reflect with fome fhame on themselves, if they were thus fingled out and discriminated, whereas, whilft they are fuffer'd to mix with the best Societies, (like hurt Deer in an herd) they flatter themselves they are undifcernable.

29. BUT indeed the advantage of this courfe is yet more extenfive, and would reach the whole Sex, which now feems to lie under a general scandal, for the fault of particular perfons. We know any confiderable number of fmutty ears, caft a blackness on the whole field, which yet, were they apart, would perhaps not fill a fmall corner of it: and in this uncharitable Age, things are apt to be denominated, not from the greater, but worfer part: whereas were the precious fever'd from the vile, by fome note of diftinction, there might then a more certain estimate be made: and I cannot be fo fevere to woman-kind, as not to believe the fcandalous part would then make but a small shew, which now makes so great a noise.

30. BESIDES this I can fuggeft but one way more for Women of Honour to vindicate their Sex, and that is by making their own Vertue as illuftrious as they can; and by the bright fhine of that, draw off mens eyes from the worfer profpect. And to this there is requir'd, not only innocence, but prudence; to abftain, as from all real evil, fo from every appearance

Not by any

pearance of it too, I Theff. 5. 22. doubtful or fufpicious Action, to give any umbrage for cenfure, but as the Apoftle fays in another cafe, 2 Cor. 11. 11. To cut off occafion from them that defire occafion; to deny themfelves the moft innocent liberties, when any fcandalous inference is like to be deduc'd from them. And tho' perhaps no caution is enough to fecure them against the malicious and the jealous, tho' tis poffible fome black mouth may afperse them, yet they have ftill Plato's referve, who being told of fome, who had defam'd him, 'Tis no matter, faid he, I will live so that none Shall believe them. If their lives be fuch, that they may acquit themselves to the fober and unprejudic'd, they have all the fecurity can be afpir'd to in this world; the more evincing atteftation they must attend from the unerring Tribunal hereafter; where there lies a certain appeal for all injur'd perfons, who can calmly wait for it.

SECT.

I.

IN

SECT. II.

Of Meekness.

N the next place we may rank Meeknefs as a neceffary feminine Vertue; this even nature feems to teach, which abhors monftrofities and difproportions, and therefore having allotted to Women a more smooth and foft compofition of body, infers thereby her intention, that the mind fhould correfpond with it. For tho' the adulterations of Art, can represent in the fame face beauty in one pofition, and deformity in another; yet nature is more fincere, and never meant a ferene and clear forehead, fhould be the frontif-piece to a cloudy tempeftuous heart. 'Tis therefore to be wifh'd they would take the admonition, and whilft they confult their glaffes, whether to applaud or improve their outward form, they would caft one look inwards, and examine what fymmetry there is held with a fair out-fide, whether any form of paffion darken and overcaft their interiour beauty, and ufe at least an equal diligence to rescue that, as they would to clear their face from any ftain or blemish.

2. BUT it is not nature only which fug

gefts

gefts this, but the God of nature too, Meeknefs being not only recommended to all as a Christian Vertue, but particularly enjoin'd to Women as a peculiar accomplishment of their Sex, 1 Pet. 3. 4. where after the mention of all the exquifite and coftly deckings of art, this one ornament of a meek and quiet fpirit, is confronted to them, with this eminent atteftation, that it is in the fight of God of great price; and therefore to all, who will not enter difpute with God, and conteft his judgement, it must be fo too. Now, tho' Meeknefs be in it felf a fingle entire Vertue, yet it is diverfifi'd, according to the feveral faculties of the Soul, over which it has influence; fo that there is a Meekness of the Underftanding, a Meeknefs of the Will, and a Meeknefs of the Affections; all which muft concur to make up the meek and quiet fpirit.

3. AND firft for the Meeknefs of the Understanding; it confifts in a plyableness to conviction, and is directly oppofite to that fullen adherence obfervable in too many; who judge of tenets, not by their conformity to truth and reafon, but to their prepoffeffions, and tenaciously retain'd opinions opinions only because they (or fome, in whom they confide) have once own'd them; and certainly fuch a temper is of all others the moft obftructive to Wif dom. This puts them upon the chance of a Lottery, and what they firft happen to draw,

E

deter.

determines them merely upon the priviledge of it's precedency: fo that, had Mahomet firft feiz'd them, his tenure would have been as indefiefable as Chrift's now. How great the force of fuch prejudices is, we may fee by the oppofitions it rais'd againft Chriftian Doctrine in grofs at it's firft promulgation; the Jews blind zeal for the Traditions of their Fathers, engaging them in the murder even of that very Meffias, whom those Traditions had taught them to expect, and after, in the perfecution of that Doctrine, which his Refurrection had fo irrefragably attested. And to juftifie the propriety of this obfervation to those I now write to, 'tis exprefly affirm'd Ats. 13. 50. that they made ufe of the zeal of the female Profelytes for that purpose. The Jews ftir'd up the devout and honourable Women, and rais'd a perfecution against Paul and Barnabas. So that tis no unreasonable advice to fuch, to be fure they fee well their way before they run too fierce a career in it, otherwife the greatest heat without light, do's but refemble that of the bottomlefs pit, where flames and darkness do at once co-habit.

4. BUT whilft I decry this prejudicate ftiffness, I intend not to plead for it's contrary extreme, and recommend a too eafy Flexibility, which is a temper of equal, if not more ill confequence than the former. The adhering to one opinion, can expofe but to one