Whose ruffick hands, whose eager teeth and songwe, Q. Why did not God make the world in a moment as well as in six days? A. We prefumc this learned querist does not difpute, but God could have made the world in a moment, as well as in six days if he had so pleas’d. Therefore taking that for granted, we shall attempt some Jeasons why he did not. 1. It was most agreeable to that order, decency and regulation, which God prescribes to himself in all his works. Now to have struck out light and darkness, fire and water, earth, heaven and air, donc, all at one heat, must not only have destroy'd and confounded all order and decency, but have been contrary to the rules of right reason, against which, that mighty Being can never be suppos'd to act. 2. The creation of the world at one fiat, ( tho' it might have been equally poffible to God ) might have been too stupendous a view, even for the An. gels themselves, and no doubt but God had a great regard to them in it, by thewing them the beauty, harmony and fymmetry of his daily labours, for which without all question they return'd the conftant tribute of their Allelujahs. 3. It was to be a standing rule and direction to mankind, for the future government of their lives and actions, to labour six days, and to keep the sea venth holy to him, who refted upon that day and blefied it. Q. Why than snow? Q. Why does it often bail in warm weather, but als ways from in cold, tho hail be a more compact congelation A. Your question is founded upon two fuppofitions, which are both false. You first fuppose, that water when congeald, is more condense, than when diffolv'd. Whereas on the contrary it is more rarified. This supposition was indeed the opinion of the schools men, but is clearly confused by matter of fact. For ice of equal dimensions with water weighs lefs by the proportion of one tenth or one in ten, as is calculated by Mr. Boyle. Your question again supposes, that hail and snow are produc'd out of the same substratum of matter ; whereas snow is engender'd from thin vapours, and bail from drops of rain. In what manner they are both generated, is without the bounds of your queftion. Q. Why are cuckolds said to wear horns and not their wives ? 4. A shrewd question truly! and now, thinks the crafty querift, f who imagines no body but himself knows any thing to the purpose in fo crooked a business ) I have nip'd this upstart fociety in the bud, but have at you for once; we'll let you pollo knows what belongs to horns as well as you Sir. Horns are goods of a woman's getting, and (ia England) you know, all such are her husbands by the law i besides, Şir, tho' a man and his wife are but one fel, yet the busband is the head, and must consequently wear the horns by the law of nature; or perhaps 'tis because the husband, like an ox in a yoak, plows daily on in one deep drudgery, while his brisker mate is gallop'd about from road to road like a beast of burthen. Q. Whether there were the fame number of species of living creatures and the firs creation, as there are none ? A. They, who say that the number is encreas'd fince the creation, must allow of one of these two propofitions ; either that God has since created fome new fpecies, or such have been produc'd by the stated laws fee A. в 4 of laws of second causes. But both these propositions may very fairly be denyd. To say, that God has since created some new species, is to tax him with imperfection in his first effay, which is sure unworthy of an all-wise Creator; to say, that some new species have been fince produc'd by the stated laws of second causes, is to allow of equivocal generation; whereas generation is univocal : that is, a species can be no otherwise naturally formed than by seminal produce tion. If some object, that by the mutual agency two different species a mixt one may be produc'd, as a mule is generated by the conjunction of an horse and ass, to those it may be replied, that such are but temporary creatures, and dye without any propaga-, tion of their kind. Q. Three perfons making their addresses to me, A captain, a lawyer, and a merchant; I have enquir'd after their personal estates, for they despise real ones : my captain has bis commiffion in his pocket, which fcorns to keep comparing with any gold there. My lawyer has a desk, nine law. books without covers, two with covers, a temple mug, and the hopes of being a judge. My merchant has & val a vas estate, tho' at that distance that I never heard of any bea sides, who have ever travelld to those parts. On the other hand I consider'd the risks I Mou'd run; if my cape tain should be broke his fortunes would be broke, and by consequence my heart would be broke ; for all money can never be extra&ted out of no money. My lawyer might ftudy Cook upon Littletoo, more than my conftitution, and so his horns might throw off his coif. My merchant might travel after his effe&ts, and leave me at the mere of his fore-man, then, shou'd I happen to go.two years with child, he might not believe it his own, and so fue out a divorce. Now it is certain, one of these I must have, Since it is as certain I expe&t no orhers: therefore since your Apollo was a passionate lover of our fex, I hope your compassion will confess your legitimacy, and incline you so ads vise herein ? A. When we forget our respects to your fex, may our descent be csteem'd fpurious. Your case seems feems so intricate, that we durft give no solution thereon, without first consulting the Oracle of Apollo, who by his priestess returns this answer, In times of war, when Mars triumphant reigns, The merchant runs the risk of all bis gains, The lawyer beats in vain his folid brains, The soldier's only paid for all his pains. Q. Gentlemen, Pray tell me what you think of St. Au• ftin's opinion ; be fuys if Adam had not fell, generation had been perform'd without the loss of the maidenhead: A. We are not of his mind, as not thinking there is so much fanctity in celebacy, on wbich we pres fume that opinion is grounded. Q. If you Apollo's fons wou'd prove your felves A. Wit like the Phoenix, is a bird most rare, on Tears shed by a Lady. } It when the queen of love Adonis mourn'd, Some Somee xq uisite perfume, to feast the sense, rills, fills, Till their first nature seems intirely gone, And the next age surpriz'd confess 'em solid ftone. On a lover's attempting to kiss his mistress thro' a glass window. hands, Curse on the disappointment of my kiss, First give the hope, then dash the tempting joy. Cold T |