at a great Lofs to conceive how a human Creature, capable of Reflection, can work himself up into fuch an utter Infenfibility, at an Hour so awful, as that of the Separation of the Soul from the Body, and launching into the boundlefs immenfe Ocean of Eternity: And yet we fee daily Inftances of this fhocking Stupidity, for Stupidity it must be in such Instances as these; where the Wretch has not that Innocence and Purity, that Consciousness of having acted like a rational Creature, and that earnest Hope, that fond Defire, that Longing after Immortality, which fills the Heart, and fupports the Spirits of the juft Man in his laft Moments. Annihilation would be more tolerable to them, were they to think at all, than a future State of Existence; they would feel no fecret Dread, nor inward Horror, of finking into Nought; far from it, the Thought would be agreeable. Ignorance, fuch total Ignorance, as I have obferved, in fome of the loweft of our Race, may be one Reason of the Unconcern at a Circumstance it is poffible they know little of; but may we not rather feek for it, than in Ignorance, and a false Bravery, in the Confultations they receive from the Ordinary, the Absolutions and Promifes he gives them? He adminifters the Sacraments, and affures them of Pardon and Remiffion of Sins, thro' the Merits of Christ. Nothing can come nearer to the Practices of the Roman Catholics, than this artificial Affurance and Comfort given

given to the Criminals; and I think Dr. Mandeville's Scheme would have a better Effect, both upon. them, and the Spectators of their Exit, when he advises not to prostitute the Sacrament in that Manner, but to fuffer them to go full of Defpair; weeping and gnashing their Teeth, to the Gallows; which, perhaps, would have a real good Effect upon their Minds, bring them to a Senfe of their Condition, and make their Breathings, and fore Sighings of Heart, an acceptable Sacrifice for their Sins. Now, full of the Notion, that, by faying they believe what the Ordinary tells them, they fhall be faved, adding thereto the facred Ceremonies of the Church, they think they may put on what Appearance fuits their Tempers beft at the shocking Moment, and their natural Vanity directs them to fuch an one as fhall gain the greatest Applause with the Mob. The Ordinary fhould be honest enough to tell them the Uncertainty, the evident Uncertainty of their Repentances being received, when it is deferred to the laft Moment of Life; that Death-bed Repentances are not worthy of that Term, and that no one can be faid fincerely to repent, unless he has an Opportunity, and does amend his Life; that, indeed, God is a Being of infinite Mercy, and that he has great Confidence, if they are truly fincere, that their Prayers, tho' late, may be received, and plead at the Throne

of

of Grace; and further than this he ought not, nor fhould not, prefume to go.

The Profecution we were thus obliged to, of these Men, took us up a confiderable Time; and it was fcarce finished, when a Meffage was left at my Lodgings, that Mr. Archer and Mr. Sharpley were arrived in Town; and that, as they could stay but a Week at moft, they begged as much of my Company as poffible, and defired I would meet them that very Evening at the Standard Tavern in Leicester-fields. I was quite overjoyed at the Thoughts of seeing these two dear Friends, whom I loved as much, almoft, as if they had been my Fathers. I could not imagine, however, what brought them up to Town, and fufpected it had fome Relation to my Affairs, or that somewhat had happened to their Sons, more than ordinary, fince I had heard from them: So, full of eager Expectation, begging the Favour of Prig's Company, I hafted, as foon as the Hour came, to the Place of Appointment.

CHAP. XXXV.

He meets Mr. Archer and Mr. Sharpley.He apologises for his Friend.-Receives an Account of Sir Walter's Alteration of Temper, and the Difference between him and the 'Squire.-They bring him a Letter from Fidele.-Its remarkable Contents.- His Rage after perufing it.-They return into Yorkfhire.-Prig fets out upon a Journey.—He grows more and more melancholy.

Y Meeting with thefe worthy Gentlemen.

MY

was accompanied with Marks of the fincereft Friendship and Affection, proceeding from the Heart, undefiled with the Grimaces of Compliment. I introduced Mr. Prig to their Acquaintance, as a Man I greatly esteemed, and was thanked, on all Sides, for the Favour. After the firft Civilities were over, I enquired after the Health of my Father and Mother, and their Families. My Father had fent me a Letter, by Mr. Sharpley, in which he informed me, that he and my Mother were in perfect Health, but that he was fomewhat chagrined, at not being able to come up to London in less than three Months after the Time he before had appointed, and which was now juft on expiring; because the Gentleman, who had the greateft Part of his Ready Money in his Hands, would not be able to call up what he thought neceffary before. He

told

told me, in the Conclufion, that, if I had no overbearing Inclination to ftay in Town till then, he fhould be glad if I would come into Yorkshire, and spend the intermediate Space of Time, between this and his Setting out, to fee me fettled in the World. There was no Anfwer to my Requeft of going abroad, as my Friend Diaper had done, which a little furprised me, as I had made it in fo preffing a Manner. Mr. Sharpley had accompanied his Friend up to Town, thro' Civility, and principally with a Defire to fee me, for Mr. Archer's Business was to execute fome Commiffions for his Son, who went on at Oporto with great Succefs. As to young Sharpley, I found he was, at prefent, Second Lieutenant of the Swiftfure, to which he had been removed from the Loo, and was now upon the Station of Boston in New England; of which I took a Memorandum, with a Purpose to write to him the first Opportunity. We now began to talk over old Affairs, and Mr. Archer was surprised, he faid, at the Step my Friend Diaper had taken, and more especially when he understood with how much Eafe he might have entered again into Trade, with an abfolute Prospect of retrieving his Circumftances; to which I replied, That it was no eafy Matter for a Man, who has once found himself at the End of his Wifhes, but is fuddenly difappointed by fome unforeseen Stroke of ill Fortune, to affume Spirit and Perfeverance fufficient to bear

the