Meditations and Observations % Theological!

IX V.

k is a common but fabulous conceit, chat Bees once losingtheir stings, lose their naturall diligence and Industrie and be-come idle and lasie Drones. But it is really true of too manymen, who sometimes with their faces to &o»-ward make pro-session of holinefle and religion, hut feare of the lolls of fame,estate, honour, or life, makes them with Demat and Hymtnetuembrace the world, and make ssiipwrackc of faith and a good"conscience.

LX VI.

Bees are acknowledged to be a Common-wealth,and mani-fest it, as in many particulars, lo in these that they watch andworke, provide and labour, procreate and educate one for ano-ther ; once, doe all for the benefit and advantage of the wholebody. I would our Common-wealth were comparable to ahive of Bees even in these things, then we would be content towatch and labour one for another; all, for the safety of theDr. Ptgt, whole body. In a Ship no mans safety is in single care for him-Zthloiu blcf seise, bat in the common good of the company, so ought it tosin be in the Common-wealth also. Therefore no politick bodycan prosper or m:ke a good Voyage where private respectsmake prize and Monopolies of publtque projects, where thelittle singer will weare a Diamond, though the stomack whichfeedeth all, wanteth meate to suftaine the whole body. ThisSt .Paul so earnestly diflwadeth.that he calleth the mutuall loveof Christians, the band of love, tying us together.

L X V11.

The robbing Bee and the Waspe, (though there be betweenthem, if not an antiptrhie, yet certainly a desperate hatred andenmitie ) will without strife or difference concurre together to-gether to rob a hive of Bees, deserving ill of neither, but onlythrough paucitie and weaknesse obnoxious to their insolenceand rapine. Doc you wonder then if men wickedly disposed

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