my fantastical reveries, when my folly, prompt with a notion that the church could not subfift without the fociety, which, to me, was fupreme and impenetrable, the Bull, for the abolition of the fociety, came forth, which, as at hunder-clap, almost robbed me of my fenfes. After the fit had given room for reflection, I found rancour and refentment for the ftretch of power affumed by the pope, as a burning coal, take place, and my heart alienated from her allegiance. I refolved to turn proteftant, and commenced preacher, in which occupation I found fingular delight, in arraigning and calumniating the church of Rome, which raised fhouts of applaufe; ftill I found a reftleffness when I was alone; to remedy this malady, I married; but ftill, when the novelty, I call it fo, having kept myself chafte fince I was in the priesthood, until I quitted my allegiance. I then found home irkfome, which brought on a fhynefs, fo that I found variety was the only medicine that could warm and take off the chill that infefted my heart. In this purfuit I fpent my leifure hours; and that I might ftill farther indulge my infatiable appetite, I ingrafted myself a member of the new philofophy of this our enlightened age and northern hemifphere, in which fociety I gained great refpect, being ingenious, refolute, forward, in the execution of what they hold heroic defigns, which confift in denying a God, and be guilty of the most wicked and unnatural actions, without remorfe or restraint.

Mafes. What knocking is that, pray come in?

Meffenger.

Meffenger. I am fent by the club of the philofophers of this our enlightened age and northern hemifphere, with this letter to your Rabbi, and wait your anfwer, by a line, as I am ordered.

Mofes. In halfan hour you will call for an answer, Ignatius. Pray, Rabbi, give us the contents? Mofes. The club of philofophers of this our enlightened age and northern hemisphere, to Rabbi Mofes. "Sir, in council affembled, we have come to this determination, according to the true intent and meaning of our philofophical conftitutions, that you, acting contrary to the rules of our aforefaid philofophy, in preventing the interment of the dead body of the late philofopher, Ignatius, endeavouring, with needlefs trouble and expence, to restore his life; that you defray the whole expence, and, upon receipt of this, have him buried. The Club have also affigned to themselves the bet won by Ignatius, in favour of this our new philofophy of this our enlightened age and northern hemifphere. Adieu."

Mofes. In perufing the uncivil letter handed me, by a meffenger, from the Club of Philofophers of this our enlightened age and northern hemisphere, I obferve, the intent bears a dark complexion and vexatious afpect, being the fruit of an avaricious and inhuman spirit, and by no means founded on the principles of wife philofophy. Kabbi Mofes, therefore, will be glad to have the matter difcuffed at fix o'clock this evening before three Notaries, in

the

the apartments of the late philofopher, Ignatius, of this our enlightened age and northern hemifphere. Adieu.

Ignatius. You have done wifely, and I will keep myself concealed, that they may be ignorant of my being reftored until the matter has been fully debated.

Nurfe. I will not ftir from you until fuch time that you will discover the fecret; for I am well aware, fhould I ftep out, though upon the moft urgent neceffity, although my lips fhould be fewed together, and the matter fhould take wind, the old woman, forfooth, like a cackling hen, chirping her news-mongery as fhe paffes the street, to every idler fhe meets, has founded her trumpet, by which blaft the new philofophers of this our enlightened age and northern hemisphere, have been apprized, which (old woman's ftory, as they are pleafed to call it) has fpoiled our project. But be it known to you, that the old midwives and nurfes are as anxious to detect and pull down a fet of unnatural vermin who give their thoughts to unheard-of contrivances, for destroying the republic, in giving her no younklings, to fucceed us old ones; for, fay they, we relish nothing common, novelty is the relish of us bright geniufes of this our new philofophy of this our enlightened age and northern hemifphere. I would be one of the number that would heartily fweat, as a woman at her wash-tub, in toffing a new philofopher in a blanket, aye, that is is poz, or in a duckingftool.

The

The arrival of the Club of philofophers at the door of Ignatius, with a strong rap.

Ignatius. It is the philofophers; I will retire in the next room until you give a fign, when I will appear.

Mofes. Well thought on, the fign fhall be Ignatius.

Club. Rabbi, the Club of this our enlightened age and northern hemifphere have agreed to anfwer your fummons, and prove to you the propriety of having the dead body of the late philofopher of this our enlightened age interred, and the bett affigned to themfelves.

Mofes. Wife philofophy compels you to arrogate to yourfelves no more than you are entitled by the fupreme authority.

Club The authority of our new philofophy of this our new enlightened age and northern hemifphere fuperfede all power, fpiritual being void, and temporal being mixt and unfavory.

Mofes. From what fource does your philofophy derive or take your legislative authority? Club. From the Fountain of wisdom, which, with true propriety and rectitude, fuperabounds and fubjects all things to its will.

Mofes. Are your new philofophy of this our enlightened age and northern hemisphere confirmed by the conftitution and authority of the Republic, and yourselves arbitrators, or rather abfolute judges, to claim, order, and demand, without controul, or appeal, whatever is your will?

Club

Club. Our new philofophy of this our enlightened, age and northern hemifphere, warrants, claims, and derives her power and authority from herself, being nourished, enlightened, and invigorated by the ftreams of wisdom and truth, therefore expect due fubjection, and chearful obdience to her edicts, or whatever the may pleafe to decide, or fet forth.

Mofes. The ftreams of wifdom and truth, from whofe waters you pretend to derive your authority, are no other than folly and prefumption, prompted and nourished by a reprobate Spirit. You will do well to reflect on the de

plorable state you have placed yourselves, and I dare anfwer it will bring on a neceffary confu fion and fhaine face.

Club. The new philofophy of this our enlightened age and northern hemifphere find a receptacle in every heart addicted to pleasure, which your long experience knows to be perfons chiefly of rank, who compofe the legiflative part of all nations; you, therefore, acting and running counter to our injunctions, rifque and endanger yourfelf of incurring the cenfure of the laws.

Mofes. I am far from apprehending the cenfure of the legislative body, whilst I act upon principles of juftice and benevolence. I will hazard a trial.

Club. Your obftinacy will be convinced of the authority and influence of our new philofophy of this our enlightened age and northern hemifphere over all laws and powers; we have obtained a warrant, with proper officers, to