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[ 40<br />
you deny the truth of thefe inflances, let us next con- s<br />
fider what reafon can be given for an aaion fo odd<br />
and uncommon. If you have recourfe to the aftrolo-<br />
gers, they will impute the whole of the bufmefs to the<br />
flars, and accufe heaven that fometimes provokes fuch<br />
an appetite in man by a peculiar and hidden influence.<br />
They will fay, as Picus expreffes it, That the man's<br />
propenfity to Venus was caufed in his geniture, and<br />
deftined to flogging by oppofite and threatening rays<br />
of the ftars—on which fubjea Francifcus Jun6linus<br />
takes a great deal of pains to inftruEt us in the cal-<br />
culation of nativities, chap. 6. But fince the heavens<br />
and the ftars are univerfal caufes, and to cannot occa-<br />
lion fuch particular effeas in one or two individuals,<br />
Picus, for good reafon, rejeEts their influence, and en-<br />
quires after a nearer and more immediate reafon. He<br />
thinks it was occafioned in his acquaintance by cuftom :<br />
for fo he proceeds in his narration—" When I ferioutly<br />
"enquired of him the caufe of this uncommon plague,<br />
"his reply was, I have ufed myfelf to it from a boy.<br />
"And upon repeating the queftion to him, he added,<br />
"that he was educated with a number of wicked boys,<br />
"who fet up this trade of whipping among themfelves,<br />
"and purchafed of each other thefe infamous ftripes<br />
"at
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