of this Fable: Firſt, as a Diſſuaſive to Thoſe that ſpend their Time in Idle Inſipid Compaay. Secondly, As a Caution to Thoſe that are Tainted with this Levity, not to make Themſelves Ridiculous any longer. Nature has Written Fool upon the Tip of That Man’s Tongue that will always be telling Stories with an [I did This,] and [I ſayd That.] Travelicrs, they ſay, may lye by Authority; and yet our Travellers Privilege here was not ſuſſicient to Protect him in his Vanity from making Sport to the Company.
Fab. LXXXVI.
An Impoſtor to the Oracle.
THere was a certain Bantering Droll that took a Journey to Delphos, a purpoſe to try if he could put a Trick upon Apollo. He carry'd a Sparrow in his Hand under his Coat, and told the God, I have ſomewhat in my Hand, ſays he, Is it Dead or Living? If the Oracle ſhould ſay ‘twas Dead, he could ſhew it Alive; If Living, ‘twas but ſqueezing it, and then 'twas Dead. Now He that ſaw the Malice of his Heart gave him this Anſwer: It ſhall e’en be which of the Two you pleaſe; for ‘tis in Your Choice to have it either the One or the Other.
The MORAL.
REFLEXION.
This Points at the Folly and Wickedneſs of Thoſe Men that think to play Faſt and Looſe with God Almighty, who ſees the very Thoughts of our Hearts. This way of Fooling in Holy Things is much a Bolder ſort of Impicty, then it is commonly Taken for. He that pretends to Doubt of an All-knowing Power, has as much Right to Doubt of an Allmighty Power too, and the bringing of One Attribute in Queſtion, Opens the Way to a Diffidence of all the Reſt. It would prevent a great Deal of Wickedneſs in the World, if Men would but Live and Act in Religious Matters, ſo as to Own, and to Recognize the Force, and Awe of a Deity in their Practices, as well as in their Words: But when they come to Querying and Riddling upon't, with an [If it be ſo and ſo;] The Scandal of the Suppoſition is not to be Borne; for ſuch a way of Seeming to Afficm a Thing, is but one Remove from a Flat Denyal of it. Such was the Impoſters Queſtion here to the Oracle: which Implyes both the Doubt of a Divine Omniſcience, and a Curioſity to Diſcover the Truth of the Matter, with a Banter at the End on’t; and ſo makes it a conſummated Wickedneſs.
Fab.
