There should a Regard be had in all our Actions and Councels, to the
Nicety of the matter in Question. This is to tell us, that the very
Appearances of Evil are to be Avoided, and all the Semblances of Danger
to be well Examin’d and Consider’d. Why should not a Bird as well trust a
_Hawk_ that’s like a _Cuckow_, as trust a _Cuckow_ that’s like a _Hawk_?
Two Likes may be Mistaken, and a Man cannot be too wary where the Error
is Mortal. There may be a Disguise ’tis true, in the one case, and a
misapprehension in the other; but it is safer yet to stand upon our Guard
against an Enemy in the Likeness of a Friend, then to Embrace any Man for
a Friend in the Likeness of an Enemy. There’s no Snare like Credulity,
when the Bait that’s laid for us is cover’d with the pretence of a Good
Office. Neither are there any Impostures so Pernicious, as those that
are put upon us by fair Resemblances. He that is not certain, (in such
an Instance as this,) is in danger; and ’tis ill Venturing (Neck and all
especially,) where a Body is not very sure, whether it be a _Hawk_ or a
_Cuckow_.