Transcriber's Note: This e-book, a pamphlet by Daniel Defoe, wasoriginally published in 1706. Archaic spellings have been retained asthey appear in the original. This e-book was prepared from The Novelsand Miscellaneous Works of Daniel De Foe (Oxford: D.A. Talboys,1840). "To the Reader" was written by an unidentified editor of thatcollection.
Which Apparition recommends the perusal of Drelincourt’s
Book of Consolations against the Fears of Death.
This relation is matter of fact, and attended with such circumstances,as may induce any reasonable man to believe it. It was sent by agentleman, a justice of peace, at Maidstone, in Kent, and a veryintelligent person, to his friend in London, as it is here worded;which discourse is attested by a very sober and understandinggentlewoman, a kinswoman of the said gentleman's, who lives inCanterbury, within a few doors of the house in which the within-namedMrs. Bargrave lives; who believes his kinswoman to be of so discerninga spirit, as not to be put upon by any fallacy; and who positivelyassured him that the whole matter, as it is related and laid down, isreally true; and what she herself had in the same words, as near asmay be, from Mrs. Bargrave's own mouth, who, she knows, had no reasonto invent and publish such a story, or any design to forge and tell alie, being a woman of much honesty and virtue, and her whole life acourse, as it were, of piety. The use which we ought to make of it, isto consider, that there is a life to come after this, and a just God,who will retribute to every one according to the deeds done in thebody; and therefore to reflect upon our past course of life we haveled in the world; that our time is short and uncertain; and that ifwe would escape the punishment of the ungodly, and receive the rewardof the righteous, which is the laying hold of eternal life, we ought,for the time to come, to return to God by a speedy repentance, ceasingto do evil, and learning to do well: to seek after God early, ifhappily he may be found of us, and lead such lives for the future, asmay be well pleasing in his sight.
This thing is so rare in all its circumstances, and on so goodauthority, that my reading and conversation has not given me anythinglike it: it is fit to gratify the most ingenious and serious inquirer.Mrs. Bargrave is the person to whom Mrs. Veal appeared after herdeath; she is my intimate friend, and I can avouch for her reputation,for these last fifteen or sixteen years, on my own knowledge; and Ican confirm the good character she had from her youth, to the time ofmy acquaintance. Though, since this relation, she is calumniated bysome people, that are friends to the brother of this Mrs. Veal, whoappeared; who think the relation of this appearance to be areflection, and endeavour what they can to blast Mrs. Bargrave'sreputation, and to laugh the story out of countenance. But by thecircumstances thereof, and the cheerful disposition of Mrs. Bargrave,notwithstanding the ill-usage of a very wicked husband, there is notyet the least sign of dejection in her face; nor did I ever hear herlet fall a desponding or murmuring exp