1Those thieves and murderers that have confirmed their infidelity, and overcome all the expectations of another world, will as boldly venture their lives to rob and kill, as if they were of little worth: yea, when they know that they must die, how desperately go they to the gallows, and how little make they of their lives: Its true, (as was aforesaid) that nature abhorreth death; but we see among Soldiers, that he that at first is timorous, when he hath been used a while to kill men, or to see them killed by thousands, groweth senseless, almost regardless of his life, and will make as it were a jest of death. And when it is so ordinary a thing with men to kill birds, and fishes, and beasts, for their daily food and pleasure, why should they not easily bear their own, if they look for nothing after death? A beast loveth his life as well as we, and our death is no more painful than theirs, and we should have as much courage as a beast. Especially men that live a poor and miserable life on earth, would little fear that death which endeth it; and so humane Government it self would be in vain. He that would have an instrument to revenge him on his enemy, to kill his Governor, or do any villainy in the world, if it were not for fear of another world, might find enow among Poor villains, that by misery or melancholy are a-weary of their lives. At least as long as they run but a hazard, like a Soldier in fight, and may possibly scape by craft, or flight, or friends, or strength, what wickedness will they not commit? What Prince so just that hath not some rebellious Subject, or some Enemy that seeks his life? What man so good that is not maliced by some? Who hath money or an estate, which one or other doth not desire? and if there were nothing but death and annihilation to restrain men, what Prince, what person, had any security of his life or estate? If a Rogue once grow but sensual and idle, he will deliberately resolve, [I will venture my life to live in pleasure, rather than live in certain toil and misery; a short life, and a sweet, is better than a longer which is miserable, and must end at last.] We see, if once men be persuaded that they shall die like beasts, that they are not much troubled at it, because they think that when they have no being, they shall have no fear, nor care, nor grief, nor trouble, nor pain, nor want.
1Those thieves and murderers that have confirmed their infidelity, and overcome all the expectations of another world, will as boldly venture their lives to rob and kill, as if they were of little worth: yea, when they know that they must die, how desperately go they to the gallows, and how little make they of their lives: Its true, (as was aforesaid) that nature abhorreth death; but we see among Souldiers, that he that at first is timerous, when he hath been used a while to kill men, or to see them kill'd by thousands, groweth senseless, almost regardless of his life, and will make as it were a jest of death. And when it is so ordinary a thing with men to kill birds, and fishes, and beasts, for their daily food and pleasure, why should they not easily bear their own, if they look for nothing after death? A beast loveth his life as well as we, and our death is no more painful than theirs, and we should have as much courage as a beast. Especially men that live a poor and miserable life on earth, would little fear that death which endeth it; and so humane Government it self would be in vain. He that would have an instrument to revenge him on his enemy, to kill his Governour, or do any villany in the world, if it were not for fear of another world, might find enow among Poor villains, that by misery or melancholly are a-weary of their lives. At least as long as they run but a hazard, like a Souldier in fight, and may possibly scape by craft, or flight, or friends, or strength, what wickedness will they not commit? What Prince so just that hath not some rebellious Subject, or some Enemy that seeks his life? What man so good that is not maliced by some? Who hath mony or an estate, which one or other doth not desire? and if there were nothing but death and annihilation to restrain men, what Prince, what person, had any security of his life or estate? If a Rogue once grow but sensual and idle, he will deliberately resolve, [I will venture my life to live in pleasure, rather than live in certain toil and misery; a short life, and a sweet, is better than a longer which is miserable, and must end at last.] We see, if once men be perswaded that they shall die like beasts, that they are not much troubled at it, because they think that when they have no being, they shall have no fear, nor care, nor grief, nor trouble, nor pain, nor want.
- 1Magna est peccandi illecebra spes impanitatis. Cic. pro Mil. The Light of Nature taught men, that God would not accept the sacrifices of the wicked, much less admit them to his glory. Donis impii ne placare Deos audeant Plato••m audiant, qui vetat dubitare qua sit mente futurus Deus, cum vir nemo bonus ab improbo se donati velit. Cic. de Leg. l. 2. p. 244. The Epicurean confesseth, Quod si qui satis opibus hominem sibi contra conscientiam septi esse & muniti videntur, Deorum tamen numen horrent, easque ipsas solicitudines, quibus animi noctes diesque exeduntur, à Diis supplicii causa importare putant. Cic. de •in. l. 1. p. 84. Nullum conscium peccatorum tuorum, magis timueris quàm temet ipsum: alium enim potes effugere, •e autem nunquam: Nequitia ipsa est sui poena. Sen.
