Our Saviour pronounceth a woe to the rich and full, 'to those that laugh now, for they shall weep and mourn :' their false deceitful felicity, will end in real misery. It is St. Austin's question, who would not prefer grief with a sober mind, before the jollity of a phrenzy ? Who would be a merry madman? for he is only happy in his fancy, and fancies himself so, only because he is distracted: and according to the rules of true wisdom, the worst estate of a saint, when lamenting and languishing under troubles, is more eligible than the best estate of a sinner, when triumphing in prosperity. William Bates

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