Page:A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).djvu/40

, were yet but few;: and even thoſe that were, the Government did not allow, but endeavour'd to ſuppreſs them, and ſhut up their Meetings:

But the Viſitation reconcil'd them again, at leaſt for a Time, and many of the beſt and moſt valuable Miniſters and Preachers of the Diſſenters, were ſuffer'd to go into the Churches, where the Incumbents were fled away, as many were, not being able to ſtand it; and the People flockt without Diſtinction to hear them preach, not much inquiring who or what Opinion they were of: But after the Sickneſs was over, that Spirit of Charity abated, and every Church being again ſupply'd with their own Miniſters, or others preſented, where the Miniſter was dead, Things return'd to their old Channel again.

One Miſchief always introduces another: Theſe Terrors and Apprehenſions of the People, led them into a Thouſand weak, fooliſh, and wicked Things, which, they wanted not a Sort of People really wicked, to encourage them to; and this was running about to Fortune tellers, Cunning-men, and Aſtrologers, to know their Fortune, or, as 'tis vulgarly expreſs'd, to have their Fortunes told them, their Nativities calculated, and the like; and this Folly, preſently made the Town ſwarm with a wicked Generation of Pretenders to Magick, to the Black Art, as they call'd it, and I know not what; Nay, to a Thouſand worſe Dealings with the Devil, than they were really guilty of; and this Trade grew ſo open, and ſo generally practiſed, that it became common to have Signs and Inſcriptions ſet up at Doors; here lives a Fortune-teller; here lives an Aſtrologer; here you may have your Nativity calculated, and the like; and Fryar Bacons's Brazen-Head, which was the uſual Sign of theſe Peoples Dwellings, was to be ſeen