whofe Bodies are fo; that, as they are delighted with the Advantage of a nearer Contemplation upwards, fo they are equally terrified with the difmal Prospect of the Precipice below. Thus, in the Choice of a Devil, it hath been the ufual Method of Mankind, to fingle out fome Being, either in Act, or in Vision, which was in moft Antipathy to the God they had framed. Thus alfo the Sect of Eolifts, poffeffed themselves with a Dread, and Horror, and Hatred of two Malignant Natures, betwixt whom, and the Deities they adored, perpetual Enmity was established. The firft of thefe, was the Camelion fworn Foe to Inspiration, who in Scorn, devoured large Influences of their God; without refunding the smallest Blaft by Eructation. The other was a huge terrible Monster, called Moulinavent, who with four ftrong Arms, waged eternal Battel with all their Divinities, dextrousfly turning to avoid their Blows, and re pay them with Interest. THUS furnifht, and fet out with Gods, as well as Devils, was the renowned Sect of Eolifts; which makes at this Day fo illuftrious a Figure in the World, and whereof whereof, that Polite Nation of Laplanders, are beyond all Doubt, a moft Authentick Branch; Of whom, I therefore cannot, without Injustice, here omit to make honourable Mention, fince they appear to be fo closely allied in Point of Intereft, as well as Inclinations, with their Brother Eolifts among Us, as not only to buy their Winds by wholesale from the fame Merchants, but also to retail them after the fame Rate and Method, and to Cuftomers much alike. NOW, whether the Syftem here delivered, was wholly compiled by Jack, or, as fome Writers believe, rather copied from the Original at Delphos, with certain Additions and Emendations fuited to Times and Circumstances, I fhall not abfolutely determine. This I may affirm, that Jack gave it at leaft a new Turn, and formed it into the fame Drefs and model, as it lies deduced by me. I have long fought after this Opportunity, of doing Juftice to a Society of Men, for whom I have a peculiar Ho nour, .. nour, and whose Opinions, as well as PraEtices, have been extremely mifreprefented, and traduced by the Malice or Ignorance of their Adverfaries. For, I think it one of the greateft, and beft of humane Actions, to remove Prejudices, and place Things in their truest and faireft Light; which I therefore boldly undertake without any Regards of my own, beside the Conscience, the Honour, and the Thanks. SECT. 159 SECT. IX. A Digreffion concerning the Original, the Use and Improvement of Madness in a Commonwealth. No OR fhall it any ways detract from the juft Reputation of this famous Sect, that its Rise and Inftitution are owing to fuch an Author as I have defcribed Jack to be; A Person whofe Intellectuals were overturned and his Brain fhaken out of its Natural Pofition; which we commonly fuppofe to be a Diftemper, and call by the Name of Madness ar Phrenzy. For, if we take a Survey of the greatest Actions that have been performed in the World, under the Influence of Single Men; which are, The Eftablishment of New Empires by Conqueft: The Advance and Progrefs of New Schemes in Philofophy; and the contriving, as well as the propagating of New Religions: We fhall find the Authors of them all, to have been Perfons, whofe natural Reason hath admitted great Revolutions, from their Dyet, their Education, the Pre valency valency of fome certain Temper, together with the particular Influence of Air and Climate. Besides, there is fomething Individual in human Minds, that eafily kin dles at the accidental Approach and ColJifion of certain Circumftances, which tho' of paltry and mean Appearance, do often flame out into the greatest Emergencies of Life. For great Turns are not always given by ftrong Hands, but by lucky Adaption, and at proper Seafons; and it is of no import, where the Fire was kindled, if the Vapor has once got up into the Brain. For, the upper Region of Man, is furnished like the middle Region of the Air; The Materials are formed from Causes of the wideft Difference, yet produce at last the fame Substance and Effect. Mifts arife from the Earth, Steams from Dunghils, Exhalations from the Sea, and Smoak from Fire; yet all Clouds are the fame in Compofition, as well as Confequences: and the Fumes iffuing from a Jakes, will furnish as comely and useful a Vapor, as Incenfe from an Áltar. Thus far, I fuppofe, will eafily be granted me: and then it will follow; that as the Face of Nature never produces Rain, but when it is overcaft and difturbed; fo Human Under |