errour; but a mind that lies open to the effluxes of all new tenets, may fucceffively entertain a whole ocean of delufions; and to be thus yielding, is not a Meeknefs, but fervilenefs of Understanding. Indeed 'tis fo great a weakness of mind, that the Apostle finks it somewhat below the impotence of Women, and resembles it to that of children, Ephef. 4. 14. Yet it feems the folly of fome Women had levell'd them with children in this matter: for the fame Apostle takes notice of fuch, to whom as he gives the Epithet of filly, fo the latter part of the character fpeaks them incorrigibly fo, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, 2 Tim. 3. 7. a defcription, which if we compare with our times, we must think Prophetick. For, how many inftances hath this age given us of Women fo led captive; who being either affected with the novelty, or feduc'd by the pretended zeal of a new teacher, have given up their underftandings to him: and for a while, this strong Man has kept poffeffion; but when a ftronger than he hath come, it has far'd as with him in the Gospel, a louder Zeal or a newer Doctrine, foon divides his fpoils; and that by force of the very fame principle, on which he fet up; which, within a while, undermines the latter alfo, and fo fucceffively, 'till the poor profelyte has been hurried through all the mazes of wild errour, and at laft perhaps (like a palate difE 2 tracted

tracted by too much variety) the fixes upon that which at firft fhe moft decry'd. This has been eventually true in fome, who fetting out in the fierceft deteftation of Popery, have wander'd fo long like the blinded Syrians, 2 Kings 6. 20. that they have at last found themselves in the midft of Samaria; by an infenfible circular motion, been brought about to that Religion, from which alone they defign'd to fly. So little do itching ears know whither they may be carry'd. And indeed the ear, when infected with that prurient humour, may vie mifchiefs with the tongue, which St. James tells us Chap. 3. 6. is (tho a little member) a world of iniquity.

5. Tis therefore the most important concern of all, to fortify that fo affailable part; but 'tis efpecially fo of Women, not only in refpect of that natural imbecillity, which renders them liable to feducement; but also because the opinion of their being fo, makes them particularly aim'd at by feducers. For as he who is to put off adulterated wares, will choose the most unwary Chapmen; so these Sophifticatours of Divinity, defire the most undifcerning auditors. And truly that fo many of that Sex are fo, I do not fo much impute to any natural defect, as to the loofe notions they have of Religion, of which they have perhaps fome general confus'd apprehenfions; but have fo little penetrated the

depth

depth of it, that they know not why they are Chriftians rather than Turks, why of the Church of England rather than that of Rome or Geneva. And while they are thus unfixt, and have no better principle than Cuftom and complyance; they have nothing to answer to any the groffeft deceit that can be obtruded upon them, which for ought they know or have confider'd, may be as true as any thing they formerly profefs' d. Now when any one in this condition fhall be affaulted, not only by the repeated importunities of falle teachers, but alfo by ingeminated threatnings of Hell and damnation; fhe is like one awak'd by the out-cry of fire, and in that amaze, will be apt to run where-ever the firft difcoverer of her danger fhall lead her.

6. I fhall therefore moft earnestly. recommend it as the beft Antidote against the poifon of novel Doctrines, to examine well the grounds of the old. For want of this it is, that our Church has been expos'd to fo many frivolous cavils, it being too incident to the perverfe Pride of human Nature, to speak evil of things we understand not.

And had

our fhe-zealots first consulted some fober guides, and from them understood upon what grounds the Practice, as well as doctrine of our Church, was founded, they could not fo eafily have been carried away by every wind of Doctrine, as the Apostle phrafes it, Eph. 4. 14.

7. INDEED this is no more than common juftice exacts, which forbids the condemning even the vileft malefactour unheard: (and unheard and not understood, are in this cafe terms equivalent) yet fure they owe fomething more to that Church, from whofe Miniftry themselves must confefs to have deriv'd their Christianity, in whose bosom they have been cherifh'd, and which confequently may plead a mother's right in them. So that unless poffeffion, which fortifies civil rights, deftroys the Ecclefiaftick; fhe may challenge befides that natural juftice (which is the common due of Humanity) a parental refpect and reverence, a debt which is fure very ill anfwer'd by those who caft off her obedience before they have at all confider'd, what it is fhe commands. And, if the abdicating a child be a thing fo unnatural, as needs fome very important caufe to juftify it; the renouncing of a Parent, muft require a reafon as far tranfcending that, as the guilt do's, if it be caufelefs: and fuch it muft inevitably be in all, who, for want of due examination, fuffer themfelves to be led into groundless prejudices and difgufts.

8. To prevent that guilt, and a multitude of others which fpring from it, I muft again repeat my propofal, that Women of Quality (who are prefum'd to want neither parts nor leafure for it) would a little look into the infide

of

of the Religion they profefs: if it be a true one, 'twill bear the infpection, truth never fhunning the light; if it be not, the discovery cannot be too early. And indeed among the many remarkable impreffes of truth our Church bears, this is one, that the do's not blindfold her Profelytes, but leaves them the ufe of their difcerning Faculty, and do's not by obtruding upon them an implicit belief, force them to lay down their Reafon when they take up their Faith. And now why should not Ladies (pend a few of their many idle hours in this inquifition. I mean, not to embark themselves in a maze of controverfies; but only to difcern those plain grounds of Truth on which our Church builds; which, if well digefted, will prove a better Amulet againft delufion, than the reading whole Tomes of difputations, more apt to diftract than fortify their understandings? And had they thus done, had their minds been ballafted by fober principles, fo many of them had never made up the triumphs of fo many and fo various feducers. And tho' to fuch, this advertisement may come too late, (like affiftance after a defeat) yet it may be a feasonable caution to others and to thofe I offer it, as that very temper, wherein confifts that Rational Meeknefs of the Understanding I would recommend to them, which is equally violated by a blind Obftinacy, or as blind a Flexibility.