An Antidote to Superſtition.
Part 1st.
The Hiſtory of Philaretes the SUPERSTITIOUS Man,
with the method He took to extricate himſelf from the fetters
of Superſtition.
Oh! would mankind but make great truths their guide,
And force the helm from Prejudice and Pride;
Were once theſe maxims fix'd, that God's our friend,
Virtue our good, and happineſs our end;
How ſoon muſt reaſon o'er the world prevail,
And error, fraud, and Superſtition, fail!
ALTHOUGH man is born to bear, he in fact ſuffers more diſtreſs and miſery from the dread of apprehended viſionary evils, than the actual feeling of preſent real ones. Cloyed with the paſſing moment, with inſatiable avidity we raſh forward to reconnoitre the inviſible regions of futurity, and from events utterly unknown, we anticipate our bliſs or woe.
This anticipating bent of mind has had innumerable occaſions of exerciſing its powers from the long received doctrines of omens, ghofts, ſpectres, viſions, witches and cloven-footed dæmons.
