REFLEXION.
THERE's No Reſiſting of a Common Enemy; No Maintaining of a Civil Community, without an Union for a Mutual Defence; and there may be alſo, on the Other Hand, a Conſpiracy of Common Enmity and Aggreſſion. There are Caſes indeed of Great Nicety that fall under the Topique of the Right and Lawfulneſs of Joyning in ſuch Leagues. He that is not Sui Juris, muſt not Enter into any Covenants or Contracts to the Wrong of his Maſter: But there are Certain Rules of Honeſty, and Methods of Government, to Direct us in all Agreements of This Quality. A Thing ſimply Good in it ſelf, may become Unjuſt and Unrighteous, under ſuch and ſuch Circumſtances. In a Word, the Main Bond of All Bodies and Intereſts is Union, which is No Other in Effect then a Common Stock of Strength and Counſel Joyn'd in One. While the Bulls kept together, they were Safe; but ſo ſoon as ever they ſeparated, they became a Prey to the Lyon.
Fab. CCXXXVII.
A Fir and a Bramble.
THere goes a Story of a Fir-Tree, that in a Vain ſpiteful Humour, was mightily upon the Pin of Commending it ſelf, and Deſpiſing the Bramble. My Head (ſays the Fir) is advanc'd among the Stars. I furniſh Beams for Palaces. Maſts for Shipping: The very Sweat of my Body is a Sovereign Remedy for the Sick and Wounded: Whereas the Raſcally Bramble runs creeping in the Dirt, and ſerves for No Purpoſe in the World but Miſchief. Well, ſays the Bramble (that Over-heard all This) You might have ſaid ſomewhat of your Own Misfortune, and to My Advantage too, if Your Pride and Envy would have ſuffer’d you to do it. Bur pray will you tell me however, when the Carpenter comes next with his Axe into the Wood to Fell Timber, whether you had not rather be a Bramble then a Fir-Tree.
The MORAL.
RE-
