We fay then, the Line G O fhall be reflected to F H, and the Line H 2 to I, and the Line IP to f, fo that the Point G fhall be feen as if it were in the Point C, and fo of the rest of the other Points, the whole Object making the fame Angle with the Eye, and therefore it feems as if it were in the place CD E, which is the Solution of the Question. Q. Were the Serpents, &c. produc'd by the Magicians of Pharoah, real, or only Cheats of the Magicians, by tricks of Legerdemain ?

in his Winter Evening Confer-
ence, is not more pratis'd?

4. Because the World is
neither Vertuous nor Ingenuous
enough to write after lo fair a
Copy- -Tho' we'd be as
charitable as poffible, and hope
one Reafon of this neglect
may be becaufe not many per-
fons have feen that Book;
for we think it almoft impofi-
ble to read thofe fine things he
there advances, without me
Inclinations to put 'em in
practice.

Q. Whether Adam and Eve bad Navels or nɔ?

4. Yes, they had Navels,tho' not fuch as ours, being nor Born, but it was requifite they fhou'd have Navels; for Phyficins tell us,that the ufe of the Navel is not not only to nourish the Child when it is in its Mothers Womb, but that 'tis one of the great Seats of our ftrength.

Q. Whether the Miracles done by the Egyptian Magicians mention'd in the Book of Exodus, were real, or only illufions?

A. That they were real Serpents, fuddenly conveyed thither by the Power of the Devil, we esteem the most propable opinion; and therefore they were not convey'd thither by flight of Hand of the Magicians, for these Realons,Serpents are but an odd lort of Creatures to Exercite flight of Hand upon, which its death but to touch; because this might give occafion for fone ill conte quences which would be further drawn by perverfe Men from the whole Story. Becaufe, if we could fuppofe Pharoah and all his Coutiers fuch B ock-fitly joyn'a, and by many Artiheads as not not to perceive a Cheat of that Nature; yet we Can't think as much of Mofes, who befides his natural lagacity, fifted with all the acquired wildom of the Egyptians, was ndu'd with fupernatural Wiitom, nor cou'a ought have ended more to the Credit of his Caule, than his dilevering the -lagicians cheats to the World.

A. The Devil has a great
Experience in Natural Magick,
or the Powers of fecond Caties
produced by Agents and Patients

fi.esand Secrets in Nature which
are not ill, there are feveral
ftrange th ngs effected by Men,
to the admiration of fuch as
know not the realon, fo far can
the Devil act (as before) but
no farther, his gre.teit Mira-
cles Leing the pure Effects of
Nature fitly mixi; and there
fore it was that the Egyptian
Magi when they found a super-

cut, This is the Finger of Offices, and not any for Money,
GOD.
Favour or Affection: And that
What Weapon was it that great Minifters and Officers fell-
Cain flew his Brother Brothering Offices, fhall forfeit their
Abel with?
Eftate therein; and that Pur-
chafers shall not hold or enjoy the
Offices bought.

d. This was 130 Years after the Creation, in which time Atm and his Sons had addicted And, b That bVid.Lib.Oaths, Themlelves to Husbandry; fo not any Mini- Petition of no doubt but they had got feve-fter or Officer Rights. 3. Car. I. ral convenient Tools proper can be admitfor the Lulinels, one of whichted to the execution of any pub'tis probable Cain, flew his Bro-lick Office, without taking an ther with; but his Jury his Oath to ferve therein faithfully, Witneffes, and Judge was only according to the Laws and StaGOD, fo there were no Wit-tutes of the Realm as they tender neffes to prove the Matter of the Honour, Comfort and ProfpeFact. rity of the Nation. And, c That all Laws are

Q. What's the Reafon that a Fool can ask more Questions than a Wife Man can An-ded to ad

Jwer?

to be expoun

vance theRe

cCook Inftit.f.381. Cook's Rep. Aiton. Wood'sCafe,Plow. A. We acknowledge, tho' medy, and Com. 561. Dyer, we forefee the application that fuppress the 231, 313. none who act like wife Men, Mifchiefsand

will pretend there's no Question that the Statute,13 Edw. 1. cap. which can t be anfwer'd (with-50. fully impowers Their Maout ill confequences) either by jefties to make all Laws answer Experience, Suppofition, or the trne End. Reafon: So that the main ground of the common Proverb form'd into this Query, feems only this, That a Fools Tongue is more nimble, and his Invention glib and fruitful: But Time, Judgment, and Thinking, are required to give a good An-Evil, becaufe by fo doing, Places

fwer.

Now according to the aforefaid fecond Note of Reference, viz. b, all Officers or Minifters, taking Oath to ferve faithfully according to the Laws and Statutes, and their Oath too, which mult certainly be a very great

of Trust, and the Management Q, Whether the manner of of the great Concerns of the Selling Offices is not Obstructive Nation are corrupted; and to the Progrefs of the prefent if fo, no

Reformation?

wonder that the prefent Reformation may meet. A. The Law with many Obstructions; but a18E4.3.Stat.4. proves, a That we hope none infuperable to 20 Ed. 3. Cap. 1. none but Per-the great Care, Piety and Ex12Rich.2.Cap.2. fons worthy ampies of thote many worthy are concern'd 3 &0Eocap; 10. and meet hall Perions who 2.Hen.6.cap. 10. be advanc'd to in't, and who (we doubt not)

have

Q. Why are Ofiers (mooth one year and rough another fucceffively?

A. 'Tis a mistake, they are only fmooth one Year, and every fucceeding Year grow rougher.

The following Poem being fent by an ingenious Gentleman, we have thought it very well worthy of a place in our Athenian Oracle.

On the CREATION,

Before swift Time had try'd its trufty Wings,
Or, in proud Triumph, led fucceffive Things;
When gilded Phofpher, Harbinger of Day,
Had ne'er fore-told the Sun's aicending Ray.
Ere fhapelefs Nothing, carry'd in her Womb

Down to the Wilds of ancient Night he came,
To take Dimenfions for a future Frame:

His piercing Eyes view'd all the dreary Realms,
Which, undifturb'd thick Darkness overwhelms :
In that vaft Space, devoid of chearful Day,
Th' Eternal King CREATION did difplay.
His powerful Fiat, cou'd fuch Charms difclofe,
That meer Privation into Being rofe;
A formlefs Mafs, which foon began to Jar,
And with fierce Fury wag'd perpetual War;
'Till Heaven's Supreme, th' Immenfe, the Juft, the
Made fix'd Confufion into Order rife:

Then dreggy Earth, a pondrous maffy Thing,
Did, with Affection, to its Center cling.

The fpacious Deep, where fcaly Monsters bound,
In clofe Embraces, clafp'd the Earth around.
Next, downy Air, in Order, did contain
The wavy Surface of the raging Main.
In pointed Spires, light Æther foar'd on high,
And trembling upwards, fcal'd the lofty Skie.
To distance wide, GOD drove each fixed Pole,
And rear'd the Arches, that around 'em roll.
A waxing Moon and Stars did Heaven adorn,
And rul'd the Night until the rifing Morn
Difcover'd Phebus, whofe bright pointed Ray,
To Darkness drove the frighten'd Shades away.
In twice twelve Hours, his heated Horfes ran,
And reach'd the Barrier, where their Race began.
In twice fix Months, along the Ecliptick Way,
Croffing the Line, Sol's fweaty Courfers ftray,
And North and South vifit with equal Day.
Thus GOD's Command had rais'd a ftately Frame,
Which from the Womb of teeming Nothing came.
'Till this bleft Time, each living Creature lay,
Unfhap'd, Unform'd, depriv'd of vital Day:
Whenona fudden, (wondrous fweet furprile!)
From pregnant Seeds all various Shapes arife,
Fair in their Form, and perfect in their Size:
Beat's, Herbs, and Plants, and every thing that grow
On Earths wide Plains, fresh Beauties ftill bestows.
The Finny Creatures of the foaming Sea,
That fportive in her liquid Bofom play:

The chearful Birds, who chanting forth their Lays,
On proudest Pinions, bear their Maker's Praife;
Harmonious all, with native Art do bring
Immortal Gloy to th' Immortal King.

When thus the Earth's Foundations GOD had laid,
And Starry Volumes of the Heav'ns difplay'd;
When ev'ry Shoar, fast lock'd in Chains, did keep.
The bounding Billows of the fpacious Deep;
When, unconfin'd, thro' Air the Feather'd 1 hrong
Cou'd gently waft themfelves, and flide along;
Then GOD with Joy furvey'd Creation round,
To find a Creature with his Image crown'd:
In vain the Search; none of the Infant Store,
Or knew its Maker, or his Image bore.
Concern'd and Thoughtful, GOD, at left, begin
To take fresh Meafures how to form a Man.
Such Artful Skill th' Eternal did difclote,
That from the Duft a ftately Statue rofe,
In ev'ry Part, with fhining Features fair,
Its Mien was manly, its Complexion rare.
By flow Degrees, a creeping Tyde there cama
Of growing Life, that thiv'ring, fhook the Frame:
Toev'ry Limb, GOD did the Streams convey,
Of purple Life, thro' twining Tubes of Clay :
He fix'd firm Bones, to guard the Urn of Life,
Where Nature fits, and keeps a beating Strife;
And left that Native Moifture fhou'd expire,
Repeated Gufts fann'd o'er the glowing Fire.
The former Mafs, GOD, with Impreffive Mind,
Infpir'd, and both in clofe Embraces twin'd:
United thus, to Heav'n they Homage pay,
And own Subjection to their Maker's Sway.

One Labour more employs th' Eternal's Mind,
To frame a Creature of the Female-Kind:
Whilt from the Sun, the Man retir'd to Shade,
(Where fofteft Slumbers did his Eyes invade)
A Charming Confort of a Rib was made.
The Confcious Man, with Arms extended wide,
And Tydes of Joy, carefs'd the Courteous Bride.
No fullen Sorrow yet o'ercait their Eyes,
Within the Bowers of blissful Paradife;

Where fragrant Flow'rs did Balmy Sweets difpenfe,
And cheerful Odours, grateful to the Senfe,
Where, with the Bleffings of Indulgent Care,
The Wife Creator crown'd the Happy Pair;
(But Eve, ungrateful, was a Fatal Fair.)

Unwearied then, the GOD retir'd to Rest,
More in Himfelf, than in his Creatures bled:
When, on a fudden, Crowds of Angels came
To view the Beauty of the Finish'd Frame ;

E 3

M

Amazed