The fourth volume of letters writ by a Turkish spy who lived five and forty years undiscover'd at Paris : giving an impartial account to the Divan at Constantinople of the most remarkable transactions of Europe, and discovering several intrigues and secrets of the Christian courts (especially of that of France) continued from the year 1642 to the year 1682 / written originally in Arabick, translated into Italian, and from thence into English, by the translator of the first volume.

LETTER XIX.

To Solyman, his Cousin, at Constan∣tinople.

THou seest, what thy Libertinism has brought on thee. For my Part, I am Sick in reading thy Letter, full of Melancholy, and the worst Kind of Enthusiasm.

Hadst thou follow'd my Advice, or if that be contemn'd, hadst thou but obey'd the Pre∣cepts of thy Father, an honest Man, and one that went down to the Grave in Peace, thou would'st have Liv'd as happily as other Men; but now thou art overwhelm'd with Hypochon∣driack Vapours, and Dreams of a sickly Brain. I counsel thee, to purge thy self with Helle∣bor; for thou hast more Need of that, than of Books. In all my Life, I never heard such Religious Nonsence from a Mussulman, as thy last Letter is stuff'd with.

I have not Patience to make Repetitions, or answer every Particular Whimsie of thine. But in God's Name, what makes thee fright thy self with such a Wrong Notion of Hell? It is a Common Maxim in Nature, That Nothing Violent, is Permanent. Either there∣fore, the Pains of the Damn'd are not Infi∣nitely Intense, or else they are not Eternal in their Duration. Thou wilt say, The Al∣coran it self asserts the Eternity of those Tor∣ments.

But dost thou understand the Figura∣tive Manner of Speech us'd in that Divine Book, and in all our Eastern Writings? Is it not Common to call a very High Mountain, the Mountain of God? As if all the Moun∣tains and Valleys of the Earth, were not e∣qually his. So, to express an Uncertain Length of Time, 'tis Customary to use the Epithet [Eternal.] Thus, we in ordinary Conversation say in Arabia, I love You Eter∣nally, I will serve You, fight for You, &c. E∣ternally; and the same of the Contrary Passions: And yet we all know, we shall live but a few Years.

But, granting that the Alcoran speaks in a Literal Sence; it does not follow, That those Pains are without Intervals of Rest. We read of the Tree Zacon, which grows in the Center of Hell: But who will interpret, what is understood by this Plant?

Cousin, make use of thy Reason; and pra∣ctise the best Things. As for our Condition after this Life, trouble not thy self; for no Man knows, what will become of him when he goes Hence. However, we cannot believe, the Supremely Merciful Delights in Cruelty.

There is a Path, which the Eagle has not winged, nor the Serpent trac'd, though 'tis obvious to both. But their own Rashness blinds them, and they cannot discern the Way of the Wise. There are Men of towring Speculations, and others very Crafty; yet nei∣ther one or 'tother, can grope out the Direct Road to Bliss. If I may advise thee, let Na∣ture

be thy Guide. Do nothing, but what Humanity prompts thee to: 'Tis this alone, distinguishes thee from other Animals. Ho∣nour the Memory of thy deceas'd Parents, love thy Friends, and be generous to thy Enemies: Do Justice to all Men: Observe the Purifi∣cations and Prayers prescrib'd by the Law: But give no Credit to the Fables of Infidels. It is common here among the Christians, to paint Hell with Horrid Flames, and Devils flying up and down with red-hot Prongs, to toss the Damn'd from Fire to Fire. And their Preachers make long and direful Harangues, on the same Subject: When all the while, neither they nor we know, What or Where Hell is, or after what Manner the Wicked shall be Chastis'd.

Only the Illuminated of God have this Standard of Truth; That both our Pains and Pleasures after this Life, shall be Exactly pro∣portion'd to our Vertues and Vices. There is no Malice or Injustice, in the Good Creator of All Things.

Cousin, once again, let thy Sences be a∣wake, and suffer not thy Reason to dream of Things, which have no Existence. For as∣suredly, God is the most Impartial Judge of the Ʋniverse.

Paris, the 22d. of the 10th. Moon, of the Year 1651.