fhall burn eternally.

Thefe are the only flames,

which can be really filed everlasting.

Thofe of the ftars, that of the fun, which enlighterhand warm the earth, and make her fruitful, fhall be put out at last.; but these shall blaze for many ages, without any thing being able to put them out, or even to leffen their violence. But let us now go on to the other 'prerogatives and advantages that Hell enjoys, which are a good many.

Hell a moft excellent place, on account of its eafinefs

are the richest, the moft agreeable, the most flourishing, and the best peopled, and whofe inhabitants musft, confequently, be happy, have the most fea-ports. The cause of this is obvious. Since they can, and do, import into it from all countries that can produce abundance, by this means, it both promotes trade, and increases the number of inhabitants, and muft confequently make not only the fubjects, but also the fovereign of the country under whom they live, rich. Now the convenient fituati

on

on of Hell, which has made it acceffible to every nation of the world in all ages, is one of the greatest advantages it has. I even fay more, that in this ticle it has the advantage of Heaven itself.

A

ar

In short, if this laft mentioned place is a feat of happiness, it has alfo this great inconvenience, that no one can get to it but with a great deal of trouble. The road which leads to it is both dangerous and difficult; it is very narrow, every where crouded with thorns and briars, and environed on every fide with frightful, and almost inevitable rocks and precipices; and the way itself is fo fteep and flippery, that we often fee happen to them who go thither with the greatest courage, what foldiers fuffer every day in befieging a place which they hope to take by ftorm. They fet their ladders up against the walls, which they climb with the utmoft difficulty. Already have a hand, a foot upon the rampart; nay, even think themselves the mafters of the place, and, in idea, fubmitted to their direction; when, in the very moment that they think their fortunes made, one fatal stroke diflodges them from the ladder and the rampart, and tumbles them 'headlong down into the ditch, where, inftead, of that victory they already thought themselves certain of, they meet the death they did not in the leaft think of, or, at the beft, difgrace instead of glory. How many devotees have

we not seen, in like manner, who, after haring, in this world, fuffered a thousand voluntary hardships,

born croffes and fcapularies numberlefs, faid over thoufands of Pater-Nofters and Ave-Marias, fafted for hundreds of Advents, Lents, Vigils, and Emberweeks, and given themfelves fome millions of ftrokes. of discipline, thinking thereby to gain paradife, wherein they even flattered themselves they had one foot already; how many, I fay, have we not feen of these, who, in this affurance, were ready, like fo many Cæfars, to exclaim, "I am come, I have seen, I have "conquered," yet happening unfortunately to make one falfe ftep, instead of that Heaven, at which they thought they were already arrived, have fallen headlong to the profound abyfs of Hell, where, undoubtedly, they imagined they should never go.

:

NOTHING like this is to be feared as to the infernal empire the paths which lead to it are open, wide, convenient, and fpacious; plain beaten tracts; wherein, how great foever the croud of travellers is,. there is no fear of pushing, of jostling, or of falling. Here you may come and go at every hour, and at every feason, and that in full fecurity. You meet no bailiff there to feize your perfon; no fpy to watch your actions; no turnpike to hinder your paffage; no bully to disturb your peace; no robber to make you tremble for your purse, and ftill lefs for your life. On the contrary, you will find none there but civil, well-bred people, who come moft gracioufly to meet, falute, and to embrace you kindly, and offer generously to take the road with you, for

fear

When you get to your

fear you fhould be tired. journey's end, you there find others, who congratulate you on your arrival, kindly reach their hands to you in token of friendship, and even take the trouble to lead and introduce you into that quarter of Hell where you are to lodge.

SUSPECT not, reader, that I am endeavouring to impose on you by the picture I have been drawing. The fact is fo undoubted, that, long before my time, He who is Truth himfelf, marked out the contrast to his own difciples, in saying to them, "Enter ye "in at the ftrait gate, for wide is the gate, and broad "is the way, that leadeth to deftruction, and many "there be which go in thereat; but ftrait is the 66 gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life, "and few there be that find it ." In short, there are thousands who travel there at every hour and every minute, fome in coaches and fix, others in cha riots, fome in post-chaises, some in phaetons, fome in waggons, fome in litters, fome in fedans, fome on foot, fome on horfe-back, fome on affes, fome on mules, fome on camels, fome on dromedaries, and fome on elephants. And all thefe joyous travellers purfue their journey most delightfully, laughing, finging, dancing, eating, drinking, fporting, and rejoicing, fome with their friends, fome with their relations,

B 5

Matthew, chapter VII. verfes 13 and 14. Luke

chapter XIII. the 24th and following verfes.

lations, fome with their wives and children, fome with their whores and baftards. Every one, in fhort, makes the best of his way in joy, and in the midst of feasting and pleasure. Now, tell me, I intreat you, where is the man, who is not at least some mifan thrope, fome enemy to himself, that would make a moment's doubt as to the choice of these two roads, fo different from each other?

WOULD you pretend to go to Heaven? You must for that be continually at prayers, perpetually upon your guard, in the inceffant practice of mortification, renounce all the pleasures of this world, and fubdue your flesh by penitence and fafting. You muft be at continual warfare with your defires, reduce your body, and even your mind, to the greatest degree of humility: fuffer all forts of miferies, not only without the leaft murmuring or complaint, but even with pleasure. You must be rigid, nay, even cruel to yourself, fo far as to cut off a leg or arm if neceffary, or pull out your eyes, the tendereft, most delicate and precious part of the whole human body. Nay, even after you have done all this, you are no nearer than if you had done nothing; fince one moment, nay, a fimple second of self-love, may make you lose the fruit of all your labours. You muft, moreover, be continually imploring the mercy of God to grant you that place in Heaven which you aspire to, which all your labours of themselves could never

deferve,