Page:Laird of Cool's ghost (NLS104186838).pdf/8

8 live in a place of the world, where the true knowledge of these things might have been easily attained.

Cool.— They never properly rejected the terms of salvation; they never, strictly speaking, rejected Christ; poor souls, they had as great a liking both to him and heaven, as their gross immaginations were capable of. Impartial reason must make many allowances, as the stupidity of their parents, want of education, distance from people of good sense and knowledge, and the uninterrupted application they were obliged to give to their secular affairs for their daily bread, the impious treachery of their pastors, who persuaded them, that if they were of such a party all was well: and may other considerations, which God, who is pure and perfect reason itself, will not overlook: these are not so much under the load of divine displeasure, as thy are out of his grace and favour; and you know is one thing to be discouraged and quite another thing to be persecuted with all the power and rage of an incensed earthly king. I assure you, men's faces are not more various and different in the world, than their circumstances are after death.

Ogil.— I am loath to believe all that you have said at this time, Cool, (but I will not dispute those matters with you) because some things you have advanced seem to contradict the Scriptures, which shall always look upon as the infallible truth of God. For I find, in the parable of Dives and Lazarus, that the one was immediately after death carried up by the angels into Abraham's bosom, and the other immediately thrust down to hell.

Cool.—Excuse me, Sir, that does not contradict one word that I have said, but you see not to understand the parable, whose only end is to illustrate the truth, that man may be very happy and flouring in