REFLEXION.
This is to Reprove Thoſe (according to the old Moral) that Stir upvMen in Power to do Publick Miſchief; which is much Worſe than any Man's Doing a Private One Himſelf: And only a Safer Way of Commntting greater Outrages.
The Trumpeter's Plea, is ſo Arrant a Shuffle here, that an Incendiary at the Barr, or in the Pulpit, has as much to ſay for Himſelf. He that Countenances, Encourages, or Abetts a Miſchief, Does it. The Seditious Lawyer, or Divine, Kills No Body with his own Hand, but by a Falſe Gloſs perhaps, upon a Law, or a Text, he may cauſe Ten Thouſand Swords to be Drawn, without Spilling One Drop of Bloud immediately Himſelf. Shall any Man now, that Willfully, and Maliciouſly, procures the Cutting of whole Armies to Pieces, ſet up for an Innocent? As it the Lives that were taken away by his Inſtigation, were not to be Charged upon his Account. He that Covers Murder, Oppreſſion, Sacrilege, Rebellion, with a Cloak of Statute and Scripture, makes God and Government, Effectually, the Authors of the Wickedneſs: And Thoſe are the Baſeſt, and Worſt of Bravo's, that Employ Journeymen-Mercenaries under them to do the Work. What is This, but to Engage our Bibles, and our Law-Books in a Conſpiracy againſt Themſelves? Shall He that gives Fire to the Train, pretend to Waſh his Hands of the Hurt that’s done by the Playing of the Mine? Humane Corruptions are as Catching as Powder; as Eaſily Enflam‘d, and the Fire afterward as Hard to be Quench’d. That which a Man Cauſes to be Done, he Does Himſelf, and ’tis all a caſe whether he does it by Practice, Precept, or Example. In One Word, He that Kindles the Paſſions of the Mobile is Anſwerable for the Following Conflagration. When the Men of the Long Robe have once Preach’d the People to Tinder, the Leaſt Spark ſets them a Fire: ſo that they have no more to do then to Inculcate the Doctrine of Diſobedicnce, and ſo leave the Multitude to chew upon't. A Trumpeter in the Pulpit is the very Emblem of a Trumpeter in the Field; and the ſame Charge holds Good againſt Both. Only the Spiritual Trumpeter is the more Pernicious Inſtrument of the Two; for the Latter ſerves only to Rowze the Courage of the Soldiers without any Doctrine of Application upon the Text, whereas the other infuſes Malice over and above, and Preaches Death and Damnation, Both in Onc, and gives ye the very Chapter and Verſe for’t.
Fab. LXVIII.
A Dog and a Wolfe.
THERE was a Hagged Carrion of a Wolfe, and a Jolly Sort of a Gentile Dog, with Good Fleſh upon his Back, that fell into Company together upon the King’s High-Way. The Wolfe wonderfully pleas'd with his Companion, and as Inquiſitive to Learn how he brought himſelf to That Bleſſed State of Body. Why, ſays the Dog, I keep my Maſter's Houſe from Thieves, and I have very Good Meat, Drink, and Lodging for my pains.Now
