3. *Was _all_ to die with our _bodies_, there might be some pretence for those _different sorts_ of happiness, that are now so much talked of: but since _our all_ begins at the death of our bodies; since all men are to be immortal, either in misery or happiness, in a world entirely different from this; since they are all hastening thence at all uncertainties, as fast as death can cut them down; some in _sickness_, some in _health_, some _sleeping_, some _waking_, some at _midnight_, others at _cock-crowing_, and at all hours they know not of; is it not certain, that no man can exceed another in joy and happiness, but so far as he exceeds him in those virtues which fit him for a happy death? *_Cognatus_ is a sober, regular _clergyman_, of good repute in the world, and well esteemed in his parish. All his parishioners say he is an _honest_ man, and very notable at making a _bargain_. The farmers listen to him with great attention, when he talks of the properest time of selling corn. He has been for twenty years a diligent observer of _markets_, and has raised a considerable fortune by good management. _Cognatus_ is very _orthodox_, and full of _esteem_ for our _English_ liturgy; and if he has not prayers on _Wednesdays_ and _Fridays_, ’tis because his _predecessor_ had not used the parish to any such custom. As he cannot serve both his livings himself; so he makes it matter of _conscience_ to keep a _sober curate_ upon one of them, whom he _hires_ to take care of all the souls in the parish, at as _cheap_ a rate as a sober man can be procured. _Cognatus_ has been very prosperous all his time; but still he has had the uneasiness and vexations that they have, who are deep in worldly business. _Taxes_, _losses_, _crosses_, _bad mortgages_, _bad tenants_, and the hardness of the times, are frequent subjects of his conversation, and a good or a bad _season_ has a great effect upon his spirits. _Cognatus_ has no other end in growing rich, but that he may leave a considerable fortune to a _niece_, whom he has _politely_ educated in expensive finery, by what he has saved out of the tythes of _two livings_. The neighbours look upon _Cognatus_ as an happy clergyman, because they see him (as they call it) in _good circumstances_; and some of them intend to dedicate their own sons to the church, because they see how well it has succeeded with _Cognatus_, whose father was but an _ordinary man_. ♦5. *But now if _Cognatus_, when he first entered into holy orders, had perceived how absurd a thing it is to grow _rich_ by the gospel; if he had proposed to himself the example of some _primitive father_; if, instead of twenty years care to lay up treasures upon earth, he had distributed the income of every year in the most Christian acts of charity. ♦ Number 4 omitted in text.