REFLEXION.
The Kite's Death-bed Devotion and Repentance works like the Charity and Piety of a great many Penitents we meet with in the World; that after the Robbing of Temples, the prophaning of Altars, and other Violences of Rapine and Oppreſſion, Build an Hoſpital perhaps, or ſome Little Alms-Houſe, out of the Ruines of the Church, and the ſpoils of Widows and Orphans; put up a Bill for the Prayers of the Congregation; Wipe their Mouths, and All's well again. But 'tis not for a Wicked Life to truſt to the Hazzards of an Uncertain State, and Diſpoſition at the point of Death. When Men come to that Laſt Extremity once, by Languor, Pain, or Sickneſs; and to lie Agonizing betwixt Heaven and Hell, under the ſtroke either of a Divine Judgment, or of Human Frailty, They are not commonly ſo ſenſible of their Wickedneſs, or ſo Effectually touch'd with the remorſe of a true Repentance, as they are Diſtracted with the terrors of Death, and the Dark Viſionary Apprehenſions of what's to come. People in that Condition do but discharge themſelves of Burdenſom Reflexions, as they do of the Cargo of a Ship at Sea that has ſprung a Leak: Every thing is done in a Hurry, and men only part with their Sins in the one Caſe, as they do with their Goods in the other; to Fiſhthem up again, ſo ſoon as the ſtorm is over. Grace muſt be very ſtrong in theſe Conflicts, wholly to Vanquiſh the weakneſſes of Diſtreſſed Nature. That certainly is none of the time to make Choice of for the Great Work of reconciling our ſelves to Heaven, when we are divided, and confounded betwixt an Anguiſh oſ Body, and of Mind: And the Man is worſe than Mad that Ventures his Salvation upon that Deſperate Iſſue. We have abundance of theſe Sick Kites in the World, that after a Sacrilegious Life, ſpent in the Robbing of the Church, would willingly be thought to Die in the Boſom of it.
Fab. XVIII.
A Swallow and other Birds.
THere was a Country Fellow at work a Sowing his Grounds, and a Swallow (being a Bird famous for Providence and Foreſight) call'd a company of Little Birds about her, and bad em take Good Notice what that Fellow was a doing. You muſt know (ſays the Swallow) that all the Fowlers Nets and Snares are made of Hemp, or Flax; and that's the Seed that he is now a Sowing. Pick it up in time for fear of what may come on't. In ſhort, they put it off, till it took Root; and then again, till it was ſprung up into the Blade. Upon this, the Swallow told em once for All, that it was not yet too Late to prevent the Miſchief, if they would but beſtir themſelves, and ſet Heartily about it; but finding that no Heed was given to what ſhe ſaid; She e'en bad adieu to her old Companions in the Woods, and ſo betook her ſelf to a City Life,
and
