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knowledge of theſe things might have been eaſily attained.
Cool. They never properly rejected the terms of ſalvation; they never, ſtrictly ſpeaking, rejected Chriſt; poor ſouls, they had as great a liking both to him and heaven, as their grofs imaginations were capable of: 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 fall was well, and many 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 they are out of his grace and favour; and you know it is one thing to be diſcouraged, and quite another thing to be perſecuted with all the power and rage of an incenſed earthly king. I aſſure you men's faces are not more various and different in the world, than their circumſtances are after death.
Ogil I am loth 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 I ſhall always look upon as the infallible truth of God. For I find, in the parable of Dives and Lazarus, that
