Vol. II. fome a fort of a Medium between fee a Man's Head cut off, to que 'em; but to fpeak properly, a Me-ftion whether he were dead, if we dium muft partake of both parts, did not know how it came about, whereas thele are granted all or who was his Murderer. Body, tho' the finer parts of it. Q. Whether fmoaking Tobacco More probably we think 'tis, that ben's a Vice, as well as drinking, the Soul acts on matter by that it being a caule of the latter, and Superior nature which 'tis indu'd of a vast expence, which might be with, and whereby 'twas at firit otherwife better employ'd? Pray faadapted to that end, matter not tisfy your humble Servant. From being of it felf capable of Action. Virginia. We can illustrate this by the in- A. We did not think the Hawstance of the minds chufing out kers had run fo far with our Oraany material object, and fixing on cles. However we must by no it, forming Propofitions concern- means difoblige our new customer, ing it, when tho' abfent from the who comes to us, from to'ther Senfes. As I can think of a Tree, World for fatisfaction; to whom a Stone, or any fuch thing, tho' we defire to return another Quedon't fee it, and methinks cou'd ftion instead of his own, which actuate it, if united to it by my will partly anfwer it: Whether mind only, fince I can do it by the he thinks eating Bread and Cheese, Intervention of my Body, which or Weftphalia Ham be a Vice, nois much weaker. The common thing being more plain than that fallacy we put upon our felves, they are often the cause of drinand thereby increafing the dini-king? He'll go near to answer, culty in thofe matters, being we doubtlefs they are Vices, if a Man believe that we apply the Proper-eats fo much, Bread and Cheefe, ties of Body to Spirit, and then wonder we lofe our felves in our Thoughts about it. Thus on the Axiom, that nothing can touch, or be touch'd without Body, we argue: Spirits can't touch, therefore they can't act on Body. We mean can't touch, as Body does; how fhould they without they were Body? But they may have, for all that, fome way of acting unknown to us, and doubtleis have fo; nor indeed is't any greater difficulty than 'tis in Body it felf, the modus of few things being known, even in material objects, and yet to deny any clear matter of fact, becaule we are not fatisfy'd of the reafon how it came to pafs, wou'd be just as wife and rational as if we fhou'd

that he breaks his Belly, or more Weftphalia than he can digeft, of knows how to pay for; or if he fpends too much time in't, or eats it with a defign to provoke him to drink intemperately. Just lo 'tis with poor Tobacco, but what's that to a Virginian, who fure wou'd ne'er be angry if every Man in Eng-· land (moakt a Sack in a Week.

Q. Going through Holbourn laft Week, 'twas my chance to fee the Prifoners go to Execution, fome of whom I perceiv'd not at all coRcern'd, as to outward appearance, for their future itate. I must confefs I've nothing to fay against the Ordinary; for it may be fre fum'd there are always fome Of fenders left in Newgate, after the Seffions, who commonly pre

judice the Prifoners against him | In the mean time, what the Que

rift wishes, we believe will be readily fubfcrib'd to by all charitable Men; tho' if he'd give himfelf the trouble to enquire, even the Right Reverend Bishops of our Church have themfelves Preich'd among 'em, and thereby given fo good an example, as vvou'd be an honour to the Clergy to imitate.

Q. I've ferved a Relation and

who is their conftant Preacher, I defire your Opinion whether it would not be a commendable thing for the Clergy of London within the Bills of Mortality to Preach once every Lord's Day to the Prifoners, which wou'd not come to their turns above once in two years? If they fay, their Preach ing wou'd be to no purpose, because they are generally fo har-Friend fome years without any adden'd when they come thither, that fould an Angel from Heaven come down, 'twould fignify nothing. But I must deny their affertion, because there have been Inftances of fome who have been harden'd enough, and yet by Minifters taking pains with them, have been convinced of their wickedness, to that degree, that there has been no doubt made by any of their Salvation and Re-that I dare not go near him. pentance. Whereas neither the Q. Whether I had beft run the Church Minifters nor Diffenters hazard of his present anger in apnow take any pains with thofe pearing before him, or bis perpepoor Creatures, though the lat-tual difpleasure in not going near ter, as well as the former, have him? liberty, if they pleafe, to do it?

A. 'Tis not to be fuppos'd an eafy matter to move the minds of fuch Men as have been long harden'd in fuch couries of Sin as generally bring 'em to fuch unhappy ends: Hovvever fomething is at leaft endeavour'd tovvards it, that they mayn't at once lofe their Souls and Bodies, and if but fome fevv are gain'd, better fo then all loft. The Querift very vvell obferves that the prejudices they convey to one another against the Ordinary, are likely to be infuperable, unless 'tvvere poffible to introduce better difcipline among 'em, and keep one part of thole Wretches from infecting the other.

vantage either to my self or him. The reafon I've not done my self much fervice, is because I've been careless and extravagant, but now, by Gods mercy, I hope I thoroughly fee my Error, and refolve to mend it. I have accordingly fent him a Letter, wherein I have made him acquainted with my Refolutions, but fear his anger fo much

A. That is as his Temper is, of vvhich you can't be ignorant, having liv'd io long vvith him. If good, you vvere beft go your felf; If violent, you may get fome other Friend to feel his pulfe before you venture; and if he again receive you into his favour, have a care hovv you ever again forfeit it.

Q. Whether one that borrow'd Money of feveral Perfons in Ireland about the time of the Revolution, having no intent to repay it, to facilitate his Journey into England, as well to avoid the enfuing troubles, as the aufterity of his Mafter whom he then ferv'd, and is not yet able to return the fame, whether fuch a one may go

to

to the Holy Communion before he has made full Reftitution?

4. If he repents what he has done amifs, and does better to the utmoft of his power, refolving an exact Reftitution, if ever he is able, he doubtless Sins in ftaying away from the Sacrament, for the reafon mention'd in the Query, and ought no longer to neglect that great, and Indifpenfible Duty of all good Chriftians.

Q. Whether ought we to repeat after the Minifter at Church in the Pravers where 'tis only his part, and that fo loud that thofe about may hear us?

nothing. I'd use Spectacles, but an told they'll rather injure then bene fit me. My greatest diverfion is po ring upon Maps, and now and then reading. Pray tell me what course I should take to strengthen and preferve my fight.

4. 'Tis feldom those who fee well at a distance, are fo very clear-fighted nearer, tho' the ad vantage is, their fight generally, we think, lafts longer. If your Imperfection fhou'd encreafe to that degree as to disable you from reading an Oracle 'twou'd be a lefs indeed. For ufing Spectacles, they are now brought to a much greater perfection then formerly, and you may have 'em near, or

4. We hou'd not think this needed any Answer, had we not obferv'd many honest People guil-farfighted, for old or young, and ty of that mistake, which con- your own experience will be the founds the whole order of the fer-beft Judge whether they injure vices; the Minifter requires us to accompany, With an humble Voice in the Confeffion, but not in the Abfolution, which 'tis a wide miflake for the Congregation to repeat, fince they're only to joyn in it with their Amen, at least only with the Latter part of it. "Wherefore let us befeech him, &c. And that mentally only, and fo in all the rest of the Prayers, except their part of the Pfalms, the Refponfes, &c. Tho' if they find it neceffary to repeat the other Prayers, (except the Abfolution) to fix their attention, after the Minifter, they may do it innocently and profitably, but privately, and very foftly, so as not to disturb any others.

Q. I'm under 30 Years of Age, and can fee any thing at a miles diftance as well as most others, but yet before I can read a whole Oracle over, my Eyes fail me fo fenfibly that all's clouded, and I can fee

your fight, or advance it, which fome fay they'll do, if used while young. But however, it's poffible your Eyes may have such a Pafticulation, Conformation, as has happen'd in fome Mens, that no Glaffes or Spectacles will fit you, there being some we have known in that Condition. And if yours are fo, confult our first Volume, in fome of which you'll find another fort of an Inftrument without Glaffes, which may be very useful and beneficial to your reading. If nothing will do, leave poring fo much on Maps and Ora cles, and read little but what's neceffary, the Bible and Books of Devotion, the best use you make of thofe curious Engines,

can

Q. Whether in finging the praife and hope and truft in God, and of God in the Publick Worship, it delight in his Word and Combe not a Sin for a prophane, impi-mandments, which we find every ous, or ignorant Perfon to joyn with where fcatter'd through the Diothers in many of the Pfalms, fince vine works of the Pfalmift, any they were David's private Medita- way fuitable to an ill Man, who tions, and Prayers and Praifes? And has not fo much as attain'd to whether fuch Perfons finging be not the lowest Degrees of Virtue; rather offenfive than pleafing in the nor can he, if he's ingenuous, fight of God, fince 'tis agreed by all, make ufe of them, or joyn with that he only accepts the Service of them till he grows better and the Heart; and the Apoftle directs more Religious 'Tis doubtless a to fing with Grace in the Heart? Sin in him, to joyn in those Pray your opinion and direction how Pfalms with a refolution of befar fuch a Perfon may joyn with ing ftill wicked, or without a others? Nay, fuppofe him a Civil Refolution of Amendment: HowMan, that yet can't fay as David ever, the Church may lawfully does in many places, what shall he and profitable make use of thei do, and how fhall he fo perform this both in her ftated Liturgy, and Duty as to be acceptable to God? occafional Devotions, and has 1. There's no Queftion but the actually done fo for thele many Prayer of the wicked is an abomi- years in her ftated Liturgy nation to the Lord, whether it be which must have fomething Jui in Profe or Verfe, finging or not, table to all Perfons, tho' all can't which are only accidental Cir- be fo. And in her Hymns and cumftances, that don't enter into Lauds; which doubtleís are a the Nature of the thing, nor make neceffary part of Publick Worship, any Alteration in't. But not-wherein all must be fuppos'd fit withstanding this, there's no to joyn, and 'tis their own fault doubt, but the wicked Man ought if they do not: Nay, we know to pray that he may be made bet-not, why one that is imperfectly ter, it being only the impenitently virtuous mayn't joyn in the Prai wicked, thole who are refolv'd to fes of God, as well as in the continue fo, who mock God with Penitential Pfalms, though 'tis their Prayers, and whom for that own'd he can't to properly in Reafon he bids bring no more David's Proteftations of his Piety vain Oblations. But 'tis a vaftly and Innocence: He ought theredifferent cafe in thole who wou'd fore to labour to increale Virtue, be better, and refolve to be fo.to lead a Godly, as well as a However, none affirm, That eve- righteous and feber Life, that he ry Expreßion in David's Pfalms is may fincerely, and humbly make proper for every Man, which is foufe of thofe higher Flights of far from being true, that they are Devotion. not all applicable to the fame Q. Quomodo formantur, &c. State of the Church, but fome to a How are Animals form'd? 'Tis time of Profperity, others of Ad-indeed generally now agreed, That verfity. Much lefs are thole they are form'd ex high Expreffions of Devotion, that's not here the Question. But,

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How out of Matter which appears has out of different Principles plainly Homogeneous, bou'd be compounded, and fo vvonderfulform'd an Animal, which confifts ly united it. Which being grantof fo many and fo different parts. ed, vve can't fee any fuch DifSome think this is done by the ficulty in that Objection. Hovv Fermentation of the Seed; but it an Heterogeneous Animal fhou'd be feems not poffible, that infinite va- compos'd out of Matter, tho' that riety of parts, fo aptly difpos'd, Matter be allovv'd to be in its felf bou'd arife from thence. Others homogeneous; fince vyhatever affert, that the firft Seed of the Matter may be in it felf, and its feveral Animals created by God, Effence and rude Conception, did formally include all Seeds in (which perhaps vve don't knovv it felf; but this alfo feems very much more certainly than the difficult to conceive, because of the Nature of Spirits, and immateriał infinite number of Animals which Objects) this is certain, that Matbave been form'd from this prefent ter no where appears to our Sentime to the Creation of the fes, but 'tis various, and its parts World; tho' to this indeed they Heterogeneous. However, the moJay, That the parts of Matter are dus of the Formation of Animals Infinite. Others are of Opinion, is ftill' in the dark, and perhaps that all the Seeds of the feveral ftill will be fo, and preferv'd aAnimals were in the beginning of mong the magnalia natura; the the World created by God, and infpir'd Writers expreffing themthat we take them in daily, fo felves here at least, according to that masculine Atoms, or Seeds the capacity of the Learned as are fitted and adhere to Men, and well as the Vulgar, when they acfeminine to Women. They add a knowledge the Ignorance of Manwonderful thing, that there are kind. "How the Bones do grow feveral little Animals moving" in the Womb of her that is with themfelves about in the Seed, di-" Child, and that we are awfully ftindly feen in the Microfcope." and wonderfully made, when Pray which of thefe Opinions do you efteem most probable?

we are fashion'd fecretly in the "lower parts of the Earth. However it feems not probable, that meer Fermentation fhou'd produce this, or Action and re-action of one part of Matter upon another; tho' we grant it may have a strange and unaccountable Power in the Alteration of Matter purely infenfible or inanimate: Nay, this Fermentation may dilate, and extreamly alter the parts of ani

4. Though Matter be granted homogeneous of it felf, and in its ovvn Nature, and all vve fee or handle, or any vvay perceive by our Senfes, must be material, 'twou'd for all that puzzle the greatest Chymift, or Philofopher in the World, to produce fo much as one Atom of this Matter, purely homogeneous; it being, vve are apt to believe, in-mate Matter, when they are alfeparably mix'd by the vvife ready delineated, and mark'd out hand of Nature, fo as to defy by the Finger of the Almightyi all total Diffolution, unless by but still, Matter being a Princihim vvho first made it, and vvh)ple purely Paffive and Irrational,

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