A N

Epiftolary Difcourse,

Proving, from the

Scriptures and the First Fathers,

THAT THE

SOUL

I S

A Principle Naturally Mortal;

BUT

Immortalized Actually by the Pleasure of God to Punishment; or, to Reward, by its Union with the Divine Baptifmal Spirit.

Wherein is Proved,

That None have the Power of Giving this Divine Immortalizing Spirit, fince the Apostles, but only the BISHOPS.

By HENRY DODWELL, A. M.

That better part of us---- in and after Death doth exift and live, either by virtue of its Spiritual and Immortal Nature, as we believe; or, at least, the Will of God and his Power upholding and preferving it from Diffolution, as many of the Fathers thought. Bishop Pearfon on the Creed, Art. V. p. 235, 236. 5th Edit, Lond. 1683.

LONDON:

Printed for R. Smith, at the Angel and Bible, without Temple-bar. 1706, w

To the Honourable

CHARLES HATTON, Efq;

I this

my

And

Take this Occafion, Honoured Sir, of leaving a Publick Monument of Gratitude for the many Favours jou have shewn me ever fince the time I had the Honour of being known to you. I cannot but congratulate that exemplary Zeal for the Publick Good, which has been fo confpicuous in your whole Conduct, and adds a very graceful Luftre to your bonourable Extraction. But in nothing has this Publick Zeal more appeared, than in, the propereft Object of Zeal, the Caufe of God, and of Religion. This you have embraced, not only as a Cognizance of a Party (which too many content themselves with) but as á Guide of your Life. And that as well

in the fuffering Duties of it, as thofe which

A 2

which might have recommended you to the Efteem of Men, and have increafed your worldly Honour. This is indeed to lay out the Talents, with which God has intrufted you, in a way most acceptable to him, by whom you are intrufted with them. And though it hinder your worldly Progrefs, yet the Rewarder of your Faith will abundantly recompence you får it. It is a Title: to much better Rewards, not to have received your good things here. A Title, to have been like our Saviour in his Sufferings. A Title, to have lived the Life of Faith in the midst of a backfliding unbeliev ing Generation. And much more\rewardable where it is more rare.... Nor do the worldly Benefits loft by the Difcharge of a good Confcience, bear any Proportion to the, Rewards of relin quifhing them. Nd Saint in Heaven thinks his Glories deatly purchafed. None is there who would not be glad to have the Opportunity of adding to his prefent Fruitions, y Difficulties: far

I A

greater

greater than ever exercised the Patience of the most glorious Martyr. Yet ourgood Lord has not fo been pleafed to try our Faith, as to leave us wholly to the Rewards referved for us, when our Faith fhall be turned into Fruition. The fame Piety which intitles us to our future Inheritance, has the Promifes of this Life alfo. Our Sufferings even here, have fuch an alloy of Supports and Fruitions, to those who refign themselves entirely to the Divine Conduct, as are fufficient, not to make them tolerable only, but defirable alfo, though there had been nothing further referved for us. Such are, the Satisfaction of our own Confciences, the Joys of the Heavenly Spirit, the Applaufe of good Men, the Reverence of even Adveríaries, a fearlefs Concern for unavoidable Events, a confident Acquiefcence in the Providence of him for whofe Caufe the Sufferings are undertaken, and a comfortable Expectation of that King of Terrors, ho makes even the prefent. Enjoyments of