and a Contagion. 35 even to the Smell and Sightj and report (though who will may believe them for me) the Infection to refemble the Fragrancy of Flowers in May, or any other fweet Savour ; or, on the contrary, to ftrike the Nofe like the Stench of a rotten Carcafe^ nay, fome pfetend to be fo fharp-iighted, as to dif- cern Clouds in the Atmofphere big with pe- ftilential Poifons, and other fuch Conceits of a diftempered Imagination, that are chief- ly the Produces of Fear, which confhrues every Thing for the worft : Although in- deed I muft confefs, that fometimes this very fubtile Aura, may be fo mixed or loaded with grofs and fulphureous Particles, as to be perceptible to the Senfes* FURTHER, as to the fatal Influences of a Plague, if the before recited Account is not fufficient to fhew it, it would not be a Task of any Difficulty to produce many Inftances of its Tyranny and Deftru&ion 2 Hence the Plague by the Hebrews was called *?3"1 or Perdition j as if it was or- dained On Purpofe to deftroy Mankind : It is alfo called Lues, from ai/«, to diflblve - 7 a moft certain Way of Deftruciion, and whofe fatal Property in the Plague is moft remarkable, whereby it does not fo much P 2 pre-
