Being consisted in the actually beholding that necessarily self-existent
Being perpetually, so as not to be diverted from it so much as the
twinkling of an Eye, that Death might find him actually employ'd in that
Vision, and so his Pleasure might be continu'd, without being
interrupted by any Pain; (which _Ab-Jonaid_ a Doctor, and _Imaam_, of
the Sect of the _Suphians_, alluded to; when at the point of Death he
said to his Friends about him, _This is the Time when Men ought to
Glorify GOD, and be instant in their Prayers,_) he began to consider
with himself, by what Means this Vision might actually be continu'd,
without Interruption. So he was very intent for a time upon that
_Being_; but he could not stay there long, before some sensible Object
or other would present itself, either the Voice of some wild Beast would
reach his Ears, or some Phantasy affected his Imagination; or he was
touch'd with some Pain in some Part or other; or he was hungry, or dry,
or too cold, or too hot, or was forc'd to rise to ease Nature. So that
his Contemplation was interrupted, and he remov'd from that State of
Mind: And then he could not, without a great deal of difficulty, recover
himself to that State he was in before; and he was afraid that Death
should overtake him at such a Time as his Thoughts were diverted from
the Vision, and so should fall into everlasting Misery, and the Pain of
Separation.

§ 67. This put him into a great deal of Anxiety, and when he could find
no Remedy, he began to consider all the several Sorts of Animals, and
observe their Actions, and what they were employ'd about; in hopes of
finding some of them that might possibly have a Notion of this Being,
and endeavour after him; that so he might learn of them which way to be
sav'd. But he was altogether disappointed in his Search; for he found
that they were all wholly taken up in getting their Provision, and
satisfying their Desires of Eating, and Drinking, and Copulation, and