of Heaven with Patience, Humility and Reſignation. This Man was to dye at Seven Years end, unleſs he could bring to paſs a thing Impoſſible. Now ſooner or later, (and which of the Two is uncertain,) we are all of us to dye. Why are we not as Sollicitous now for the Certainty of the Thing, as for the Appointment of the Time, when a Thouſand Accidents may interpoſe to divert the one, and the other is wholly inevitable?
Fab. CCCLXIV.
A Prieſt and Epiphany.
TO Morrow (ſays the Curate) is to be Celebrated the Feaſt of Epiphany: 1 do not know whether the Saint be a Man or a Woman; but the Day however is to be obſerved with Great Solemnity.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
This is a Dry Fable, and there’s nothing to be gotten out of it but by Squeezing. it may paſs however with a little Force, for a Reproach upon the Ignorance of many People in their own Trade, provided always that there be no Reflexion upon the Profeſſion it ſelf, which is but too much the Practice of Looſe Men, and of Troubleſome Times; as if the Commiſſion were to Blame for the Perſon's ſake that Abuſes it. There are Men of all ſorts, Good and Bad, in all Functions and Societies; and the Order, or the Office, is never the worſe for the Failings of an Ill, or a Weak Man that has the Execution of it: It was well turn'd by Mr. Selden upon an Alderman in the Long-Long Parliament, on the Subject of Epiſcopacy. Mr. Speaker, ſays the Alderman, there are ſo many Clamours againſt ſuch and ſuch of the Prelates, that we ſhall never be Quiet till we have no more Biſhops. Mr. Selden upon this, Informs the Houſe, what Grievous Complaints there were for high Miſdemeanors againſt ſuch and ſuch Aldermen, and therefore, ſays he, by a Parity of Reaſon, it is my Humble Motion that we may have no more Aldermen. Here was the Fault transferr'd to the Office, which is a Dangerous Error; for not only Government, but Human Society it ſelf may be diſſolved by the ſame Argument, if the Frailties or Corruptions of Particular Men ſhall be Reveng'd upon the whole.
Fab.
