by Unwarrantable, and Forbidden Ways, into the Sceret Councels of Almighty God, are Both Juſtly Puniſh’d: The One in Telling the Truth, and the Other in Hearing it: for it Hardens the One in his Confidence, and Preſumption, and the Other in his Curioſity, and Superſtition: Over and above the Feats that are done by Confederacy and Intelligence; for how ſhall any man pretend to tell Me my Fortune that knows nothing of his Own?
There are Mountebanks, and Smatterers alſo in State as well as in Science; Nay and perchance, the Vainer, the more Ignorant, and the more Miſchievous of the Two; for All Theſe Fables are Moraliz’d in Hiſtory, Practice, and Converſation; and the Fiction, Match'd, ac leaſt, if not Outdone, in Matter of Fact. And Theſe Ordinary Hocuſes have been made uſe of in All Ages too, as Tools of State; ſometimes For the Government, Other while Againſt it, as the Occaſion lay Faireſt for the Game that was then a Playing. It goes a great Way, when Natural Curioſity, Vulgar Prejudice, and an Artificial Application of Actives to Paſſives, ſhall be Aſſiſted with the Shams of Aſtrological Judgments and Calculations over and above: though with our Conjurers here, their Ignorance and Preſumption lays them Open in the Concluſion to the Scorns and Contempt of the Common People.
Fab. XCV.
A Doctor and his Patient.
PRay Sir How a’ ye Find your ſelf? ſays the Dr. to his Patient. Why truly, ſays the Patient; I have had a Violent Sweat. Oh the Beſt Sign in the World quoth the Dr. And then a little while after he is at it again, with a Pray How d' ye find your Body? Alas, ſays the T’ other, I have juſt now ſuch a Terrible Fit of Horror and Shaking upon me! Why this is all as it ſhould be, ſays the Phyſician, It ſhews a Mighty Strength of Nature. And then he comes over him a Third time with the ſame Queſtion again; Why I am all ſwell'd, ſays T’ other, as if I had a Dropſy; Beſt of All quoth the Doctor; and goes his Way. Soon after This comes one of the Sick Man's Friends to him with the ſame Queſtion, how he felt himſelfe; why truly ſo Well, ſays he, that I am e'en ready to Dye, of I know not how many Good Signs and Tokens.
The MORAL.
A Death bed Flattery is the Worſt of Treacheries.
Re-
