certainly be taken up as the univerfal mode, in all the several variations of it, this Section has presented.

I.

"Ο

SECT. III.

Of Compaffion.

F near Affinity to the Vertue of Meeknefs, is that of Mercy and Compaffion, which indeed can scarce thrive in any place where the former hath not prepar'd the foil: Anger and Obftinacy being like that rough Eaft-wind, which brought the Egyptian Locufts, Exod. 10.13. to eat up every green thing in the Land. A mind harrafs'd with its own impatiency, is not at leisure to obferve, much less to condole the calamities of others. But as a calm and clear day befriends us with a more diftinct profpect of diftant Objects; fo when all is quiet and ferene within us, we can then look about us, and difcern what exigencies of others invite our pities.

2. I need not fay much to raise an estimate of this Vertue, fince 'tis fo effential to our Nature, fo interwoven in the compofition of Humanity, that we find in Scripture phrafe, Compaffion is generally feated in the moft

inward fenfible part of our frame, the bowels. So Col. 3.12. Put on therefore bowels of mercy: and Philip. 2. 1. Bowels and mercies. So that a cruel ruthless perfon unmans himself, and is by the common vote of mankind to be lifted among brutes; nay, not among the better but only the more hateful, noxious fort of them.

3. BUT, this is yet more unnatural in the female Sex, which being of a fofter mould, is more plyant and yielding to the impreffions of pity, and by this ftrength of fancy, redoubles the horrour of any fad object. Yea, so remarkable is their tenderness, that God, when he would most magnify his own compaffion, illuftrates it by that of Women, as the highest human inftance. Indeed, fuch a propenfion have Women to commiferation, that they are usually taxed with an excess in it; fo that any imprudent lenity is proverbially call'd, A Womanish Pity: and therefore it may be thought an impertinence to exhort them to that which they can scarce avoid. But to this I answer, firft, That in this degenerous Age, 'tis no news to fee people violate their instincts, as well as their duties, and be worse than their nature inclines them; many fins being committed even against the grain, and with violence to the conftitution.

4. YET fecondly, 'tis not a mere melting of the eyes, or yerning of the bowels, I defign

defign to recommend: Alas! their tears will not be drink to a thirsty foul, nor will shivering at his nakedness cloath him. This is fuch an infignificant mercy, as St. James defcribes, faying to a brother or fifter, be ye warmd, be ye fill'd, but not giving them things needful to the body, Chap. 2. 16. Indeed, the that weeps over thofe diftreffes fhe will not relieve, might have been fit to be enter'd in the lift of the mourning Women among the Jews and Heathens, who were hir'd to make up the tragick Pomp of Funerals with their mercenary forrow; but had no real concern in that loss they seem'd to bewail. 'Tis therefore a more active fort of Compaffion, to which I would invite them; and yet for method's fake, I fhall confider it under two diftinct Heads; Giving, and Forgiving.

5. By Giving, in this place, I mean not a general liberality, (tho' that prudently bounded, is an excellence well becoming perfons of Fortune) but only fuch a Giving as terminates upon the needy, and is apply'd to fuccour their indigencies. To give to thofe, from whom they may expect returns, may be a defign; but at the beft can be but generosity and frankness of humour. 'Tis only then mercy (as Chrift himself has defin'd it) when it is to those, from whom they can hope for nothing again.

6. AND in this Vertue Women have, in former Ages, eminently excell'd: yea, fo effential was it, that we find Solomon thought not their character compleat without it; but numbers it among the properties of his Vertuous Woman, Prov. 31. 20. She stretcheth forth her hand to the poor; and reacheth forth her hand to the needy. And it is a little obfervable, that after he has defcrib'd her Induftry and Diligence for the acquiring of Wealth, this is fet in the front of her disbursements as the principal use she made of it; and precedes her providing Scarlet for her houfhold, or fine Linnen and Purple for her felf, v. 21, 22. The application is very obvious, and admonishes all that own the fame title of Vertuous Women, to prefer the neceffities of others, before their own fuperfluities and delicacies. Nay, if they look farther, and confider who it is that is perfonated in the poor, that begs in every needy diftrefs'd fuppliant, and that will finally own every act of mercy as done to himself, methinks they fhould fometimes think fit to facrifice even their most moderate enjoyments to their charity, be asham'd to serve themselves before their Saviour, or let him ftand naked and hungry, whilft they are folacing with that which would relieve him.

7. BUT how then shall they answer it, who fuffer him to be fupplanted, not by their needs, but exceffes; who have fo devoted their hearts

and

and purses to vanity and luxury, that they have neither will nor power to fuccour the wants of others? How unequal and difproportionate is it, that those who study to fling away mony upon themselves, cannot be tempted by any importunity or diftrefs, to drop an alms to the poor? What a prepofterous fight it is to fee a Lady, whofe gay attire gives her the glittering of the Sun, yet have nothing of its other properties, never to cheer any drooping, languishing creature, by her influence? 'Tis the counsel of the son of Sirach, not to give the poor any occafion to curfe thee, Eccluf. 4. 5. But fure fuch perfons do it, if the poor happen not to have more Charity than they exemplify to them. For, when they shall find fuch hard hearts under fuch foft raiment, fee them bestow so much upon the decking their own bodies, and do nothing towards the neceffary fupport of theirs; 'tis a fhrewd trial of their Meeknefs. Poverty is apt of its felf to imbitter the spirit, and needs not such an additional temptation.

8. NAY farther, when a poor ftarving wretch fhall look upon one of these gay creatures, and fee that any one of the baubles, the loosest appendage of her dress, a fan, a busk, perhaps a black patch, bears a price that would warm his empty bowels; will he not have fharp incitations, not only to execrate her pride, and his own poverty; but consequently

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