FAB. L. The Devout Seamen in a Storm.

WHilst a Ship was miserably tossed about by a violent Storm, the Seamen and Passengers were zealously offering up their Prayers to their several Gods, Demi-Gods and Heroes; One to Cebele Mother of the Gods, Another to Castor and Pollux, a Third to Hercules, Others to Saturn, Pan, Iuno, Ceres, Venus, Neptune and the other Sea Gods, &c. ac∣cording as their Devotions enclined them; beseech∣ing them earnestly that they would interceed with Iupiter the great Deity of Heaven and Earth, for their Preservation in this their Distress. Which Error of theirs, a Prudent Officer of the Ship ob∣serving, Alas, my Friends, said he, ye know not Page  269 what ye do, for before these lesser Gods and De∣mi▪ Gods can leave their several Occasions, go to Iupiter, and supplicate him on your behalfs for our Deliverance: Our Ship may be left to perish in the Sea. Let us therefore address to him, who is the supream Disposer of all things, and implore his Help, for he is best able to deliver us in this Exigency, is most ready to hear us when we call on him, and needs not the Mediations of o∣thers; for that methinks would be to derogate from his Almighty Power, and to give Attributes to them, which belong to none but to their Soveraign only. This discreet Advice they all followed, and in a little time the Storm ceased.

When the help of one is wanting, who is able to give it, is also ready to admit of our Petitions, and willing to assist us, why should we fly to others for it, who are not capable of affording it?