Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 2.djvu/312

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260
A FRAGMENT.

and dance before you. Then, by frequently moving your body up and down, you perceive the vapours to ascend very fast, till you are perfectly dosed and flustered, like one who drinks too much in a morning. Mean while the preacher is also at work; he begins a loud hum, which pierces you quite through; this is immediately returned by the audience, and you find yourself prompted to imitate them by a meer spontaneous impulse, without knowing what you do. The interstitia are duly filled up by the preacher, to prevent too long a pause, under which, the spirit would soon faint, and grow languid.

This is all I am allowed to discover, about the progress of the spirit with relation to that part, which is born by the assembly; but in the methods of the preacher, to which I now proceed, I shall be more large and particular.





SECTION II.


YOU will read it very gravely remarked, in the books of those illustrious and right eloquent penmen, the modern travellers; that the fundamental difference, in point of religion, between the wild Indians and us, lies in this: that we worship God, and they worship the devil. But, there are certain criticks, who will by no means admit of this distinction; rather believing, that all nations whatsoever adore the true God, because they seem to

intend