Siege upon the firft repulfe, but reinforce their Batteries, obferve more curiously which are the most affailable acceffible parts, and accordingly difpofe their Affault: it will then be no unreasonable imitation in the present cafe, if after a fucceflefs Attempt upon the more impregnable Masculine part of the Gentry, I now affay the Feminine whose native Softness and Gentleness may render them lefs apt for that refiftance of good Counfel, wherein too many men place their Gallantry.

2. I prefume those to whom that little Tract was at firft defign'd, will be fo willing to relinquifh their Title, that I might without imputation of Robbery exchange my Patrons, and by a new Dedication fuperfede the labour of a new Book. And indeed, fince what was there faid was founded more on the diftinction of Qualities than of Sex, there would not need many razures to render it as proper for the one as the other; and I fhall take fo much advantage of it, as to affure the Female Gentry, that they may there find much of the Duty incumbent on them, in refpect of that Rank and Condition they hold in the world: and therefore, though I fhall fometimes make fome reflections on it, yet as to the main, I fhall think it the easiest course, as well for them as my felf, to direct them thither.

3. BUT it may feem to have too much of

the

the Pedant, to entertain new Scholars only with the caft or naufeated learning of the old; and when I remember I write to Ladies, who use to think the newness of any thing a confiderable Addition to it's value, I conceive my felf oblig'd as well in Civility to their humour, as charity to their needs, to give them fomething which they may own as their peculiar. And to render it the more unalienable, 1 fhall affix it to their Sex; and make it the fubject of my present inquifition, what in respect of that are the proper and diftinct Obligations, under which, by the affignment of God and Nature, they are plac'd.

4. THAT the Obligation to Moral and Christian Vertues is in it felf universal, and not confin'd to any Sex or Perfon, is not to be denyed: yet, as in Humane Conftitutions there are often Precepts, which (tho' not exclufive of any, do yet) more peculiarly and eminently level at fome particular Rank or Order of Men; fo in the Laws of God and Nature, there appears the like diftinction. That All-wife Creator, who hath put peculiar Proprieties and Inclinations into his Creatures, hath accordingly defign'd their actuating and improving them and altho' in mankind, which differs not in fpecies but in gender, the variety may feem lefs; yet there is ftill enough to found fome diverfity, either in the kind or degree of duty. This fure is fhadowed to us in that particular A 2

caution

caution given to the Jews, not to confound the habit of the feveral Sexes, Deut. 22. 5. and yet more clearly evinc'd in the Precept which the Apoftles addrefs to women, 1 Tim. 2. and 1 Pet. 3. Nay, this is fo granted a Truth, that all Ages and Nations have made fome diftinction between Masculine and Feminine Vertues; Nature having not only given a diftinction as to the Beauties of their outward Form, but also in their very mould and conftitution implanted peculiar aptnesses and Proprieties of Mind, which accordingly vary the measure of Decency; that being comely for the one Sex, which often is not (at least in the fame degree) for the other. It will therefore be no abfurd attempt, to decipher those Excellencies, which are the genuine and proper ornaments of Women: which tho' in fome inftances they may perhaps prove coincident with thofe of Men; yet even those which are equally inclufive of both, by the Divine command may have fome additional weight on the Female fide, in refpect of Decency, Fame, or fome other (not despicable) confideration.

5. FOR the better directing our prefent Inquifition, it will be moft regular, first to inquire what thofe Vertues are, which are univerfally neceffary to Women, in all Ages and circumstances of their lives: fuch, which like the first matter, are pre-requir'd for all forms;

which, like a firm and folid Basis, must support all various Events, all changes of their Condition or Relations. And fecondly, we fhall confider them in those changes; track them through the feveral ftages and Periods of Life, through those several States which create the moft confiderable mutations to them; and in each of thofe, confider what are the new and proportionate Acceffions of Duty.

6. As in the outward Accommodations of Life, the things of moft dayly and indispenfible ufe, deserve the greatest value; fo in Moral or Divine Endowments, the benefit of poffeffing is best measured by the mifery of wanting them. This firft rank therefore of Female Vertues which we are to treat of, will have that to recommend them; they being fo ftrictly neceffary, that their abfence is not only a privative ill, but also exposes to a deluge of all pofitive mischiefs confequent to that Privation.

7. THIS will be found true in all the feve, rals we are to pass through, but in none more eminently than in that we fhall choose to begin with, the Vertue of Modefty; which may be. confidered in a double notion, the one as it is opposed to Boldness and Indecency, the other to Lightness and Wantonnefs. In the firft Acception Zeno has not ill defin'd it, to be the Science of decent Motion, it being that which guides and regulates the whole Behaviour,

checks

checks and controlls all rude exorbitances, and is the great Civilizer of Conversation. It is indeed a Vertue of general influence, do's not only ballaft the mind with fober and humble thoughts of ones felf, but also steers every part of the outward frame. It appears in the face in calm and meek looks, where it fo impreffes it felf, that it feems thence to have acquir'd the name of Shamefac'dnefs. Certainly, (whatever the modern opinion is) there is nothing gives a greater luftre to a Feminine Beauty: fo that St. Paul feems not ill to have confulted their Concerns in that Point, when he fubftituted that as a fuppletory Ornament to the deckings of Gold and Pearl and coftly Array, 1 Tim. 2. But I fear this will be now thought too antiquated a drefs, and an Apostle be esteemed no competent Judge in this Science; which is now become fo folemn a thing, that certainly no Academy in the world can vie numbers with the Students of this Myftery. Yet when they have ftrain'd their Art to the highest pitch, an innocent Modefty, and native fimplicity of Look, fhall eclipfe their Glaring Splendor, and triumph over their Artificial Handsomeness. On the other fide, let a Woman be decked with all the embellishment of Art, nay, and care of Nature too; yet if boldnefs be to be read in her Face, it blots all the lines of beauty, is like a cloud over the Sun, intercepts the view of all that

was