pursue the train of reflection thus suggested, after the same manner, into the succeeding stages of “ the intermediate state," judgment,” “ hell,” “ heaven,” and its accompaniments : being probably encouraged herein by the inquiry concerning “the Happiness of the Blessed,” which had been for some time more particularly engaging my thoughts, but not with a view to an immediate connexion between the two works. When, however, I came to arrange my treatise on
o the Happiness of the Blessed” in its present form, these latter poems, such of them at least as had been then written, seemed to fall not unaptly into the intervals between the sections; and I thereupon added others for the intervals not already provided for, until in the end the whole treatise thus acquired its actual uniformity.
Such is the history of the present publication : the two members of which may be hereby perceived to have somewhat more of connexion, than might at first sight be supposed. But, whatever be their connexion, each of them, so far as regards its particular subject, is independent of the other. And either or both may, I trust, be made subservient to the welfare of the reader both in this life, and in that which is to come: for which end may Almighty God grant his blessing upon them for the sake of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Rp. D. & C.