paffion overcame all the Strength of his Nature as a MAN, and he wept a confiderable Space of Time; 'till Confideration and firmer Thought put a Restraint upon the Excess of his Tears, and fcarcely able to utter his Words for Sorrow, he renew'd his Complaint:

O MISERABLE MANKIND! to what a Fall degra ded! and to what a wretched State referv'd! it were better to end here, and never be born! Why is Life given, to be fnatch'd in this Manner from us? Rather, why is it forc'd thus upon us? Who, if we knew what we were to receive, would either not accept Life when offer'd us; or having once accepted of it, beg to lay it down, and be glad to be fo difmifs'd in Peace? Can the Image of GOD in MAN (created once fo goodly and fo erect, though fince fallen into Guilt) thus be debas'd to fuch unfightly Sufferings, under fuch inhuman Pains? Why should not MAN, who still in Part retains the Likenefs and Image of GOD, be free and exempt from fuch Deformities, in Confideration that his MAKER'S Image is ftamp'd upon him?

THEIR MAKER'S Image forfook them, anfwered the Arch-Angel, then, when they funk, and leffen'd themselves fo, that they broke his Command to ferve ungovern'd Appetite, and took upon them his Image, whom they then ferv'd; following the Vice of a Brute, in eating the Fruit of the forbidden Tree; for by the Serpent's eating, EvE was induc'd to fin. Therefore their Punishment by Diftemper, is as abject; not disfiguring GoD's Likeness, but their's: Or, if it be the Likenefs of God, it is defac'd by themselves, while they pervert the pure healthful Rules of NATURE to loathfome Sicknefs; and it is just it should have this Effect, fince they did not res verence the Image of Gop in themfelves.

I GRANT;

IGRANT, faid ADAM, that all this is juft, and I fubmit: But is there not yet another Way, befides thefe painful Paffages, how we may fuffer DE At H, and mix with the Earth out of which we were made?

THERE is, reply'd MICHAEL, another Way not painful, if thou obferve the Rule well, of taking nothing to Excefs; but be careful to obferve Temperance in eating and drinking; feeking from thence, not to fatisfy a gluttonous Defire, but only due Nourifhment: So may'ft thou live, 'till many Years pafs over thy Head; 'till thou drop like ripe Fruit, down to thy Mother Earth; or being quite ripened for DEATH, be gather'd with Eafe, and not pluck'd harfhly. This is old Age; but then thou muft outlive thy Youth, and all thy Strength and Beauty; all which will change, and thou be wither'd, weak, and grey-hair'd: Thy Senfes then will become unactive. nor have any Relifh of Pleasure, like what thou haft now; and, for the Air of Youth, (chearful and full of Hope and Joy) a melancholy Damp of Coldness will reign in thy Blood, opprefs and weigh down thy Spirits and laftly, confume the Balm, and extinguifh the Lamp of Life.

To whom our firft Ancestor replied: Henceforward, I will not fly from DEATH, nor would I much prolong Life; but rather be glad to know, how I might beft and eafieft get rid of this Load which I must keep, 'till the Day appointed for me to render it up, and attend with Patience the Time of my Diffolution !

To this MICHAEL replied: Neither love nor hate Life; but all the Time thou liveft, live well; whether for few or many Days, leave that to the Will

of

of GOD; and now prepare thyfelf to fee another Sight.

ADAM look'd, and faw a fpatious Plain, upon which there were Tents (1) of different Size and Colours; By fome there were Cattle grazing; from others might be heard the melodious Sound of Inftruments; the Harp, and Organ; and he was seen, who mov'd their Stops and Chords, his nimble Fingers going through all Proportions, low and high, corref ponded in all the Parts. In another Part stood One, (m) labouring at a Forge, who had melted two maffy Pieces of Iron and Brafs, (whether found where accidental Fire had deftroy'd the Woods, upon some Mountain or Valley, down to the Veins of the Earth; thence flowing hot to fome Cave's Mouth: Or whether wafh'd by Streams from under Ground) he drained the liquid Ore into Molds fitly prepar'd; from which he first form'd the Tools he was to work with; and then what else might be wrought or caft in Metal. After thefe, on the hither Side of the Plain, a different Sort of People defcended from the high neighbouring Hills, which was their Habitation: By their Appearance they feem'd juft Men, and the whole Purpose of their Study to worship Gop rightly, and to know his Works, which are not hidden; nor to know those Things laft, which might preferve Free

(1) Tents; Fr. from the Lat. i. e. Holding or containing s because therein Men and their Houfhold-Stuff were contained : Or from Nata, Heb. i. e. Stretched out; because they were moveable Habitations, extended upon the Ground. A military Term. Tabernacles, Booths, or Pavilions, with Coverings made of Canvas, to fhelter Men from the Injuries of the Air;

for Soldiers, when they are in the Field; then four or five of them lie in one Tent, &c. In the first Ages of the World Men liv'd in Tents only; and fo they do to this Day in many Parts of Afia and Africa; but through Europe they are only used for Soldiers.

(m) One; i. e. Tubal-Cain, the first Master of Smiths, Gen. 4. 22.

Freedom and Peace to MEN: They had not walk'd long upon the Plain, when behold a Company of fair Women iffued forth from the Tents, wantonly and gayly drefs'd, and adorn'd with Jewels; they fung foft amorous Songs to Inftruments of Mufick, and came on, dancing: The Men, though they were grave, ey'd them as they pafs'd, and let their Eyes rove without Restraint; 'till drawn by strong Paffion and Inclination, they began to like them, and each chofe her he lik❜d: And now they began to talk of Love, and let the Day pass on in nothing elfe; then grown warm, they light the nuptial Torch, and invoke HY MEN, then firft invok'd, to give a Sanction to Marriage Rites: All the Tents refound with Feftival and Musick. Such happy Interview and Intercourse, the fair Confequence of Love and Youth not loft, Songs, Garlands, Flowers, and charming Symphonies touch'd the Heart of ADAM with Pleasure, who was foon inclin❜d to admit of Delight; (which is indeed too much the Bent of Nature!) and he thus exprefs'd it:

BLEST Angel! and one of the chief of Heaven! true Opener of my Eyes! this Vifion feems much better than those two pafs'd, and foretells more Hope of peaceful Days: Those were full of Hate and DEATH, or Pains and Diseases much worfe; here NATURE feems to have all her Ends anfwer'd:

To whom MICHAEL fpoke in this Manner: Never judge of what is beft by Pleasure, though it may feem conformable to NATURE; feeing thou art created to a nobler End, holy and pure, and in Conformity with GOD! Thofe Tents thou faweft, which appear'd fo pleasant, they were the Tents of Wickednefs; in which his Race fhall dwell, who flew his Brother; they appear ftudious of Arts, that polish and adorn Life; and are Inventors of rare and curious

Things;

Things; unmindful of their MAKER; though his Spirit taught them, but they acknowledge none of his Gifts: Yet they fhall beget a beauteous Offfpring; for that fair female Troop thou faweft there, they that feem'd like Goddeffes, fo blyth, so smooth, and gay; are yet deftitute of all Good, wherein confifts the domeftick Honour and chief Praife of a Woman; but thefe are bred up only and accomplish'd to the Taste of finful Defire, and learn to dance, and dress, and lifp, and glance with their Eyes. That fober Race of Men (whofe religious Lives make them be call'd the Sons of GoD) fhall ignobly yield up all their Virtue, and all their Fame, to the Arts and Smiles of these fair Atheists; and now fwim in Joy' and laugh, though Judgment is near at Hand, and all their Laughing to be turn'd into Tears!

To whom ADAM made Anfwer, convinc'd of the Falseness of his Joy on the Sight of Pleafure: O what a Pity and Shame! that they who live good Lives, and begin fo well, fhould turn afide to tread indirect Paths, or faint by the Way! But ftill I fee the Tenor of MAN'S Mifery holds on the fame, and is to begin from WOMAN.

Ir begins, faid the Angel, from the effeminate Slackness of MAN, who by Wisdom, and the fuperior Gifts he hath receiv'd, fhould hold his Place bet ter: But now prepare thyfelf for another Sight.

ADAM look'd, and faw a wide Territory fpread before him; Towns, and large Countries between them; Cities with lofty Gates and Towers, full of Inhabitants arm'd and gather'd together, with fierce Faces threatening War: They were great Giants, and fit for bold Enterprizes; Part wielded their Arms, and Part curb'd the War-horfes; for there was both Horfe and Foot, in a good Rank and Order of Bat

tle: