Observations upon Anthroposophia theomagica, and Anima magica abscondita by Alazonomastix Philalethes.

Pag. 56.

Lin. 6. I will now withdraw and leave the Stage to the next Actour. Exit Tom Fool in the play.

Lin. 8. Some Peripatetick perhaps whose Sic probo shall serve mee for a Comedie. So it seems if a man had seriously argued with you all this time, you would only have returned him laughter instead of a solid answer, and so from Tom Fool in the Play, you would have become a na∣turall Fool. But we have had the good hap to prevent you, and instead of Sic probo's to play the Fool for company, that is, to answer a fool according to his foolishnesse, that is, to rail and call names, and make ridiculous. Into which foolish postures as often as I have distorted my self, so often have I made my self a fool that you may become wise, and amend that in your self, that you cannot but dislike in me. Nor would I ever meddle

with you, as merry as I seem, but upon this and the like serious intentions. And must needs reckon it amongst the rest of your follies, that you expected that some severe Peripatetick would have laid bat∣tery against you, with syllogisme upon syllogisme, and so all confuted your Book, that there had not been left one line en∣tire. But assure your self Philalethes! the Peripateticks are not altogether given so much to scolding, that they will contest with a shadow, or fight with the winde. Nor so good marks-men as to levell at a Wilde goose flying. You are so fluttering and unsetled in your notions, and obscure in your terms, that unlesse you will bee more fixt, and sit fair, & draw your Wood∣cocks head out of the bush or thicket, they will not be able to hit your meaning. Which I suspect you will never be per∣swaded to doe, that you may keep your self more secure from Gunshot.

Lin. 13. And the best way to convince fooles, &c. How wise Anthroposophus is to what is evill! Here he makes sure of cal∣ling him fool first who ever shall attempt to write any thing against his Book. But it is no such mischief, Anthroposophus! to bee called fool. The worst jest is when a

man is so indeed. And if you had but the skill to winnow away all the chaffe of humorous words, and uncouth freaks and fetches of phansie, and affected phrases, which are neither the signes nor causes of any wisdom in a man, all that will be left of this learned discourse of yours; will prove such a small moity of that know∣ledge your presumptuous minde conceit∣ed to be in her self, that you would then very sadly of your owne accord (which would bee your first step to become wise indeed) confesse your self a Fool. And this I understand of your knowledge in Nature. Now for that in Morality; It is true you often take upon you the gravity to give precepts of life, as espe∣cially in the 52 and 55 pages of this Tra∣ctate. But you doe it so conceitedly, with such chiming and clinching of words, Antithetall Librations, and Symphonicall rappings, that to sober men you cannot but seem rather like some idle boy play∣ing on a pair of Knick-knacks, to please his own ear and phansie, then a grave Mo∣ralist speaking wholesome words and gi∣ving weighty counsell of life and manners. So that the best that you do, is but to make the most solemn things ridiculous, by your

Apish handling of them. I suppose because a Religious Humour has been held on in some Treatises, with that skill and judgement, or at least good successe, that it has won the approbation and applause of most men, an eager desire after fame has hurried you out upon the like attempt. And though you would not call your Book Religio Magici, as that other was Religio Medici: yet the favourable conceit you had of your own Worth, made you bold to vie with him, and in imitation of that, you have stuffed your Book here and there with a tuft of Poetry, as a Gam∣mon of Bacon with green hearbs, to make it tast more savourly. But all will not doe, poor Magicus! For now your designe is discovered, you are as contemptible as a∣ny Juggler is before him, that knows all his tricks aforehand. And you run the same fortune that AEsops Asse, who inept∣ly endeavouring to imitate the Courtship and winning carriage of his Masters fawn∣ing and leaping Spaniell, in stead of fa∣vour found a club for his rude perfor∣mance. But you, Magicus! do not only paw ill-favouredly with your fore-feet, but kick like mad with your hinder-seet, as if you would dash out all the Aristoteleans brains.

And doe you think that they are all either so faint-hearted, that they dare not, or so singularly moralized, that Socrates like, if an Asse kick, they will not kick again? Yes certainly next to your self they are as like as any to play the Asses, and to answer you kick for kick, if you will but stand fair for them. But you have got such a Magicall sleight of hiding of your head, and nipping in your buttocks, like the Hob-gobling that in the shape of an Horse dropt the chil∣dren off one by one of his tail into the wa∣ter, that they cannot finde you out nor feel where about you would be, else cer∣tainly they would set a mark upon your hinder parts. For if I, my dear Eugenius! who am your brother Philalethes, am forced out of care and judgement to handle you so seeming harshly and rigidly as I doe, what doe you think would become of you, st incideres in ipsas Belluas, if you should fall amongst the irefull Aristoteleans themselves? would you be able to escape alive out of their hands? Wherefore good brother Philaletbes! hereafter be more discreet, and endeavour rather to be wise then to seem so, and to quit your self from being a fool, then to phansie the Aristoteleans to be such.

FINIS.