3.

The last fort of Hindrances I fhall mention, are, the Interruptions and Disturbances the Soul receives from the Senses; it can fcarce be determined, whether our Eyes and Ears give us more Affiftance towards taking in of Knowledge, than Hindrances many times in digesting those imperfect Notices they take in, and in purfuing our Notions and Contemplations: How frequently comes it to pafs, that having fet our felves, I will not fay to ftudy, but even to pray, or to meditate on Heavenly and Divine Things, fome untoward, unfeasonable Object is caft in by Senfe, which turns off Thought, and diverts the Soul clearly from its purpofe; stops and checks it in its Motion, and quite puts it out of its Road; and either fcatters or ftrikes dead all happy Cogitation and Devotion.

Now of all these and the like Numberless Infelicities, Intanglements and Incumbrances, is the Spirit divested in its feparate Estate. And being thus fet free,

II. It foon arrives at a Perfection of its rational Faculty, which immediately becomes furnifh'd with the most agreeable and felicitating Habits.

I. As to the Understanding. It cannot be by us, in our prefent State conceived, what speedy and vaft Progrefs the Soul will make in Knowledge, when it fhall be thus enfranchifed and fet at liberty. Nothing in that ftate can hinder its difcurfive Powers, that it fhould not from one Truth known, immediately infer many others; or rather (uno in

1

tuitu) behold an endless Train of Confequents.

Prov. 30.3.

But it is to be confidered, the Spirits of Juft Men, cannot go out of the World poffefs'd, of the Notice only, of One or Two fingle Truths. They have long been endowed with what the wife Agar ftiles the Knowledge of the Holy. (The infight into that Body, and Variety of Truths, which made them wife unto Salvation.) And from fuch plenteous Stock of Principles, how infinite will foon be the Inferences! At least how vaftly various the Improvements, which fuch Minds, advanced now into the Sphere of Intelligences, will make, draw, and accumulate? And befides the Stock of Knowledge, they carry hence with them, what Numbers of new Objects will entertain them in that World of Spirits? The innumerable Company of Angels, the general Affembly, and Church of the First born: (Patriarchs and Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, and Confeffors) But above thefe, God the Judge of all, and Fefus the Mediator of the New Covenant: Dear Jefus! Who loved us, and Redeemed us with his Blood; (that long'd for Spectacle) his glorious Person, shall then the Eyes of our Soul behold. We fhall alfo then know what that Spirit is, which has dwelt in our Hearts, and fanctified us: And we fhall have an intelletual Vision of the Ancient of Days, the Eternal and Almighty Father. We shall then fee clearly through all the Riddles and Myfteries of our Faith. Nay, Faith shall be

very naturally, and not training any thing laid for a Connexion, bring about the difcourfe to Religious and Profitable Subjects. I have admired his Facility and Godly Simplicity herein: And I cannot forbear Recommending, the Study of fuch Edifying Conversation,to all serious Chriftians, efpecially to Clergy-Men, and that with more than common Care, in their Lord's-Day Table Talk, and ordinary Visits on that Day, if they make any.

There were many other Perfonal Excellencies, in which my deceafed Friend was Eminent, that I may not, and I am glad I need not, particularly infift on in this place. In short, I am truly of opinion, that, in the best Age of the Church on Earth, had he lived therein, he would have pasfed for a Saint, and a very Exemplary Perfon. And I feriously Pray, that any who seem to envy Him the Character that has been given Him, (for fome fuch I am fenfible there may be) may not fall short of one half of his Virtues.

Thefe are (bonâ fide) the Real Sentiments of, Good Reader,

Thy True Friend and Servant

in our Loft Chrift Jefus,

E. Killmore and Ardagh.

A

1966

Twenty Third Verfe.

And to the

Spirits of Just Men made perfect.

HE Eloquent and Learned Author of this Epiftle, (for fuch he was in an ordinary Courfe of Attainment, as well as Extraordinary Infpired) whether St. Paul, or St. Luke, or St. Barnabas, or whoever, fpends much of it, in comparing the Legal

and

and Evangelical Difpenfation; that is, God's Method or Form of managing the Covenant under the Law, and under the Gospel: And having stated Both, He, by the State of fuch Comparison, all along afferts and proves the great Tranfcendency of the Gofpel-Difpenfation above that of the Law.

This he does, even in a confiderable Part of the Chapter, whence I have taken these Words; making the Refult of the Comparifon, an Argument to aggravate Mens Difobedience to the Gospel, above the old Jews Difobedience to the Law.

The Point, on which the Comparison here runs, is, the manner of the Publication of Each. The Delivery of the Law was Dreadful, or with most Amazing Terrors; withal threatned to be Fatal to fuch, who fhould but touch the Mountain whence it was pronounced: All put together, the Terrors fuch, That they who heard it, could not indure to hear it again. But the Promulgation of the Gospel was Calm, Sweet, Charming, and every way Salutary; fuch, which, not only Enamoured all its Hearers with what they heard, but endeared to them, the very Places where it was delivered; the Perfons who were sent to deliver it; and even the whole Society and Multitude of them, who were Partakers of those bleffed Tidings, making them all, however diftant, one Body by Union of Hearts, mutually tranfported, and made the happier by one anothers growing Happiness. This is the Sum of Verf, 18,19, 20. and to the end of the 24th Verfe. Par