Page:Laird of Cool's ghost (NLS104186838).pdf/9

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this world, and wretched and miserable in the next; and that a man may be miserable in this world and happy and glorious in the next.

Ogil.—Be it so, Cool, I shall yield that point to you, and pass to another which has afforded me much speculation since our last encounter; and that is, How you came to know that I talked after the manner that I did concerning Mr. Paton, on the first Sabbath of February last: was you present with me, but invisible? He answered very haughtily. No, Sir, I was not present myself. I answered, I would not have you angry, Cool, I proposed this question for my own satisfaction, but if you dont think proper to answer, let it pass. After he had paused, with his eyes on the ground for three or four minutes of time at most, with some haste and seeming cheerfulness, says,

Cool.— Well, Sir, I will satisfy you in that point; You must know that there are sent from heaven, angels to guard and comfort, and to do other good services to good people, and even the spirits of good men departed are employed in that errand.

Ogil.— And do you not think that every man has a good angel?

Cool.— No, but a great many particular men have; there are but few houses of distinction especially, but what have at least one attending them, and from what you have already heard of spirits, it is no difficult matter to understand how they may he serviceable to each particular member, though at different places at a great distance. Many are the good offices which the good angels do to them that fear God though many times they are not sensible of it: and I know assuredly that one powerful angel, or even an active clever soul departed, may be sufficient for some villages; but for your great cities, such as London, Edinburgh, or the like, there is one great angel, that