For, 1_st_, Piety requires us to renounce no ways of life, where we can act _reasonably_, and offer what we do to God. All ways of life, all enjoyments that are within these bounds, are no way denied us by the strictest rules of piety. Whatever you can do, or enjoy, as in the presence of God, as his servant, as his rational creature; all that you can perform conformably to a rational nature, is allowed by the laws of piety. And will you think that your life will be uncomfortable, unless you may displease God, and act contrary to that reason and wisdom which he has implanted in you? As for those satisfactions, which we dare not offer to a holy God, which are only invented by the folly and corruption of the world, which inflame our passions, and sink our souls into grossness and sensuality, and render us incapable of the divine favour either here or hereafter, surely it can be no uncomfortable thing to be rescued by religion from such self-murder, and to be rendered capable of eternal happiness. 11. *Let us suppose a _person_ placed somewhere alone, in the midst of a variety of things which he did not know how to use; that he has by him _bread_, _wine_, _water_, _golden dust_, _iron chains_, _gravel_, _garments_, _fire_. Let it be supposed, that he has no knowledge, nor any directions from his _senses_, how to quench his _thirst_, or satisfy his _hunger_, or make _any use_ of the things about him. Let it be supposed, that in his drought he puts _golden dust_ into his eyes; when his _eyes_ smart, he puts _wine_ into his _ears_: that in his hunger, he puts _gravel_ in his mouth; that in pain, he loads himself with _iron chains_; that feeling cold, he puts his feet in the water; that being frighted at the fire, he runs away from it; that being weary, he makes a _seat_ of his _bread_. Let it be supposed, that thro’ his ignorance of the right use of the things that are about him, he will vainly torment himself whilst he lives; and at last die, _blinded_ with _dust_, _choaked_ with _gravel_, and loaded with _irons_. Let it be supposed, that some good being came to him, and shewed him the nature and use of all the things that were about him, and gave him such _strict rules_ of using them, as would certainly, if observed, make him the happier for all that he had, and deliver him from the pains of hunger, and thirst, and cold. Now, could you with any reason affirm, that those strict rules of using those things that were about him, had rendered that poor man’s life _dull_ and _uncomfortable_? 12. This is, in some measure, a representation of the _strict_ rules of religion; they only relieve our ignorance, save us from tormenting ourselves, and teach us to use _every thing_ about us to our advantage. Man is placed in a world full of variety of things; his ignorance makes him use many of them as absurdly, as the man that put _dust_ in his _eyes_ to relieve his _thirst_, or put on chains to remove pain.