Page:Wonderful conferences which passed between the ghost of Mr. Maxwell of Cool, and the Rev. Mr. Ogilvy of Innerwick (NLS104185476).pdf/7

 poor ſouls! they had as great a liking both to him and heaven, as their groſs imaginations were capable of. Impartial reaſon muſt have many allowances; as the ſtupidity of their parents, want of education, diſtance from people of good ſenſe and knowledge, and uninterrupted application, they were obliged to give their ſecular affairs for their daily bread, the impious treachery of their paſtors, who perſuaded them, if they were of ſuch a party all was well, and many 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 they are out of his grace and favour; and you know it is one thing to be diſcovered, and quite another thing to be perfecuted with all the power and rage of an incenſed earthly king. I afſure you men's faces are not more various and different in the world, than their circumſtances after death.

Ogil.] I'm 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 I ſhall always look upon, to be the infallibie 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 Abrahani'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 ſeem not to underſtand the parable, whoſe only end is to illuſtrate the truth, that a man may be very happy and flouriſhing in this world, and moſt wretched and miſerable in the next, and that a man may be miſerable in this world, and more glorious and happy in the next.

Ogil] Be it ſo, Cool, I ſhall yield that point to you, and ſhall paſs to another which has afforded me much fpeculation ſince our laſt rencounter, and that is, how you came to know, that I talked after the manner I did concerning Mr. Paten or the firſt Sabbath of Fe-