, or the Evil more dangerous and destructive, the more eminent is the Wisdom in obtaining our end. Now what is the chief Good to which all our desires should turn, and our endeavours aspire? What are Crowns, Sceptres, Robes of State, splendour of Jewels, Treasures, or whatever