Other related topics at:
Religion and Morality
275. After-life; Damnation; Death;
Salvation
I expressed a horrour at the thought of death. Mrs.
Knowles: "Nay, thou should'st not have a horrour for what is
the gate of life." Johnson (standing upon the hearth
rolling about, with a serious, solemn, and somewhat gloomy air,)
"No rational man can die without uneasy apprehension." Mrs.
Knowles: "The Scriptures tell us, 'The righteous shall have
hope in his death.'" Johnson: "Yes, Madam; that
is, he shall not have despair. But, consider, his hope of
salvation must be founded on the terms on which it is promised
that the mediation of our Saviour shall be applied to us,
--namely, obedience; and where obedience has failed, then, as
suppletory to it, repentance. But what man can say that his
obedience has been such, as he would approve in another, or even
in himself upon close examination, or that his repentance has not
been such as to require being repented of? No man can be sure
that his obedience and repentance will obtain salvation."
Mrs. Knowles: "But divine intimation of acceptance may be
made to the soul." Johnson: "Madam, it may; but I
should not think the better of a man who should tell me on his
death-bed he was sure of salvation. A man cannot be sure himself
that he has divine intimation of acceptance; much less can he
make others sure that he has it." Boswell: "Then, Sir,
we must be contented to acknowledge that death is a terrible
thing." Johnson: "Yes, Sir, I have made no approaches to
a state which can look on it as not terrible." Mrs.
Knowles (seeming to enjoy a pleasing serenity in the
persuasion of benignant divine light,) "Does not St. Paul say, 'I
have fought the good fight of faith, I have finished my course;
henceforth is laid up for me a crown of life'?" Johnson:
"Yes, Madam; but here was a man inspired, a man who had been
converted by supernatural interposition." Boswell: "In
prospect death is dreadful; but in fact we find that people die
easy." Johnson: "Why, Sir, most people have not
thought much of the matter, so cannot say much, and
it is supposed they die easy. Few believe it certain they are
then to die; and those who do, set themselves to behave with
resolution, as a man does who is going to be hanged. He is not
the less unwilling to be hanged."
Boswell: Life
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1,100. Damnation
"Since all rational agents are conscious of having neglected or
violated the duties prescribed to them, the fear of being
rejected or punished by God has always burthened the human
mind."
Johnson: Rambler #110 (April 6, 1751)
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