Q W HETHER the advice of Gamaliel (Acts iii.) in relation to the Apostles, and the religion they taught, be not a good argument in behalf of the Malimetan religion, which has made fo great a progress, and bad fo long a duration in the world? A. Gamaliel faw, that the chriftian religion was propagated by fuch unequal agents, fuch weak, fuch feeble inftruments (who had unheard of difadvantages to struggle with, both with regard to the nature of the doctrine taught, and the powerful adverfaries that oppos'd it) that he prudently concluded, that a religion fo ftrangely circumftantiated, cou'd never gain credit in the world, unlefs miraculously fupported by a power divine. But this bears no mai ner of analogy to the Mahometan impofture; which fpread fo far by the power of the prevailing fword, and was of a nature politickly accommodated to flefs and blood. Q. What is the reafon and use of the column of figures in the calenders of Common-Prayer-Books, before the days of the months? 4. The column fpecified is compos'd out of the golden, number, or cycle of the moon, which is a revolution of nineteen years: And therefore you may obferve, that there is no number in the column exVOL. III, H h ceeding ceeding nineteen. As often as that revolution is perform'd, the new moons, the full moons, and all the other configurations of the moon return to the fame folar day. If therefore you observe, what day of any month the moon changes, you may conclude, that upon the expiration of nineteen years, the moon will change on the very fame day of the month. And therefore by the column you may know, on what day in any month the moon changes. For when you have got the golden number for the year, look for that number in the column of the month, you defign; and the day of the month the faid golden number is affix'd to, is the time of the moon's changing. And therefore, if any referve this paper, they may know the changes of the moon, not only prefent, but for an hundred, or any number of years to come. For if you know the golden number (which, every almanack will tell you) you may easily find out the faid number for any year to come by proceeding to nineteen, and from thence back to an unite, and fo on till you come to the year you defign. And when you have got the golden number for the year intended you must apply it by the foremention'd rule. Q. I obferve you are of opinion, that the earth has a double motion, viz. One round its own axis in 24 hours, and the other, through the twelve signs in 365 days, or thereabouts. 1 The first I can easily conceive, but the latter perplexes me: For I cannot understand how the earth in it's annual motion should make fuch a confiderable inclination to the fun, and (none that can be perceiv'd) to the fixed ftars. 4. The objection will readily vanish, if you confider, the fix'd ftars are fo vaftly diftant from the earth, that they cannot exert so attractive an influence, as to determine the motion of the earth from that direct motion, which the great Creator may at firft be 'fuppos'd to have imparted to it. For the annual motion of the earth is a mix'd motion, compos'd of a right line motion, and a tendency towards the fun. Were it not for the former, the earth wou'd move directly directly to the fun, and we fhou'd be burnt up with heat. Were it not for the latter, it wou'd be continually moving to a greater diftance from the fun, and we fhou'd be frozen up with cold. But these two different motions fo determine each other, that we happily enjoy a delightful medium. Manifold are thy works, O Lord; in wisdom haft thou made them all. QYe fons of the British Apollo, Whom fo many wife men do follow, Pray tell me the reafon, Why against a wet season, So low doth fly the swallow ? 4. The flies, which the swallows devour Why near a wet season, The fwallow directs her flight lower. But an odd faying, that's fo very Highly Highly conceiting there will follow Thanks to your faithful friend APOLLO. They grew as warm-as were their wishes : This is our answer to your letter. Q. Pardon, bright offspring of a fire fublime, O let my flowing tears your pity move ;· Theodora, A. Whilst Theodora thus in vails conceals No No mortal influence can his prefence stay, The mystery, or bid the God, Adieu. The Epitaph of His Royal Highness, the late PRINCE GEORGE OF DENMARK. WHO Here Lies, 'HO, fhall I fay? No name can fuit his praise; May they the lawrel give who claim the bays. To' indulgent mafter bore fo mild a fway, His fervants thought it empire to obey. The husband rul'd fo void of noify ftrife, The fovereign cou'd not overlook the wife. Nor did the husband overlook the Queen: A ftrangely mingled, yet a tuneful scene. Here wisdom greeted inoffenfive love; The ferpent temper'd by the gallefs dove. Sweetness and grandeur with fuch luftre fhone, In him the blended couple made but ONE. To heav'n with wondrous fteadiness inclin'd, He drew the picture of his confort's mind. To find the whither muft we roam ? In war a LYON, but a LAMB at home. When bravely he the Swedish troops difmay'd, When Danish valour did with BELGICK join, Our happy ifle; but BOTH enjoy'd his HEART, |