Chap. 12.] Fatuus. 



though in general they continued hovering about fix 

 feet from the ground. They differed in fize and 

 figure ; and, indeed, the form of each was fluctuating, 

 fometimes floating like waves, and dropping fparks of 

 fire. He was afTured there was not a dark night in the 

 whole year in which they did not appear ; nor was 

 their appearance at all affected by the weather, whether 

 cold or hot, fnow or rain. They have, been known to 

 change their colour from red to yellow ; and generally 

 grew fainter as any perfon approached, vanifhing en- 

 tirely when the obferver came very near to them, 

 and appearing again at fbme diftance. 



Dr. Shaw alfo defcribes a fmgular ignis fatuits? 

 which he faw in the Holy Land. It was fometimes 

 globular, or in the form of the flame of a candle j and 

 immediately afterwards fpread itfclf fo much, as to 

 involve the whole company in a pale inoffenfive light, 

 and then was obferved to contract itfelf again, and liid- 

 denly djfappear. In lefs than a minute, however, it 

 would become vifible as before, and run along from one 

 place to another j or would expand itfelf over more 

 than three acres of the adjacent mountains. The at- 

 mofphere at this time, he adds, was thick and hazy. 



In a fuperftitious age we cannot wonder that thefe 

 phenomena have all been attributed to fupernatural 

 agency ; it is one of the nobkft purpofes of philofophy, 

 to releafe the mind from the bondage of imaginary 

 terrors i and by explaining the modes in which the 

 Divine Providence difpofes the different powers of na- 

 ture, to elevate our thoughts to the ctf^firft caufej to 

 teach us to fee " God in all, and all in God." 



