Ladies Calling IN TWO PARTS. By the Author of the WHOLE DUTY OF The Twelfth Impreffion. Favour is deceitful, and Beauty is vain: but a Wo Murg.deta OXFORD, Printed at the THEATER, MDCCXXVII. I THE Editor to the Reader. T is a popular reproach ufually caft upon Writers in Morality, and Perfwaders to Devotion, that while they with pompous Words represent Virtue as a fufficient reward to her felf, and exhort to the contempt of Glory; they prefix their names to their labours, and make the Title-page a confutation of the Book that follows it. Our Author has effectually averted this objection, having been fo far from seeking a name from others, as not to have left a poffibility for the discovery of his own: but like the Ri ver Nilus, that gives fertility and bleffing wherefoe're he paffes, hides his head; and per mits himself to be only known in the benefits which he difpenfes. By what methods the other most useful Works of this excellent Author have ftol'n themselves into the World, I am not enabled to relate, but having been made a party to the Publication of this prefent, it may be expected that I render fome account thereof. For although the curiofity of enquiring into that which is induftriously conceal'd, be such a rudenefs, and injuftice alfo, as by no means deferves a 2 ferves to be encouraged; yet where a benefit has been receiv'd, for those who are oblig'd to defire to acquaint themselves with the Perfon unto whom they ftand indebted, that they may pay a respect at least, if they can reach at no more equal Retribution; this has fuch a pretence to gratitude, as may justly demand to be confider'd. And it will be fome fatisfaction to the ingenuous enquirer, that tho' he have not inform'd himself in the particulars which he defires, he has not been deficient in the inqueft, and knows as much as is poffible. The Reader therefore may please to underftand, that fomewhat more than two months fince, I receiv'd a Letter, accompanied with a Roll of Papers, opening the which I found it was written by a hand which I was utterly a ftranger to, and that had no name fubfcrib'd, the purport whereof was as follows. SIR, THE HE general report of your Candour perfwades me you will not reject an Address tho" from an unknown band, which encourages me to the fending thefe papers to you, with a defire you would pleafe to perufe them, and commit them either to the Prefs or the Fire as you find them worthy. I fhall not need to tell you who I am, for if my fuit be accepted, I have what I defire without it: if it be not, tis my intereft you should not know who 'tis that has thus importun'd you. Your Charity I affure my felf, will at a venture pardon, SIR, Your humble Servant. 'Twill be fuperfluous to fay how much I was furpriz'd with this fo unusual Addrefs, how much affected with the fingular Modefty, and Humility which it expreft: and after all how much transported upon viewing the Treasure, which was thus, as from the Clouds dropt into my hands, Nor was I long in determining which of the two ways of difpofal propofed unto me, was to be made use of: and indeed I fhould much fooner have perform'd my trust, and taken care that this excellent Tract had immediately feen the light, had it not been needful to transcribe the whole, before it could fafely be committed to the Prefs. This I mention, not only to excuse the delay of the Edition, but more efpecially to beg a pardon for the mif-adventures of it. It being not easy in a written Copy, where a recourfe is not to be had to the Author, to do him juftice and avoid failures and mistakes: which in the present inftance was the more hazardous, in that every departure from the Author's inimitable pattern would certainly be for the worse. But to excuse and complement is any where |