creature in nature; and I fo far yield to the opini as to confefs it fo to those who are kept in that f against their wills. But fure the original of that mi is from the defire, not the reftraint of marriage. them but fupprefs that once, and the other will never their infelicity. However I must not be fo unkind to fex, as to think it is always fuch defire that gives th fuch averfion to celibacy: I doubt not but many frightenedwith the vulgar contempt underwhichthat t lies; for which, if there be no cure, yet there is the fa armour against this as there is against all other cause reproaches, to fcorn it. Yet I am a little inclined to lieve there may be a prevention in this cafe: if the perannuated virgins would behave themselves with vity and refervedness, addict themfelves to the firic virtue and piety, they would give the world fo cause to believe, it was not their neceffity but their choi which first kept them unmarried; that they were p engaged to a better amour, efpoufed to the fpirit bridegroom; and this would give them, among the berer fort, at least the reverence and efteem of matro or if, after all caution and endeavour, they chance fall under the tongues of malicious flanderers, this is more than happens in all other instances of duty; a if contempt be to be avoided, Christianity itself m be quitted, as well as virgin chastity. But if, on other hand, they endeavour to difguife their age, by the impostures and gaieties of a youthful drefs and haviour, if they ftill herd themfelves among the young and vaineft company, betray a young mind in an ag body, this mult certainly expofe them to fcorn and co fure. If no plays, nor balls, nor dancing-bout can cape them, people will undoubtedly conclude that th defire to put off themselves, to meet with chapmen, w fo conftantly keep the fairs. I wish therefore they wo more univerfally try the former expedients, which am confident is the best amulet against the reproa they fo much dread, and may alfo deliver them from

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danger of a more coftly remedy, I mean that of an unequal and imprudent match, which many have rushed upon, as they have ran frightened from the other; and fo, by an unhappy contradiction, do both stay long and marry haftily, gall their necks, to fpare their ears, and run into the yoke rather than hear fo flight and unreafonable a reproach. They need not, I think, be upbraided with the folly of fuch an election, Ance their own experience is, to many of them, but too severe a monitor.

Having faid thus much to the elder virgins, I muft in the next place addrefs myself to the younger. And here the two grand elements effential to the virgin ftate, are modefty and obedience, which tho' neceffary to all, yet are in a more eminent degree required of the young virgin, in whom modefty fhould appear in its highest elevation, and come up to fhamefacednefs. Her look, her fpeech, her whole behaviour, fhould own an humble diftruft of herfelf: fhe is to look on herfelf but as a novice, a probationer in the world, and must take this time rather to learn and obferve, than to dictate and prefcribe. Indeed there is fcarce any thing looks more fhocking than to see a young maid too forward and confident in her talk: the very name of virgin imports a moft critical nicenefs in that point. Every indecent curiofity and impure fancy, is a deflowering of the mind, and every the leaft corruption of the mind gives fome degrees of defilement to the body too: for between the ftate of pure immaculate virginity, and ariant proftitution, there are many intermediate fteps, and the that makes any of them, is fo far departed from her first integrity. She that liftens to any wanton discourse has violated her ears; the that fpeaks any, her tongue; every immodeft glance vitiates her eye, and every the flighteft act of dalliance leaves fomething of ftain and fullage behind it. There is therefore a moft rigorous caution requifite herein; for as nothing is more clear and white than a perfect virginity, fo every the leaft fpot or foil is the more difcernible. Besides youth is for the

moft part flexible, it easily warps into a crookedness, and ́· therefore can never fet itself too far from a temptation. We are fain to skreen and shelter our tender bloffoms, because every unkindly air nips and destroys them: and nothing can be more nice and delicate than a maiden virtue, which ought not to be expofed to any of those malignant airs that may blast and corrupt it; of which, god knows, there are too many; fome that blow from within, and others from without.

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Of the first there is none more mifchievous than curiofity a temptation which failed human nature in paradife, and a feeble girl then ought not fure to truft herself with that, which fubdued her better fortified parent. The truth is, an affected ignorance cannot be fo blameable in other cafes, as it is commendable in this. Indeed it is the surest and most invincible guard; for fhe who is curious to know indecent things, it is odds but he will too foon and too dearly buy the learning. The fuppreffing and detefting of fuch curiofities is that eminent fundamental piece of continence I would recommend to them, as that which will protect and secure all the rest. But when they have fet this guard. upon themselves, they must provide against foreign affaults, the most dangerous of which I take to be ill company, and idleness. Against the first they must provide by a prudent choice of converfation, which fhou'd generally be of their own fex, yet not all of that neither, but fuch as will at leat entertain them innocently if not profirably. Againft the fecond they may fecure themf. Ives by a constant.f.ries of employment; I mean not fuch frivolous ones as are more idle than doing nothing, but fuch as are ingenious and fome way WO: th their time, as writing, needle-work, languages, mufic, or the like. But I confess I know not how to reduce to the head of rational employment many of those things, which from divertisement are now ftept up to be the folemn bufinefs of many young ladies, and I doubt of fome old; fuch as gaming and

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reading

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reading romances of the former I have spoke in another place, and of the latter it is alfo very neceffary to Speak, there being a great many young ladies who waste a confiderable part of their time in that trivial and often dangerous udy. Their youth may, I confefs, a little adapt it to them when they were children, and I wish they made no worfe ufe of them as they grow up, but I fear they often leave ill impreffions behind them thofe amorous paffions which they defign to paint to the utmost life, are apt to infinuate themfelves into unwary readers, and by an unhappy inverfion a copy fhall produce an original. When a poor young creature fall ead there of fame triumphant beauty that has I know not how many captive knights proftrate at her feet, fhe will probably be tempted to think it a fine thing, and may reflect how much the lofes time, that has not fubdued one heart: her bufinefs will then be to fpread her nets, lay her toils to catch fome body, who will more fatally enfnare her; and when the has once wound herself into an amour, those authors and fubtle cafuifts for all difficult cafes that may occur in it, will infruct her in the necessary artifices of delud ng parents and friends, and put her ru'n perfectly in her own power. This feems to be fo natural a confequent of this fort of study, that of all the divertisements that look fo innocently, they can scarce fall upon any more hazardous. Indeed it is very difficult to imagine what vaft mifchief is done to the world by the falfe notions and images of things, particularly of love and honour, thofe nobleft concerns of human life, represented in these mirrors. But when we confider, as I have, obferved already, upon what principles the duellifts and Heétors of the age defend their outrages, and how great a devotion is paid to lu, in@lead of virtuous love, we cannot be to feek for the gospel which makes thefe doctrines appear orthodox.

As for the entertainments which young women find abroad, they may be innocent, or otherwife, according

as they are managed. The common intercourfe of vility is a debt to humanity, and for that reafon mut vifits may often be neceffary; and fo, in fome degr may be feveral harmlefs and healthful recreations whi may call them abroad. But to be a'ways wandering is t condition of a vagabond, and of the two it is better be a prisoner to one's home than a ftranger. Solom links it with fome very unlaudable qualities of a w man, that her feet abide not in her houfe. It is an unha py impotence not to be able to ftay at home, when the is any thing to be feen abroad; when any mafk, revel, and jollity of others, must be their rack and to ment, if they cannot get to it. Alas! fuch meetings a not fo fure to be fafe, that they need be frequent; a they are of all others leaft like to be fafe to those wh much dote on them: wherefore thofe that find they fo, had need to counterbias their minds; and fet the to fomething better, and by more ferious entertainmen fupplant thofe vanities, which at the best are childi and may aften prove worfe: it being too probable th thofe Dinahs that are fill gadding, tho' on pretence fee only the daughters of the land, may at last meet wi a fon of Hamor.

Dreffing, another great devourer of time, has bee fpoken of under other heads: to which I fhall on add, that those who love to be seen abroad, will be fur to be seen in the most exact form. This is what do not fteal, but challenge their time. What they waf here is with authority; it being by the verdict of th age, the proper bufinefs, the one fcience wherein young lady is to be perfectly verft, fo that now all vi tuous emulation is converted into this fingle ambition who shall excel in drefs. This is hardly excufable i youth, but intolerable in age. Some allowances are to b given to young people, who cannot be fuppofed to hav quite forgotten the toys and vanities of childhood and befides, thofe who defign marriage, may lawfull make use of the advantage of decent ornaments, and no

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