to Prevent the Plague of Ill Company, by avoiding the Occaſions of it. The Linking of a Man of Brains and Honeſty into a Lewd Inſipid Converſation, is Effectually but the Moral of That Tyrant, that Bound the Living, and the Dead together, and yet This is it which the Impertiaent takes for the Relief of Solitude, and the Bleſſing of That which he calls Company.
Fab. CCCXXVIII.
A Wolfe in a Sheeps-skin.
THere goes a Story of a Wolfe, that Wrapt himſelf up in a Sheep-skin, and Worry'd Lambs for a Good while under That Diſguiſe; but the Shepherd Met with him at laſt, and Truſt him up, Sheeps-skin and all, upon an Eminent Gibbet, for a Spectacle, and an Example. The Neighbours made a Wonderment of it, and Ask’d him what he meant to Hang up his Sheep? Oh, ſays he, That's only the Skin of a Sheep, that was made uſe of to Cover the Heart, Malice, and Body of a Wolfe that Shrouded himſelf Under it.
The MORAL.
REFLEXION.
THIS Fable is Moraliz'd in the Holy Goſpel it elf 'Tis with all Men that are Notoriouſly Wicked, of what Degree or State, or in what point of Iniquity ſoever, much after the Rate of the Wolfe in Thus Fiction. Tyranny Marches under the Maſque of Care, Piety, and Protection. Injustice ſets up the Rigorous Letter of the Law to Weigh againſt the Improbity of the Witneſs: The Pawn-Broker pretends Charity, and the Oppreſſor Flays the Widow and the Orphan: And at the ſame Time, Preaches Mercy and Compaſſion, with the very ſame Breath. Treachery Covers it ſelf under a Cloak of Kindneſs and Friendſhip; and Nothing more Frequent then Wolves in Lambs-Skins, even in the moſt Solemn Offices of Church and State, This Fable Extends to All the Lewd Practices of Hypocrites and Impoſtors, under the Colour of Pious, and Charitable Works and Duties. Now if All our Moral Wolves in Sheeps-Cloathing, were but Serv'd as This Hypocritical Wolfe was in the Fiction, and Hung-up Indeed, with their Crimes in Capital Letters on their Foreheads, Common Truth and Honeſlty among Men would be more Sacred.
FAB.
