Page:Wonderful conferences which passed between the ghost of Mr. Maxwell of Cool, and the Rev. Mr. Ogilvy of Innerwick (NLS104185476).pdf/9

 Ogil.] I read that there are ten thouſand times ten thouſands of angels that wait upon God, and ſing his praiſe,and do his will and I cannot underſtand how the good angels ſhould be inferior in number to the evil.

Cool.] Did I not ſay, that whatever the number be, the ſpirits departed are employed in the ſame buſineſs, ſo that as to the number of original deities, whereof Satan is chief, I cannot determine, but you need not doubt but there are more ſouls departed to that place, which, in a looſe ſenſe, you call hell, by almoſt an infinity, than what are gone to that place, which in a like ſenſe, you call heaven, who likewiſe are employed in the ſame purpoſe; and I can aſſure you, by the bye, that there is as great a difference between angels both good and bad, as there is among men, with reſpect to their ſenſe, knowledge, cunning, cleverneſs and action; nay, which is more, the departed fouls in both ſides out do ſeverals, from their very, firſt departure, of the original angels. This you'll perhaps think a paradox, but 'tis true.

Ogil.] I do not doubt it, but what is that to my queſtion about what I am ſolicitous.

Cool.] Take a little patience, Sir, from what I've ſaid, you might have underſtood me, if you had your thought about you, but I ſhall explain myſelf to you. Both the good and the bad angels have ſtated times of rendezvous, and the principal angels who have the charge either of towns, cities, or kingdoms, not to mention particular perſons, villages and families, and all that is tranſacted in theſe ſeveral parts of the country, are there made open; and at their rencounter on reach ſide; every thing is told as in your parish, in milns, kilns and ſmithies, only with this difference, that many things falſe are talked at the living rencounters, but nothing but what is exact truth is ſaid or told among the dead; only I muſt obſerve to you, That as I'm credibly informed, ſeveral of the interior bad angels or ſouls of wicked men, departed, have told many things that they have done, and when a more