Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 2.djvu/315

Rh inspection, upon what he is about? therefore, I am resolved immediately to weed this errour out of mankind, by making it clear, that this mystery of vending spiritual gifts, is nothing but a trade, acquired by as much instruction, and mastered by equal practice and application, as others are. This will best appear, by describing and deducting the whole process of the operation, as variously, as it hath fallen under my knowledge or experience.

Here the whole scheme **** of spiritual mechanism was **** deduced and explained, with **** an appearance of great read- **** ing and observation; but it **** was thought neither safe nor **** convenient to print it. ****

Here, it may not be amiss to add a few words, upon the laudable practice of wearing quilted caps; which is not a matter of mere custom, humour, or fashion, as some would pretend, but an institution of great sagacity and use: these, when moistened with sweat, stop all perspiration; and, by reverberating the heat, prevent the spirit from evaporating any way, but at the mouth; even as a skilful housewife, that covers her still with a wet clout, for the same reason, and finds the same effect. For, it is the opinion of choice virtuosi that the brain is only a crowd of little animals, but with teeth and claws extremely sharp, and therefore cling together in the contexture we behold, like the picture of Hobbes's Rh