Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/384

 To the Belief and Assertion of those Doctrines, we are oblig'd by the very end of Religion itself. But yet their counterfeit Colours have seduc'd many virtuous Minds into manifold Mischiefs.

The Mistakes about Prophecies may arise either from our abusing of the old, or a vain setting up of new. We err in the first, when we translate the ancient Prophecies from those Times and Countries, which they did properly regard, to others, which they do not concern. And we offend in the second, when we admit of new Prophetical Spirits in this Age, without the uncontroulable Tokens of Heavenly Authority.

We are guilty of false Interpretations of Providences and Wonders, when we either make those to be Miracles that are none, or when we put a false Sense on those that are real; when we make general Events to have a private Aspect, or particular Accidents to have some universal Signification. Though both these may seem at first to have the strictest Appearance of Religion, yet they are the greatest Usurpations on the Secrets of the Almighty, and unpardonable Presumptions n his high Prerogatives of Punishment and Reward.

now if a moderating of these Extravagancies must be esteem'd Prophaneness, I profess, I cannot absolve the Experimental Philosopher. It must be granted that he will be very scrupulous, in believing all manner of Commentaries on Prophetical Visions, in giving Liberty to new Predictions, and in assigning the Causes, and marking out the Paths of God's Judgments amongst his Creatures.

He cannot suddenly conclude all extraordinary Events to be the immediate Finger of God, because he