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more of them than difimbodied Souls can SER M. discover. For it is our outward Senfes which help us to the Perception of the material World; and is that which at the fame Time hides the World of Spirits from us. Our Eyes, which are as Cafements through which we look out at Things that are vifible, are as Shutters which intercept our feeing or beholding the things invifible: And therefore the fame Moment they ceafe to be of any Ufe to us with relation to this World, they cease also to be Barrs and Blinds against the other.

As foon therefore as the Soul shall be loofed from the Body, wherever it goes, or whereever it fhall be, we may fafely conclude a World of Spirits will be opened to it's View. But what Sort of Spirits it fhall find itself amongst, depends wholly on the Temper and Difpofition with which it leaves this present World. This is what I have afferted already, and therefore need not repeat it again: I have now only to exhort you, to fit your Souls, whilft Opportunity remains, for the Converfation of Angels and Saints; fince otherwise, be affured, your Allotment will fall amongst Reprobates and Devils.

VOL. II.

I i

And

SERM.

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And the Way to do this, is to affociate and join yourlelves to Saints whilst you are here: Tó converfe chiefly with the Pious and the Good For they will beft form and affimu late your Minds to the devout and happy Souls above. Conversation and Reading is the fame to the Soul, as Food is to the Body: viz. it's Nourishment and Support: And as the Body is in a found or fickly State according to the Kind of Food it lives on; fo is the Soul in a good Habit or a bad one, according as the Notions are which it receives.

If you have no Ideas but what you take in from Affemblies and Balls, from Games and Sports, I doubt you will find yourselves, when the Time comes, but ill provided for another World. Thefe are but poor things to fupport your own Thoughts, and a fad Fund of Difcourfe, when you have only Souls to whom to relate them. Publick Diverfions of many Kinds will contribute I doubt but little to the Nurture of any Christians to the Meafure of the Stature of the Fullness of Chrift: Relaxations, it is true, are sometimes to be used as a Relief to the Mind; as well as Exercife in its turn as a Refreshment to the Body. But as bodily Exercife, fo mental Amujements, profit but little, whilft Godliness,

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as to Body and Mind both, is profitable unto S ER M., all things having Promife of the Life which now is, and of that which is to come, I Tim. iv. 8. And taking Godliness in its true Senfe, which must be the Framing of our Minds to a Godlike Temper; nothing certainly can conduce more to this End, than the acquainting yourselves with the eminent Servants of God. Seek out for fuch among the Living, when you want to converfe: And lay before you the Lives of fuch, when you would em"ploy yourselves in Reading and serious Meditation. For they are the Company you would converse with in another World, rather than with Infidels and Apoftates, Blafphemers and Deifts, whofe Lot and Condition (however intimate you may be with them here) you defire not, I prefume, to fhare in hereafter: Chufe therefore fuch for your Companions in this World, as you shall think yourselves happy to be with in the next. Acquaint yourselves with the eminent Saints of old: Converfe with the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs and Saints, which the Holy Scriptures and Writers of the Church fet fo often before

you. Examples will raise your Emulation will excite you to follow their Heroic Virtue

and

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SERM. and glorious Lives: They will flock your Souls with noble Ideas, fill them with Devotion, Piety and Love, will, in a Word, animate you to be Saints here, and fo qualify you for the Converfation of Saints hereafter.