the happiness of their station, are willing to consider its
blessings as more substantial, and the whole to be a scene of
more consequence than it is here represented: but, without
controverting their opinions at present, the number of wise and
good men who have thought with our author are sufficient to keep
him in countenance: nor can this be attended with any ill
inference, since he everywhere teaches this moral: That the
greatest and truest happiness which this world affords, is to be
found only in the possession of goodness and virtue; a doctrine
which, as it is undoubtedly true, so hath it so noble and
practical a tendency, that it can never be too often or too
strongly inculcated on the minds of men.


BOOK I

CHAPTER I

The author dies, meets with Mercury, and is by him conducted to
the stage which sets out for the other world.

On the first day of December 1741[1] I departed this life at my
lodgings in Cheapside. My body had been some time dead before I
was at liberty to quit it, lest it should by any accident return
to life: this is an injunction imposed on all souls by the
eternal law of fate, to prevent the inconveniences which would
follow. As soon as the destined period was expired (being no
longer than till the body is become perfectly cold and stiff) I
began to move; but found myself under a difficulty of making my
escape, for the mouth or door was shut, so that it was impossible