The sovereign and final happiness of man with the effectual means to obtain itThe soveraign and final happiness of man with the effectual means to obtain it

Thus some who were urged by such motives to renounce their Religion, told the Persecutors, that Life was not sweet to them if they might not live Christians, nor Death bitter if they must die for Christ. A lively firm persuasion of the excellence and eternity of the Reward,¹ what miraculous effects would it produce? Nothing would be impossible within the compass of our Duty, either to do or suffer in order to a glorious Immortality. Faith has a celestial Power, a magnetic Virtue to draw up the Heart from the Earth, and fastens it to things above. It is not imaginable that a clear sighted Soul, that sees a Good infinitely great, should reject it for mean things to please the lower Desires. We may as probably imagine, that a skilful Jeweller would part with the richest Oriental Pearls, for Cherry Stones to play with Children.

Thus some who were urged by such motives to renounce their Religion, told the Persecutors, that Life was not sweet to them if they might not live Christians, nor Death bitter if they must die for Christ. A lively firm persuasion of the excellence and eternity of the Reward,¹ what miraculous effects would it produce? Nothing would be impossible within the compass of our Duty, either to do or suffer in order to a glorious Immortality. Faith has a celestial Power, a magnetick Virtue to draw up the Heart from the Earth, and fastens it to things above. It is not imaginable that a clear sighted Soul, that sees a Good infinitely great, should reject it for mean things to please the lower Desires. We may as probably imagine, that a skilful Jeweller would part with the richest Oriental Pearls, for Cherry Stones to play with Children.

1. 1Nec vereamu occidi, quos constat, quando occidim• coronary. Cyp.Nec vereamu occidi, quos constat, quando occidim• coronari. Cyp.