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usually adapted to their obscure works. It might exercise an able enigmatist to explain their alludons ; for we must undeistand by the Heart of Aaron, that it is a commenlary on several of the prophets. The Bonei ofJotepk is an introduction to the Talmud. The Garden of Nuts, and the Golden Applet, are theolog^cai questions; and the Pomegranate with its Flower, is a treatise of ceremonies, not any more prac- tised. Jortin gires a title, which he says of all the fantastical titles he can recollect is one of the prettiest. A rabin published a catalogue of rabbinical writers, and called it Labia Dormi- entium, from Cantic. rii. 9. " Like the best wine for my beloved that g^th down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak." It hath a double meaning, of which he was not aware, for most of his rabbinical brethren talk very much like men in their sleep.
Almost all their works bear such titles as bread — gold — silver — roses — eyes, &c.; in a word, any thing that signifies nothing.
Affected title-pages were not peculiar to the orientals; the Greeks and the Romans have shown a finer taste. They had their Cornu- copias, or horns of abundance — Liraones, or meadows — Pinakidions, or tablets — Pancarpes, or all sorts of fruits; titles not unhappily adapted for the miscellanists. The nine books of Hero- dotus, and the nine epistles of iGschines, were respectively honoured by the name of a muse ; and three oratious by those of the graces.
The modern fanatics have had a most bar- barous taste for titles. We could produce num- bers from abroad, and at home. Some works have been called. Matches lighted at the Divine Fire, — and one the Gun of Pestilence : a collec- tion of passages from the fathers is called the Shop of the Spiritual Apothecary : we have the Bcmk of Faith, and the Sixpennyworth of Divine Spirit: one of these works bears the following elaborate title : Some fine Biscuits baked in the Oven of Charity, carefully conserved for the Chickens of the Church, the Sparrows of the Spirit, and the Sweet Swallows of Salvation. Sometimes their quaintness has some humour. Sir Humphrey Lind, a zealous puritan, pub- lished a work which a Jesuit answered by another, entitled A Pair of Spectacles far Sir Humphrey Lind. The doughty knight retorted, by.il Case for Sir Humphrey Lind's Spectacles.
Aboat 1614-16 the following sermons were published by William Adams, which, for the sake of the titles, are worth preserving, viz. : — White DevU ; or the Hypocrite Unmasked. Black Devil ; or the Apostate. Lycanthropy ; or the Wolfe annoying the Lambs. A^piritval Navigation bound for the Holy Land. The Devil's Banket. Sinner's Passing bell ; or Phisicke for Heaven.
In 1626, a pamphlet was published in Lon- don, entitled, A most delectable sweet perfumed Nosegay for God's Saints to smell at. About the year 1646, there was published a work entitled, A Pair of Bellows to blow off the Dust cast upon JIlin A». The author of a book on charity en- titled his work, Hooks and Eyes for Believers'
Breeches; and another, who professed a wish to exalt poor human nature, called his labours, High-heeled Shoes for Dwarfs in Holiness ; and another. Crumbs of Comfort for the Chickens of the Covenant. A quaker, in prison, published A Sigh of Sorrow for the Sinners of Zion, breathed out of a Hole in the Wall of an Earth- en Vessel, known among men by the name of Samuel Fish. About the same time appeared, Salvations Vantage Ground! or a Louping Statid for Heavenly Believers ; another, A Shot aimed at the DeviPs Head Quarters, through the Cannon of the Coverutnt. This is an author who speaks plain language, which the most illiterate repro- bate cannot fail to understand. Another book has the following copious description, — Seven Sobs of a Sorrowful Soul for Sin, or the Seven Penitential Psalms of the princely Prophet David, whereunto is also annexed William Hutmuiifs Handful of Honeysuckles, and divers godly and pithy Ditties, now newly augmented. (See page 426, ante.)
In 1640, the following work was published : — Silver Watch-Bell, the sound whereof is able (by the grace of God) to win the profanest Worldling to become a true Christian. By Thomas Tymmes.
Among the titles of French books of piety, burlesque has ever reigned ; as the Snuffers of Divine Love; the Spiritual Mustard Pot, to make the Soul sneeze unt/i Devotion; the Capu- chin booted and spurred for Paradise.
Some of these obscure titles have an enter- taining absurdity; as the Three Daughters of Job, which is a treatise on the three virtues of patience, fortitude, and pain. The Innocent Love, or the Holy Knight, is a description of the ardours of a saint of the virgin. The Sound of the Trumpet is a work on the day of judgment; and A Fan to drive away Flies is a theological treatise on purgatory.
A rhodomontade title-page was once a great favourite. There was once a time when the republic of letters was over-built with Palaces of Pleasure, Palaces of Honour, and Palaces of £/()au«nce, with Temples of Memory, aaA Theatres of Human Life, and Amphitheatres of Provi- dence ; Pharoses, Gardens, Pictures, Treasures. The epistles of Guevara dazzled the public eye with their splendid title, for they were called Golden Epistles ; and the Golden Legend of Vo- raigne had been appropriately entitled leaden. They were once so fond of novelty, that every book recommended itself by such titles as, a New Method ; New Elements of Geometry ; the New Letter Writer, and the New Art of Cookery.
To excite the curiosity of the pious, some writers employed artifices of a very ludicrous nature. Some made their titles rhyming echoes ; as this one of a father, who has given his works under the title of Seala Alte animi ; and Jetus esui noBus Orbis. Some have distributed them according to the measure of time, as one Father Nadasi, the greater part of whose works are years, months, weeks, days, and hours. Some have borrowed their titles from the parts of the body ; and others have used quaint expressions,
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