Page images
PDF
EPUB

And humbly make fuit for an answer,
For a riddle lives there,

Of the fex they call fair,
Pray, let him find her out if he can, Sir,
Her beauty's but small,

And her wit none at all,

Oft fhe's fick, when there's nothing does ail her,
Her father and mother,

Late husband and brother, 2017

Were skill'd in the art of a TAYLORS
She's a widow of late,

And her whimsical pares.

Has a mouth that is apt to make water,
But he wears by her book, s

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

T

That a lord, earl, or duke;
And no other man shall come at her.
Now they fay, that her worth
Makes amends for her birth,
For full twenty thousand fhe'as got, Sir,
Then fince I'm but poor,

Shou'd I offer to woe her,

Pray, d'ye think she may fall to my lot, Sir?

A. Since affurance you've got,

Tho' but poor is your lot,

You can hardly fall fhort in your measure,
For tho envy will carp,

Yet as long as you're foarp,
Ten to one but you'll ftitch up your treasure.
Shou'd fhe think you too bold,,

When you aim at her gold,
Sure the pride of old Satan muft ail her,
For 'tis ftrange if the tool,

Might not foop.to your rule,

As foon as a duke wed a taylor.

Q. Is it lawful for a perfon, after the fufception of a vow of bely celibacy, to marry, provided he keep himself an undefiled virgin 2

A. As.

*

4. As celibacy fignifies (for fo the Greek original imports) a fingle or unmarried life, fo we fuppofe the perfon, who makes a vow of celibacy, to intend it in that fenfe.

There are feveral particulars, (as the judicious Saunderfon obferves) which tho' expreffively included in a vow or oath, may yet, upon intervening circum, ftances be reasonably difpens'd with, on the neceffary provifo, that the principal intention be no ways encroach'd upon. For inftance; tho' a pious clergyman fhould make a folemn vow, that he will take a voyage to one of our American plantations, the most deftitute of preachers, in order to propagate the true religion; yet, on fuppofition, that before he entred on his voyage, it fhould fo happen, that all our American plantations fhould be difpeopled, the obligation of his vow would immediately expire. But that fuch a cafe is no ways parallel to your's, will readily appear, if we confider the reafon why the forefaid obligation is entirely cancel'd, upon the intermediate. revolution.

[ocr errors]

1

will

And the reafon is, becaufe as the propagation of rea ligion was the primary intention of the truly zealous clergyman, and the voyage to America no otherwife intended, than as barely fubfervient to that defign; so the exception fpecified was tacitly included in the vow itself. For had he been reminded of it before he made the vow, he never would have made it without referve. Tho' yet he might not have exprefs'd the condition, but would perhaps have answer'd, that his vow would be founded on the neceffary fuppofition, that the plantation would continue to be still inhabited. But he who makes a vow of celibacy, defigns, not only to preferve his virgin chastity, but alfo to keep unmarried. And had any one mention'd to him fo peculiar a referve, he would not, (probably, we mean) have at all regarded it.

But we shall endeavour to give farther proofs, that an abstinence from marriage, as well as from the use

of

of the nuptial bed, is an effential ingredient of the foremention'd vow.

1. He who engages in fuch a vow, designs (as we are apt to think) to retain (as far as humanity will permit) fo heavenly, fo angelical a chastity (for the angels neither marry, nor are given in marriage) as to abstain from all the embraces of a woman. But it is a queftion, whether he, who marries on supposal, that he does not infringe his vow, will enjoin himfelf fo fevere an abftinence. But,

2dly, We may fuppofe, that he may have it tranfiently in his thoughts, to devote himself more entirely to his Maker's fervice, while difencumber'd from a marriage ftate. For when St. Paul encourages batchelors to continue fo, he propofes this as a motive to fo pious a felf-denial: He, that is unmarried, careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may pleafe the Lord. But he that is moovied, careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

But we may confider too, that a cohabitation with a wife may prove a fare to the perfon specified, and at last unhappily prevail upon him to violate his vow. And fince he petitions to his God, in his daily prayer, to deliver him from temptation, it is fure an act of very high prefumption, to rufh headlong into that temptation, which he earnestly implores to be deliver'd from.

Q. Why an infant, born in the feventh month, generally lives, when one born in the eighth frequently dies?

4. Because the infant is ever moving towards the birth in the feventh month, at which time, if it be ftrong enough, it comes to the birth; but if not, it remains in the womb commonly two months longer, in order to get strength; but if after the motion, at feven months end, it be not born, the fituation is mov'd, and the infant fo debilitated thereby, that fhould it come forth in the eighth month, it could, fcarcely live, by reafon of the hurt receiv'd, thereby.

Q. May

Q. May wood-betony be fmoak'd by them who cannot bear tobacco, without prejudicing the health?

A. It may, and is commonly used in that manner instead of tobacco, with a great deal of benefit, in pectoral and cephalick cafes.

Q. Why, when a cold or an ague leaves us, does it ge nerally break out about the mouth?

A. That eruption is not common in agues, but it is generally accounted, and found a falubrious fymptom after the taking of cold. For when nature difcharges her felf of thofe ferous acidities thro' those parts, others more fubject to catarrhs remain fafe, and the offending matter being thus expell'd, the dif order ceafes.

Q. I have often experienced, that fitting in a coach, with my eyes shut, the coach feems to move the contrary. way to what it really does?

A. While our bodies are mov'd in a coach, the a nimal fpirits floating in the brain receive a contrary tendency, as it is ufual for the content to receive from the moving continent. Since therefore when our eyes are fhut we cannot judge of the tendency of the coach's motion, any other wife than by the motion of the forefaid fpirits, our imagination confequently fuppofes, that the coach moves contrary to the reality of its genuine motion.

Q. Which way shall I (fweet youths) feek to obtain, Not tranfient joys, but fuch as will remain. Oft-times amidst a fcene of heighten'd joys, When wine inclines, and company decoys, A fecret anxious thought my mirth deftroys. Then faintly I refolve, but all in vain, Soon as the fnare is laid, I'm caught again. Teach me how to refolve, (and break the chain) Reject thofe follies, and thofe fools difdain. Who lavish of their golden hours and days, Live to themselves, not to their Maker's praife?

A. Confider the effects, the fordid stains Attend the vice, with all the griefs and pains:

}

That

That reafon, that bright ftamp, by which we're grac'd,
To differ us from brutes, is quite defac'd;
That they're more bleft in fenfual delight,
By quicker relish, ftronger appetite,

Free from remorfe, which mankind must endure,
Render'd by confcious reafon more impure.
Confider, on the wife, what fhameful rapes
It makes, reducing them to fwine and apes.
And how thofe momentary joys obtain,
Long years of penance in difeafe and pain.
How, when the brains are in confulion hurl'd,
All thoughts are ftifled of another world ;
Whilft by fuch noxious, dull delight as this,
We relish here no perfect joy, and forfeit future blifs?
Q. I've read your poetry fo long,

They have taught me to make a song,
Which I unto my mistress gave,

On which she call'd me witty knave;
And think you not, I shail her have ?
Now Gentlemen, fome jubject tell me,
Of matters tending to the belly,
And you shall fee, how I will train,
To fing it in heroick vein ;

For fince 'twas you made me a poet,
And taught me wit, e'er I cou'd know it,
It is your right now to bestow it.

4. Our modefty will never own,
To teach fuch wit as you have fhewn;
Whofe lines are of more force, and louder;
Than ftrongeft muftard, or gun-powder;
Whofe fenfe in fuch profoundness lies,
'Twill ne'er be reach'd by mortal eyes;
So foft and fweet your numbers run,
Sure treacle was your helicon;
Nor cou'd their smoothness fo prevail,
Were that not mix'd with double-ale.
Yet fince you condescend to ask,
That we wou'd set your muse a task,
On which you might, in lines heroick
Flourish and gild, like any stoick;

}

And

« PreviousContinue »