[Sidenote: That the Soul is immortal, and cannot die.] [Illustration] Nor hath He given these blessings for a day, Nor made them on the Body's life depend, The Soul, though made in Time, survives for Aye; And though it hath beginning, sees no end! Her only end, in never-ending bliss; Which is, th'eternal face of GOD to see: Who Last of Ends and First of Causes is, And to do this, She must Eternal be! How senseless then, and dead a Soul hath he, Which thinks his soul doth with his body die: Or thinks not so, but so would have it be, That he might sin with more security! For though these light and vicious persons say, "Our Soul is but a smoke! or airy blast! Which, during life, doth in our nostrils play; And when we die, doth turn to wind at last!" Although they say, "Come, let us eat, and drink! Our life is but a spark, which quickly dies!" Though thus they _say_, they know not what to _think_, But in their minds, ten thousand doubts arise. Therefore no heretics desire to spread Their light opinions, like these Epicures; For so their staggering thoughts are comforted, And other men's assent, their doubt assures. Yet though these men against their conscience strive, There are some sparkles in their flinty breasts, Which cannot be extinct, but still revive, That (though they would) they cannot, quite be beasts! But whoso makes a Mirror of his Mind; And doth, with patience, view himself therein; His Soul's _eternity_ shall clearly find, Though th'other beauties be defaced with sin. [Sidenote: 1 _Reason_. Drawn from the Desire of Knowledge.] First, In man's mind, we find an appetite To Learn and Know the Truth of everything: Which is connatural, and born with it; And from the essence of the Soul doth spring. With this Desire, She hath a native Might, To find out every truth, if She had time Th'innumerable effects to sort aright; And, by degrees, from cause to cause to climb! But since our life so fast away doth slide! (As doth a hungry eagle through the wind, Or as a ship transported with the tide; Which in their passage, leave no print behind.) Of which swift little time, so much we spend, While some few things, we, through the Sense, do strain; That our short race of life is at an end, Ere we, the Principles of Skill attain: Or GOD (which to vain ends, hath nothing done) In vain, this Appetite and Power hath given; Or else our knowledge, which is here begun, Hereafter must be perfected in heaven.