For all things else, which Nature makes to be, Their being to preserve, are chiefly taught; And though some things desire a change to see, Yet never thing did long to turn to naught. If then by death the soul were quenched quite, She could not thus against her nature run; Since ev'ry senseless thing, by Nature's light, Doth preservation seek, destruction shun. Nor could the world's best spirits so much err, For what is praise to things that nothing be? Again, if by the body's prop she stand; As Meleager's on the fatal brand, The body's good she only would intend: We should not find her half so brave and bold, Doubtless, all souls have a surviving thought, REASON IV. From the fear of death in the wicked souls. AND as the better spirit, when she doth bear A scorn of death, doth show she cannot die; So when the wicked soul Death's face doth fear, E'en then she proves her own eternity. For when Death's form appears, she feareth not But she doth doubt what after may befall; Then she who hath been hoodwink'd from her birth, And when her body doth return to earth, Who ever sees these irreligious men, With burthen of a sickness weak and faint, When was there ever cursed atheist brought That blessed Pow'r which he had set at naught, These light vain persons still are drunk and mad, With surfeitings and pleasures of their youth; But at their death they are fresh, sober, sad; Then they discern, and then they speak the truth. If then all souls, both good and bad, do teach, REASON V. From the general desire of immortality. HENCE Springs that universal strong desire, Not some few spirits unto this thought aspire, Then this desire of Nature is not vain, From hence that gen'ral care and study springs, That launching and progression of the mind, Which all men have so much of future things, That they no joy do in the present find. From this desire, that main desire proceeds, For she that this desires, doth still remain. Hence, lastly, springs care of posterities, For things their kind would everlasting make : Hence is it, that old men do plant young trees, The fruit whereof another age shall take. If we these rules unto ourselves apply, In our hearts' tables we shall written find. REASON VI. From the very doubt and disputation of immortality. AND though some impious wits do questions move, Because they seem immortal things to know. For he who reasons on both parts doth bring, He could not judge immortal things at all. For when we judge, our minds we mirrors make; Forms of material things do only take; So when we God and angels do conceive, And as if beasts conceiv'd what reason were, For without reason, none could reason know: So when the soul mounts with so high a wing, E'en when she strives the contrary to prove. For e'en the thought of immortality, Being an act done without the body's aid, Shows that herself alone could move and be, Although the body in the grave were laid. SECTION XXXI. THAT THE SOUL CANNOT BE DESTROYED. AND if herself she can so lively move, But though corruption cannot touch the mind, Perhaps her cause may cease,† and she may die : God is her cause, his word her maker was : Which shall stand fix'd for all eternity, When Heav'n and Earth shall like a shadow pass. † She hath no contrary. *Her cause ceaseth not. |