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vine an Original, as endless a Duration, and as capable of infinite Beatitude. That fpiritual Effence, that ray of Divinity, owns no diftinction of Sexes; fo that in this fenfe alfo, that Aphorifm of the Apoftle holds good, there is neither Male nor Female, but all are one, Gal. 3. 28. And fure this is the one tranfcendent Excellency of Human Na ture. For alas, what value can comparatively be fet upon all other Qualifications, which will finally leave us but like the beafts that perilh. And this, as it is the highest pitch of their worth, fo it is the fafeft fubject of their Contemplations other knowledge, as the Apofile fpeaks, 1 Cor. 8. 1. may puff up, this only will edify.

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As therefore when we would pride our felves, we use not to boast our meaner, but our best Qualities: fo let me folicite Ladies to be fo just to themfelves, as not to take their own meafures by any thing below this. Why fhould they take fo low a level of

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Greatness, as to value themselves upon a title which is but a bigger blast of Air, when they may derive their defcent from above the Stars, claim cognation with Divinity? Why Should they dote on the fictitious image of a perhaps more fictitious beauty, which their glafs prefents them, when they need but look inward to fee an infinitely fairer Idea, an Emanation of the Eternal Brightness? Indeed did they make a juft eftimate of themselves in this refpect, it would overwhelm the vanity of thofe inferiour things wherein they now have fuch complacency, nor would they fuffer their nobler part to be affronted by the unequal competition of their meaner.

But there is also another confequent which would flow from that esteem; they would folicitously preferve what they fo highly prize, it being natural for us to proportion our care to our value. They would be jealously vigilant against every thing, that might

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eclipfe the Radiancy, or Contaminate the purity of their Souls. 'Twas the advice of an Heathen Moralist, Revere thy felf: and 'twas very wholefome counfel: for next our due Veneration to God, a Reverence to our felves, is the most fevere controller of all exorbitancies. How can a Soul that remembers its Celestial extraction, wallow it felf in the mire, stoop to any fordid degenerous practices? 'Tis faid of Themiftocles, that feeing once a rich booty about the dead Corps of his Enemies, he touched it not, but pointing to another, faid, Take thou that, for thou art not Themiftocles. If then a little military fame could fo elevate his thoughts, 'tis a fhame that any who carry an immortal Spirit about them, fhould not be raised above all the contemptible baits of this fublunary World. Why fhould they not with the like difdain turn over all fenfual inordinancies to meer Animals, and Creatures that have no higher principles than that of fenfe,

fenfe, whilst themselves foar up to those more fublimated pleasures, which are at God's right hand for evermore, Pfalm 16. 11. i hop

We may therefore conclude, that whatever vicious impotence Women are under, it is acquir'd, not natural; nor deriv'd from any illiberality of God's, but from the ill managery of his bounty. He has placed within them a Pillar of Cloud and Fire, fufs ficient to fhelter and conduct them through all the forms, all the intrica cies that can occur in their journey to Canaan, if they will forget that more intrinfick part of their being, live as if they were all body, reject the Manna, and rave after the Quails, that des Aruction which will thereby y be ins duced, they must own to spring from themselves. Let them not charge God foolishly, or think that by making them Women, be neceffitated them to be Proud or Wanton, Vain or Peevish Since tis manifeft he made them to bers.

ter purpofes, was not partial to the other Sex, but that having, as the Prophet Speaks, abundance of fpirit, Mal.2. he equally difpenfed it, and gave the feebleft Woman as large and capacious a Soul, as that of the greateft Heroe.

Nay, give me leave to fay farther, that as to an Eternal well being, he feems to have placed them in more advantageous circumstances, than he has done Men. He has implanted in them fomte native propenfions, which (as I fall hereafter have occafion to obferve) do much facilitate the operations of Grace upon them. Befides there are many temptations to which Men are expos'd, that are out of their road. How hard is it for a Man to converse in the World; but he hall be importun'd to Debauchery and Excefs, muft forfeit bis Sobriety, to maintain the Reputation of a fociable Perfon? Again, how lyable are they by a promif cuous Converfation, among variety of humours, to meet with affronts, which the