gives the Coloffians to beware left any Man fpoil'd them through Philofophy.

I am apt to think, fays THEOPHILUS, (hearing the Clock ftrike two,) that we must set aside our intended Journey at least for this Time; the Time at prefent calls us to take another, in which I hope we shall meet with no Obftructions; nor should the prefent Query indeed be accounted as such, if it leads, as it poffibly may, to the Land

of Truth.

That's the Light, fays PHILANDER, I look on it in I affure you, and think I have better than Plato's Authority for it.

And perhaps better than his may be found too, fays CRITO, against it: Though if it leads to Truth I fhall not be difpleas'd with it, let it lead me what Way it will. I defire at least to lye open and free to Conviction, and not to err always, because I may Chance to err now.

And it is a Temper, fays THEOPHILUS, I hope I fhall always cultivate, to have more Regard in all Cafes of this kind to find the Truth, than to any other Confideration whatever. But let us now, if you pleafe, think of taking a little Refresh

ment.

DIA

DIALOGUE VI.

As the

S the Afternoon was unexpectedly rainy, having fat fome fmall Time after Dinner, they return'd again into the Study, when CRITO began with observing, that though there were many things that might be urged from Philofophy against Philander's unphilofophical Notions, it could fignify little to urge them to one that look'd on Philofophy in that Light he did, and had as good as declar'd that he would not admit of its Teftimony,

In all Matters, fays PHILANDER, meerly philofophical, and in which we can meet with no better Affiftance, I am as willing to philofophize as any other: But as this is not the Cafe with regard to the present Query, I must beg the Lady Philofopher's Pardon, if I appeal from her to the Lady Theology.

There indeed, fays THEOPHILUS, I think you are right, and have given the Prefe rence where it deferves. But what if the Lady you have chofe for your Umpire should give it against you?

Then, fays PHILANDER, I'll give up the Question, with free Leave to refume your dark Journey as foon as you please.

E 2

And

And if it appears, fays CRITO, that fhe gives it for you, you shall have cur free Pardon for your interrupting us, and our Thanks for your fetting us right.—But call the Lady in, and let us hear her.

She is here, fays PHILANDER, already, (feeing a Bible that lay on the Table,) and first by way of befpeaking your Patience, defires you to hear in Job, the most antient Book, as it's thought in all the Scriptures. Job iii. 11, &c.] Why died I not from the Womb? Why did I not give up the Ghost when I came out of the Belly? Why did the Knees prevent me? Or why the Breafts that I should fuck? For now! Should I bave lien fill, and been quiet, Ifhould have flept; then had I beerz at Reft; with Kings and Counsellors of the Earth, which built defolate Places for themfelves: Or with Princes that had Gold, who filled their Houfes with Silver: Or as an bidden untimely Birth I had not been; as Infants which never faw Light. There the Wicked ceafe from troubling: And there the Weary be at Reft. There the Prisoners reft together, they hear not the Voice of the Oppreffor. The Small and Great are there, and the Servant is free from his Mafter. And to the fame Purpofe do we find him declaring fome Time after, [Chap. x. 18, &c.] Wherefore haft thou brought me forth out of the Womb?

Ob

Oh that I had given up the Ghost, and no Eye bad feen me! I should have been as though I had not been, I should have been carried from the Womb to the Grave. Are not my Days few? Ceafe then, and let me alone, that I may take Comfort a little: Before I 80 whence I shall not return, even to the Land of Darkness, and the Shadow of Death; a Land of Darknefs, as Darkness itself, and of the Shadow of Death, without any Order, and where the Light is as Darkness. And again, [Chap. xiv. 7, &c.] There is Hope of a Tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender Branch thereof will not ceafe. Tho the Root thereof wax old in the Earth, and the Stock thereof die in the Ground: Yet through the Scent of Water it will bud, and bring forth Boughs like a Plant. But Man dieth, and wafteth away: Yea Man giveth up the Ghost, and where is He? As the Waters fail from the Sea, and the Flood decayeth and drieth up: So Man lieth down, and rifeth not, till the Heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their Sleep.-His Sons come to Honour, [Ver. 21.] and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

But these it will be faid perhaps were antient Times, and when Men had not the Light of the Scriptures to guide them.. Let

us therefore come down from these to the Times of David, and fee what were Men's Sentiments of Death in that Age. And here we find the holy Pfalmift intreating, [Pf. vi. 4, 5.] Return, O Lord, deliver my Soul: Oh fave me for thy Mercies Sake. For in Death there is no Remembrance of thee: In the Grave who shall give thee Thanks? [Pf. Xxx. 9.] What Profit is there in my Blood when I go down to the Pit? Shall the Duft praife thee? Shall it declare thy Truth? [Pf. lxxxviii. 10, 11, 12.] Wilt thou fshew Wonders, to the Dead? Shall the Dead arife and praise thee? Shall thy loving Kindness be declard in the Grave? Or thy Faithfulness in Deftruction? Shall thy Wonders be known in the Dark? And thy Righteousness in the Land of Forgetfulness? [Pf. lxxxix. 48.] What Man is he that liveth, and shall not fee Death? Shall be deliver his Soul from the Hand of the Grave. [Pf. cxv. 17.] The Dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into Silence. And again, [Pf. cxlvi. 3, 4.] Put not your Truft in Princes, nor in the Son of Man, in whom there is no Help. His Breath goeth forth, be returneth to his Earth: In that very Day his Thoughts perish.

And if from the Times of David we go on to thofe of Solomon, we fhall find the fame Notion continued. For the Living,

fays