This gives us to Understand the Practice of the World, and that Flattery
and Time-serving Enters into the most Solemn Offices of Mankind. To
Flatter Foolish Men into a Hope of Life where there is None at all, is
much the same Thing with Betraying People into an Opinion, that they are
in a Virtuous, and Happy State, when they are Over-run with Passion,
and Drown’d in their Lusts. The One has the same Pernicious Effect upon
our Minds, that the Other has upon our Bodies; for it makes us Careless
of Both. There are Certain Decencies of Form, and Civility, ’tis true,
that purely regard Matters of Conversation, and Good Manners; And These
Respects ought to be Preserv’d; But Ceremonies of Mode and Complement,
are mightily out of Season, when Life and Salvation come to be at Stake.
It falls under the Prospect of the same Topique, to Consider, that
Kingdoms and Common-Wealths have their Distempers, Intermissions, and
Paroxisms, as well as Natural Bodies. And that a Glavering Council is
as Dangerous on the One hand, as a Wheedling Priest, or a Flattering
Physician is on the Other. There is hardly such Another Pest in a
Community, as a Consort of Parasites, that feed Governours with False
Representations and Reports of Men and of Things. They First Betray
their Masters to Dishonour and Ruine; and then when they find the Vessel
Sinking, save themselves in the Long Boat. _So much the Better_, quoth
the _Doctor_: _Ay, Ay_, (says the _Emperical Statesman_) _That’s as
we’d have it_. When at the same time the Distemper is as Mortal to the
_Government_, on the One hand, as to the _Patient_ on the Other.