Men are not so sensible of Laws and Duty, as they are of Kindness and
Good Nature; beside, that the _Wolf_s Pretence or Care for the Poor
_Lamb_, was a Charity that began at Home.
There is an _Affection_ of _Nature_, and that which we call a _Filial
Duty_; and there is an _Affection_ that is grounded upon the Moral
Considerations of _Benevolence_ and _Friendship_. In the one, we lye
under an Obligation of Reverence and Respect to a Parent, be the Father
or Mother what they will; in the other, we pay a Regard to _Civil
Acknowledgements_ and _Virtue_. Nature, and the Principles of Nature
must be kept Sacred; but Men cannot Love to what degree, or whom, or
what they please: So that in many Cases, we pay a _Veneration_ upon
_One_ Score, and an _Affection_ upon _Another_; and this Fable does
very well distinguish the _Gratitude_ from the _Respect_. The _Wolf_’s
Preaching to the _Lamb_, is no Ill Emblem of a _Scandalous Minister_,
that _Discredits_ a very _Good Sermon_ with an _Ill Life_, and gives the
Lie to his _Doctrin_, in his _Practice_. The _Wolf_ took the same Care of
the _Lamb_, that the _Keepers of our Liberties_ in former days did of the
Innocent People of _England_. They pretended to put us out of Harms way
from others, that they might Devour us themselves.