Vilalle ESSAY ON THE HAPPINESS OF THE LIFE TO COME. What if Earth Be but the fhadow of Heaven, and things therein MILTON. RC BATH, PRINTED BY R. CRUTTWELL; AND SOLD BY T. CADELL, STRAND, AND C. DILLY, POULTRY, LONDON. M DCC XCIV. PREFACE. THE following Effay is extracted from a French book, entitled, "Effai "fur la Felicité de la Vie à venir, par "C. L. de Villette." The Translator has selected those parts alone which feemed most calculated to awaken fuch ideas of the life to come, as it appears to have been the Author's principal aim to produce; and has ventured to make fome alterations and additions. To familiarize the joys of heaven to our imagination, without degrading them by too close a comparison with our our prefent pleasures;-to place them in fuch a point of view, as to warm the heart without dazzling the understanding;—to represent our occupations in the celeftial abodes, as holding fuch affinity with our earthly pursuits, that, in order to be admitted to the privileges of the former, we muft obferve the ftricteft rectitude in the objects of the latter;-to direct our views in every event beyond the narrow bounds of time, to a happy eternity, where that which is in part fhall be swallowed up in that which is perfect;-thefe are the views of the Translator, as they evidently were thofe of the Author. It It must indeed be acknowledged, that, after all our endeavours to defcribe the joys of heaven, our mortal understanding can never acquire an adequate idea of that glorious state, in which we shall be partakers of the divine nature, and be conformed to the image of Christ. But nothing surely can so effectually detach us from low purfuits, and unworthy inclinations, or infpire the true Christian with gratitude and moderation in profperity, with refignation and fortitude in adverfity, with humble and ardent piety, univerfal benevolence, and every virtue becoming a being deftined for immortality, and a profeffor of the gofpel |