Some observations on the fables of Æsop as commented upon by Sir Roger L'Estrange, kt. Yet not on all, for some need not any addition or review, and there be many of them which are coincident as to the individual scope, I mean the same moral instruction, which is couched in them. Illustrated with several pertinent stories of antient and modern history. By a divine of the Church of Scotland.

FAB. CXCVII. Page 168.

They who are destitute of Children (I mean who had never any) if they want the Comfort of them, so do they the Cross; and its a most certain Truth, that children are uncertain Comforts, but certain Troubles; it being verie rare to find a numerous Issue without some Viper (either among the Males or Fe∣males) who is ready to tear out the bowells of the parents Contentment; and they who have many, and find no more but one such, have great reason to bless Heaven for it; for the greatest of Saints recorded in H. Scripture, were not priviledged from that Cross, and some of them had their patience exer∣ciz'd by more than one Viper, whom they had fostered in their bosomes, as is evident from the respective stories of Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Iacob; old Eli the High-Priest, Samuel the Prophet, and David the King; the generali∣ty of the last three being undutifull both to their Heavenly and Earthly GODS; for Grace goes nor by Generation, but by Re-Generation; otherwise it may be supposed that so Gracious Kings, Priests and Prophets, would have entailed some drams of goodness upon their posterity.

And that domesticall Crosses are justly accounted amongst the most an∣guishing Afflictions of this World, We may perceave from the Concern of one of the greatest that ever reigned in it, and that was Augustus Caesar, who enjoyed all the Comforts of this Life in great Aboundance, yet He was so affe∣cted with the shameless Prostitution of his daughter Iulia, and her no less l•…•…∣bidinous Brats, that the great Emperour o•…•…en wished, either he had never Mar∣ryed, or never Begotten Children, yea He would not •…•…erm them his legitimat Issue, but the Impostumes of his Body; or •…•…res Vomi•…•…as, and tria Car•…•…inomata: Marcus Aurelius was as morall a Prince as ever sa•…•…e upon the Roman Throne, and having but one Son (who was that Incommodio•…•…s & naughty Commodus) the Father declared on his death bed that He would have dyed a happy Man, if he had not begotten such a Phaeton to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Empire. Lewis the Godly, the first of that name, who was King of France, and Emperour of German•…•…e, had verie u•…•…godly Children, who often rebelled against their Lord and Fa∣ther; so had Henry the Il. of England, undoubtedly a gallant man, tho' ne∣ver honoured with the Epither of Pious▪ for he dyed Cursing all his male Children; and there was a visible Curse followed them even in this life, which is the usuall fate of a stubborne and perverse progeny, whether their parents Curse them or not; for either they dye young, (as is insiuuated in the fifth Precept of the Decalogue) or if they enjoy a longer life, they live in great miserie, and die at las•…•… of a loathsome disease.