or to know one's Fortune; and of a Piece therewith, is that execrable Way of making what is termed a Dumb Cake, trewing Hempfeed round a Church, turning of Shifts before a Fire on Midfummer-Eve at Night, if we miftake not, and putting a Piece of Bride-Cake under their Heads, in order to fee or dream of their Sweethearts, with a thousand other Tricks, which are ftill too much in ufe among young Maidens, in order to fatisfy their infatiable Curiofity, and inexcufable Impatience.

Nor less criminal or finful is their Behaviour, who through an unaccountable Itch to dive into Futurity, have their Horoscopes caft, or their own. Nativities, or even thofe of their Children, calculated: And yet more abominable are they, who, either to fatisfy their Revenge, or gratify their inquifitive Temper, like Saul when forfaken of God, have recourfe to Magicians, Wizards, or Witches, if any of that accurfed Crew are yet to be found, (as we hope there are not) in any Countries that are Chriftian. In effect, each of these unwarrantable Practices are almoft equally Offences against the First, Second, and Third Commandments; for, by endeavouring to pry into Futurity, we immediately invade the Prerogative of the Almighty, to whom we are affured all fecret Things belong; we likewife thereby fhew an unpardonable Diftruft of the Divine Providence or Goodness, as also an Inclination to throw off, as far as lies in our Power, all Dépendence on him; fince the only Reafon that can be given for our Defire to know beforehand what will befal us, mutt be, to arm ourselves, and provide against the Evils wherewith we may be threatened, or to advance and haften the Arrival of any Bleffings promised; which is a notorious Breach of the Firft.

Again, in having recourfe to any created Being, or the Works or Devices of any fuch Being, for a

kind of præternatural Affistance or Relief, we there by are manifeftly guilty of making Idols thereof, and violating the Second. And when the facred Name of GOD is profanely made ufe of in Amulets, or Charms, it is evidently a Tranfgreffion of the Third. Let not any therefore, who are confcious to themselves of having tranfgreffed in any of these Matters, flatter themselves with the Hope of efcaping with Impunity, unless they_atone for it in Time by a hearty Repentance. But because we are very fenfible, Example goes before Precept, we fhall hereto fubjoin fome Inftances of the terrible Calamities that have befallen many of those who have had recourse to fuch unlawful Practices.

A certain Man, who, though well advanced in Years, was troubled with this unaccountable Curiofity, applied accordingly to one famous for his Skill in calculating Nativities, to know what would be his future Fortune, and particularly how long he fhould live, and what Death he should die. In anfwer thereto, the Man informed him, that at fuch a Time, and on fuch a Day, his Brains would be dafhed out, by the Fall of fomewhat upon his Head.

Being thus forewarned, and defirous to avoid the Fate wherewith he was threatened, the miserable Wretch, when the Day specified approached, withdrew himself into the middle of an open Field, where having only the Heavens for a Covering, it was fcarce poffible that any Thing fhould fall on his Head, and accomplish the Prediction; but to fhew how much in vain it is to endeavour to frustrate what Providence decrees, an Eagle that had been in fearch of Prey, having found a Tortoife, and not being able to come at the Meat, by reafon of the Solidity of the Shell, foars up on high therewith, defigning to break it by dropping it upon fome hard Body; and accordingly mistaking the Head of this

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curious

curious Enquirer into Futurity, which was bald, for a white Stone, let it fall thereon, and fulfilled what had been foretold him.

Another, of equal Curiofity, having confulted a noted Man, upon the fame Account, was told, that on fuch a Day he fhould die by Fire. Refolved, if poffible, to avoid this Fate, when the Time appointed came, he went out of Town, to the Side of a River, and ftripping himself, fat down therein, up to his Neck in Water. But how much in vain were all his Precautions! He was ftruck dead by a Flafh of Lightening.

A Third, not a Jot lefs curious, or lefs to blame than the former, having applied in like Manner to one with his Nativity, defiring to be informed of what should befal him, was affured, that on fuch a Day he should be killed by Robbers. To escape this Misfortune, the poor Wretch, having laid in a fufficient Stock of Provifions, of all Sorts, for fome Weeks before the Time fpecified, caufed all his Doors and Windows to be kept clofe fhut, refolving not to stir out for feveral Days before and after the Time mentioned. But how little did all this Care avail him! Some Thieves paffing by the House, and obferving it to be close fhut Day and Night, imagined fome great Treafure was contained therein; and accordingly breaking into it, murdered the Man, and accomplished the Prediction.

Nor lefs remarkable, or tragical, is the following Inftance of a Gentleman, who being intimately ac quainted with another that was reckoned skilful in cafting Horofcopes, was perpetually folliciting him to fatisfy his Curiofity, in calculating his Nativity, which accordingly he brought him for that Purpose. His Friend refused at firft to comply, and endeavoured by all Means to divert him from an Enquiry, which could hardly do him any Good, but might create

him great Uneafinefs. He was not, however, to be perfwaded from it; wherefore, being at laft wearied out, and prevailed on by his continual Importunities, he agreed to gratify him; whereof het had foon Reafon to repent. For, after having confulted his Nativity for fome Time, he appeared very thoughtful and melancholly, and buried in a profound Silence; which the other obferving, and being but the more eager to have his Curiofity fatisfied, begged him not to keep him in fufpence, but acquaint him with his Deftiny, whatever it might be, good or bad Hereupon, after much Intreaty, If you must know it, my Friend, faid he, it is, that you will come to an untimely End. Not contented yet with this Information, the Gentleman continued preffing him, to tell him what particular Death he should die: This the other would willingly have avoided; but, being at length overcome, informed him, that he would die by a Halter. At which unexpected and fhocking Answer, the Gentleman, being furprized into an Excefs of Paffion, fwore, that it should then be for killing him, and accordingly drawing his Sword, ftabbed him on the Spot, and was executed for his Pains.

Another being troubled with the fame unwarrantable Itch, was affured, that on fuch a Day he should die by Water; to avoid which, at the Time appointed, he refolved not to ftir out of Doors. Accordingly he kept close within, and above Stairs all that Day, till towards Evening; when his Friends perfwading him that all Danger was over, and advifing him to lay afide that Melancholly, which the Thought of the threatened Misfortune had created in him, he refolved to go to Supper and be merry. But, alas! how grievously was he disappointed! Not having cleaned himself that Day, he called for fome Water for that Purpose, which accordingly being brought him in a Bafon, he was ftrangled therewith as he was washing his Face.

Nor

Nor was the fame Curiofity lefs fatal to the Baron de Biron, afterwards Duke de Biron, and Marshal of France, in the Reign of King Henry IV. This great Nobleman being in fome Trouble, fo that he was forced to abfcond, on account of his having been concerned in a Quarrel, where the Lord Cerency with fome others were killed, difguifed himself like a Carrier, and went in that mean Habit to one Monfieur la Broffe, a great Mathematician, who was esteemed skilful in calculating Nativities; and fhewing him his own Horoscope, which he pretended however belonged to a Gentleman whom he ferved, defired to know what would be the Fortune and End of that Party. Hereupon la Broffe having carefully examined it, told him that Perfon, whoever he was that owned it, was of a good Family and much about his Age, asking him withal whether it was not his. The Baron anfwered, that he would not tell him, but fill defired to be informed what his Fortune and End would be. La Broffe then affured him, the Perfon whofe Nativity that was, would rife to great Honour and Promotion by his fingular Bravery and Knowledge in the Art of War, infomuch that, were it not for the Intervention of one Obftacle, which he called by the obfcure Name of a Caput Argol, he might come to be a Sovereign Prince. The Baron asked what that was, but la Broffe was very averfe to fatisfying him: However, after much Importunity, he told him, that he would be guilty of committing fome Offences, that would expofe bim to the Danger of lofing his Head, which he would not ef cape without great Difficulty, if he did at all. At this Information, the Baron was fo much enraged, that he fell upon the poor old Man, who was then in a little Garret, which ferved him for a Study, beat him without Mercy, left him almost dead, locked him into his Garret, and went away with the Key of the Door; whereof he afterwards boafted, as of a notable Exploit. Nor was it only from la Brofe, that the Baron was thus forewarned of the Danger