as of a Civil Life, where there is place for the Exerciſe of rhe Facultics of Both.
There is alſo a Pompous, and a Noiſie Devotion, that cries aloud to be heard of Men; Which is by ſo much the more Odious in the fight of God then the Other, as an Hypocritical Affectation of Religion, is Worſe then a Drowſie Heartleſſneſs of Duty. The Moral of this Fable may be Underſtood to look Both Ways, but Care muſt be Taken however, not to let the Scandals of Theatrical Appearances, Divert, or Deter us from the Practice of Holy Offices, within the Bounds of Piety and Good Conſcience: after the Example of Thoſe, that ſet up for Atheiſts, for fear they ſhould be taken for Enthuſiaſts. He, in fine, that Made Body and Soul will be Serv'd and Glorify'd by Both. Beſide that Hercules helps no Body that will not Help himſelf.
Fab. CCXLVII.
A Hen and Golden Eggs.
A Certain Good VVoman had a Hen, that Laid her Golden Eggs, which could not be, ſhe thought, without a Mine in the Belly of her. Upon This Preſumption ſhe Cut her up to Search: ie Hidden Treaſure: But upon the Diſſection found her juſt like Other Hens, and that the Hope of Getting more had betray'd her to the Loſs of what ſhe had in Poſſeſſion.
The MORAL.
REFLEXION.
THEY that would ſtill have more and more, can never have Enough; No, Not if a Miracle ſhould Interpoſe to Gratify their Avarice; for it makes Men Unthankful to the Higheſt Degree, not only in General, for the Benefits they Receive, bur in particular alſo to the very Benefactors Themſelves. If the Neareſt Friead a Covetous Man has in the World, had really a Mine in his Guts, he'd Rip him up to Find it: For his Bus’neſs is to make the Moſt of what he has, and of what he can get, without any regard to the Courſe of Providence, or of Nature: And what's the End of All Theſe Unreaſonable Deſires, but Loſs, Sorrow, and Diſappointment? The True Intent of This Fable is to Poſſeſs us with a Juſt Senſe of the Vanity and Folly of theſe Craving Appetites. If the Woman could have been Contented with Golden Eggs, the might have kept That Revenue on ſlill; but when Nothing leſs then the Mine it ſelf would ſerve her, ſhe loſt Hen, Eggs and all.
FAB.
