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

And who, that hath open eyes, beholds not the dreadful instances and increase of this difection? When it hath prevailed to that degree already, that in Civilized, yea in Christian Countries (as they yet affect to be cal•'d) the practice is become fashionable and in credit; which can square with no other Principle, than the disbelief of a future state, as if it were but a mere Poetic, or (at best) a Political Fiction. And as if so impudent infidelity would pretend not to a connivance only, but a sanction, 'tis rock••'d an odd and unc••th […] for a man to live as if he thou• […]; and ⟨image 7⟩a great presumption to seem to dissent from the profane infidel Crew. As if the matter were already formally determined in the behalf of Irreligion, and the Doctrine of the life to come had been clearly condemned in open Council, as a detestable Heresy. For what Tenet was ever more exploded and hooted at, than that practice is which alone agrees with this? Or what series or course of repeated Villainies can ever be more ignominious than (in vulgar estimate) a course of life so transacted as doth become the expectation of a blessed immortality? And what? After so much written and spoken by persons of all times and Religious for the immortality of the humane Soul, and so common an acknowledgement thereof by Pagans, Mahometans, Jews, and Christians; Is man now at last condemned and doomed to a perpetual death, as it were, by the consent and suffrage even of men? and that too without trial or hearing? and not by the reason of men, but their lusts only? As if (with a loud and violent cry) they would assassinate and stifle this belief and hope, but not ⟨image 8⟩judg it? And shall the matter be thus given up as hopeless? and the victory be yielded to prosperous wickedness, and a too successful conspiracy of vile Miscreants against both their Maker, and their own Stock and Race?

And who, that hath open eyes, beholds not the dreadful instances and increase of this difection? When it hath prevailed to that degree already, that in Civiliz'd, yea in Christian Countreys (as they yet affect to be cal•'d) the practice is become fashionable and in credit; which can square with no other Principle, than the disbelief of a future state, as if it were but a meer Poetick, or (at best) a Political Fiction. And as if so impudent inidelity would pretend not to a connivence only, but a sanction, 'tis rock'd an odd and uncth for a man to live as if he thou ; and