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.
Religion therefore here comes in to his relief, and gives him strict rules of using every thing that is about him; that by so using them suitably to his own nature and the nature of the things, he may have always the pleasure of receiving benefit from them. It shews him what is strictly right in meat, and drink, and cloaths; and that he has nothing else to expect from the things of this world, but to satisfy such wants of his own; and then to extend his assistance to all his brethren, that, as far as he is able, he may help all his fellow-creatures to the same benefit from the world that he hath.
13. *It tells him, that this world is incapable of giving him any other happiness; and that all endeavours to be happy in heaps of money, or acres of land, in fine cloaths, rich beds, stately equipage, and shew and splendour, are only vain endeavours, ignorant attempts after impossibilities; these things be no more able to give the least degree of happiness, than dust in the eyes can cure thirst, or gravel in the mouth satisfy hunger; but, like dust and gravel misapplied, will only serve to render him more unhappy by such an ignorant misuse of them.
It tells him, altho’ this world can do no more for him, than satisfy these wants of the body; yet there is a much greater good prepared for man, than eating, drinking, and dressing; that it is yet invisible to his eyes, being too glorious for the apprehension of flesh and blood; but reserved for him to enter upon, as soon as this short life is over; where, in a new body, formed to an angelic likeness, he shall dwell in the light and glory of God to all eternity.
*It tells him, that this state of glory will be given to all those that make a right use of the things of this present world; who do not blind themselves with golden dust, or eat gravel, or groan under loads of iron of their own putting on; but use bread, water, wine, and garments for such ends as are according to nature and reason; and who with faith and thankfulness worship the kind giver of all that they enjoy here, and hope for hereafter.
14. Now can any one say, that the strictest rules of such a religion as this, debar us of any of the comforts of life? Might it not as justly be said of those rules, that only [♦]hindered a man from choaking himself with gravel? For the strictness of these rules only consists in the exactness of their rectitude.
[♦] ‘hindred’ replaced with ‘hindered’
*Who would complain of the severe strictness of a law, that without any exception forbad the putting of dust into our eyes? Who could think it too rigid, that there were no abatements? Now this is the strictness of religion; it requires nothing of us strictly, or without abatements, but where every degree of the thing is wrong, where every indulgence does us hurt.