reflect with some shame on themselves, if they were thus fingled out and discriminated ; whereas whilft they are fuffered to mix with the best Societies, (like hurt Deer in an herd) they flatter themselves they are undiscernable.

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29. Bu T indeed the advantage of this courfe is yet more extensive, and would reach the whole Sex, which now feems to lie under a general fcandal, for the fault of ticular perfons. We know any confiderable number of fmutty ears casts a blackness on the whole field, which yet were they apart, would perhaps not fill a small corner of it: and in this uncharitable Age, things are apt to be denominated not from the greater but worfer part; whereas were the precious fevered from the vile, by fome note of diftinction, there might then a more certain estimate be made : and I cannot be so severe to woman-kind, as not to believe the fcandalous part would them make but a small fhew, which now makes fo great a noise.

30. BESIDES this I can fuggeft but one way more for women of honor to vindicate their Sex, and that is my making their own vertue as illuftrious as they can; and by the bright shine of that, draw off mens eies from the worfer profpect. And to this there is requir'd not only innocency, but prudence; to abstain, as from all real evil, fo from the appearance

pearance of it too, 1 Theff. 5.22. not, by any doubtful or fufpicious action, to give any umbrage for cenfure, but as the Apostle faies in another cafe, 2 Cor. 11. 11. to cut off occafion from them that defire occafion; to deny themselves the most innocent liberties, when any fcandalous inference is like to be deduc'd from them. And tho perhaps no caution is enough to fecure against the malicious, and the jealous, tho 'tis poffible fome black mouth may asperse them, yet they have ftill Plato's referve, who being told of fome who had defam'd him, 'tis no matter faid he, I will live fo that none fhall believe them. If their lives be fuch, that they may acquit themselves to the fober and unprejudiced, they have all the fecurity can be afpir'd to in this world; the more evincing atteftation they must attend from the unerring Tribunal hereafter; where› there lies a certain appeal for all injur'd perfons who can calmly wait for it.

SECT

P.

SECT. II.

Of Meekness.

N the next place we may rank Meeknefs as a neceffary feminine vertue; this even nature feems to teach, which abhors monftrofities and difproportions, and therefore having allotted to women a more fmooth and foft compofition of body, infers thereby her intention, that the mind fhould correfpond with it. For tho the adulterations of art can reprefent in the fame Face beauty in one pofition, and deformity in another; yet nature is more fincere, and never meant a ferene and clear forehead fhould be the frontispice to a cloudy tempeftuous heart. 'Tis therefore to be wifht they would take the admonition, and whilst they confult their glaffes, whether to applaud or improve their outward form, they would caft one look inwards, and examine what symmetry there is held with a fair outfide, whether any ftorm of paffion darken and overcast their interior beauty, and use at leaft an equal diligence to refcue that, as they would to clear their face from any stain or blemish.

2. BUT it is not nature only which fug

gefts

gests this but the God of nature too, Meeknefs being not only recommended to all as a Christian Vertue, but particularly enjoin'd to women as a peculiar accomplishment of their Sex, 1 Pet. 3.4. where after the mention of all the exquisite and coftly deckings of art, this one ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, is confronted to them, with this eminent atteftation, that it is in the fight of God of great price, and therefore to all who will not enter difpute with God, and conteft his judgment, it must be fo too. Now, tho Meeknefs be in it felf a fingle entire Vertue, yet it is diverfifi'd, according to the feveral faculties of the foul, over which it has influence; fo that there is a Meeknefs of the Understanding, a Meekness of the Will, and a Meekness of the Affections: all which must concur to make up the meek and quiet fpirit.

3. AND firft of the Meekness of the Understanding, it confifts in a pliableness to conviction, and is directly oppofite to that fullen adherence obfervable in too many; who judge of tenets not by their conformity to truth and reason, but to their prepoffeffions, and tenaciously retain'd opinions, only because they (or fome in whom they confide) have once own'd them; and certainly fuch a temper is of all others the moft obftructive to Wifdom. This puts them upon the chance of a Lottery, and what they firft happen to draw, determines

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determines them merely upon the priviledg of its precedency: fo that had Mahomet first feiz'd them, his tenure would have bin as indefefable as Chrift's now. How great the force of fuch prejudices are, we may fee by the oppofitions it rais'd against Christian Do&trin in grofs at its firft promulgation; the Jews blind zeal for the Traditions of their Fathers, engaging them in the murder even of that very Meffias, whom those Traditions had taught them to expect, and after in the perfecution of that Doctrine which his Refurrection had fo irrefragably attefted. And to justify the propriety of this observation to those I now write to, 'tis exprefly affirm'd, Acts 13. 50. that they made use of the zeal of the female Profelytes for that purpose. The Jews Stirred up the devout and honorable women, and rais'd a perfecution against Paul and Barnabas. So that 'tis no unfeasonable advice of fuch, to be fure they fee well their way before they run too fierce à carriere in it, otherwise the greatest heat without light do's but refemble that of the bottomlefs pit, where flames and darkness do at once cohabit.

4. BUT whilft I decry this prejudicate stifness, I intend not to plead for its contrary extreme, and recommend a too eafy Flexibility, which is a temper of equal, if not more ill conféquence then the former. The adhering to one opinion can expose but to one error ?