Measure; and that the greatest Benefit which accru’d to the common sort of Men by the Law, was wholly plac’d in Relation to Things of this World, viz. that they might be in a comfortable way of Living, and that no Man might invade another’s Property; and that there was but here and there one that attain’d to Happiness hereafter; namely, such an one as made it his Business in this World to provide for another, and took due care about it, and was a Believer:  But that Hell was the Place for him that err’d from the Truth, and preferr’d the Life of this present World before it.  And what Labour can be greater, or what Misery more compleat than his, who works, if you observe, from the time he awakes, till he goes to sleep again, you will find that he does nothing but what tends to the attaining of some one or other of these vile sensible Things; namely, either Riches, to heap them up; or Pleasure, which he may take; or Lust, which he may satisfie; or Revenge, whereby he may pacifie his Mind; or Power, to defend himself; or some outward Work commanded by the Law, whereof he may make a vain-glorious Shew; or whereby he may save his own Neck? Now all these things are Darkness upon Darkness in the Depth of the Sea, neither is there any of you that doth not enter in thither, for such is the unchangeable Decree of the Lord.[32]

Sec. 118.  And when he understood the Condition of Mankind, and that the greatest part of them were like Brute Beasts, he knew that all Wisdom, Direction and good Success, consisted in what the Messengers of God had spoken, and the Law deliver’d; and that there was no other way besides this, and that there could be nothing added to it; and that there were Men appointed to every Work, and that every one was best capable of doing that unto which he was appointed by Nature.  That this was God’s way of dealing with those which were gone before, and that there is no Change in his way.  Whereupon returning to Salaman and his Friends, he begg’d their Pardon for what he had said to them, and desir’d to be excus’d, and told them that he was of the same Opinion with them, and went on in the same way, and persuaded them to stick firmly to their Resolution of keeping within the Bounds of the Law, and the Performance of the External Rites, and that they should not much dive into the Things that did not concern them:  and that in doubtful Things they should give Credit, and yield their Assent readily; and that they should abstain from novel Opinions, and from their Appetites, and follow the Examples of their pious Ancestors, and forsake Novelties, and that they should avoid that neglect of religious Performances which was seen in the vulgar sort of Men, and the Love of the World, which he principally caution’d them against.  For both he and his Friend Asal knew that this tractable, but defective sort of Men, had no other way in the World to escape, but only by this means; and that if they should be rais’d above this