The PREFACE.
for either Reproof, or Councel, in Direct Terms. They Hate any Man that's but Conſcious of their Wickedneſs, and their Miſery is like the Stone in the Bladder; There are Many Things Good for't, but there's No Coming at it; and neither the Pulpit, the Stage, nor the Preſs, Dares ſo much as Touch upon't. How much are we Oblig'd then, to Thoſe Wiſe, Good Men, that have furniſh'd the World with ſo ſure, and ſo Pleaſant an Expedient, for the Removing of All Theſe Difficulties! And to Æſop, in the Firſt Place, as the Founder, and Original Author, or Inventer of This Art of Schooling Mankind into Better Manners; by Minding Men of their Errors without Twitting them for what's Amiſs, and by That Means Flaſhing the Light of their Own Conſciences in their Own Faces! We are brought Naturally enough, by the Judgment we paſs upon the Vices and Follies of our Neighbour, to the Sight and Senſe of our Own; and Eſpecially, when we are led to the Knowledge of the Truth of Matters by Significant Types, and Proper Reſemblances, for we are much more Affected with the Images of things, then with the True Reaſon of them. Men that are Shot-free againſt All 'the Attaques of Honour, Conſcience, Shame, Good Faith, Humanity, or Common Juſtice, have yet ſome Weak ſide or other, like Achilles's Heel, that was never dipt; and This Contrivance of Application, by Hints, and Glances, is the Only way under the Heavens to Hit it. [Who ſhall ſay to a King, What Doſt, thou?] comes up to the very Streſs of This Topique. There's no Meddling with Princes, either by Text, or Argument. Morality is not the Province of a Cabinet-Councel: And Ghoſtly Fathers Signify no more then Spiritual Bug-bears, in the Caſe of an Unaccountable Priviledge. Tell the Houſe of Iſrael of their Sins, and the Houſe of Jacob of their Tranſgreſſions: was a Guide, Undoubtedly, like an Old Almanack, for the Tear'twas Writ in; but Change of Times and Humours, calls for New Meaſures and Manners; and what cannot be done by the Dint of Authority, or Perſwaſion, in the Chappel, or in the Cloſet, muſt be brought about by the Side-Wind of a Lecture from the Fields, and the Foreſts. As the Fable of the Raging Lyon Preaches Caution, and Moderation, to the Extravagances of Cruel, and Ambitious Rulers, by ſhewing them that Tyranny is the Scourge of Humane Nature, in Oppoſition to All the Bleſſings of a Well Order'd Government; and that they do but Plague other People, to their Own Infamy, and Ruine. The Old Lyon in Diſgrace, Reads a Leſſon to us of the Improvidence, and the Deſperate Conſequences of a Riotous, and a Careleſs Youth. The Fox in the Well, holds forth to us upon the Chapter of a Late Repentance. The Frogs Petitioning for a King, bids People have a care of Struggling with Heaven for they know not what. It is Certainly True that the moſt Innocent Illuſtrations of This Quality may lie open to a Thouſand Abuſes and Miſtakes, by a Diſtorted Miſ-application of them to Po-
