Au. You’re right.

Ba. I have indeed heard dreadful Thunders, but I never yet felt the Blow of the Thunderbolt.

Au. How so?

Ba. Because I have never the worse Stomach, nor my Sleep the less sound.

Au. But a Distemper is commonly so much the more dangerous, the less it is felt.  But these brute Thunderbolts as you call ’em, strike the Mountains and the Seas.

Ba. They do strike ’em indeed, but with Strokes that have no effect upon ’em.  There is a Sort of Lightning that proceeds from a Glass or a Vessel of Brass.

Au. Why, and that affrights too.

Ba. It may be so, but then none but Children are frighted at it.  None but God has Thunderbolts that strike the Soul.

Au. But suppose God is in his Vicar.

Ba. I wish he were.

Au. A great many Folks admire, that you are not become blacker than a Coal before now.

Ba. Suppose I were so, then the Salvation of a lost Person were so much the more to be desired, if Men followed the Doctrine of the Gospel.

Au. It is to be wished indeed, but not to be spoken of.

Ba. Why so?

Au. That he that is smitten with the Thunderbolt may be ashamed and repent.

Ba. If God had done so by us, we had been all lost.

Au. Why so?

Ba. Because when we were Enemies to God, and Worshippers of Idols, fighting under Satan’s Banner, that is to say, every Way most accursed; then in an especial Manner he spake to us by his Son, and by his treating with us restored us to Life when we were dead.

Au. That thou say’st is indeed very true.

Ba. In Truth it would go very hard with all sick Persons, if the Physician should avoid speaking to ’em, whensoever any poor Wretch was seized with a grievous Distemper, for then he has most Occasion for the Assistance of a Doctor.

Au. But I am afraid that you will sooner infect me with your Distemper than I shall cure you of it.  It sometimes falls out that he that visits a sick Man is forced to be a Fighter instead of a Physician.

Ba. Indeed it sometimes happens so in bodily Distempers:  But in the Diseases of the Mind you have an Antidote ready against every Contagion.

Au. What’s that?

Ba. A strong Resolution not to be removed from the Opinion that has been fixed in you.  But besides, what Need you fear to become a Fighter, where the Business is managed by Words?

Au. There is something in what you say, if there be any Hope of doing any good.

Ba. While there is Life there is Hope, and according to St. Paul, Charity can’t despair, because it hopes all Things.

Au. You observe very well, and upon this Hope I may venture to discourse with you a little; and if you’ll permit me, I’ll be a Physician to you.