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ny too, moſt of them) under the Veil and Reputation of Holineſſe, Sanctity, (or, Saintſhip) Religion, Virtue, Juſtice, Friendſhip; fine words to catch men that are of eaſie Belief, and thinks that every thing that glisters muſt needs be gold. Hence it is, that men that have had the Reputation of Wiſe men in the world, have commended this unto us as greateſt Wiſdom, Not Easily To Believe: Νῆφε, καὶ μέμνησο ἀπισεῖν: ἄρτρα ταῦτα τῶν φρενῶν· Epicharmus got more credit for this one ſaying (and hath done more good too, perchance) then many that have been the Authors of vaſt Volumes. Now it thoſe things that are expoſed to ſenſe, the proper Objects of our Eyes and Eares, be lyable to ſo much Impoſture and Deceit, that the wiſeſt can ſcarce know what to believe: How much more caution do we need in thoſe things that are ſo much above Senſe, and in ſome reſpects contrary to Senſe (and that is Spirits) that we be not deceived? If we conſider the Nature of man, his Bodily frame, the Affections of his ſoul, the Faculties of his mind, we ſhall have no occaſion at all to wonder if moſt men are apt to believe and to be cheated. But as no cauſe to wonder, ſo as little cauſe to imitate: Felix qui rerum potuit cognoſcere cauſas! τερατολογία, a deſire of, or to ſtrange things that may cauſe amazement, is the proper affection of the vulgar, that is, of moſt men , which they bring into the world with them, (it is the obſervation of the wiſeſt of men that have written concerning the affairs and actions of men) and cannot be rid of but by wiſdom, which is the happineſſe of few: Errandi, non neceſsitas tantum, ſed amor. Seneca ſomewhere ſpeaking of the Nature of Man; There was a time when the world was much governed by Oracles; private men went unto them as unto God, Kings and Princes ſent unto them to be adviſed about greateſt matters: and ſo much faith was aſcribed unto them, generally, that the very word became a Proverb appliable unto thoſe things, whereof no queſtion can be made. Yet thoſe very ancient Heathens, that tell us of theſe Oracles, tell us of their vanity; and though they (ay nor, Thar all were falſe and counterfeit, yet whileſt they acknowledg it of ſome, they give us juſt occaſion to ſuſpect that it might have been found as true of the reſt alſo, had like care been taken to examine the truth of them alſo.

Again, there was a time (and that time nor many hundred years yet paſt) when Miracles were the only diſcourſe and delight of men: Ghoſts and Spirits were in every houſe, and ſo prone were men to receive what was delivered unto them in that kind, that Miracle-makers were much put to it, not to make their ſtories probable, (for that was not ſtood upon) but to make them wonderful enough; See the Life of Albertus M. inſomuch that ſome have been forced to complain publickly of the credulity of the people, who yet themſelves tell us much more, I dare ſay, then was ever true. As of Miracles, ſo of Exorciſmes: How many Divels and Spirits have been driven out of men and women, ſuppoſed to be poſſeſſed, by ſolemn Exorciſmes, to the great wonder of the beholders, which afterwards upon further ſearch and examination, have been convicted to have been nothing bur the artifices and ſubtil contrivances of men? Sentences and Judgments have paſſed upon ſuch cheats when they have been diſcovered in moſt places of Europe, which have been publiſhed. Bur they have done ſtrange things though (ſome that were though: poſſeſſed) and things impoſſible, to ordinary ſenſe, to be done by Nature. It is very true, ſome have: But they that know what ſtrange things may be done to the amaze-ment