The vanity of this mortal life, or, Of man, considered only in his present…

As if they had persuaded themselves into an opinion, That because they have had so prosperous success in the high achievements of conquering their humanity, and baffling their own Fear, and Reason, and Conscience, Death also will yield them as easy a victory, or be afraid to encounter men of so redoubled courage; that the God of Heaven, rather than offend ⟨p. 84⟩them, will not stick to repeal his Laws for their sakes, or never exact the observance of them from persons of their quality; that they shall never be called to judgment; or be complemented only there, with great respect, as persons that bore much sway in their Country, and could number so many Hundreds or Thousands a year; that, at least, the infernal flames will never presume to touch so worthy Personages; that Devils will be awed by their Greatness, and fear to seize them, lest they should take it for an affront. No conceit can be imputed to these men absurd enough to over-match the absurdity of their practice. They can themselves think nothing more gross and shameful, than what they daily are not ashamed to act. For what absurdity can be compassed in a thought, greater than what appears in a course of life managed in perpetual hostility to all Principles of Reason and Humanity? ⟨p. 85⟩And either they must own all the impious folly of such thoughts; or confess, upon other accounts, an equal infatuation in their thinking-faculty it self. For either they think their course justifiable, or they do not. If they do, how fatally are all things inverted in their depraved minds? Wisdom and Folly, Virtue and Vice, Good and Evil, seem to them transformed into one another, and are no longer to be known by their Names. The common notions of all mankind are but blind fancies in comparison of their later and clearer illumination. And the ancient religious sentiments of all former ages, dreams and follies to their admired n•w light. Their wise and rare discoveries, That they and all things came by chance; That this wor•• hath no Owner or Lord (because they never had wit or patience to consider the non-sense of them; and though they never any of them, had the luck to see […] ⟨p. 86⟩clod of earth or grain of sand start up into being out of nothing;