William Ogilvie

“ Ogil.—Tell me then, since such is your ability, that you can fly a thousand miles in the twinkling of an eye, if your desire to do the oppressed justice, be as great as you pretend what's the reason you don't fly to the coffers of some rich Jew or Banker, where are thousands of gold and silver invisibly lift and invisibly return it to the coffers of the injured? And since your wife has sufficient fund, and more, why cannot you empty her purse invisibly, to make these people amends? ”

“ How much greater cause then has the profane and worldly man to be seized with horror and dismay, who, in the midst of pomp and deceitful pleasures may perceive the frightful hand of Death writing on every wall in his house in capital letters, and even engraving on his forehead, that God hath numbered his days, and that this in which he breathes shall be soon followed by an eternal night! ”

“ Ogil.— I know you was a scholar, Cool, and 'tis generally believed there is a private judgement, besides the general at the great day, the former immediately after death.--Upon this he interrupted me, arguing.
Cool.— No such thing, no such thing! No trial, no trial till the great day! The heaven which good men enjoy after death, consists only in the serenity of their minds, and the satisfaction of a good conscience; and the certain hopes they have of eternal joy, when that day shall come. ”

“ 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 this world, and wretched and miserable in the next; and that a man may be miserable in this world and happy and glorious in the next.
Ogil.—Be it so, Cool, I shall yield that point to you, and pass to another which has afforded me much speculation since our last encounter ”

“ You are a little too forward this night, Sir, and incline much to banter, what I have said, might satisfy you; but since it does not, I will tell you further, that no spirit, good or bad, have power to take any money or gold: The good never do, though the bad, if one in an age, 'tis no small quarrel, for if we were allowed them, then they would be very successful in their business, and never fail of gaining their points. ”

“ But you need not doubt that there are more Spirits departed in that Place you in a loose general Sense call Hell, by almost an Infinity, by what are gone to that Place, which in the like Sense, you call Heaven, which likewise are employed to the same Purpose. And I can assure you, by the Bye, that there are as great Differences between Angels, both good and bad, as there are amongst Men, with Respect to their Sense, Knowledge, Cleverness, and Cunning or Action. ”

“ The punishment or hell of the wicked, immediately after death, consists in the stings of an awakened conscience, and the terrors of facing the great Judge, and the sensible apprehensions of eternal torments ensuing. And this bears still a due proportion to the evils they did when living. So indeed the state of some good folks differ but little in happiness from what they enjoyed in the world, save only that they are free from the body, and the sins and sorrows that attend it. ”

“ Well then Cool, let me have a peaceable and easy conversation with you for the time we ride together, and give me some information about the affairs of the other world, for no map inclines to lose his time in conversing with the dead, without hearing or learning something that is useful. ”

“ 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. ”

“ You must know that there are sent from heaven, angels to guard and comfort, and to do other good services to good people, and even the spirits of good men departed are employed in that errand.
Ogil.— And do you not think that every man has a good angel?
Cool.— No, but a great many particular men have; there are but few houses of distinction especially, but what have at least one attending them, and from what you have already heard of spirits, it is no difficult matter to understand how they may he serviceable to each particular member, though at different places at a great distance. ”

“ I told him that the list of his grievances were so great, that I could not possibly remember them without being put in writing; and that I wanted nothing but reason to determine me in that, and all other affairs of my life.--I know, says he, this is a mere evasion, but tell me if the Laird of Thurston will do it? I am sure, said I, he will not: and if he should, I would do all that I could to hinder him; for I think he has as little to do in these matters as myself. But tell me, Cool, Is it not as easy to write your story as tell it, or ride on what do you call him ? ”

“ Many are the good offices which the good angels do to them that fear God though many times they are not sensible of it: and I know assuredly that one powerful angel, or even an active clever soul departed, may be sufficient for some villages; but for your great cities, such as London, Edinburgh, or the like, there is one great angel, that has the superintendance of the whole: and there are inferior angels, or souls departed, to whose particular care such a man, of such a particular weight or business, is committed. ”

“ Ogil.— What is that you tell me Cool? Do not unworthy fellows break house every night and yet you, that can put yourself into so many hundred different shapes in a moment cannot do it.
Cool.— It is true, Sir, against the living, men may find out some probable means of securing themselves: but if spirits departed were allowed, then no man would be secure; for, in that case every man I had a prejudice at would soon be beggared. ”

“ When man, who was created in the image of God, makes his appearance from the dust, he struts about a little while, and becomes formidable; but as soon as death strikes at his earthly parts, and begins to break his flesh and his bones, all the pomp and power all the glory and magnificence of the richest, most victorious and most terrible monarch is changed into a lothsome stench, turns to ashes, and is reduced to nothing, "vanity of vanities, all is vanity."-Eccl. ”

“ A holy man speaking of Death, styles it with a great deal of elegance and propriety, the King of Terrors, Job xviii. 14, that is to say, the most terrible thing in the world. Nor indeed is there any thing that presents itself to our imagination, which bears a more formidable aspect. It is possible to escape the edge of the sword to stop the mouths of lions, and to quench the rage of fire ”

“ There is no war so furious and cruel, but what admits of some days or at least some hours of truce, and even the most inhuman minds are at last weary of their conquest, and cloyed with shedding blood. At every hour and moment it mows down whole nations and kindreds. ”

“ For what is all the pomp, glory, power, and dignity of this life, but a smoke driven with the wind and a vapour that soon vanishes? It is like a shadow that flies from us, or a dream that quickly fades away. ”

“ The expectation of Death is more intolerable to them than Death itself; and they had rather cast themselves headlong into the bottomless pit of hell, than endure the terror and fears of it in their guilty consciences. In short, if there be any who die unconcerned, or without any terror upon their conscience, they must be either pereous entirely stupid and brutal, or like a drunkard who is thrown from a precipice when fast asleep.
FINIS. ”

“ The fortune of war is various, he that wins the victory to-day, to-morrow may be put to flight; and he that rides at present on a triumphal car, may be come the footstool of his enemy. But Death is always victorious, and insolently triumphs over all the kings and people of the earth. ”

“ It mocks at the lamentations of the fair and lovely, and delights to trample upon their enchanting beauties. It stops its ears to the supplications of trembling old age, and takes a pride in casting to the ground those venerable oaks which have been so long rooted in the world. ”