William Ogilvie

“ Cool.—You may depend upon it, it is not the same body that I was witness to your marriage in, nor in which I died, for that is in the grave rotting; but is such a body as serves me in a moment, for I can fly as fleet with it, as my soul can do without it; so that I can go to Dumfries, and return again, before you can ride twice the length of your horse ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ? ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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? ”

“ 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. ”

“ Mr Paton, and other ministers in Dumfries, would tell me, the devil had spokon with me; and why should I repeat these things for truth, which he that was a liar from the beginning, had told me: C—p—l and B—r H—rie would be upon me, and pursue me before the Commissary; every body would look upon me as a brain-sick or mad; therefore I intreat you to do not insist upon sending me so ridiculous an errand. ”

“ 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. ”

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

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ Since therefore Death is so cruel as to spare none, and its power so great that none can either escape or resist, it is no wonder that it becomes so terrible, and fills with fear, anguish, and despair, the minds of all such as have not settled their faith and hope upon God. ”

“ Cool.— Because I cannot.
Ogil.— If these things be rectified, you would be easy and happy; I don't at all credit that for whatever justice may be done to the people, yet the guilt of the base action always remains upon you. ”

“ On the other hand, there are some who may be said rather not to have been good, than that they are wicked; while living, their state is not easily distinguished from that of the former; and under that class comes a great herd of souls; a vast number of ignorant people, who have not much minded the affairs of eternity, but at the same time have lived in much indolence, ignorance and innocence.
Ogil.— I thought that their rejecting the terms of salvation offered, was sufficient ground for God, to punish them with eternal displeasure ”

“ It blows down the strongest baricadoes, and laughs at all our military entrenchments; every where it finds the weakness of our armour, and through the best tempered breast-plate strikes the proudest heart. ”

“ But because the kingdom of Satan is much better replenished than the other, instead of one devil, there are in many instants two or three commissioned to attend a particular family of influence and distinction.
Ogil.— I read that there are ten thousand times ten thousand of angels that wait upon God, and sing his praise and do his will, and I cannot understand how the good angels can be inferior in number to the evil. ”

“ There are none so barbarous, but are sometimes overcome by the prayers and tears of such as themselves to implore mercy and compassion; and even those who have the least sense of humanity commonly spare the weakest sex and age. But unmerciful Death has no more respect to such as humble themselves then to those that resist. ”

“ 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 re-encounter on each side, every thing is told, as in your parish, in mills, kilns, and smithies, with this difference, that many things false are talked at the living re-encounters, but nothing but what is exact truth, is said or told among the dead ”

“ In the most solitary retirement it comes upon us, and snatches us from the midst of the most faithful vigilant guards. In short, there is nothing either in nature or art which can protect us from its cruel and insatiable hands. ”

“ In the day of battle, when Princes or Generals of an army are taken prisoners, they are treated in a different manner from common soldiers, but inexorable Death, who is wind to all distinctions, treads under foot, with the same haughtiness, the prince and the subject, the master and the servant ”

“ When I was at Dumfries, the same day that Thomas Grier died, to whom I was owing an account of £36, C———l, my goodbrother, was then at London, and not being able of myself, being but a bad writer, to make out a discharge of the account, which I wanted exceedingly, I met accidentally with one Robert Boyd, a poor writer lad in Dumfries: I took him to Mrs. Garnock's, and gave him a bottle of wine, and told him that I had paid Thomas Grier's account, but had neglected to get a discharge; and if he would help me to one I would reward him. ”

“ The great Alexanders, and the triumphant Cesars, who made the world tremble before them and subdued most part of the habitable earth could never find any weapons to defend them against this last enemy. ”

“ Mr Ogilvie then minister of Innerwick, near Dunbar, on hearing this blamed Mr Paton-much, saying, Had I been there, he would not only have advised him to keep the promise, but have gone with him.
Dunbar, May 4th, 1785. James Hamilton
Ogil— Then I know how to manage our conversation; whatever I inquire of you, I see you can easily shift me; so that I might profit more by conversing with myself. Cool.—You may try.
Ogil.—Well, then, what sort of a body is that you appear in; and what sort of a horse is that you ride upon, which apperas to be so full of metal? ”

“ He answered, what were your thoughts, I don't pretend to know, but I can depend on my information that these were your words; but I see you are in some disorder, I will wait upon you when you have more presence of mind. ”

“ There are a number of warlike inventions wherewith to oppose the attempts of the most powerful and implaceable enemy, but neither the stratagems of the greatest captains, the most regular fortifications, nor the most victorious and triumphant armies can withstand a single moment at the approach of Death. ”

“ It never returns to its den without being loaded with spoils, and drenched with blood. The strong Sampsons, and the victorious Davids, who have torn in pieces lions and bears, and cut off the heads of Goliahs have, at last, been devoured and swallowed up by Death. ”

“ Upon this I said, 'Tis a pity, Cool,
* See note at the bottom of page 5.
4
that you who know so many things, should not know the difference between an absolute and conditional promise; I did indeed at the time you mention, blame Mr Paton, for I thought him justly blameable, in hindering the lad to meet with you, and if I had been in his place, I would have acted quite the reverse; but I did never say, that if you would come to Innerwick and employed me, that I would go all the way to Dumfries on such an errard, that is what never so much as entered into my thoughts. ”