The voice of signal deliverances from sudden dangers, is not only a just call to repentance, but a caution against falling into the like danger; but such who are utterly careless of themselves after, show a lethargy of the worst nature, which seems to me to be a kind of practical atheism or at least, a living in a contempt of Heaven, when he receives good at the hand of his Maker, but is unconcerned from whence it comes, or to thank the bountiful hand that gave it; neither, when he receives evil, does it alter his manner of life, or bring him to any state of humiliation.

We have a remarkable story of two soldiers being condemned to death in Flanders.  The general being prevailed upon to spare one of them, ordered them to cast dice upon the drumhead for their lives; the first having thrown two sixes, the second fell a wringing his hands, having so poor a chance to escape; however, having thrown, he was surprised when he also threw other two sixes.  The officer appointed to see the execution, ordered them to throw again; they did so, and each of them threw fives; at which the soldiers that stood round, shouted, and said, neither of them was to die.  Upon this, the officer acquainted the council of war, who ordered them to throw a third time, when they threw two fours:  the general being acquainted with it, sent for the men, and pardoned them. I love, said he, in such extraordinary cases, to listen to the voice of Providence.

We read in the holy writings, how God speaks to men by appearance of angels, or by dreams and visions of the night.  As God appeared to Abraham, Lot, and Jacob:  so angels have appeared to many in other cases, as to Manoah and his wife, Zechariah, the Virgin Mary, and to the apostles; other have been warned in a dream as king Abimelech, the false prophet Balaam, and many others.

It is certainly a very great and noble inquiry, What we shall be after this life? for there is scarce a doubt, that there is a place reserved for the reception of our souls after death:  for if we are to be, we must have a where, which the scriptures assert by the examples of Dives and Lazarus.  The doctrine of spirits was long believed before our Saviour’s time; for when the disciples of the blessed Jesus perceived our Saviour walking on the sea, they were as much surprised as though they had seen a spirit.  Nay, in those ages of the world, it was believed that spirits intermeddled in the affairs of mankind; and, throughout the Old Testament, I do not find any thing that in the least contradicts is.  All the pains and labour that some learned men have taken, to confute the story of the witch of Endor, and the appearance of an old man personating Samuel, cannot make such apparitions inconsistent with nature or religion; and it is plain, that it was either a good or bad spirit, that prophetically told the unfortunate king what should happen the next day; for, said the spirit, The Lord will deliver thee into the hands of the Philistines; and to-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me.