may keep on the utmost frontiers of civility, without ever fuffering any approach towards intimacy and familiarity.

28. AND fure, were this distance duly obferv'd, it might be of excellent use, a kind of Lay-Excommunication, which might come very feasonably to fupply the want of the Ecclefiaftick now out-dated. And this feems very well to agree with the fenfe of Solen, the wife Athenian Law-giver, who, befides that he shut the Temple-doors against them, interdicted them the facred Affemblies; made it one of his Laws, that an Adulterefs fhould not be permitted to wear any ornaments, that fo they might in their drefs, carry the note of their infamy. Should we have the like diftinction obferv'd, I fear many of our gayeft birds would be unplum'd: and tho' the fame be not now an expedient practicable, yet the former is, and might be of very good ufe. For, befides that already mention'd of fecuring the innocent, it might perhaps have a good effect on the guilty, who could not but reflect with fome fhame on themselves, if they were thus fingled out and difcriminated; whereas, whilst they are fuffer'd to mix with the beft Societies, (like hurt Deer in an herd) they flatter themselves they are undiscernable.

29. BUT indeed the advantage of this courfe is yet more extenfive, and would reach the whole Sex, which now seems to lie under a general scandal, for the fault of particular per

fons.

fons. We know any confiderable number of fmutty ears, caft a blacknefs on the whole field, which yet, were they apart, would perhaps not fill a small corner of it: and in this uncharitable Age, things are apt to be denominated, not from the greater, but worfer part: whereas were the precious fever'd from the vile, by fome note of diftinction, there might then a more certain estimate be made: and I cannot be so severe to woman-kind, as not to believe the scandalous part would then make but a small fhew, which now makes fo great a noise.

30. BESIDES this I can fuggeft but one way more for Women of Honour to vindicate their Sex, and that is by making their own Vertue as illuftrious as they can; and by the bright fhine of that, draw off men's eyes from the worfer prospect: And to this there is requir'd, not only innocence, but prudence; to abstain, as from all real evil, so from every appearance of it too, 1 Theff. 5. 22. Not by any doubtful or fufpicious Action, to give any umbrage for cenfure, but as the Apostle fays in another cafe, 2 Cor. 11. 11. To cut off occafion from them that defire occafion; to deny themfelves the moft innocent liberties, when any fcandalous inference is like to be deduc'd from them. And tho' perhaps no caution is enough to fecure them against the malicious and the jealous, tho' 'tis poffible fome black mouth may asperse them, yet they have ftill Plato's re

ferve, who being told of fome, who had defam'd him, 'Tis no matter, faid he, I will live fo that none ball believe them. If their lives be fuch, that they may acquit themselves to the fober and unprejudic'd, they have all the fecurity can be aspir'd to in this world; the more evincing atteftation they must attend from the unerring Tribunal hereafter; where there lies a certain appeal for all injur'd perfons, who can calmly wait for it.

SECT.

I.

SECT. II.

Of Meekness.

N the next place we may rank Meeknefs as a neceffary feminine Vertue; this even nature seems to teach, which abhors monftrofites and difproportions, and therefore having allotted to Women a more fmooth and foft compofition of body, infers thereby her intention, that the mind fhould correfpond with it. For tho' the adulterations of Art, can represent in the fame face beauty in one pofition, and deformity in another; yet nature is more fincere, and never meant a ferene and clear forehead, fhould be the frontif-piece to a cloudy tempeftuous heart. 'Tis therefore to be wifh'd they would take the admonition, and whilft they confult their glaffes, whether to applaud or improve their outward form, they would caft one look inwards, and examine what fymmetry there is held with a fair outfide, whether any storm of paffion darken and

overcaft their interiour beauty, and use at leaft an equal diligence to rescue that, as they would to clear their face from any stain or blemish.

2. BUT it is not nature only which fuggefts this, but the God of nature too, Meeknefs being not only recommended to all as a Chriftian Vertue, but particularly enjoyn'd to Women as a peculiar accomplishment of their Sex, 1 Pet. 3. 4. where after the mention of all the exquifite and coftly deckings of art, this one ornament of a meek and quiet fpirit, is confronted to them, with this eminent atteftation, that it is in the fight of God of great price; and therefore to all, who will not enter dispute with God, and conteft his judgment, it must be so too. Now, tho' Meeknefs be in it felf a fingle Vertue, yet it is diverfifi'd, according to the feveral faculties of the Soul, over which it has influence; fo that there is a Meeknefs of the Uuderstanding, a Meeknefs of the Will, and a Meekness of the Affections; all which must concur to make up the meek and quiet fpirit.

3. AND firft for the Meeknefs of the Understanding; it confifts in a plyableness to conviction, and is directly oppofite to that fullen adherence obfervable in too many; who judge of tenets, not by their conformity to truth and reafon, but to their prepoffeffions, and tenaciously retain'd opinions; only because they (or fome in whom they confide) have once own'd them; and certainly fuch a temper is of all

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