this, if upon ftarting this Queftion there had not been this publick Answer, "Not at all, for in the late Froft we have "feen a Foot-ball in the Streets "attended by a more nume66 rous Mob. Which witty Nonfence is expos'd by another irrelative parallel, thus, Yes certainly, because the Sun has the moft Spectators: We cannot juttify Mr. Jones in every thing, but there's a greater parallel betwixt the Ufe of his Preaching, and feeing the Sun, than there is betwixt it and a Foot-ball. Queft. In Scotland they have abolish'd Prelacy, because of its Oppreffion, and have fet up Presbytery in the room: Quere, Whether the Remedy is not worse than the Disease? Anfw. This will alfo have its Answer in the Poftfcript Letter. Queft. An Deus amet Angelum poffibilem plus quam formicum actu exiftentem? Anfw. We defire the honeft Gentleman to take back this Queftion again, and propofe things in potentia to us, when we have refolv'd every thing that is already in actu. Quest. There is a Liquor, of which a certain quantity weighs 2 Ounces; and another, of which an equal quantity weighs 4 Oun ces; and a folid, of which the fame quantity weighs 3 Ounces. The folid immerfed in the first Liquor weighs I Ounce, what will it weigh in the fecond Liquor? Anfw. We have already told the World, that every Body will fink or fwim, weigh more or lefs in Water, according as its weight is in proportion to that of an equal Bulk of fuch to Water. Therefore 'tis a Scandal only fit for Mr.fuggeft to the World, that we fhou'd fay a Rule Inverse was the only Method for refolving fuch Questions, viz. that we anwer'd before; we only thow'd, that after a fingle Subftraction made, one fingle Rule Inverfe wou'd answer that Question, much fooner than the long tedious Algebraic Canon which his Friend helpt him to. The Anfwer of this Question is alfo refolvable without Algebra, it weighs as much as Mr.'s Ingenuity, that is, it wants confiderably to weigh any thing. Queft. Unde Derivatur Punch? Anfw. Punch quafi Paunch, the fhape of the Bowl being round and Belly'd, and not from Water, Sugar, &c. for the first makers of Punch, viz. the Indians, made it of the Spirits of Rum, Rice, &c. and we have the shape of our Bowls from theirs, if not the Bowls themfelves, or perhaps the Articulate found Punch, is expreffive of fuch a thumping-bellied Figure, hence 'tis we call a big-belly'd Mimick a Punchanello. Queft. Several Books you know come out that are faid to be writ by a Perfon of Quality, would you advise us to buy 'em? Anfw. The quality of the Books is the belt Recommendation; not but that where two Persons write one Subject 'tis odds, but he that has the best Education has the happieft Thoughts, and the handsomest way of expreffing 'em. My Lord Rofcommon's Works are full of Noble and great Conceptions, Z 2 every every way becoming the great- A Letter fent to us by way of nefs of his Quality and Edu cation. Quest. What is your Opinion of Marriages without Licenfe? Anfw. Just what the Law provides: We are not to cenfure the juft determinations of a lawful Magiftrate, without incurring the penalty due to fuch follies. Quest. Why do we call a fingle week a Sennight, and two weeks a Fortnight, that is, why do we reckon by the Night, and not by the Day? Poftfcript, March 22, Gentlemen, N Reading a late Scurrilous Pamphlet. I find thefe 4 Queftions with the answers to each, viz. "How long Brim"ftone hath been prefcribed "for the Itch? The Anfwer "given is, feveral Hundred of "Years before the Conqueft. "Sir. 'Tis the oldest Re"ceipt in the Dispensatory, and "it is as ancient as Sodom; for "the Inhabitants of that Ci"ty were extreamly troubled "with the Itch, and Brimftone " effectually cured them of it. "And a late Author, in his "Vindication of Wales, is Anfw. As for the words Sennight and Fortnight, they come from the Words Seven nights and Fourteen nights, which fhort. way of fpeaking, custom has abbreviated into Sennight and Fortnight. Why Seven-nights pleafed to fay, that no preand not Seven-days? We an- "fcription in the World can fwer, that the fews, Italians, " pretend to be Jure Divino, Athenians, Silefians and Bohe- "but only Brimftone. The 2d. mians reckon their day from Queft. is, In Scotland they Evening, because the darkness" have abolish'd Epifcopacy, in Nature was before the Light; " because of its Oppreffion, and this Account is the oldeft" and have fet up Presbytery in of all Accounts. The Arabi- "the room: Quest. Whether ans, Umbrians, and Aftronomers, "the Remedy is not worse than reckon from noon to noon as "the Disease? The Answer the fittest time to make obfer- given is, viz. We'll only tell vations on the Sun. The Bayou a fhort Story Sir, and bylonians, Perfians, Norimbergi- "then leave you to make the ans, &c. begin at Sun-rifing "Application: A knot of and Sun fetting. The Myffians merry Fellows were drinkand Romans, part of Germany, "ing a Glafs of Wine at a the Sixteen Provinces, and Eng66 Gentleman's Chamber which land account from Midnight to "faced a Conventicle, where Midday, because the Shepherds "the people were very dewere keeping Flocks about that time Chrift was Born, and alfo arofe from the Dead: Accord ing to the firft, which is the oldeft account, come the words Sennight and Fortnight, which aniwers the Question. ་་ voutly Serenading their Ma"ker at the expence of Hopkins "and Sternhold. The Chim"ney happening to Smoke, one "of 'em opens the Cafement; "crys the Gentleman, What a 66 "Pox do ye mean to open the "Cafement there? Nothing, fays "the other, but only to let out "the Smoke. Aye but, replies "he, you let in that which is ten times more troublefame, you "let in the Pfalm. The 4th. "Queft. is, Whether Religion may not be faid to be like "Cheese, fince every Man is "his own Cook? The Anf. "given is, Ay verily Sir, that "it may, and for another pro"foundReafon which you have "not nam'd, viz. because there "is one Letter difference be"tween a Cafuift and Caseist. Now tho' I am not defirous to ingage you in fo fcurrilous a Paper, yet waving the 4 Quest. above mentioned in relation to this Author's manner of answering them, I requel your Refolution of these 4 Queries. Queft. 1. Whether fuch ridicu ling of the most dreadful effects of Divine difpleasure, that was ever manifefted in the World, on the one hand, and of the folemn Ordinances of God on the other be not a very high affront to the Divine Majefty? Queft. 2. Whether it be not a great contempt of, and diametrically oppofite to the late Proclamation of the King and Queen against Prophaneness? Queft. 3. Whether in a Chriftian ftate, it be not (with fubmiffion) an Iniquity to be punished by the Fudge? Queft. 4. Since no fober Man nor Friend either to our Religion as fettled by Law, or to the Government it felf, can encourage fuch Pamphlets: Queftion. Whether the Author concern'd in it has not a private Penfion from the late K. and Lewis the 14th. to make up his loffes, as a recom pence to ferve that Intereft? Anfw. Thefe Questions are fitter for the Magiftrates Infpetion than our Refolution. Having lately received a very Civil Letter, from an unknown Ingenious Gentleman, it is thought fit to Print fome part thereof, as well as a Query contain'd therein. Gentlemen, I happened to read that Sheet of your Athenian Mercury, in which you refolv'd a "Queryconcerning fome Actions ' of Brutes that refembled Reafon. Your Discourse there was fo very acute and folid, that it invited me to perufe ⚫ divers others, which, without Flattery, gave me that E'fteem for you, that I refolv'd to lend my beft Affiftance to render your Endeavours beneficial to the World, which I ought to fuppofe is the Mark you aim at. I look on your Undertaking, as on one of the moft laudible Projects our Age has invented, and if prudently managed, the most conducing to improve Knowledge in the Generality of. Mankind, according to their feveral Capacities: Whence out of my Zeal for the Common, Good I make bold to offer my Friendly Advice, that you would not beftow one Minute of your precious Time in anfwering Impertinent and Piquish Queries, no not even those that concern the Intereft of any Party or Faction. ThePromoters of Truth fhou'd move in a higher Sphere, and Z3 indeed I heartily Congratulate your defign, to lay open the Vanity "'of the Silly, Witty Atheift, Mr. Hobbs, whofe bold unprov'd 6 rency of your Papers, by flir-Talk has done much Mischief ring up the anger of the Parties you difguft, and muft needs force you upon Banter now and then, to humour the Palate of the Times. And whereas Truth is immortal, and thofe Writings which have only Truth for their Motive and Object, do partake a Laftingness from her unchangeable Nature, the medling with the Interest of any State or Party will reduce your Works to the Tranfitory Condition of Gazetts and Almanacks; and shou'd a Revolution happen, wou'd render 'em obnoxious, blaft their Cre• dit, and make 'em to be• come useless. ་ One thing more I think it a very neceffary rule to be • obferv'd by all thofe, who are task'd to give Anfwers to many cramp Queftions, never to puzzle their Brains by feeking out a Reafon for any ftrange pretended Effect, till they had perfect Affurance the Matter of • Fact was True. Particularly to < fuch, as that of the Fetch• Light in Carmarthen-hire, Vol. 6. Num. 6. My felf have been divers times impofed upon by Relations of Spirits haunting Houfes, C. which, I fear. had as great or greater Authority than has that uncouth and very unlikely Story, nay.fome ، among that pitch of Men, who are meerly given to quaint Conceits, and plaufible Drollery; which unhappy Temper • inclines 'em to put off their • Humane Nature, as far as they are able, by fubjecting their Reafon to their Fancy; and 'tis but fitting that they who defert their Christianity, fhou'd first renounce the true Nature 'God has given 'em, their ReaJon. Thus much we have printed of this Letter, to let it be known that there are fome Ingenious Men, who don't think fo ill of us as our Brethren of Lacedemon, tho' perhaps the Gentleman may be almoft as much out of one fide as they are of t'other. However we muft. own our felves extreamly oblig'd to him for his good Thoughts and Wishes, and Advices. Asto. the laft of thofe, the Advice he gives to be of no Party, or at leaft to appear of none in our Papers- we own 'tis fafe and prudent, but confefs, we can't think it honourable. Not but that we were once in the Mind to have done fo, for fome of the Reafons he gives us, but our Sentiments as to matter of Poli cy were unawares extorted from us by the fome Men, who wou'd not be of quiet, neither with Letters, nor Abuses, till we at length return'd 'em fuch Anfwers as we thought they deferv'd. However, Jucta eft aleaWe are now in, and we must through as well as our betters: or elfe juftly fall unpitied, and fink for ever. Every one knows what Party we have engaged in, 'tis fo notorious, that fome of the contrary fide have thought it worth the while publickly to oppofe us, and 'tis the fame that all that's brave in Europe now draw their Swords for; and at the Head of 'em all the bravest Prince in the World. Nay, if it be a weakness, we must acknowledge it, that had we our Li berty and Choice to begin again, we fhou'd frankly efpoufe the fame Caufe, tho' perhaps with lefs Reflections on the contrary, which we confefs are neither Neceffary, nor Prudent in fuch a way of Writing, for the Reafons the Gentleman gives, and which for the future, we shall unless extreamly provoked, endeavour to avoid upon all o ther Parties as well as that FaEtion in State, which we ingenuoufly confefs, we can never love: But this not out of any mean Polities, with vain hopes that our little Cock-boat fhou'd elcape if the Royal-Soveraign perif'd, (better we and all our Querifts in the bottom of the Sea) for we neither wish, hope nor defire to outlive the Liberties of Europe, and are much of the ingenuous Dr. Brown's Mind, that he muft extreamly value Life, who wou'd outlive the Ruins of the World this we fay is not the Reason, and to pre clude any fuch expectation, (tho God forbid there fhou'd be any occafion for it) have thus plainly declar'd our Judgements, and not to flatter fuch Princes as need it not, for we cou'd expect no Benefit by it, fome few of our Names being only guess'd at, which we never intend publickly to own. But the true Caufe, why we fhall forbear answering fuch Piqueih Queries (only begging pardon for one fingle, very witty, very waggish one, which we are afraid will croud in, in our next LovePaper,) is, because we wou'd write more like Philofophers, and offend as few as poffible; and therefore, if hereafter we find a neceflity of answering any thing of Controversie between particular Sects or Factions, we hall only produce the Arguments on both fides, and leave 'em fairly to fhift for themfelves. For the Gentleman's further advice, not to be too credulous we acknowledge it's very ne ceffary to thofe who have undertaken fo difficult a ProvinceBut we have in very many Inftances already obferv'd it, continuing in pure fufpence till the Fact is more clearly attefied, particularly that of the FetchLights he mentions but on the other fide-we must think eternal Scepticism, or a continu'd and refolute Doubting after fufficient Evidence, is even a greater Enemy to Philofophy and true Knowledge, than Credulity it felt: The latter of which may croud in fome Falfhoods, but the former will never fuffer us to acknowledge any Truth. Now we 74 think |