sense of my bounden Duty towards God so also from a consideration of the Example of a Person of Honour I mean the late Lord Delamere who has left it upon Record to his Children That whenever he hapned which was very seldom to omit his Duty in this Kind tho upon never so urgent an occasion he always found some cross Interruptions and disappointments in 〈◊〉 business of that day Being now Madam to Sally out into the City under a nâ—cessity of making my self more particularly known in respect to the affairs I went about I will presume to suppose you might be inquisitive to understand what sort of Figâ—re 〈◊〉 proper for me to make As to my Cloaths I confess I was never over-curious affecting always to appear more plain and cleanly than gay and finiâ—al The first Suit of Apparel that ever mortal man wore came neither from the Mercer's Shop nor the Merchant's Warehouse and yet Adam's Bill would have been sooner taken than a Knight's Bond now The Silkâ—Worms had something else to do in those days than to set up Looms to become Free of the Weavers Our old Grandsire's Breeches were not worth near the Value of K. Stephen's Hose that cost but a poor Noble Adams Holy-day Suit being made of no better Stuff than plain Fig-leaves sowed together and Evâ—â— best Gown of the same piece However it was both necessary and convenient I should rather appear above than below my Quality and as such I adventured to visit my Auction-Room In the various Emergencies of each day I send up Ejaculatory Prayers to the God of all my Mercies for his Direction Blessing and Conduct as the matter does require and as God has Commanded who has bid me in all my Ways acknowledge him and has graâ—iously promis'd to direct my Paths In the Summer-time I rose early in the Morning and walk'd abroad into the Fields finding those occasional Meditations that such a walk presented me with Subjects for proper to raise my Devotion to a greater Fervour the Beauty of the Creation leading me by insensible steps to the Adoration of the Great Creator the Source and Fountain of all Excellencies My walking along the Strand a Mile from Dublin gave me a pleasant prospect of the Sea whose rowling Waves put me in mind of the Power of Omnipotence who commands both the Winds and the Sea saying hitherto shalt thou come but no further Leaving the Strand I walk'd up a Hill into the Fields by the side of Ballibaugh-lane which I thought one of the best Prospects about Dublin having Heaven Earth and Sea in view at the same Moment it represented to my thoughts the exceeding swiftness of spiritual Bodies which though far from Infinite yet have a motion quicker than the Eye and swifter than our Thoughts Thus by the things I have seen I have been led into the Contemplation of unseen things After about an hours Meditations in this Nature my usual way was to return to my Chamber unless a previous Appointment to meet any one about Business hinder'd me For though I had given the Conduct of my Auctions to Mr. Wilde who faithfully discharg'd the Trust I repos'd in him yet was I not so freed from Business my self as not to have Applications made to me both by the Binders and other Persons After some time being in my Chamber and having taken some Refreshment I went to Dick's in Skinner-Row where after calling for a Dish of Coffee my Questions were Where 's Darby he 's Dick's Servant but as honest a Lad as lives in Dublinâ— Is there a Packet come from England And that which prompted me to that Enquiry was That I then had hopes of hearing from my Wife distance and absence having so endear'd her to me that I was never well but when I was writing to her or hearing from her But if a Packet came and there was no Letter for me it struck me into such a Melancholly for fear Valeria was ill that I could hardly reconcile my self to a good Humor all that day Madam perhaps this will make you ask how long I have been absent from her Why Madam not above a Month but am fallen already to telling the Minutes and can scarce live at this cruel distance Methinks Madam I cou'd pass through an Army of Beauties untoucht for one Glimpse of the Dear Valeria for so I design to call her 'T is she I Love for why should n't I above Beauty Wealth and those Gaudy Trifles that dazzle the Eyes of others Neither can S nor the worst of her Enemies lessen my Opinion of her Might I talk of her Piety for she 's too modest to hear it mention'd I 'd affirm she 's so great a Scripturist that her Memory is a sort of Concordance and the only one I have occasion for And for the rest of her Life 't is nothing else but Devotion And which yet inhances her Value she puts me not off with a common Friendship 'T is true an indifferent Love wou'd ha'e been good enough for the Man that wou'd Court her with the blaze of Gold to the Fop that has nothing but Honour or Beauty that very Iest when found in a Man to plead for him I loved her for better Reasons and therefore ask for a nearer Intimacy a more lasting Happiness Sence is enough where Sences only Wooe But Reasoning Lovers must have Reason too No wonder if the Body quickly cloy But Minds are infinitâ— and like themselves enjoy A Woman of Sence and such I find Valâ—ria is a noble Prize had she nothing but the Treasure of her Mind All the World is pictur'd in a Soul I am sure 't is so and that she acts new Charms in every thing Then Madam if you ever Marry and wou'd be happy in Wedlock Marry for pure Love for Valeria and I shall then be upon the square with ye for we can love more in one day than others do in all their Lives She that marries a Husband on this Foundation will be still finding new Charms either in his Words or Looks for my own share I do assert whilst dignified sparks seek Diversion from their Misses and devote their Lives to the idle pursuit of a Hound or a Hawk I thank God my Fancy is not so rambling but I can confine it to One Dear Charmer to whom if she loves like me I 'll prove the most kind and tender thing in the World In a word I bend all the Faculties and Powers of my Body and Mind to please and serve her all I have or can command shall lye at her Feet neither do I love at so cold a rate as to desire any of the Goods of Fortune but for her sake and this loving Humor as Iris found in the like case will not only last for a day or a year but to the end of her Life then what shall I do for a sight of Valeria but it can't be had so that I am now constrain'd to have recourse to Philosophy
you have any brings a Scandal and Disgrace upon your Children reflects shame upon your Relations and makes you to be abhorr'd by all Civil Company It is against Reason for it destroys all Property brings a spurious Issue into Families hinders the Propagation of Mankind debases Humane Nature makes you more Vile than the Brute Beasts It is against Charity not only because of the Discord it occasions in Families but also because the Children of Whoredom are many Times murder'd and continually neglected either in their Maintenance or Education which is destructive both to their Souls and Bodies and upon this Account it was as severely punish'd by the Canon-Law as Murder It is against all the Rules of Christianity There being nothing more severely Censur'd in the Scriptures than Fornication and Adultery Persons who continue in those Practises being therein declar'd unfit for the Communion of the Church here and of the Saints hereafter and liable to Everlasting Damnation This is so plain that I shall not trouble you with quoting Texts for you can turn your Eye no where but you will find what I say to be true that the Holy Ghost Threatens Gods Iudgments upon Whoremongers and Adulterers and that they shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven We see by Experience that they who give themselves up to this Sin are very seldom if ever reclaim'd but go on in their Wickedness till they become Vile in the Eyes of all the World hateful to Heaven and Earth and fit only to be Fewel for Hell God in his Iust Iudgment giues such Peâ—sons up for the most part to hardness of 〈◊〉 a Reprobate Mind Vile Affections and to work all Uncleanness with Greediness so that instead of being â—it Temples for the Holy Ghost to dwell in they become Dens for Legions of Unclean Spirits and how often does it appear upon the Trials of 〈◊〉 Thieves and Murderers that theâ—r falling into this Sin of Uncleanness has been the first occasion of their committing those other Crimes which bring them to fatal Ends. It were easie to fill a Volume with Topicks against this Crying and Reigning Sin but your Temper is such that I can scarcely believe you will have Patience to read those short hints I here send you Yet Charity obliges me to give you this Reproof though it be no other than to cast Pearls before Sâ—ine I have clear'd my own Conscience by improving this Opportunity and if you do not Reform upon this fair Warning Remember that it will be a dreadful Witness against you at the Last Day however slight you may make of it now If you have a Husband your Guilt is still the Greater as being aggravated with Perjâ—ry and the odious Crime of Ingratitude Nay perhaps may be attended in Time with Murder of your self Husband or Children you entail a Disgrace upon your Posterity and fill your Relations with Shame The very Name of a Stuâ—â—ipet being as offensive to the Ears of every Modest Person as the sight of a Dead Carkass tâ—â—o of the dearest and nearest Kindred is to our Eyes or the Scent of it to our Nose But for all these known Consequences of a Whorish Life yet there 's more Wantons in Dublin besides Dorinda nay hoâ— common and bare-fac'd as I hinted elsewhere is this Vice grown For there 's my Lord L declares he could Love his Wife above all Women in the World if she were not his Wife The Duke of is of the same Mind and the George and Garter little better Sir Charles follows his Example and most have a Tang of this Rambling Fancy Where is the Man except my self that 's not a C d Or the Woman that so Tempers her self in her Behaviour with Men as if Vertue had settled her self in her Looks and Eyes â— I profess when I have excepted Three or Four Persons I know not where to find her We were wont to say It was a wise Child that knew his own Father but now we may say It is a wise Father that knows his own Child Men and Women as familiarly go into a Chamber to 〈◊〉 one another on a Feather-bed as into a Tavern to be merry with Wine She that does not Dance so lofty that you may see her Silken Garters and learn to forget Shame is no Body Who would think to find Hercules the only Worthy of his Time stooping to the Meanness of being a Servant to Omphale and in the quality of a Wench working at the Rock and Spindle Or to see Mark Anthony lose the World for a Cleopatra a Woman a thing in Petticoats But would Flesh and Blood listen to Prov. 22. 14. and remember that the Child often proves the Picture of the Lover and discovers it Bless'd Conclusion of stoln sweets they 'd ne'er invade the Right of another This Vice was formerly punish't with Death Abimelech made it Death to the Men of Gerar to meddle with the Wife of Isaac and Iudah Condemn'd Thaâ—ar for her Adulterous Conception the Egyptian Law was to cut off the Nose of the Adulteress and the offending Part of the Adulterer The Locrians put out both the Adulterers Eyes The Sermai as Tacitus reports placed the Adulteress amidst her Kindred Naked and caused her Husband to beat her with Clubs through the City and the Cumani caused the Woman to Ride upon an Ass Naked and hooted at and for ever after call'd her in scorn â— Rider upon the Ass And here in England which Argus must needs know and therefore Dorinda make no more Assignations 't is common for Whores to be Whip'd or to do Pennance in a White Sheet and in Scotland they are put into what they call the Stool of Repentance But Dorinda besides the shame that attends Whoring you 'll find if you dare read the Duty of Man P. 21 8. That to accept your Offer is to do Argus many â—nd high Injustices for it is first the Robbing him of that which of all other Things he should count most precious the Love and Fidelity of his Wife nor is this all but it is further ingulfing him if ever he come to discern it in that most tormenting Passion of Iealousie which is call'd the Rage of a Man It is yet further bringing upon him the Name of a 〈◊〉 and though as this Author observes it is very Unjust he should fall under Reproach only because he is injured yet unless the World could be 〈◊〉 moulded it will certainly be his Lot Besides Dorinda if you C d Argus 't is a Robbery as this Author further observes â— in the usual Sence of the Word for perhaps it may be the thrusting in the Child of the Adulterer into his Family to share both in the Maintenance and Portions of his own Children and this is an errand Theft First In respect of the Man who surely intends not the Providing for another Mans Child and then in respect of the Children who are by that Means defrauded of so much as that goes away with And
am all the Members of the Mystical Body of Christ have Fellowship with the Father and Son by one Holy Spirit with Aâ—gels in their Love Care and Ministries with the Saints in Heaven in their Love and Prayers and with one another in the same Faith Hope Word and Sacrament and therefore shou'd often confer about Heavenly things holding the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace The Operations of the Mind being in their own Nature much more fatigueing than the Labours of the Body it 's my usual Custom on Sunday Night to go somewhat sooner to Bed than ordinary However I durst not adventure to go and compose my self to such a rest as so much resembles Death it self and from which many have awaked in Eternity without recommending my self to the Care and Protection of the Almighty and to this I have endeavoured always to have the greater regard since bâ—sides the Divine Authority which plainly injoyns it it 's a Duty so clearly manifested even by the light of Nature that 't is a wonder almost that any should neglect it I hope you do not Madam take this as either Dictating or Reproving when 't is never meant so by me who have justly entertained quite other Conceptions of you and am so far from supposing my self Pattern in any respect for your Imitation that I should think my self in danger of running into the notion of a Perfectionist if I could but come near you This Madam is the Method in which I wou'd spend the Sabbath and is what I have endeavour'd to practise tho' I must own to my shame with so much weakness and so many Infirmitâ—es that it seems rather an Account of what I ought to do than of what I have done For tho' 't is my Duty to watch narrowly over my Heart Affections and Thoughts and all my Outward Actions and in a more particular manner shouâ—d look upon the Sanctifying of the Lord's Day to be a Principal part of Religion yet I must own I have not been so careful as I ought to Sanctifie the Lord in my Heart on that Day or perform some Duties that were incumbent upon me I have not made 〈◊〉 my Fear and my Dread as I ought but have indulg'd my self in Sloth spoken my own Words and thought my own Thoughts contrary to God's Holy Will and Commandment I must also accuse my self of being too negligent 〈◊〉 Preparing my self to attend upon God in his Solemn and Publick Appointments rushing often into his Presence without that due Preparation which he requires Neither have I behav'd my self in his House with that Fear and Reverence as I ought nor heard God's Word with that Attention which so Awful a Message call'd for nor improv'd it to my Spiritual Nourishment as I ought to have done I am also sensible that I have been more ready to â—ind fault with the Minister than to obey the Message he has brought and have not spoken of other Men and their Affairs with that Care Charity and Aâ—â—ection as I should have done but rather have discover'd their Defects I likewise acknowledge That in singing of Psalms I have not sung with that Grace in my Heart which God's Word requires and have had my Ears more tickled with the Harmony of the Musick than my Soul inflam'd with Zeal to sing the Praises of God I do also confess I have not had such Sorrow and Repentance for my Sins past as I ouâ—â—t nor have used such Diligence in the daily Examining of my Conscience and Amendment of my Life as I should have done I have also reason to be humbled that I han't offer'd up my Prayers unto God with alaâ—â—ity and fervour of Spirit as I shou'd have done but have been often Distracted Slothful and Cold in my Devotions I also acknowledge I have been Proud and Vain-glorious in my Words and Actions I have not thought so humbly of my self as I shouâ—d have done nor kept my Senses in the House of God with that care as became a Christian especially my Eyes and my Ears For all which and many more Errors of my Life which through Neglect and Inadvertency may have escap'd my Cognizance I humbly beg Pardon and Forgiveness of the Father of Mercies Thus Madam with the Pelican have I dissected my Heart to shew you where the Defects of Humanity reside I have here as I told you before made the whole World but principally your self my Confessor I will only add as to this Point That if my Tongue and Heart agree not in this Confession my Confession will be of no value he that confesses with his Tongue and wants Confession in his Heart is either a vain Man or an Hypocrite and he that confesâ—es with his Heart and wants it in his Tongue is either Proud or Timorous Madam having given you some Account how I endeavour'd to spend the Sabbath in Dublin I shall 〈◊〉 inform yâ— how I spent my time on the Week-Days I have told you in the Account I gave you of spending Sunday that 't was my Practice to go to Bed sooner on those Nights than at other times I shall further add That I am no sooner lain down on Sunday Night but I compose my self to rest being so far from being terrified with Apparitions Spectrums and the like as I have heard some have been who for that very Reason durst never lie alone that I humbly Adore thâ— Majesty of Heaven for it I fear nothing but God and Sin When I awake I am transported to find my self so sprightly every way which made me often wonder what an excellent thing Sleep was considering it as an inestimable Jewel for an hour of which if a Tyrant laid down his Crown he should not be able to purchase it That it was that Golden Chain which tyed Health and our Bodies together and that while sleeping none complained of Pains Wants Cares or Captivities And that though the Story of Endymion's Nap for Threescore and Fifteen Years and then awaking as lively as if he had slept but six hours be in it self but a meer Fable yet the Moral is good and plainly indicates the Necessity and Usefulness of Rest to our Natures as instituted by the God of Nature Himself But to proceed in my Journal In the Morning as soon as the Cinque-Ports are open I send up some Private Ejaculations to Heaven giving God thanks that my Eyes are open to see the Light of another Day After this I get up and make my most Solemn Addresses to the Divine Majesty remembrinâ— Randolph's Words First Worship God He that forgets to Pray Bids not himself Good Morrow nor Good Day In these sorts of Duties it has been my conâ—â—ant Practice to be rather short and fervent than long and indifferent And as we ought to make use of every Just and Proper Motive to excite us to 〈◊〉 Duty I will humbly say I have been the moâ—â— constant in my practicâ— of this Morning-Duty as principally out of a
had that Effect that Dr. Wood and his Lady gave me a hearty Welcome and afterwards brought me into the Company of several Gentlemen of Worth and Quality I came to Kilkenny on Friday Night and the next Morning the Doctor carried me to view the Castle the noble Seat of the Duke of Ormond of which I shall give a most particular Account in my Summer Ramble And indeed the Alcove Chamber and Dutchesses Closet c. will deserve a large Description but leaving these Noble Apartments I shall next proceed to tell your Ladyship That adjoyning to these Lodgings is a great Window that gave us a view of a Private Garden of Pleasure I think finer than the Privy-Garden in White-hall or any Walk I had ever seen Being hugely pleased with this pleasant Prospect the Doctor had me up one pair of Stairs where on the left hand was the Room where the Duke of Ormond Dines 't was high Roof d very large and hung all round with Gilded Leather the Table-Cloth was laying as we enterd the Room and I do think the curious foldings of the Damask Napkins and pretty Nick Nacks that adorn'd the Table had I time were worth a particular Description and the Plate for the Dinner was not less remarkable there were Three Silver Tankards embellish'd with curious Figures and so very large that I believe wou'd his Grace have given me one of 'em I cou'd scarce have dragg'd it to my Lodging there were two Silver Salvers as large and noble and a Voider made of Silver big enough to contain all as I perceiv'd it did Leaving this Noble Dineing-room for what 's Dinner or Plate either to a Man that has no right to 't we ascended two pair of Stairs which brought us into a Noble Gallery which for length variety of gilded Chairs and the curious Pictures that adorn it has no equal in the Three Kingdoms and perhaps not in Europe so that this Castle may properly be called the Elisium of Ireland And were not the Duke and Dutchess better principled than to forget Heaven for the sake of a perishing Glory they 'd little think of Mansions heteafter who have such a Paradise at present to live in But to return to the Description of this Noble Gallery The first thing I saw remarkable in it and indeed the Top-Glory of all the rest was the Picture of the Dutchess of Ormond the Face was finish'd but the other parts wanted more of the Painter's Art but I must say that of her Grace's Picture that were all the Beauties in the World lost it might be found again in this Painted Face tho' that too is as much out-done by theOriginal as a real Flame exceeds that of a painted one There is also a design of drawing the Dukes â—icture and when both are finish'd Dr. Wood told me they are design'd to adorn the Thâ—lsel a sort of Exchange to which will be added the Pictures of all those that have been Mayors of Kilkenny The next Picture I saw remark 〈◊〉 was the 〈◊〉 Strafford frowning like a meer Nero on the Messengeâ— that brought him ill News from the Parliament By him hung the Dutchess of Modena's Picture late Queen of England and next to her stands the late King Iames drawn like a Man afrighted so that I told the Doctor I judg'd the Painter design'd to draw him just as he look'd when he fled from the Boyn Near King Iames's Picture hangs the Picture of an old Vsurer telling Money and a Iew by him which considering the Moral of it is pretty enough to behold Here is also the Picture of that chaste Prince Charles 1. who if you 'll take his word on the Scaffold ne'er straid from his Queen in Thought Word or Deed and next to him if I don't mistake hangs H that lustful Queen Here is also the Picture of Charles the Second that Royal Libertine but the Queen Dowager I did not see There were great variety of other Pictures but I reserve the rest for my Summer Ramble But Madam I can't forbear telling ye at present That at the West end of the Gallery stood the several Ages of Man perhaps the finest draught that the World has seen On the left side of the Room hangs the Picture of Vandike as drawn by himself and a curious thing it is and a little below him is a Scotch Lord drawn in that Garb he hunts or goes to visit the Clanns And I must not forget to tell ye that on the South side of the Gallery hangs two Royal Buds Charles the Second drawn when he was four years old Ah Charles What Innocence didst thou out-live and Iames the Second in hanging-sleeves and it had been well for England and himself too if he had put off his Body with his little Coat and so exchang'd one Heaven for another I shou'd next proceed to describe the Pictures of the Duke of Ormond's Family for in this Gallery and in Dunmors House which I 'll describe in my Summer Ramble hang all the Progenitors of this Noble Duke but to mention these in that manner I ought wou'd require an Age. So Madam I must lead you out of the Gallery tho' with a sad Heart to leave such a pleasant Place and next describe the Bowling-Green adjoyning to this Princely Seat 't is an exact Square and fine enough for a Duke to bowl on nay Church and State were here at Rub rub rub and a good cast for when the Dr. and I come to the Green the Duke was then ftinging the first Bowl next troul'd the Bishop of Collonel R with about four inferior Clergy at paying our Bows to the Duke he gave us the honour of his Hat in a very obliging manner and here I 'd attempt his Grace's Character had not the Ingenious Cibbers done it before me but I may venture to add to what he has said in the Duke's Praise That the most he has said of him is the least of what he merits for the Duke is a Man of a truly brave and noble Spirit and lives in the World like one that is much above it After making our Devoirs to the Duke the Dr. and I left the Bowling-Green and went next to see the Garden adjoyning to the Castle which tho' gone to decay is now repairing by a young Gardener from England and will in few years be as pleasant as the Spring-Garden near Fox-hall Having seen what Rarities the Castle Garden and Town afforded the Dr. and I parted o'er a Glas ofâ—laret and in the Afternoon I rambled to Dunmore another Seat of the Duke of Ormond's and is the finest House in Ireland On some of the Floors of this House I told Twenty Four Rooms the Stair-case that leads to 'em is hung with curious Landskips and is so very large that Twenty Men might walk abreast had the House but another Branch it wou'd be a perfect H. but without this additional Beauty perhaps it may boast of more Rooms than are to
within is what we call the Dictates of Conscience and if we could but get 'em to Baptism and the Lord's Supper we should begin to call 'em Brethren And thus you see by my going one Sunday to one Perswasion and a second to another that I can go to Heaven with any Wind and with any Name and shall think it an happiness to go into Canaan tho it were through a Red Sea Madam 'T is true I was born to travel and am now pursuing my Destiny but if I wander the Length of the Map and never see you here yet I hope we shall meet in Heaven at last What tho we diâ—fer in our Way thither I hope we pardon one another Men go to China both by the Streights and by the Cape The Good Men of Ireland such as Bishop King and Mr. Boyse perhaps contend about words when they heartily think the same thing But whatever the Opinions of others are in Polemical Matters yet as to my self I dare boldly say I am or should be an Honest Man for Vertue is my Business my Writing is my Recreation which made Iris say she 'd bury me with a Pen in my Hand God is my Father the Church my Mother I need not say this or that Church if I am sound in the 〈◊〉 Points the Saints my Brethren and all that need 〈◊〉 my Friends and I am likewise too a Friend to my self for shall I have it and want Necessaries Whâ— though I am now in a far Country yet I have in my self as Randolph says an Houshold-government and where e're I go do intend to live Lord of my self accountable to none But to my Conscience and my God alone Now Madam give me leave to say however Romantick some may think this to be That I have found notwithstanding my many Infirmities more Peace and Satisfaction in the discharge of a good Conscience than in all the Pleasures this World can give In the next place Madam I shall give you a short Diary of my Practice in Ireland with respect to Religion but I will first give you a Relation of a Rencounter I had with a sort of Atheist I met in Dublin I need not tell ye Madam That Atheism and Irreligion abounds every where for your last Letter suggested as much and the cause is apparent for when Men have given themselves up so long to the Conduct of their own Lusts that they have Reason to fear the Justice of God due to 'em for their Sins they would fain hope to secure themselves by denying his Being I can't say this Lewd Fellow I met in Dublin absolutely deny'd the Being of a God and I much question whether there be a profest Atheist in the World yet I may say his Discourses as well as his manner of living had so much of Atheism in 'em as they made me tremble I won't insert his Atheistical Discourses for they are better forgot than publish'd but I 'll send you some of the Arguments I us'd to refute his Atheistical Notions Whether they satisfy'd him or not I can't say for he made little reply I am sure my design was good but whether I argued as I ought I leave you Madam to judge what I advanc'd was to this Effect viz. There are two ways for us to attain to the Knowledge of God or a First Principle by whom the World was made the one is Natural the other Supernatural That which I call Supernatural I what God has revealed in his Word wherein he has given us the clearest Idea of himself as he by whom all things were made But because they who deny the Being of a God do generally make a scoff as his Word I will only insist upon that which is Natural Nature informs us that there was a Sovereign Being the Author and Preserver of all things This Truth I can see with my Eyes when I either behold the Earth view the Heavens or reflect upon my self When I see such things as are not made but by a Superior Cause I am obliged to acknowledge and adore a Being which cannot be made and which made all things else When I consider my self I am sure that I could not be without a beginning therefore it follows That a Person like me could not give me to be and by consequence this puts me upon seeking out a First Being who having had no Beginning must be the Original of all other things When my Reason conducts me to this First Principle I concludâ— evidently that this Being cannot be limited because Limits suppose a Necessity of Production and Dependance And if unlimited it must be a Sovereign and Incomprehensible Being And this prevents all curious Enquirers from comprehending what God is For who can define that which is Vnlimited or comprehend that which is Incomprehensible One must be blind indeed to be ignorant of a First Principle but one must be infinite like him to be able to speak exactly of him For the most that can be said by us though it may perhaps content the Curious yet it can never satisfie the Rational Soul This Madam was the Substance of what I spake on that Occasion which as I said before I leave to your Censure And to be yet more free with you I have those awful Thoughts of the Divine Being that I would never think of him but with the most profound Veneration and therefore always choose to think of him rather in the Abstract than the Concrete for if I think him Good my finitâ— thought is ready to terminate that Good in a conceived Subject and if I conceive him Great my bounded Conâ—â—â—t is apt to â—ast him into a comprehensible Figure I would therefore conceive him a diffused Goodness without Quality and represent him an â—ncomprehensible Greatness without Quantity And therefore I choosâ— as Mr. Ellis advises to shâ—â— all gross Representations of God or â—ikening him so much 〈◊〉 in my Thought to any Creature I am not to Worship him after my own Conceit or Fancy but according to the Rules he hath givâ—n in his Word And to speak my Thoughts of Religion in a few Words I look upon that to be the best Religion which is pure and peaceable and takâ—s no pleasure in the Expence of Blood whose Principles are consonant to the Word of God and which takes most from the Creature and gives most to the Creator This is that Religion which I assure my self is the Right which I will endeavour to practise while I Live and rely on when I Die And this brings me to what I promisd an Account of my Practice in Dublin which I will give you in the Form of a Diary I freely acknowledge Madam That the Sacred Oracles of the Old and New Testaments do sufficiently instruct us in the Performance of all those Duties which God requires of us But tho the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the very Word of God which holy Men of God spake and wrote as they were
day the Honour of Dining with her Grace the Dutchess of Ormond which led us to discourse of the matchless Vertues of that Noble Lady and other Subjects which I now forget Mr. Young also oblig'd me so far as to settle a particular Friendship with me and I wish I deserv'd the Honour he did me in that matter for he 's a Gentleman of great Humility and I believe if I may judge by those few Minutes I spent in his Conversation never read of a Vertue which he did not forthwith put into Practice One part of our Conversation related to the Ensign who though the Possessor of so many Excellencies yet continues a single Man which gave us occasion to wonder that none of the Dublin Ladies had ingross'd so rich a Treasure to themselves We had appointed another Meeting before I went away to drink my Boon Voyage but Wind and Tide which stays for no Man hurry'd me away so I was disappointed of my intended Happiness and forc'd to be so rude as to leave Dublin without taking leave of some other Friends Having left the Ensign and my new Friend Mr. Young I went next to pay my Respects to the Reverend Mr. Iohn Boyse whose ingenious Answer to Bishop King and several others of his curious Composures have so justly recommended his Learning and Piety to the World Madam I have already sent you this Gentlemans Character and shall speak further of him in my Summer Ramble He gave great Encouragement to my Auction as well for my own sake as he was pleas'd to tell me as for my Reverend Father-in-law Dr. Annesley's He is now Preaching on the Four last Things His Subject was Heaven when Mr. Larkin and I heard him and he Preach'd in such an extraordinary manner on that Subject as if with St. Paul he had been in the Third Heaven himself and was return'd to relate what he had seen I next Visited Mr. Sinclare another Nonconformist Minister in Dublin He is a most affectionate Preacher and a Person of a sweet Disposition and extreamly obliging He gave me a hearty welcome to his House having been before acquainted with me at Bristol Some Discourses we had about Persecution occasion'd him to tell me that a Nonconformist Meeting was supprest at Gallway by the Magistrates there whilst a Popish Meeting was suffer'd to be kept unmolested He spake very honourably of my Father-in-law Dr. Annesley And promis'd me if I came again I shou'd have all the Encouragement that he cou'd give me I heard him preach on the 30 th of September on Mark 9. 24. about Faith on which he made an Excellent Sermon Nor was my Happiness less in being acquainted with Mr. Emlyn who is Mr. Boyse's Assistant I met this Gentleman several times at my Auction so that I find he was one of my Benefactors He 's a very solid rational judicious Divine and lives the Doctrine he Preaches I heard his Sermon to the Society for Reformation at New-Row on 1 Sam. 2. 30. This Sermon is since Printed and I wish Madam I cou'd send it to ye for some that have read it say a better Sermon was never publish'd As to the Reverend Mr. Nathaniel Weld though I had no Personal Acquaintance with him yet I went several times with Mr. Larkin to hear him once more particularly when he preach'd on the 130 th Psalm about Forgiveness his whole Sermon was very excellent but I took more particular Notice of the following Passages We live upon Forgiveness every day What Ioy wou'd Forgiveness make in the black Regions The Devils nover had the offer of a Saviour but we are still in the Land of Hope Madam I have already given you a short Character of this Pious Learned and Excellent Preacher and shall say no more of him here but in my Summer Ramble I shall give his and his Brethrens Characters at large for Madam to confess the truth tho' I go now and then to hear a Divine of the Church of England as I told ye before yet that I more frequently hear the Dissenting Ministers I don't know how your Ladyship will relish this for I don't remember in any Discourses we had in Dublin where I had first the Honour of being known to you that you ever mention'd your going to any Meeting but whatever your Practice or thoughts are in this respect I must acquaint you that I practise nothing that I think unlawful and am very willing when your Ladyship has answer'd those Twelve Hundred uncommon diverting Subjects that I intend to send ye in so many distinct Letters to defend my Practice in this matter for Madam there are but Thirty Nine Articles of the Church of England and the Presbyterians who are a Religious and Conscientious People approve of Thirty Six of 'em and the rest are justly call'd indifferent so that Madam if hereafter you 'll give me leave to write to ye on this Subject I shall endeavour to prove in several Letters that my going now and then to a Meeting is no unnecessary Separation or any departing from the True Church For such I esteem the Church of England Madam having visited the Nonconformists my next Ramble was to Mr. Harman a young Gentleman and Son to Collonel Harman a Member of the House of Commons In this Visit my Friend Mr. Larkin was with me where after mutual Salutations and sitting down by a good Fire we fell into a pleasant Chat first of Antipathles in Nature and here Mr. Harman told us a Story of a Gentleman that bought a Muff This Person had a natural Antipathy against Cats and therefore desir'd the Furrier who sold him the Muff that it shou'd not be lin'd with any Cat-skin which the Furrier who liv'd in Essex-street assur'd him it was not upon this the Gentleman bought it and design'd to wear it home but by that this he came to Crane-lane which was not above a Bow-shot from the Furriers the Gentleman fell into a Swoon and was taken up for dead but upon the taking away the Muff he came to himself again but fell into a great Rage against the Furrier threatning to kill him which he having notice of got out of the way Mr. Harman's Discourse being ended I next told the Story of my Aversion to Cheese when I was young and how my Father 's causing me to eat it unknown had like to have kill'd me which Aversion notwithstanding I afterwards overcame and now love Cheese aswell as any Man We then discours'd of the Antipathy that Cats have to Men and of their taking away Mens Breath when asleep with other things to that purpose This led us to talk of Sympathy and the Wonders thereof and more particularly of Sir Kenelm Dighy's Sympathetical Powder and the great Cures wrought by it From hence we fell to talk of a third Wonder in Nature viz. Mens walking in their Sleep of which Mr. Larkin gave a memorable Relation of a House supposed to be haunted which was only occasioned by
their whole Lives As to their mishapen Legs as a witty Gentleman expressed it I 'll lay them aside and next talk of their Courtships Amorous they are as Doves but not altogether so chaste as Turtles desiring as much to be billing and very frequently bringing forth Twins as the others hatch young ones by Pairs There needs no great Ceremony or Courtship for they generally yield at first Summons The Men as Birds of the same Nest and Feather differ only in the Sex not in their good Humour and Conditions Bonny-Clabber and Mulahaan alias sowre Milk and Choak-Cheese with a Dish of Potatoes boiled is their general Entertainment to which add an Oaâ—cake and it compleats their Bill of Fare unless they intend to shew their excessive Prodigality and tempt your Appetite with an Egg extraordinary Thus Madam have I given you a brief but general Character of Ireland which I have intermixt with what I found by the Dear Ioys and what I say of these I send to you as the Character of the better sort of â—eagues for as for the Wild Irish What are they but a Generation of Vermin they have Impudence enough to louse in the High-way I have seen six Men at it together and a Mile farther as many Women at the same sport and what is yet more shameless the Women were half naked 'T is true in the Infant Age when the Innocency of Men did not blush to shew all that Nature gave 'em indeed because they did no more then that taught 'em I shou'd not have wonder'd at such sights but considering the Removes we are now from Adam I cou'd not but blush for ' em If you peep into forty Cabins they are as spacious as our English Hogsties but not so clean you 'll scarce find a Woman with a Sm k to her Back or a Pettycoat can touch her Knee and of Ten Children for they are full of Brats for the reason I formerly hinted not one has a shooe to his foot and when one laughs at their Nakedness as who can forbear that is flesh and blood they cry fye fye English Mon you see nothing but what ish her own And these Irish Parents are as proud as they are naked and rather then dishonour as they call it their Sons with a Trade they suffer 'em to beg for their daily bread and for themselves they are so lazy that those of 'em that are not Thieves and of that number is scarce one in a thousand they live by the drudgery of their poor Wives But however careless they be of the Living they are mightily concerned for the Dead having a Custom of howling when they carry any one to Burial and screaming over their Graves not like other Christians but like People without Hope and sooner than this shall be omitted they do hire a whole Herd of these Crocodils to accompany the Corps who with their counterfeit Tears and Sighs and confused Clamour and Noise do seem heartily to bemoan the departed Friend though all this is with no more concern and reality than an Actor on the Theatre for the feigned Death of his Dearest in a Tragedy Instead of a Funeral Oration they bawl out these or the like querulous Lamentations O hone O hone Dear Ioy why didst thou dye and leave us Hadst thou not Pigs and a Potato Garden Hadst thou not some Sheep and a Cow Oat-cake and good vsquebaugh to comfort thy Heart and put Mirth upon thy Friends Then wherefore wouldst thou leave this good World and thy poor Wife and Children O hone O hone with much more such stuff to all which Dear Ioy lending but a deaf Ear sleeps on till Doomesday while home they go to Drink and drown the present Sorrow till the Melancholly fit comes upon them afresh and then they resort to the Grave and bedew it again with Tears repeating and howling their O hones with as much deep Sence and Sorrow as before They have many other extravagant Customs daily practised at their Weddings and Christnings but I reserve these for my Summer Ramble so I 'll conclude their Character with only saying They are a nest of disarm'd lewd lousie lazy Rebels that have a Will tho' not the Power to cut our Throats I shou'd next speak of their Priests fit Shepherds for such Wolves but you 'l meet 'em often in my Malhide Ramble with my Conferences with 'em so I 'll drop 'em here but will send ye a further Account of my Summer Ramble by the next Post For Madam my Mind is always with you and my Dear Friends in England tho' at present I am in the Country of Wrath and Vengeance but my Ink is too clean for a further Description Yet Madam if you 'd see the Picture of Poor Teague more at large I 'd refer you to a Book call'd The Description of Ireland that Ingenious Author being the Person I so often quote in this Character of the Dear Ioys Thus Madam by what I ha'e said you see what an excellent Country Ireland is for a young Traveller to be first season'd in for let him but view it as much as I did and I dare undertake he shall love all the rest of the World much better ever after except Scotland and France of which more when I get thither If you ask Why I stay in such a vile Country Why Madam he that 's in a Boat with the Devil must land where and as soon as he can however I 'll stay till you answer this and then Hoa for Scotland France Italy and next the Hellespont for my Geography is now rectified by my learned Friend and 't is very likely the length of my Ramble will exceed the size of my Hour-Glass However All may have If they dare try a glorious Life or Grave Herb. Ch. Porch And if I hear Valeria's well I care not whether I meet the Sun at his Rising or at his going down All Places are alike distant from Heaven and that a Man's Country where he can meet a Friend Thus Madam when 't is my Duty you see I can ramble in earnest Madam having now dispatch'd the Character of the Dear Ioys and troubled you with a thousand other Impertinencies that I may still keep within the bounds of my Conversation I 'll proceed in the last place to give you an account of the parting Visits I made when I left Ireland and with those conclude this long and tedious Letter Madam in these parting Visits I had the Happiness of being accompany'd by my two Friends Mr. Wilde and Mr. Larkin I have already given you a brief Character of Mr. Larkin and it would be unjust not to give you Mr. VVilde's who has deserv'd so good a one from me by his faithful managing my Auction Mr. VVilde Madam was born a Gentleman being descended from an Ancient Family in Herefordshire and brought up to learning till he was fit for the University but his Inclination leading him rather to a Trade he
Beauty much resembles Iewels in this that tho' they are the chiefest bravery of Nature they are of the least use so one may be very happy without Beauty but when one is possess'd of such a Treasure it ought to be secur'd by Modesty and a discreet value of it and not carelesly expos'd to pleasing but only upon just occasion But a married Woman with such a careless Conduct making no distinction is as ridiculous as a waiting Woman would be who had her Lady's Jewels in her keeping and should lend 'em to the Milk-women to dress up their Pails for dancing My design in all this is to prove there would be no occasion for a Man's defending so hotly either his own or that Lady's Vertue who had a true esteem of her Beauty whether in her own or her Husband's Possession for I am truly moved with Compassion for this incompaâ—able Person you propose for a Pattern to our whole Sex to find she lies under the misfortune of Slander and Enâ—y and tho' she has the support of those sober Ladies that honours her with their Friendship 't is of little force to take off Slander since there is a Charity much in vogue that forbids distinguishing any but what are notoriously bad which in this refined Age are very few that appear so her Husband had been her best support had he believ'd her Vertuous upon his own Iudgment and not upon the Opinion of another I fear your Judgment was not generally priz'd at that rate However I can't but applaud your happy retreat to the cool Country Air after so much heat tho' you carry'd a Disease with ye since there you found a Cure there 's none knows the Pleasures of Gardens and Retirement like those that have liv'd in the hurry of the World for that like other Pleasures must be set off by its contrary The very same Doctrine Mr. Cowley teaches for Retirement I establish for Friendship which never is right or can be lasting without it for till we have cast of those restless Thoughts of pleasing the World and our vain Passions to Persons â—o disposed the Rules of Friendship are as severe as School-Instructions to Boys with their Heads full of Play who are no less blind to all the Pleasures and Advantages of it But how must that Mind be elevated that in Retirement can be every thing to its self Sure the Admonition Instruction and variety of Thoughts a Friend would yield us should infinitely add to the Perfection of such a Life And tho' living Incognito from being seen and known to the sâ—â—â—eless World is a Priviledge to be wish'd yet to be depriv'd of the Society of the Vertuous and Religious is to cut our selves off from the chief Pleasure that give us a taste of Heaven upon Earth with the opportunity of a delightful Improvement of every Moment of our time spent in their Conversation Nor can I think that great Emperor Charles the 5 th could have boasted half that sweetness he found in his change of Life had he wholly retired from the Conversation of the Divine Valdesso but you must ever be a Stranger to the true Pleasures of Retirement as much as you pretend to love it you carry such a busie Mind about with you and croud your Thoughts with Fields Gardens Parks your House and absent Friends How could you take any thought for a House left in the Conduct of such a Wise 'T is only extravagant and disorderly Wives that turn the House out of the Windows in their Husband's absence No question you were as much in Valeria's Thoughts tho' she might not dream in so much danger You might well expect Death in a Distemper so often fatal and the Thoughts you had from that Expectation I believe has taught you Experience and shew'd you how much you were deceiv'd in your hope that to the end of your Life you should think of the World just as youâ— did then when you thought you was leaving it And did you flatter your self to think if time wou'd unweave your Life again to the first Thread you would mend your Conduct You are now convinced of the Vanity of that Presumption not having had Death and the continual Preparations for it so much in your Thoughts as you then promis'd your self This is judging others by my self if it is rash and false I beg your Pardon I confess I always look'd upon Sickness as the greatest of all temporal Evils and Health the most considerable of earthly Blessing What can discompose the Mind like Pain and Sickness One may find a Remedy for all other Misfortunes by resolving all into the Will of God which â—rders nothing to befall us but for good but no Reâ—ignâ—tion â—ver so great can hinder the Sympathy the Soâ—l has with the Body that in those occasions our Thoughts have little Power to entertain any Thought but Patience per force If therefore the Thoâ—ghts of Death and Iudgment Heaven and Hell are necessary to reflect on 't is when we are in Health Sickness discomposes all serious Thoughts for my self I wou'd have nothing to do at that time but to resign my self with all the Patience I could muster up equally accepting release either by Death or Recovery which of 'em God pleases to appoint me and nothing makes us so ready and willing to die as a comfortable assurance of our Salvation which will stand us then in more stead then any reflection on our past Life tho' never so good or the most sâ—â—ious Repentance we can then exercise Nor can I think it a Presumption because not built on our own Performances but upon the Promises of God If it is possible to judge of the truth of any Divine Grace 't is possible to know they are his chosen to whom he gives it How can the Holy spirit witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God if we are Strangers to what â—e witnesses All Divine Graces are the Earnest of our Eternal Inheritance they are the Gifts of God which he never withdraws for his Gifts are without Repentance Nor is Assurance a particular favour to some but to all his chosen that are careful to try themselves and their Graces and for those that fear Assurance should make 'em Libertines they would find the contrary if they had it for it is not the fancy of having but the real Possession of true Grace creates Assurance which will be seen and known by its Effects as a Tree by its Fruits and no such motive to lead a heavenly Life on Earth as a firm Assurance in the Exercise of Divine Graces that we are consigned to a glorious Immortality in Heaven so remote from the Changes and Uncertainties in this Life tho' perhaps in some sort a necessary quality for the imperfect Pleasures this World affords us A little longer Enjoyment of your Earthly Paradice in the Country would have put you upon the search of Business in Town only upon account of Variety and