is the old and the new and the greatest Commandment and indeed all the Commandments in Epitome for it is the fulfilling of the Law it does the work of all other Graces without any other assistance but it s own immediate Virtues for as the Love to Sin makes us sin against all our own Reason and all the dictates of Wisdom and all the advices of Virtuous Friends and without Temptation and without Opportunity so on the other hand does this Charity properly styl'd the Love of God in Divine Love which Love makes one Chaste without the Laborious Arts of Fasting and Exteriour Discipline Tempâ—rate in the midst of Feasts and is apt enough to chuse it with out any other intermedial Appetites and reaches at Glory through the very bosom oâ— Grace without any other Arms but those of Love 〈◊〉 is a Grace that loves God in himself and our Neighbor for God The Consideratioâ— of God's Goodness and Bounty The Experience of those pâ—â—â—rable and excellent Emanations from him may and 〈◊〉 commonly are the first Moâ—â— of our Love But we once bâ—â—ing enter'd and having tastâ—â— the Goodness of God we delight in and love the Spiriâ— for its own Pureness and Eâ—cellency passing from Passion to Reason from Thinking to Adoring from Sense to Spirit and from Considering our selves to an Union with God And this is the bright Image and Representation of Heaven it is Beatitude lively painted out of us or rather the infancy and beginning of Glory Consider then there is no Incentives needing by way of especial Enumeration to move us to the Love of God for we cannot Love any thing for any Reason real or imaginary but that Excellence is infinitely more Emminent in God If we rightly consider there can but two things create Love viz. Perfection and Usefulness to which on our part Answer First Admiration Secondly Desire and both of them are centur'd in Love viz. For the Entertainment of the former there is in God an Infinite Nature Immensity or Vastness without Extension or Limit Immutability Omniscience Omnipotence Eternity Holiness Dominion Providence Bounty Perfection in himself and the end to which all things and all Actions must be erected and will at last arrive the Consideration of which may be heightned if we well consider our distance from all those dazling Glories and Perfections viz. our smallness and limited Nature our Nothingness our Inconstancy our Age like a Span a Shadow a Vapour c. Our Weakness and Ignorance our Poverty our Inconsideration and Inadvertency our Disabilities and Dissatisfactions to do good c. Also our Necessities and Dependencies not only on God who is originally and essentially but even our need of the meanest of the Creatures he has made and our being obnoxious to the weakest and most Contemptible But for the Entertainment of the latter we must consider the Almighty as a Torrent of Pleasure the Fountain of Honour an inexhaustable Treasure and all that can be wish'd or desir'd of Joy and unspeakable Pleasures flow from him and therefore seeing our Vertues have such proper and desirable Objects it is highly reasonable that we should turn all into Love For certain it is this Divine Love will turn all into Virtue and give us here an earnest and taste of Heaven and hereafter Joys and Glorys Inexpressible Child when good its Character A good Child Reverenceth the Persons of its Parents though never so Poor Aged Decrepid or Insirm as his Parents bare with him when a Child so if he be grown up he beareth with his Parents If defective and feeble in his Understanding and become a second time a Child by Dotage he does not think that his Dignity above him can cancel his Duty to him So far from any such thought was the Wise and Learned Sir Thomas Moor that being Lord Chancellor of England in the Reign of Henry the Eighth his Father being then one of the King's-Bench he would always before he went to the Court of Chancery kneel in the publick Hall if he found him there and ask him Blessing a rare and singular Example of Duty and Humility in one whose Wisdom great Parts Estate and Office far exceeded those of his Parents The good Child observes his Parents lawful Commands and practiceth his Precepts with all Obedience and having practic'd them himself he Entails his Parents Precepts on his Posterity Therefore such Instructions are by the Wise Man Prov. 1.9 Compar'd to Frontlets and Chains not to a Suit of Cloaths which serves but one and quickly wears out of fashion but to those things that have in them a real and lasting Worth and may be transmitted from Generation to Generation The same Counsels observ'd are Chains to Grace but if neglected prove Cords to punish and afflict Undutiful Children The Good Child is patient under Correction not pining nor murmuring at it but rightly considers it is for his future good and advantage In Marriage he first and last Consults his Parents when propounded and concluded as knowing thereby he does wisely in acquitting himself of his Duty and is more assured of his own Happiness in the sound and solid Advice and Approbation of his Choice He always bowls best at the mark of his own Contentment who besides the aim of his own Eye is directed by a Parent who is to give him the Ground He is a Stork to those that brought him up and feeds them in their old Age of his Substance if they be destitute of wherewithal of their own however he is always at hand to protect them from Wrongs and Injuries He considers his Mother was a Pelican to him and fed him with her own Blood digested into Milk and if his Father has been an Estrich to him and neglected him in his Youth yet now is grown Poor and stands in need of his Assistance yet he confines him not along way off to a short Penâ—â—â— and forfeited too if he passes his appointed Bounds and Limits but he will shew pity at home and Learns as St. 〈◊〉 says 1. Tim. 5.4 To requâ—â— his Parents and yet the 〈◊〉 we mean only the Principal not counting the Interest cannot fully be paid and therfore he compounds with the utmost of his Endeavours which ought to be accepted in good part such Duty God is likewise highly pleas'd with and frequently rewards it with long Life in this World However if he misses length of Days which many times are the best yet he Lives long because he Lives well when time mispent and squander'd away is not liv'd but lost Moreover if his days be shorter than he expects yet God is better to him than his Promise if he takes from him along Lease on which he was forc'd to Toil and Labour hard to pay what was requir'd of him and gives him a Freehold of far greater value even an Eternal Inheritance freed from all Cares Doubts Fears mistrusts of losing or forfeiting Sorrows or Incumbrances a Portion worth more than all this Lower World
providing necessaries which usualy pass through the Mothers Hands Love again is to be considered in another Case and that is why it more fervently descends from Parents to Children than ascends form Children to Parents and in this Case three Principal Reasons are to be assigned The first is that the Parents Love their Children as part of themselves and begin early to do so even from their Birth for which Reason their Love is more strongly settled and fortified and Children Love springing up afterward abating Childish fondness which lasts but for a time from Judgement and Knowledge which many times a misunderstanding or some fancy'd ill-usage very much hinders in its encrease takes not so firm a root in the Affections Secondly Nature has so ordained that all Creatures shall have a special Care to their Helpless Young least by their neglect they perish through their inability of subsisting and the ends of Creation cease when as Parents grown up in years of understanding so provide for themselves that they rarely stand in need of their Childrens assistance and only require from them Duty and Obedience which God enjoyns them to yield in Love of long and happy days c. And thirdly the like Love remains in them to descend to their Posterity which verifies the old saying that Children cannot be fully sensible of the Love and Tenderness of their Parents towards them till they become Parents of Children themselves and have experienced that Cordial Affection by which Nature hath linked them together for she always has regard to the Conversation and Promotion of the Species which she maintains in the continual Succession and upholding of her Individuals looking still forward to carry on her workings regularly to the end of the World that so keeping all things in their proper Order she may finish her great task and give up her account fairly stated to him whose Vicegerent she is in managing the Generative part of Affairs in the lower World however though Nature does not so strongly encline the Love of Children to Parents as that of Parents to Children yet we conclude they ought to Love and Reverence them to the utmost of their Power assisting them to their abilities in all that is reasonable and requisite to stand by them in Poverty and Affliction and to what Promotion soever they are raised to own and acknowledge them under God as the genual Authors of their Being Love is subtil and experienced as well at undermining as battering and therefore Lady's tho' you are Triumphantly seated in the Fort of Honour yet Loves Artillery will reach you there or if they carry too short with a Mole-like diligence he will work his way till he can spring a Mine in your hearts and blow up your Affections into a flame of desire Beauty can hardly be secured from Attempts in its greatest strengths However we would you have so constantly firm in your Resolves that you make the best resistance you can be cautious and stand upon your guard to prevent Surprizes and if you must yield at last let it look noble and generous like a Victory thro' the brave resisiance you have made that all or mostyoung Ladies are prone and inclined to love nothing is so certain yet they must not give their Passion the Reins too soon least it run away with the Reason and Discretion Love is an Affection privily received in at the Eyes and speedily conveyed to the Heart the Eyes are the Harbingers but the Heart is the Harbourer of it look well to be sure then before you like Love conceived at first sight seldom lasts long therefore deliberate with your Love least it be mis-guided for to fall in Love as it were at first Look comes rarely to any good conclusion Portion may wooe a Worlding Proportion a youthful Wanton but it is Vertue that wins the Heart of Discretion admit he have the one to purchase your Esteem and the other to maintain your Estate yet his Breast is not so transparent as to see through it the Badness of his Disposition if you then take his Humour on Trust it may prove so perverse and peevish that your expected Heaven of Bliss may be turned into a wild Wilderness of Confusion and Sorrow Themistocles the brave Athenian General being asked by Nobleman whether he had rather marry his Daughter to a vicious Rich man or an honest Poor man returned for Answer That he had rather give her to a Man without Money than to Money without a Man whence it was that the beautiful Porcia being asked when she would marry replied when she could find one that sought her and her Riches there is no time requires more modesty from a young Lady or Gentlewoman than in wooing time a bashful Blush then best commends her and is the most moving Orator that speaks in her behalf like Venus Silver Doves she is ever brouzing on the Palms of Peace whilst her Cheeks speak her love more than her Tongue there is a pretty pleasing kind of wooing drawn from a conceived yet a concealed Phansie might they chuse they would converse with them freely consent with them Friendly and impart their truest thoughts fully yet would they not have their bashful Loves find Discovery according to the old Verse Cloris to the Willows like a cunning Flyer Flies yet she fears her Shepherd should not spy her Whatever you do Ladies be not upon any Account whatever induced to marry one you have either Abhorrency or Loathing to for it is neither afluence of Estate potency of Friends nor Highness of descent can allay the Insufferable grief of a loathed Bed wherefore to the Intent you may shew your selves discreetest in that which requires your Discretion discuss with your selves the Parity of Love and the Quality of your Lover ever respecting on those best Endowments which render him worthy or unworthy of your best Esteems a curious eye guided by understanding will not be taken only with a proportionable Body or smooth Countenance Justinian a noble Roman Lady being unadvisedly Married grievously exclaimed against her hard fate in being Married to one more rich than wise and this is the Case of many Ladies of our times which frequently brings them to a too late Repentance Let Deliberation then be the Scale wherewith you weigh Love with an equal Poise there are many cousequent high Circumstances which a discreet Woman will not only Discourse but discuss before she enters into that hazardous though honourable State of Marriage Disparity in Descent Fortune or Friends do often beget a Distraction in the mind Years disportionable beget a dislike Obscurity of Descent begets Contempt and Inequality of Fortune Discontent if a Lady is at Years of Discretion and will Marry to one younger than her self that is if he has not attained to a Manly Gravity and Soberness she must bear with him till riper Experience bring him to a better understanding Let your usage be more easie than to wean him from what he
the Servant so far pity her that after she had fasted three days he told her of his Lords Safety after he had acquainted him with the Misery she was in it was agreed she should come to him and there consorted with him for the space of Nine years bringing forth Children in that Solitary place no Intreaty of her Husbands prevailing with her to forsake him At last they were discovered and brought before the Emperor where Eponina producing her Children said Behold O Caesar such as I have brought forth and bred up in a Monument that thou mightest have more Suppliants for our Lives but this great Act of Love and Constancy could not move cruel Vespatian for he caused them both to be put to Death she dying joyfully with her Husband Hota was the Wife of Rabi Benxamut a valiant Captain and of great Reputation amongst the Alarbes she had been bravely rescued out of the hands of the Portugals who were carrying her away Prisoner by the exceeding Courage and Vavour of Benxamut her Husband She shewed her thankfulness to him by the ready performance of all the Offices of Love and Duty Some time after Benxamut was slain in a Conflict and Hota perfomed her Husbands Funeral Obsequies with infinite Lamentation laid his Body in a stately â—omb and then for nine days together she would neither eat nor drink whereof she died and was buried as she had ordained in her last Will by the side of her beloved Husband He first deceas'd she for a few days try'd To live without him lik'd it not and dy'd King Edward the First while Prince warr'd in the Holy Land where he rescued the great City of Acon from being surrendred to the Souldan after which one Anzazim a desperate Saracen who had often been employ'd to him from the General being one time upon pretence of some secret Message admitted alone into his Chamber he with an empoyson'd Knife gave him three Wounds in the Body two in the Arm and one near the Arm-pit which were thought to be mortal and had perhaps been so if out of unspeakable Love the Lady Eleanor his Wife had not suck'd out the Poyson of his Wounds with her Mouth and thereby effected a Cure which otherwise had been incurable Thus it is no wonder that love should do wonders seeing it is it self a Wonder Love of Parents to their Chilren is a natural Affection which we bear towards them that proceed from us as being part of our selves and indeed almost all other Creatures have a strong Impression of this kind of Love to their young though in their proper Nature never so fierce and cruel to any thing besides according to the Poet Seeing her self Rob'd of her tender Brood Lies down lamenting in her Seythian Den And Licks the Prints where her lost Whelps had lain But this Affection with Reason has greater Power in the Souls of humane Parents thò indeed it's Impression is deeper in some than in others so that sometimes it extends even to a fault where it is placed on such Children whose stubborn Natures turn such tender Indulgence to evil purposes yet we see when it so happen as it do's too freequently the Parents fondness decreases not Love towards his Sons and Daughters had so settered the Affection of Charles the Great that he could seldom endure them out of his fight and when he went any long Journey he took them with him and being one time demanded why he married not his Daughters and suffered his Sons to travel with a Sigh replyed He was not able to bear their Absence Selucius King of Syria being told that his Son Antiochus Sickness proceeded from that extraordinary Passion he bare to his beautiful Queen Stratonice though the Father loved her entirely yet fearing his witholding her might occasion the loss of his Son he freely resigned her to him Aegtius by a mistake thinking Theseus his Son to be dead threw himself from the Rock where he stood to watch his return and there perished Love in Women on this account has always exceeded that of the Men who to save their Children have rushed through Flames and on the points of Swords regardless of their Lives as the Poet expresses it 〈◊〉 Lyoness when with Milk her Dugs do ake Seeking her lost Whelps hid within some Brake Noâ— the sharp Viper doth more Anger threaten Whom some unwary Heel hath crush'd and beaten Than woman when she sees her off springs wrong She breaks the Bars of the opposing throng Through Swords through Flame she rushes there 's no Ill So grievous but she Acts it with her Will Love to her Infant so inspired the Daughter of Sponderebeus that Mahomet the second having caused his Vizier-Bassa to murther it as being one of the Sons of his Father she never left crying in the Sultans Ears till he had delivered the Bassa bound to her and then she cut him up alive and cast his Heart and Liver to the Dogs Love of Children to their Parents is required by the Law of God and Naure and it is their indispensable Duty to Love honour and obey yet Love it self contains all these for what we love we will consequently labour to please to the utmost since it is to the great Credit and Advantage of Children entailing a Blessing on them here and giving them in a great measure an Assurance of an eternal Blessedness hereafter For wherever we find Piety and Reverence that is due to Parents there is a kind of Earnest given of a prosperous and worthy Person for the Child having this way entituled himself to the Promise of God whatsoever happens to others he shall find Happiness and Comfort in it It is certainly a very great and grievous Sin to be unmindful of those who next to God are the Authors of our Being and have taken care of us when we were not able to help our selves Love in this Case appeared extraordinary in Antipas and Amphinomus who when Mount Aetna sent out Rivers of flaming Sulphur and by the Eruption the Earth trembled under them every one minding to hurry away their Goods and flying in confusion these pious Brothers mindful of their aged Parents more than all earthly Riches took them on their Backs and carried them through Torrents of Fire to places of Safety leaving their Goods to be destroyed saying What more precious Treasure can we secure than those who begot us and this Acts of Piety by divers Antiquities is said to be attended with a Miracle for the burning stream separated and made way for their safe Passage whilst other places were scorched up Love and Duty appeared excellent in the Daughther of a noble Roman Lady who being condemned by the Praetor her Execution was delayed by the Jaylor to starve her in Prison that the People who were offended with the Sentence might not see her publick Execution her Daughter all this while had leave to Visit her but was narrowly searched that she should bring no
Old and if they have many children they place their Affections Equally on them making no distinction nor difference however Nature has favour'd and befriended some with beauty more than others If there be any inclining it is to those that are most obedient to them and strive to please God that he may continue to show'r down blessings on the Family They take it to be Partiality and Tyranny to afflict and dispise those children that Natures too rough hands has rumpled into deformity and look upon it as a breaking those whom God hath bow'd before They allow their children maintenance according to their quality and ability to keep tkem from low and sordid company and from such things unworthy of them as Necessitty might prompt them to So that a necessary supply even to children is oonvenient and redounds not only to their credit but advantage for having but a little mony they learn early how to husband it and make wary bargains tho but for trifles which when grown up improves them in thriftiness and politick management of their affairs For we rarely see a young person coming to a plentiful Estate that has been kept severely in penury as to his Purse but he has either many Extravagant Debts to pay which he under hand contracted to supply him as it were by stealth and for which he engag'd five times the value receiv'd or coming out of a Land of Famine for Pleasures when he once finds them plenty and stowing in upon him he pursuits them to such Exces that he ruins both Body and 〈◊〉 Good Parents in chusing Professions ever take singular care to considering the dispositions and aptness of their children whose Capacities and Inclinations are the 〈◊〉 Indentures to bind them to any Calling or fix them in any Employment If notwithstanding all their prudent care and management there 〈◊〉 rest a perverse Nature in some children they however with the Mother of Moses are careful to have a watch over them to see what will become of them where their Rovings will end as considering many that have broken and run out in their Youth have after long Rambargs seen their Folins with the prodigal Son and with him repeated in rears and returned to their Father's house and after reconcilement become 〈◊〉 and chang'd to 〈◊〉 And when they move their children to marriage it is 〈◊〉 Arguments 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Good and Wellfare than their own Authority It is a stile too Kingly in this case for Parents to will and command but certainly they may will and desire Affection tending to a matrimonial contract which are like the consciences of men rather to be gently led by kind perswasions than driven or drawn by force And if they do at any time marry where they do not love they 〈◊〉 no doubt love where they do not marry Yet those Parents will not give their substance out of their hands to come themselves to be beholding to their children but keep it to reward their Duty and Obedience as they see fit and convenient occasions and will deny them nothing that is reasonable for their advancement On their Death bed they bequeath their blessing to their children not rejoice so much to leave them great Portions but that it may prospet with them because it is honestly obtained If they leave them Young their care is first to recommend them to God's care and protection and next him to conscientious and prudent Guardians or Overseers Pariwigs and other Antick Dresses Since we have found the women so kind to tell us the Hair from their Heads we have encroached on the freeness of their Natures and think they may as well make a prize of all the rest And God knows the Age hath not found them overshy of trading In the time of Seprinus vereâ—us there were three thousand Indicted of Adultery but were all impeach'd that are guilty here the Clerk of the Sessions need not care to change place with the Judge You cannot imagine what fancies it creates in our Nodles by its hear At Grand Cairo they hatch all their Chickens in Ovens on purpose heat to the degree of production but who sees not since our Brains have been fired by these Furzes what Serpents the Cockatrices Eggs have produced The Grand Seignier with all his golden Peâ—oni's gliding mutely along by his side can never ravish himself in the lofry conceipts of his Glory to that degree that an Empty-skuil'd squire does now in the dancing of his Aubrey Tresses about while he looks out here and there to feast his Eyes on the fancied Subjects that admire him No sooner had Israel trimm'd themselves up into Gallantry and long Locks but they shook off their Obedience to Heaven it self We are Lords we will come no more unto thee Jer. 2.31 33. Our Ancestors were 〈◊〉 than we who kept this Fax in their Pockets which helpt to maintain their Tables and would hardly have catch a Crumb had they found but an Hair in their Dish while we are curling and powdring up 〈◊〉 thousand chastly into our mouths all dinner and cannot make a meal in peace for ' em To better purpose would this Hair be employ'd should we be put to the shifts that once the poor Citizens or Bizantium were when under the Extremities of a Three Years Siege by the Romans and almost ready to perish having occasion to patch up a Fleet under the want of Cordage were sain to make 〈◊〉 Womens Hanâ— Which they poor Wretches very cheerfully cut off and gave them to inch out their Tackle and though the whole Navy miscarry'd by a storm yet was not their Zeal the less laudable who did it for the saving of the City or themselves when ours do it for no good at all A good head of hair is so vulgar a blessing that we find it as common to the Beggar as the Prince and he that dares not for his Ears boast the glory of his Blood may yet compare with the best in the fineness of his Locks Then Reader lay down your Artificial Neâ— aud try how Nature will wean one The truth is it the house be well furnished within in every Room as it ought the Brain will find Wit enough to excuse the unhappy want of a Bush without 'T is strange what Plâ—by records of the Romans that they never knew the use of Barber till Four hundred fifty four years after the building of their City when in the time of Scipio Affricanus they were first brought in out of Sicily Before that it seems they hackled off their Locks with their Knives But however Rough and Uncomb'd they were then sure I am they grew Curious and Spruce enough afterwards for Plutarch tells us of the two boundless Hero's that admitted no Superior nor Equal The Great Pompey was so nice and Esseninate in the Formality of his Hair and 〈◊〉 Locks that he was noted 〈◊〉 scratching his 〈◊〉 and once suffered a publick Scott from the impudent Claudius for it in
to a Senator of Venice although she had divers great Matches offered her Yet she Married a poor Gardiner saying She would Wed for Virtue and not for Riches and lived with him a Contemplative Life all her days Aristoclea a very Beautiful Lady being courted at once by Callisthenes and Strato the former being the Richer gained her by the Compulsion of her Parents and the latter endeavouring to take her away by force she by interposing to part them was killed whereupon Strato killed himself and Callisthenes went distracted Arsione Daughter to Ptolomy Lagos one of the Greek Kings that Governed Egypt she was first Marryed to Lâ—simachus Kind of Macedon and then to her Brother Ptolomy Coraunnus who murthered her two Children by Lâ—simachus and deposing her got the Kingdom of Macedon yet held it not long before he lost his Life Of which proceedings else where see more at larg Astrea held to be Daughter of Jupiter and Themis and is stiled the Goddess of Justice who in the Golden Age was sent from Heaven but that Age changing into Violence and Rapin and no regard being given to her she â—led back to Heaven and there holds the Ballances or the Sign Libra in the Zodiack Atalanta Daughter to Schoenus King of Scyros who for her nimbleness in running exceeded most of her Age and being very Beautiful she had many Suitors but resolved none should enjoy her but him that could out-run her upon condition that if she won the Race he should be put to death that undertook it this dashed many out of Countenance and many that she out-run were slain with Darts till Hippomanes praying at the Shrine of Venus for assistance had three Golden Apples given him which in the Race he threw divers ways and whilst she was heedful in gathering them he gained the Goal and had her to wife But afterward for desiling the Temple of Cyble in lying together under the Altar they are 〈◊〉 to be turned into a 〈◊〉 and Lyoness Ate held to be the Goddess of Strife and Envy who made it her business to set People at varience but from her Malice there an appeal to the Lites Daughters of Jupiter who restor'd People to Peace and Concord and prevented many Mischiefs that would otherwise have befallen them Atergatis a Goddess worshipped by the Ascolonities in the shape of a Mare-maid Artificial Beauty I do find that washing and painting is condemn'd in Holy Writ as the practice of loose licentious and lascivious Women who with the deforming of their Souls and polluting their Consciences do use the Art for embellishing their Countenances The New-Testament affirms we cannot make one hair of our head white or black and if we have neither the liberty nor are to assume the power to alter the Complexion of our hairs then muchless the complexion of our cheeks and faces St. Paul and St. Peter prescribed how Women should be clad that is with Modesty shamefac'dness and Sobriety and not with gorgerous Apparel or with braided Hair Gold or Pearls and if these things were forbidden how much more is washing or painting the Face So that this Artificial Beauty may appear to be divinely forbidden as an Enemy to Truth which needeth none but its own native Complexion and is so far from being beholding to Art for any addition to enliven her colour or to put a blush upon it but grant it were neither scandalously sinful nor absolutely unlawful yet the offence it giveth to the true and strict Professors of Piety is a sufficient Argument that it ought not to be practised Although many things may be permitted in themselves yet they become evil and are to be forborn when others are offended at them Neither is this all for the very name of a painted Face is enough to destroy the Reputation of her that useth it and exposeth her to all manner of Reproaches Upon reading of these Reflections upon Artificial Beauty methinks I hear some angry Lady saying I perceive this censorious Man hath been too busie with my Face and hath endeavoured to throw dirt on it because it hath been lately spotted in the fashion a fashion that hath as much innocence to plead for its excuse as custom for its authority Venus the Goddess of Beauty was born with a Motticella or natural Beauty-spot as if Nature had set forth a Pattern for Art to imitate You may see every day some little clouds over the face of the Sun yet he is not asham'd of his Attraction The Moon when she is at Full and shining in her greatest lustre hath in her Face some remarkable spots and herein is plac'd her chiefest glory as being in every thing inconstant but in this When I put on my Mask which is no more nor better than one great Patch you do commend me for it and will you be displeased with me for wearing a few black Patches which if they are cut into Stars do represent unto me whither I would go or if into little Worms whither I must go the one of them testifying in me the sense of my Vnworthiness to increase my Humility and the other the height of my Meditations to advance my Affections It is the unhappiness of the most harmless things to be subject to the greatest Misconstruction and on the same subject from whence others draw their suspicions of Curiosity to accuse our Pride we derive the greatest Arguments of discipline and instruction to defend our Innocence Nevertheless according to the obligation of my Duty to give you in all things Satisfaction I am determined to wear them no more Ausonius's Poem on the great Love that ought to be between a Man and his Wife 't is this which follows Ad Vxorem Live as we have liv'd still to each other new And use those names we did when we first knew Let the same Smiles within our Cheeks be read As were at first Let the day never come to see the change That either Time or Age shall make us strangec But as we first met let us ever be I thy young Man and thou a Girl to me To others though I seem like Nestor old And thou more years hast then â— Cumana told Sib. Times snow we will Cuman not see though it appears 'T is good to know our Age not count our Years Such I must confess Husbands ought to be to their Wives and Wives to their Husbands but they are seldom found in these days B. BArbara She that is strange inhumane or of a strange tongue and unknown Bathsheba 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bathshebang 2 Sam. 11.3 â— the Daughter of an Oath Bathshua 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bathshuang 2 Chron. 3.2 v. 5. the Daughter of crying or a Rich Noble and Liberal Mans Daughter Bauris perhaps pleasant from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid. Grae. Beatrice â— blesâ—ed from â—eo to bless Bener or Benedicta Blessed Benigna i. kind courteous bounteous Bertha i. bright or famous Bilhah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gen. 29.29 i. old or
to her dearest Husband In her affectionate Letter to him prefix'd to that little Book she declares with thankfulness to God her fears of Child-bed painfulness were cured with the remembrance that things should work together for the best to those that love God which cannot be right in a Wife without this true love to her Husband and a certain assurance that God would give her patience according to her pain And she bare all patiently So did Mrs. Wilkinson a most loving Wife whose patience was remarkable in the midst of very sore pains which frequented her in the breeding and bearing Children Yet then her speech was I fear not pains I fear myself leâ—t through impatiency I should let fall any unbesitting word 'T is a blessed frame said that grave Divine who recorded it when pain seems light and sin heavy So on the other hand for want of this prevalent Conjugal Love in conjunction with Christian Love a Daughter of King Ethelred having found the difficulty of her first birth she did afterwards perpetually abstain from her Husband's bed against the Apostle's Rule protesting from a Principle of unaccountable self-love Thâ—â— it was not fit a Daughter of a Crowned Head should commit her self any more to such perish 'T was far otherwise with a young Woman in Eubaâ—a who being Married to a Man she lov'd dearly became Mother and Grand-Mother to an Hundred Children The Story of Mrs Honywood in our Age is not less famous The Wife hath plighted her Troâ—â— to her Husband according 〈◊〉 the flesh unto whom the Lord hath in the Marriage-Covenant joyn'd her and she is obliged to be constantly faithful in 〈◊〉 Conjugal Duties to him 〈◊〉 whom she hath trusted herself and that by Vertue of the Covenant of her God Neither 〈◊〉 enough to be really faithful but also to seem so or be seen as much as may be so to be Not that any Christian Women should be like some of those in the Great Moguls Country 〈◊〉 to gain the repute of Modest Loving and Faithful Wives will have their own Corps burnt together with their deceased Husbands but she should shew her real fidelity as in an honest and prudent concealment of her Husbands Secrets so in avoiding all just suspicion by any familiar Converse with others of being false to his Bed and Religiously keeping till death the Matrimonial Obligation not deserting her dear Yoke-fellow when reduced to straits For so 't is storied of the King of Pontus his Wife that she disguised herself to follow her banished Husband saying There she reckoned was her Kingdom her Riches and Country wheresoever she could find her Husband The Wife of a certain Count of Castile when the King had detained her Husband in Prison went to visit him whom she perswaded to put on her Cloaths and leave her there in his stead Of which Fact the King hearing did much wonder at the fidelity of the Countess and sent her to her Husband wishing he had such Wives for himself and Sons To this matter in his present to seeming Women hath very well observed 't was his will that in their Travail their should ever be while the world stands that most eminent instance of his power indeed that I may say which made the great Heathen Phisâ—cian after a deep search into the causes of a Womans bringing forth a Child to cry out Oc Sin taile of Nature Hence 〈◊〉 her low Estate the pious Wife who lives by Faith alone Nature when she utters her doleful groans before the Almighty concludes It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good If it seems good unto him then to call for her Life and the Life of her Babe she can say Lord here am I and the Child which thou gavest me A prudent Wife abideing in Faith Charity Holiness and Sobriety may have such support from the strengthening word of Promise here and elsewhere that Travailing in Birth and Pain to be delivered she may have good hope to be preserved in Child-bearing For tho as the most beloved wife Rachel in her hard labour thought she should die She may have good evidence from the Exercise of her Graces that she shall be eternally saved and that may be written on her Tomb-stone which a learned Doctor wrote on that of Pious Mrs. Wilkinson who with her Child went to Heaven from her Child-bed viz. Here lyes the Mother and Babe both without Sins Her Birth will make her and her Infant Twins Hereupon the Upright Woman tho' frail can resign up herself to God being fully perswaded with the Father of the Faithful that what he hath promised he is also able to perform and not Oliver speaking largely As for those who have Wives they should take special care to discharge the duties of good Husbands towords their Child-bearing Wives with all good fidelity viz. 1. To dwell with them according to knowledg giving honour unto them as the weaker vessels and as being Heirs together of the graces of Life that their prayers be not hindred 2. To endeavour as much as may be to discharge the parts of good Christians and tender Husbands towards their dearest Yoke-fellows in such a prevailing Condition laying much to heart those antecedent concomitants and consequent pains such a state of pregnancy involves them in which these Husbands themselves in such a kind cannot have experience of That as it becomes them for the sake of their good and godly Wives they may as is sometimes said of some Sympathizing ones in a fort breed with them and for them by putting on as the elect of God bowels of mercy kindness humbleness of mind meâ—kness long-suffering c. and fulfil all the Duties of the Relation they are in readily and â—â—mely providing for them not only Necessaries but such Conveniencâ—es as they can for their longing appetites and for the â—eartning of their dear suffering Wives who are apt to be 〈◊〉 down under apprehensions of their approaching sorrows to call in the aid of faithful praying Ministers and pious Friends to make their requests known unto God for them And if God hears their Prayers 3. To be heartily thank-ful to God upon his giving safe deliverance to their gracious wives from the pains and perils of Child-bearing D. DAmaris Acts 17.34 perhaps a little Wife from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Wife Danae i. Laurus the Lawrel or Bay-tree Dalilah Judges 16.4.1 poor impoverish'd Deborah may be render'd a By-word Speech Praise or Praising Denis belonging to Baechus Dido signifies a Man like or stout Woman Phoenician Dinah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Judgement Dorras 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. a She Goat or with Polit. a Roe Buck see Tabitha Acts 9.36 Dorothy the Gift of God or given of God Dousabella i. sweet and fair Maiden Fr. Douse i. sweet Fr. Drusilla 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act 24 25. G. P. composeth it of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. Ros the Dew Damia a Goddess of the Ancients only worshipped
manner of Waters They must likewise endeavour to be careful in looking after the rest of the Servants that every one perform the Duty in their several Places that they keep good hours in their up-rising and lying down and that no Goods be either spoiled or embezzelled They must be careful also that all Strangers be Nobly and Civilly used in their Chambers and that your Master or Lady be not dishonoured through Neglect or Miscarriage of Servants They must likewise endeavour to have a competent knowledge in Physick and Chirurgery that they may be able to help their maimed sick and indigent Neighbours for commonly all good and charitable Ladies make this a part of their House-keepers business House-Maids Your principal Office is to make clean the greatest part of the House and so that you suffer no room to lie foul that you look well to all the stuff and see that they be often brushed and the Beds frequently turned That you be careful for and diligent to all Strangers and see that they lack nothing in their Chambers which yâ—â—r Mistriss or Lady will allow and that your Close-stools and Chamber-pots be duly emptied and kept câ—ean That in the Afternoon you be ready to help the House-keeper or the Waiting-woman in their Preserving and Distilling House-keeping Expences The Husband abandoning his Pleasures and Hony-moon Delights and that 's the greatest pleasure in the World for a Man to be able to deny himself he brings home his Wife puts on his ordinary Weeds and begins to consider what he has to do And I hope there is never a Manichean of 'em all but will confess it to be very great pleasure to a Man to look after his own Business and if he sees his Wife no less diligent in her Station that 's as great a pleasure as any can be There is no Man in the World so silly but that before he goes about to Marry he has so much insight into the World as to know that the best House-wife in Nature can never be able to shew her Art her Education and her House-wisery upon bare Walls I would lain know which a rational Man would take for the greaâ—er pleasure to see his wife always industriously employed at home or never at home but a Nights and that not till the Watch cries Past twelve a Clock neither but still whipt out of Doors as soon as she gets dress'd and spending her time at the Play-houses or else losing Money at Cards at this or that Gossip's House where she finds Company most suitable to her Humour Now there is no Woman in the World can shew her House-wisery and her Ingenuity in an House where there is nothing but bare Walls They that go a borrowing go a sorrowing says the Proverb That Woman is in an ill Condition that must be forced to send to her Neighbours for every Skillet or Stew pan or Washing Tub she wants which are many times denied and as frequently lent with an ill will But she that has all things necessary about her need never be beholding to her Neighbours And therefore in my Opinion it ought to be so far from being an undergrateful Sound that it should be like the Musick of St. Pulchers Chimes in his Ears when his Wife ask him for Money to buy Necessaries If she aim to be a little more gay and sumptuous than ordinary that ought to be another pleasure to him For the best is the best Cheap She becomes the Envy of her Neighbours that come to visit her anâ— her Reputation runs thrô the Parish like Wild-fire The brightness of the Bosses of her Fire-Lâ—ons and the glaring Lustre of her Pewter and Preserving-pan are the Discourse of all her Acquaintance Habit By the Habit we understand all sorts of External Ornaments as well for Men as Women as Garments of fine Stâ—ff enriched with Gold-plated Buttons curious Venetiâ—s Points and otâ—er Toys which make the Accoutrements compleat but here are certain Maxims to be observed First That all the Garments worn be Ala-mole that they be always New and that you have variety for change To avoid all Extreams and extravâ—gant Fashions anâ— not to be concern'd with the introducing of new ones but follow thoâ—e that are most generally approv'd to change wâ—en others â—hange and never to have any thing that is extraordinary or affected Not but that Hâ—biliâ—ments are very advantageous especially to Women for that Lady may be judg'd as extraordinary Beauty whilst she is seâ—n in a Noble Dress who will lose the greatest part of her charms when divested of her Apparel And those that are experienc'd do not love to be seen in a careless Garb. In the morning as soon as they are up the first thing they do is to salute their Glass and consult with it to know whether they have gain'd or lost any Graces since they last convers'd with it Then they immediately bridle in their Chin and make horns upon their Heads with their Hair the Looking-glass that is like an Ape counterfeits them and shews them the horns also when they smoooth their Hair the Looking-glass smooths it also and when they raise it it raiseth it likewise and generally doth every thing they do After that they have spun away the Morning in ordering their Hair and their Pendents and making little rings upon their Fore-heads which they fasten with mouth-glew and rightly placing their Ear-Rings and other Toys and that the Galss acquaints them their Head is well drest then they begin to commit their Body to a close Imprisonment and pinch it in sotarrow a compass that the best part of it's plumpness is forced to rise toward the Neck â—o emancipate it self from such hard Captivity and being groun of her liberty appears with a kind of pleasant briskness which becomes her infiâ—â—tely As for her fair Breasts they are half imprisoned and half free and do their utmost endeavour to procure their absolute liberty by shoving â—ack that which veils the one half but they are too weak to effect it and whilst they strive to free themselves they cast over a Veil which perfectly hides them The desire they have to be expos'd to view makes them beat it back continually and not being able to remove the small obstacle they look quite thro' it there is nothing constantly free but the upper part of the Neck which is also more vain-glorious than all the rest and is adorn'd with a Neck-lace of great value which adds to it's vanity When the Fair One is thus accoutred the turns on all sides before the Glass as if she would ask the Question What it thinks of her And when he likes it she takes her leave and orders the Horses to be put in the Coach and then she goes to bestow a Visit upon some Assembly of Ladies that she may not altogether lose the pains she hath taken in her attiring Hadarezer Aderezer Beautiful Healthy Haggs Vapours like Flame about the Hair or Horses Manes not so much
and that she is priviledg'd from any servile Labour or Punishment He is careful that her Infirmities shall not be publickly known and is always ready to vindicate her Reputation yet he keeps her in the wholsome Ignorance of unnecessary Secrets too heavy for her Sex to bear or may injure her by containing them in raising perâ—urbations of doubts and fears in her Mind and in fine he cherishes her as his own Flesh makes her the Delight of his Eyes rejoyces when she is merry and labours to comfort â—er when she is heavy and sorrowful he thinks nothing his Ability will purchase too dear for her nor any thing he does too much to please her If Death prove unkind and take her from him he mourns her loss immeasurably and if he dyes first he leaves all to her and her Children Husbands Duty towards his Wife Having given a brief Character of a Good Husband it is now requisite seeing all are not such to instruct such as intend to Marry or are already in possession how they ougâ—â— to behave themselves towards their Wives First then consider the State of Marriage is Sacred first ordained by God in Paradise and many times confirmed and expresly commanded so to be esteemed therefore not to be trifled with and looked upon as a thing Indifferent First then you must resolve to Love and Cherish your Wife as your own Flesh or never expect to be really happy in your Marriage Love is like Salt or Sugar which doth season and render acceptable those Occurrents which else would be of no pleasant taste but beget digests mosts indispensable We cannot therefore conclude those Husbands overwise who imagine to have the Subjection of their Wives not by the Exercise of Affection but by the asserting their own Authorities for whatever is compell'd waits for an opportunity to cast off the Yoke and those that reign over the unwilling find it as great to keep them in Obedience as pleasure to be obeyed All Compulsory being a violent motion which upon every Cessation of Vis Moâ—iva returns again to it 's Natural bent when that which is spontaneous has a regular motion within the Mind moves the Body to act and put its dictates in practice so that nothing that is reasonable is refused for Love that is as strong as Death and can not be Quenched by many waters acts then very Powerfully and overlooks many Faults and sailings therefore the wise preserve and cherish Affection whilst the simple go about to destroy it and with it their own peace magnifie each Failing and aggravate each petty Circumstance as if Women could be altogether without some slips or sailings unless they expected them to be made in Heaven and so drop down into their mouth however we leave him that hopes for such a Bargain gaping till he catches such a one without setting him any time for his acquiring such a Felicity and say that Men who are so proud of being Rational should let their Reason sway their Passions and weigh in sound Judgment what is fitting to be done for securing their quiet and rendering them happy in their States and Stations for doubtless they are inexcuseable who upon occasional Discontents affect a Sullenness and labour to give a weight to their Anger by the continuance of it when all the while it only frets upon the Heart and disâ—â—â—â— themselves goes about to poison the Root of Love and not only hinders its growth but makes it decay and wither if not speedily recovered Husbands therefore when they have any Disputes with their Wives ought to avoid all words that carry reproach or bitterness in them â—or they sink deep into the Mid stir up Anger or Melancholâ—y Discontent to wound Affection and lay Love a bleeding they grate upon the Heart and will hardly be obliterated So that what might easily have been composed as to the matter of the Offence proves almost remedileâ—s by reason of these Sâ—â—caâ—â—ins It is beyond the Rule of Breeding or Manners when any dispute happens to rip up past Reproaches Failings or Misfortunes 't is only the practice of the Billings gate Rhetoricians when Anger and Bâ—andy inflames them Some Men and their Wives in their unbridled Passions have been so much overseen in divulging one anothers secâ—et failings that they have become a By-word and beâ—n ashamed of themselves all their lives after for when once Gossips get a Story by the end It 〈◊〉 like wildâ—â—â— Your Wives Reputation should be as Sacred as yours for seeing you are Embarqued in one bottom the Shipwrack is equally hazardous If you divide your Interests and make Parties there is little hopes but that by such banâ—ying you weaken your selves to let in Ruine and Misery When you â—un into these Extravagancies look upon your Marriage Vows and Promises and see if you can find any such Actions and Procedures warranted there consider that those Promises were made before God in this Holy Place Perhaps you will say you would not take a false Oath if any one would give you the World and that you abhorr and detest Perjury bet know those Promises are as equally binding before God as an Oath before a Magistrate and will in Heaven if not on Earth be as severely punished dividing of Stocks and drawing that way from one another 〈◊〉 many times created by diâ—â—â—ust which ought to be avoided and as one Bed is deâ—â—red for Genual Recreation and Enjoyment so one Common Traasure should reserve Apprehension of Defrauds and Waste on either side unâ—â—â—s it too palpably appear and 〈◊〉 if it be not stopt you 〈◊〉 run down Ruines Hill To keep a Wise poor and neeâ—â—â— that is short of Mony to â—â—chase such things as it is not â—â—ays reasonable to acquaint 〈◊〉 with we promise you may 〈◊〉 her Virtue to a great Tryâ—â— especially if she be young and handsome for knowing he can have it for bestowing 〈◊〉 Favours which you regard 〈◊〉 on others it will run such in her mind and perhaps having overcome those 〈◊〉 and scruples at which her Conscience â—or a while started Anger for being so used and 〈◊〉 of gain more than pleasure may render you by this Diana's means another Aâ—â—â—on No Woman ever gave her plight in Marriage with an intent to be a Slave or â—ordidly abridged of what is convenient but in that promised themselves Pleasure and Conveniency in the Society of a Husband which they believe themselves uncapable to Enjoy without him which if they want from you their own Wit induceth them to seek elsewhere Whence we have seen some that have come to the Bride-house with the greatest Affection promising to themselves as much Felicity in a Husband as their Love and good Opinions had raised their Expectation to wish but afterward having been utterly frustrated of their hopes in the Tryal and Experience finding the Tavern and Company sharing â—o deep in what they looked for they grew at first Melancholly and Discontented but after having cast many things
ought when he sees instead of a Careful Woman only an Empty airy thing that sails about the House and only carelesly sweeps it with her Train moving about to no purpose and looking in all respects as if she came thither only to pay a Visit and rising at Eleven her mornings Business has been to eat her Breakfast about half an hour before Dinner that she may have the greater Liberty to persecute the Company with her Discourse and then her Emptiness calls for a Coach that she may be yet more troublesome to her Acquaintance who out of Complement must accompany her and endure her Prattle that had but too much cloy'd them before Then on the top of the stairs she stops not so much to debate who shall go down foremost as to throw out a few Compliments she has learned by heart expecting Applause in return and so setting out like a Ship from a Harbour laden with Trifles she shows her spreading Sails and Pendants at the Port she sets out for and so returns without the trouble of unlading or traffiquing for the least advantage in understanding and only satisfies her self in boasting her Waiting-woman the Triumphs of the days Impertinency and so having supt wrapt up in flattery and clean Linnen to bed she goes so satisfied with her proceedings that it casts her into a pleasing Dream of her own Felicity Such a one is rarely serious but with her Taylor and her Dressing-box we will allow her Children and Family may sometimes have a random thought but when she takes direct Aim it is at some very Impertinent person who seems more pleasing to her than all the sober and wife of her Acquaintance Kind Ladies pardon us for this bold truth which is only level'd at those who think they have no other Business in the World than feeding high going fine passing Complements and swiming about in Visitations whilst their Families lie neglected and run into Disorder what pleasure can a Husband have whose province is without doors and to whom the Oeconomy of the House would in some degrees be Indecent when he finds the Harmony of his Family broken and has his Ears pestered with Complaints of divers Kinds whilst the mistaken Lady fancies she can make all amends by having a well Chosen and Fashionable Petty-coat and Head-dress but when she sees her Neglects have caused Disorders to run high she will perhaps grow angry with her self and wish she had better bestowed her time more prudently but then being set so far back in the Respect due to her from those that are to Manage affairs under her 't is ten to one if ever she recovers the Repute of a Wise and Discreet Lady though she reforms very much and calls home Seriousness to her Assistance There is an old Saying that when it is too far gone we can no more have Wisdom than Grace whenever we think fit to call for it there are times and periods fixed for both and being too long neglected the punishment is that they are Irrevocable and nothing remains but a useless Grief for the Folly of having thrown them out of our Power Think then Ladies what a mean figure such a person makes when she is so degraded by her own fault whereas in those Duties that can reasonably be expected from you there is nothing that is a Lessening to you unless it be made so by your want of Conduct if you are desirous as all Virtuous Mothers are to Love your Children you may do it without Living in the Nursery and your Care may be never the less for them if it serves not to fill up the Discourse in Company Kindness and tenderness of Mothers to their Children are the least deceitful Evidences of their Virtues and yet the way of Expressing how endearing they are to them ought to be subject to the Rules of good Breeding and although a Lady of great quality ought not to be less kind to her Children than Women of the meanest Rank yet she may well distinguish her self in the manner and avoid the homely Methods which in the Inferiour 〈◊〉 is more Excusable Attract by Moderate Blandishments their Loves early to you that their obedience may be more Firm and Regular when they arrive to any degrees of understanding their Duties Their first Insufficiency makes them entirely lean upon their Parents for the Necessaries of Life and the Habit of it makes them continue the same Expectations for what is unreasonable and as often as you deny them they as frequently think they are Injured and whilst their Reasons are yet in the Cradle and their Desires strong their Anger seeth no farther than the thing they desire and cannot posses and to be displeased for their own good is a sign they are but slow to understand from whence you may conclude your Childrens first thoughts will have no small mixture of mutiny which so naturally happening you must Keep in your Anger unless you would be so Imprudent as to Increase it and by seldom denying their Cravings where you see it necessary you may in a short Time â—atter away their Peevishness and ill Humours especialy if you take the Opportunity to please them in the next thing before they ask or require it and by these means you will strenghen your Authority in making it Soft and Easie to them and thereby their obedience in the future will be Confirmed to you they seeing it is for their Interest to obey Keep a strict Guard upon your Words and Actions when you are among your Children as if you were amongst your Enemies for they are too prone to make wrong Inferences and to take too large a Liberty and encouragement in the misapplying your Words and Actions either to Extend their Freedom or Extenuate their Duty something of awe is required in Kindness as well as in Power and operates more Effectually of the two above all things beware of Indulging one more than another and by that means giving too large a Liberty to its Impertinence lest the rest claiming the same Right and Priviledge and not being gratified there spring up a Division and Disorder amongst them which many times has turned to mortal Hatred and been not only the grief of the Parents but either the Ruin or Disgrace of the Family and be always vigilant that they when growing up fall not into the Company of Naughty Children or those that are more grown that you keep such Servants as in no wise corrupt them by Examples or Discourse in case of Offences let it not be their penance to see you grown sowre upon them lest it Harden them rather than Mollisie their Tempers into meek Relentings and Resolves to be Cautious in offending and although occasion doubtless will be ministered for Severity and Kindness to take their turns yet the larger mixture must rather be Love than Fear it being the proper root from which their obedience should shoot up and continue flourishing and so shall they be Blessings and Comforts
oppurtunity to find him alone and thereupon invited him to her House which appeared stately and richly furnished with all things desirable which she proposing to make him Master of the Proposal so wrought upon his Courteous Inclination that he put off his intended Journey and complyed with her Desires bâ—t long he had not done it er'e a Holy man whose eyes were better open to the deceit warned him of the danger he was in and by his Prayers removed the Inchantment for it was no other and then he perceived her loathsome deformed and ugly to Detestation and Abhoâ—rence all the deluding Temptations disappeared and then she with some unwillingness confessed her Dâ—sign was to get him into her Power that she might destroy him This however the truth of the Story may be credited or disbelieved may be fitly applied to a Harlot who is the grand Enemy and mischief to the happy State of Marriage the Instrument of Satan set up to hinder it as much as in her lies he well knows it is Diametrical to his Kingdom and the Power of Darkness for Men and Women to solace themselves in chaste Love wherein they only find true Contentment and Felicity he looks upon it as a main batering Engine bent against him and therefore labours to overthrow or frustrate it by sundry Devices and where he cannot do that he seeks to sow Divisions and Mistrust between Man and Wife as being Wife and of long Experience well knowing that where Discord thrusts iâ— and scatters it's Poison Heavenly Cogitations are removed or little regarded and by this he occasions many unhappy Marriages raising Disquiets quiets and Discontents false Reports and Scandals Dislikes and Disaffectations but these may be prevented by applying your selves for Refuge and Protection against his fiery Darts to one that is mightier than he who holds him in a Chain Marriage from this may be counted a Blessed Estate because he who Envies all Happiness has such an Antipathy to those that enter into it though we may Paint the resemblance of Fire we cannot give it a heat no more can any conceive the Felicity attending a Happy Marriage except they are Partakers of it Solomon tells us a Vertuous Wife is above the price of Rubes and she is elsewhere allowed to be the Crown and Ornament of her Husband and happy is he who has such a Jewel and knows aright how to value and esteem it Matrimony being a matter of great weight and moment tending so much to the benefit of mankind that it seems next to the care of those things that were to secure an Immortal State the prime end of mankind especially in the difference of Sex is not to be so briefly passed over as those of less Concern therefore we must intreat Ladies your patience if we debate upon this matter It is the Nature of Honour to love Attendance and they who have found an honourable Marriage must wait upon it and keep it so and it is a true Speech That it is no less Virtue to keep a Mans Wealth Name and Honour unwasted and fair in the World than to purchase them St. John Wills the Lady he mentions in his Epistle 2 John 8. not to lose the good things she has gotten but to get a full Reward it had been better that some had married with far less shews of Goodness and hope of Thrift unless they had been more careful to preserve them better for there is nothing so miserable as to have been happy and to fall into Misery afterward The Praise of that good Woman Prov. 13. is not That she was Vertuous before Entrance into Marriage No it was her Proof and Practice which made her honourable and her Husband in her many great Conquerours have gained a Crown but have not long held it St. Paul do's not only tell us That we must be Married in the Lord but how we ought to live together and maintain Conjugal Affections by Compassion Tenderness and Faithfulness Marriage is preserved chiefly in Four Duties Joyntness in Religion Mutual Love Loyal Chastity and Suitable Consent As for Religion we suppose they are already entred into it and so they must continue not only to be Religious but to cleave mutually together in the Practice of all such means of Worship and Duties of both Tables as concern them and this we mean in the parts of Religious Conversation to God First That they be joynt in the Worship of God publickly both ordinarily uppon the Sabbath and occasionally at other times and Seasons as also Extraordinary the Word ought to be heard by both joyntly Sacraments mutually received Prayers frequented and all the Worship attended Secondly Family Duties concern not only themselves but their Children and Servants as reading of the Scripture Prayers and Thanksgiving exercising those whom God has committed to their Care in the Principles of Godliness and the several Duties of Inferiors In the absence of the Husband it is incumbent on the Wife to discharge the Duty Thirdly And more especially those several Duties which in private and apart from the other Family-ones are of most Concernment which although they ought to be performed alone also yet not always but joyntly and mutually as to conferr Read Pray acknowledge their Sins and give thanks Fourthly They ought to be joynt in Duties of Charity relieving those that are in want or on whom God has laid his afflicting hand whom by occasion God offereth to their regard mutual Harmony in all religious Relations must be kept up and Consorted and there is especial reason for this Duty First God is not the God of them apart as before but joyntly as Married and made one Flesh as likewise of their Seed and therefore he must be sought joyntly by them both Secondly The good things which they receive from God though they pertain to their several Happinesses as their Faith Hope Knowledge c. yet they reach to the furtherance of each others Grace if they be bound to have Intercourse with the whole Communion for the encrease of Grace how much more then ought it to be one with another Thirdly Whatsoever they enjoy good or evil in a manner they enjoy it in common Their Infirmities are common each suffering and feeling a share of the Calamity that falls Their Blessings as Health Wealth Success c. are common their Calling and Business common tending to the common good of them and their Children their Crosses their Misfortunes their Dwelling their Posterity and the like are in common Why then should their God be several their Relighion and Worship disjoynted certainly it must be mutual Wants and Needs must reconcile and unite them to one God with common Consent Fourthly Religion is the Golden Cement of all Fellowship and Unions both to knit and to sanctifie the same more firmly and closely together that Union that is not thus fastened is but like the Foxes tyed together with fire Brands between their Tails which uniting dissolved with
Councils and Valorous Exploits have made their Wars prosperous and obliged their proudest Enemies to humble themselves and accept the Conditions of peace Learning though men have laboured to â—eep them in Ignorance hâ—s never been a stranger to their Sex Great has been their Sagacities and Numberless their Worhty Labours Hâ—re Virtue has appear'd in iâ—â— Richest Array and raised Wonder and Admiration in those that have contemplatâ—d it insomuch that it has sham'd the Eâ—vious and made them blush â—or the Scandals and Reproaches they have utter'd and their pious Examples have so regulated the world that a Lycurgus or a Solon could have done no more then let us not so far forget our selves as to dishonour those by our calumnies or detraction who are the honour of mankind but rather value and esteem them as near as we can â—ccording to 〈◊〉 worth and â—â—riâ— and â—e â—â—â—teful in prizing such a Treaâ—â—â—â— as a Modern Poeâ— has 〈◊〉 â—he pains to do viz. Woman the loveliest creature Nature made Shou'd weâ—t not sin have adoration paid Have Shrines and Altars rais'd and Temples too But Praises are the least that are her due So soft so loving charming and so kind That all the creatures to mans use assign'd Compriz'd in one all that in them is rare Cannot by inâ—inite degree with her compare Search for the Vnicorn of Indian breed For the Camelion that on Air does feed For the gay Phoenix in Araâ—ia's field Or fâ—r the Gold and Gems oâ—tâ— India's yield Nay look where all the Snow white Lillys 〈◊〉 In native pureâ—â—ss or where Rivers slow View all the gaudy plumes which on the wind Expand and through the yeilding Air free passage find And all those animals Earth do's contain The numerous Fry that brood the swelling main And still add more let Flora's Glory come Nay 〈◊〉 golden Crop with sweâ—â—â—â—â— ht home Let tâ—â—â—â— what of this kind thâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—rame In one 〈◊〉 in one their worth Proâ—â— Compar'd with Woman scarce they 'l find a Name Reason it is we should conclude thâ—t God the Infinite and all wise Creator best knowing what would render mans happiness most perfect in an Innocent stâ—te would not have given him any thing that should have been unnecessary or distastful to him for we are not because some urge it was only for the sake of Generation to shorten his hand but must allow he might have Created men and made them like all other Creatures by this powerful word spring up from the dust we confess indeed Generation is a main end of the difference of Sexes as they now are distinguished but there is more in it a sweet harmony in the society a soft and gentle contâ—xtuâ—e of Minds uniting in Love and all the cordial Endearments that can make Life the morâ— dâ—sirable a closet oâ— Truth 〈◊〉 â—â—pose the most secret though and an Amulet for Cares aâ—d fears that may arise Adam â—â—d he been alone probaâ—ly might have yeilded to 〈◊〉 Devils Temptation and 〈◊〉 into what a solitary Misery had he fallen to be alone in Deserts or Wildernesses without hope of Comfort from any and indeed we find now tho the world is populous that man is in some degree termed but half himself without an happy câ—junction with one of the Fair Sex he is a kind of Vagrant and Wanderer a thing without a Center to six him he is as it were a Traveller in the Earâ—h having no certain home that can be pleasant to him his m'nd is roving and he aims at something it covets but he knows not well what innocent Conversâ—tion with Male Friends is pleasant to him but that does not satisfy he wants a Cabinet to deposit secrets in that he cares not to reveal to Father or Mother or the nearest Relation and surely let his sâ—â—rch never so curious he can never find any so trusty as Virtuous Wise there is iâ— such a Marriage so close an Union that what he intrust â—â— her he intrusts himself 〈◊〉 for she knows his misfortunes are her own and she will run any danger and hazard rather than beâ—ray her trust no 〈◊〉 by Inadvertancy her caution being always great in such affairs so that without this material part of himself we conclude a man is wanting in that which should make him happy in the world Lady Russel one of the four Daughters of Sir Anthony Cook Rumia a Goddess that rul'd over sucking Children and Womans Paps Rape raptus is a Felony committed by a man in the violent deflowering a Woman be she old or young Brit. c. 1. This offence is with us Felony in the principal and his aiders Anno 11. H. 4. c. 23. Anno 1. Edw. 4. cap. 1. West 2. cap. 23. Rhetorick g. the Art of speaking eloquently or well and wisely Ravishment Fr. ravishment i. direptio raptus c. signifies in our Law an unlawful taking awaâ— either a woman or an 〈◊〉 Ward sometime it is used also in one signification wiâ—h rape viz. the violent deflowring a Woman Rebecca Hebr fat and full a womans Nâ—me Regamancy mation l. a loving them that love us Relut l. a Widow or any thing that is left Rum Mort a curious Wench Runcina the Goddess of Runcation l. weeding Rosimunda Sa Rose of peace she was forced by Herminges to drink the Poyson which she offered him by whom she had procured the Death of her Husband Alboinus King of the Lombards because he drank a Health to her in a cup made of her Fathers skull Rose The Flower of Venus consecrated by Cupid to Harpocrates the God of Silence Under the Rose among private lovers not to be divulged Repudiate repudio to forsake as one doth his wife to refuse or put away The antient Romans had three kinds of Separation in Marriage The first they called Repudiation which was donâ— by the man against the will of the woman and the first man that thus repudiated his Wife was Spurius Carvilius because she was barren 〈◊〉 The second manner was called Divorce and this was done with the consent of both and to 〈◊〉 of them it was permitted to require it the party suing for it used these words Res tuas tibe babeto vel Res 〈◊〉 tibi agito The third was termed Direption and this was done according to the Princes will 1 part Tr. of times Rationibali parte honorum a writ for the Widow or children claiming the thirds Reasonable aid was a duty claimed by the Lord to marry his Daughter or Knight his eldest Son Remembrance a Preception whereby the Ideas of things before perceived and impressed upon the Mind by Sensation or other Preception are again offered and represented to the Soul by the Mediation of Animal Spirits in the common Sensory either by their former Footsteps and Images Impressed upon the Brain or by some Words or other Signs which awakened and stirred them up Or Reminiscence is an Arbitrary drawing out of things which were before impreâ—de upon the Brain for its own use
not so privately but that she must take notice of it and they with their Hats in their hands address their Thanks to her as the cause of their well-faring Now no sooner brings her back but he finds divers congregate to see and congratulate Madam Bride that is to be but more longing to see Mr. Bridegroom in posse that they may pass their Virdicts upon him Well says one they are a very fine couple and Providence is very kind in bringing them so near together to make one another happy But when says another is the day over O very shortly cryes a third Truly says a fourth for you must know they are of the Female Sex I should think every minute ten till the time came and blame the Lazy Hours for rowling no faster on I should never be at rest till the business was compleated and then to stop their Eternal running on in this pleasing Dialect The Mother is forced to interpose and tell it shall not be done very hastily but with deliberation for she being her only Daughter she intends to Marry her like her Child and that the show may be the more magnificent she is content to throw away the Duties upon her own Parish and Marry her at one more remote this is approved by all and her prudence in it highly commended that it may not look like a stollen Wedding but a splendid procession to dazle the Eyes of the gauping Croud out young Gallant having patiently thought with no small Extasie of mind and heard all this takes the boldness for now he thinks he may do it with some authority to call the Maid who knowing his meaning brings a clean Glass a Bottle of Wine and a Diaper napkin she then with out any expecting orders fills out a glass and Presents it to her old Mistress who drinks to the Lady that stands or sits on her thumb hand who presents her service to the young Gentlewoman and wishes all manner of happiness at which he bows very low and receives a bumper with an Orange or two and presents his service with many thanks for the favour that is done him by his opposite or her that is nearest him who rises and courtizes to our young Mistress highly commending her choice telling her how happy she should think her self if she would chuse for her likewise the Modest Virgin then only sips and sets down the Glass being too bashful as yet to drink to her Lover though she has a longing mind to present him her service and will drink to no body else least he should take pet at it however he takes up the Glass and marking with curious Eye where her Ruby Lips have touched it he commends his service to a third and is sure to drink just there and then some Sweet-meats being brought he observes what she likes best and that pleases him mainly all the rest in his esteem not being valued a straw This being over and the company dismissed he takes a turn or two with her in the Garden and breaths out his Amorous expressions in a freer air than the company would allow at which she simpers and sometimes blushes not forgetting to tell him she fears his Love is too hot to hold long after he has enjoyed what he desires and then brings in a story or two for example to confirm her doubts telling if he should prove unconstant or crosgrained to her it would soon break her poor heart and perhaps at this last sentence they may force a tear which sets him a crying in earnest and a renewal with uplifted hand and sometime bended knees if the privacy of the place will allow it with decency of Vows and Protestation of Eternal Love and constancy with all the dreadful Imprecations Imaginable if he ever alter or changes inso much that hearing him often name Hell and Damnation she is constrained to clap her Hand before his Mouth least going on he should call up the Devil to fright her and the better to allay the disturbance of his mind occationed by the mistrust of his fidelity she is compelled to assure him he has removed her fears and doubts and she cordially believes whatever he says This revives his Spirits and throws him into such a transport of joy that he imprints a thousand kisses on her fair hand which She permits without reluctancy or so much as attempting to draw it back and then the Mutual Vow passes Irreâ—ocably between them which is confirmed by a soft impression on her warm Lips a favour he before aspired not To leave being again taken he cannot sleep all the following night but comes to pay an early Visit the next morning and the Mother understanding by her Daughter they are now sure together and as the vulgar stile it Man and Wife He is wink'd at if his impatience to see her carrys him into her Chamber before she is up and then what a Heaven of Happiness it is to him to see her with part of her â—â—ked Beauties carelesly display'd like a little sleeping Angel recumbent on her Alcove and perhaps in a stolen kiss sip Necture from her Ruby Lips whilst she is transported in a pleasing Dream and fancies the God of Love is making his Amorous Addresses to her If she chance to awake and start at the sight of him blaming his unseasonable Intrusion His excess of Passion is his excuse and his awful retiring at a distance justifies his having no dishonourable intent This pacifies her and thereupon She orders him to withdraw and She will rise and come to him Which he doe's with all the hasty obedience immaginable and it is well if he Humbles not down stairs on such a precipitate retreat And now perhaps as he passes through the Hall he sees a Porter with a burthen of Mony called in as part of the Portion he is to receive with his Fair Mistress which heaps Joys on Joys and makes his heart so liâ—ht the he scarce knows what to do with himself Yet considering his Dearest will not be long absent He goes to prepare her Morning Draught of such as he knows is best agreeable to her Pallate and Constitution and then out comes his Spirit of Amber or Golden Drops to render it more Cordial and conducing to the preservation of Health and as if he was about to sacrifice to a Deity a Chaffin-Dish of Coals is set in a readiness and as soon as She enters he sprinkles it over with Mirth and Frankincense to congratulate her Nostrills with a pleasing Perfume This kind Officiousness the more endears him to her We are come now within three days of the Wedding and the Taylor is the next person to be consulted for although Nature furnishes all other Creatures with their Gaities and Adornments it is left to his Mystery and Discretion to set out the Lords of those Creatures whom She only brings naked into the World to the best Advantage So that being sent for with all speed he informed them what was