[Footnote 156: Misprinted 'world,' but corrected in the errata of 1622 edition. Davies and Southey, as before, repeat the misprint, and accommodate 'they' to it by reading 'they'd:' so rare is it to recur to an author's own text. G.] OBJECTION IV. _But still_ this crue with questions me pursues: If _soules_ deceas'd (say they) still liuing bee; Why do they not return, to bring vs newes Of that strange world, where they such wonders see?[157] [Footnote 157: 'Tell us, ye dead, will none of you in pity, To those you left behind, disclose the secret? Oh! that some courteous ghost would blab it out; What 'tis you are, and we must shortly be.' ROBERT BLAIR: 'The Grave.' G.] ANSWERE. _Fond[158] men!_ If we beleeue that men doe liue Vnder the _Zenith_ of both frozen _Poles_, Though none come thence aduertisement to giue; Why beare we not the like faith of our _soules_? The _soule_ hath here on Earth no more to doe, Then we haue businesse in our mother's wombe; What child doth couet to returne thereto? Although all children first from thence do come? But as _Noah's_ pidgeon, which return'd no more, Did shew, she footing found, for all the Flood; So when good soules, departed through Death's dore, Come not againe, it shewes their dwelling good. And doubtlesse, such a _soule_ as vp doth mount, And doth appeare before her Maker's Face; Holds this vile world in such a base account, As she looks down, and scorns this wretched place. But such as are detruded downe to Hell, Either for shame, they still themselues retire; Or tyed in chaines, they in close prison dwell, And cannot come, although they much desire. [Footnote 158: Foolish. G.] OBJECTION V. _Well, well_, say these vaine spirits, though vaine it is To thinke our _Soules_ to Heauen or Hell to[159] goe, _Politike_ men haue thought it not amisse, To spread this _lye_, to make men vertuous so. ANSWERE. _Doe you_ then thinke this _morall vertue_ good? I thinke you doe, euen for your priuate gaine; For Common-wealths by _vertue_ euer stood, And common good the priuate doth containe. If then this _vertue_ you doe loue so well, Haue you no meanes, her practise to maintaine; But you this lye must to the people tell, That good _Soules_ liue in ioy, and ill in paine? Must _vertue_ be preseruèd by a _lye_? _Vertue_ and _Truth_ do euer best agree; By this it seemes to be a veritie, Sith the effects so good and vertuous bee. For, as the deuill father is of lies, So vice and mischiefe doe his lyes ensue; Then this good doctrine did not he deuise, But made this _lye_, which saith it is not true. [Footnote 159: In 1599 and 1608 editions, 'do.' G.] THE GENERALL CONSENT OF ALL.