26. AND indeed it may be a matter of caution, even to the younger Widows, not to let themselves too much loose to a light frolick humour, which perhaps they will not be able to put off, when it is moft neceffary they fhould. It will not much invite a fober Man to marry them, while they are young; and if it continue with them till they are old, it may (as natural motions use) grow more violent towards its end: precipitate them into that ruinous folly we have before confider'd. Yet, should they happen to escape that, should it not force them from their Widow-hood, it will fure very ill agree with it for how prepofterous is it for an old Woman to delight in Gauds and Trifles, fuch as were fitter to entertain her Grand-children? to read Romances with Spectacles, and be at Masks and Dancings, when she is fit only to act the Anticks? These are contradictions to nature, the tearing of her marks; and where she has writ fifty or fixty, to leffen (beyond the proportion of the unjuft Steward) and write Sixteen. And those who thus manage their Widowhood, have more reason to bewail it at laft than at first, as having more experimentally found the mischief of being left to their own guidance. It will therefore concern them all to put themselves under a fafer Conduct, by an affiduous Devotion to render themselves up to the leading of the one infallible guide, Kk who

1.

who if he be not a covering of the eyes, Gen. 20. 16. to preclude all fecond choices, may yet be a light to them for difcerning who are fit to be chofen; that if they see fit to use their liberty and Marry, they may yet take the Apostle's reftriction with it, 1 Cor. 7. 39. that it be only in the Lord, upon fuch fober motives, and with fuch due circumstances as may approve it to him, and render it capable

of his benediction.

HAVE now gone through both parts of the propos'd method. The former has prefented thofe qualifications which are equally neceffary to every Woman. Thefe, as a Root, fend fap and Vigour to the diftinct Branches, animate and impregnate the several fucceffive ftates through which the is to pass. He that hath pure Ore or Bullion, may caft it into what Form beft fits his use, nay, may tranf late it from one to another; and fhe who has that Mine of Virtues, may furnish out any condition; her being good in an abfolute confideration, will certainly make her fo in a relative. On the other fide, fhe who has not fuch a ftock, cannot keep up the honour of any ftate; like corrupted Liquor, empty

it from one veffel to another, it ftill infects and contaminates all. And this is the cause that Women are alike complain'd of under all Forms, because fo many want this Fundamental Virtue. Were there more good Women, there would be more modeft Virgins, Loyal and Obedient Wives, and fober Widows.

2. I must therefore intreat those who will look on this Tract, not only to fingle out that part which bears their own Inscription, but that they would think themselves no less concerned in that which relates indefinitely to their Sex; endeavour to poffefs themselves of those excellencies, which fhould be as Univerfal as their kind: and when they are fo ftored with matter, they may leave Providence to diverfify the shape, and to affign them their scene of action.

3. AND now, would God it were as eafie to perfwade, as it is to propose; and that this difcourfe may not be taken only as a Gazette, for its newnefs, and difcarded as foon as read; but that it may at least advance to the honour of an Almanack, be allowed one year e're it be out of date: and in that time, if frequently and feriously confulted, it may perhaps awaken fome Ladies from their stupid Dreams, convince them that they were sent into the World for nobler purposes, than only to make a little glittering in it; like a Comet, Kk 2

to

to give a Blaze, and then disappear. And truly, if it may operate but fo far as to give them an affective sense of that, I fhall think it has done them a confiderable service. They may, I am fure, from that Principle deduce all neceffary confequences, and I wish they would but take the pains to draw the Corollaries; for those inductions they make to themfelves, would be much more efficacious than those which are drawn to their hands.

Pro

priety is a great endearment: we love to be Profelytes to our felves; and people oft refift others reafons, who would upon mere partiality pay reverence to their own.

4. BUT befides this, there would be another advantage, if they could be but got to a cuftom of confidering; by it they might infenfibly undermine the grand Inftrument of their Ruine. That careless incogitancy, fo remarkably frequent among all, and not leaft among Perfons of Quality, is the fource of innumerable mischiefs, tis the Delilah, that at once lulls and betrays them; it keeps them in a perpetual fleep, binds up their faculties, fo that tho' they are not exftinct, - yet they become ufelefs. Plato used to say, That a Man afleep was good for nothing and 'tis certainly no lefs true of this Moral droufiness than the Natural. And as in fleep the fancy only is in motion, fo thefe inconfiderate perfons do rather dream than dif

course,

course, entertain little trifling Images of things which are prefented by their fenfe, but know not how to converfe with their reafon. So that in this drousy state, all Temptations come on them with the fame advantage, with that of a Thief in the night; a phrase by which the Scripture expreffes the most inevitable unforeseen Danger, i ThefSalon. 5. 2. We read in Judges, how eafily Laifh became a prey to a handful of Men, merely because of this fupine negligent Humour of the Inhabitants, which had cut them off from all intercourfe with any who might have fuccour'd them, Judges 18. 27, 28. And certainly it gives no lefs opportunity to our Spiritual Affailants, leaves us naked and unguarded to receive all their impreffions. How prodigious a thing is it then, that this state of dulnefs and danger fhould be affectedly chofen? Yet we fee it too often is; even by those whofe Qualities and Education fit them for more ingenuous Elections; nay, which is yet more a Riddle, that very aptnefs difenables, fets them above what it prepares them for. Labour is lookt on as utterly incompatible with greatness, and confideration is lookt on as labour of the Mind; and there are fome Ladies who feem to reckon it as their prerogative, to be exempted from both; will no more apply their understandings to any ferious difcuffion, than their hands to the Spindle