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 -2 • /• Or 
 
 THE 
 
 WILLIAM R. PERKINS 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 DUKE UNIVERSITY 
 
 Rare Books 
 
 V/ESLEYA^A 
 BM T»H MBTHOmSM 
 
 )N 
 
THE 
 
 Ladies Calling 
 
 In Two Parts. 
 
 By the Author of the Whole Duty of Man, Sec. 
 
 The fecond Imprefsion. 
 
 Favor is deceitful , and Beauty is vain: but a Woman 
 that f ear eth the Lord<> she shall 'be praifed. Pr. 3 1 .30. 
 
 
 At theTHEATER in Oxfort 
 
 M. DC. LXXI1I, 
 
R6C 
 
 The 
 
 Editor To The Reader. 
 
 Tis a popular reproch ufuallycaft up- 
 on writers in morality, and perfuaders 
 to devotion, that while they with pom- 
 pous words reprefent verm as a fuffici- 
 ent reward to her felfyand exhort to the contemt of 
 Glory •, they prefix their names to their labors,and 
 make the Title-page a confutation of the Book 
 that follows it. 
 
 Our Author has effectually averted this objecti- 
 on, having bin fo far from feeking a name from o- 
 thers, as not to have left a poflibility for the difco- 
 very of his own : but like the river Nilus that gives 
 fertility and blefling wherefoe'rehepafles, hides 
 his head -, and permits himfelf to be only known 
 in the benefits which he difpenfes. 
 
 By what methods the other moft ufeful works 
 of this excellent Author have ftoln themfelvcs in- 
 to the world, I am not enabled to relate > but hav- 
 ing bin made a party to the publication of this 
 prefent, it may be expected that I render fome ac- 
 count thereof. For altho the ciiriofity of enquir- 
 ing into that which is induftrioufly conceled, be 
 fuch a mdenefs, and injuftice alfo, as by no means 
 deferves to be encouraged^ yet where a benefit has 
 bin received, for thole who are oblig'd, to defire to 
 
 acquaint 
 
The Editor 
 
 acquaint themfelves with the Perfon unto whom 
 they ftandcndebted 5 that they may pay a refpeft 
 at lead, if they can reach at no more equal retri- 
 bution * this hasfuch a pretence to gratitude, as 
 mayjuftly demand to beconfidered. And it will 
 be (bmc fatisfa&ion to the ingenuous enquire^ 
 that tho he have not enform'd himfelf in the parti- 
 culars which he defires, he has not bin deficient in 
 the inqueft, and knows as much as is poffible. 
 
 The Reader therefore may plcafe to under- 
 ftand, that fomwhat more then two months fince, 
 I receiv'd a Letter, accompanied with a roul of 
 Papers, opening the which, I found it was written 
 by a hand which I was utterly aftrangerto, and 
 that had no name fubfcribedj the purport thereof 
 was as follows. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 *"| ,f He general report of your candor per fuades me 
 -* you will not reject an addrefs tho from an 
 unknown handy which encourages me to the fend- 
 ing thefe 'Papers to you , with a defire you would 
 fleafe to per life them> and commit them either to the 
 Prefs, or the Fire asyou find them worthy. I shall 
 not need to tell you who I am<> for ifmyfuit be ac- 
 cept ed-> I have what I defire without it : if it be 
 not j tls my inter eft you should not know who tis 
 that has thus importurfdyou* Tour Charity I of 
 fire myfelfwillat a venture pardon 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Your humble Servant. 
 
to the Reader. 
 
 Twill be fupcrfluous to fay how much I was fur- 
 priz'd with this fo unufual addrefs, how much 
 affected with the lingular modefty and humility 
 which it expreft : and after all how much trans- 
 ported upon viewing the Trcafure, which was 
 thus as from the Clouds dropt into my hands. 
 Nor was I long to determine which of the two 
 waies of difpofal propofed unto me, was to be 
 made ufe of : and indeed I fhould much fooner 
 have perform'd my truft, and taken care that this 
 excellent Trait had immediatly icon the light, 
 had it not bin needful to tranferibe the whole, be- 
 fore it could fafely be committed to the Prefs. 
 
 This I mention, not only to excufe the delay 
 of the Edition, but more efpecially to beg a par- 
 don for the mifadventures of it. It being not ca~ 
 fy in a written Copie where a recourfe is not to be 
 had unto the Author, to do him jufticej and avoid 
 faileurs and miftakes: which in the prefent in- 
 fiance was the more hazardous, in that every de- 
 parture from the Authors inimitable pattern, 
 would certainly be for the Worfe. 
 
 But Excufe and complement are any where 
 a very infipid foolifli thing, and moft intolerable 
 in a ferious concern : 1 fhall not therefore fay 
 ought that looks that way - y only offerafhbrtre- 
 queft, which I fuppofe will be equally in the be- 
 half of the Author of this Tradt, the Editor, and 
 the Readers of it. Which is, that whoever takes 
 this book in hand would ferioufly confider it * and 
 doing fo, receive the infinite benefits of uniform 
 
 vertUi 
 
to the Reader. 
 
 vertu, and fincere piety -, the documents whereof, 
 are here with all pofhble advantages propos'd: 
 and thereby give the Author, that greateft of blet 
 fings, the being an inftrument to the eternal hap- 
 pinefs of fouls : and as to us who deal in the affair 
 of Printing, afford fome fhare in this moft defira- 
 ble event, abfolving us from the Charge of hav- 
 ing don mifcheif, inftead of fervice to the world. 
 For, to fay the truth , no book is fo fatally deftru- 
 ftive as that which convinces of duty , but fails 
 of perfuading to it. And if the beft books can 
 do harm, 'twil certainly be difficult to make a plea 
 for the multitudes of a contrary kind , which now 
 especially ufurp upon the Age. 
 
 The 
 
THE 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THO tbefrnalmfs of this Trati trill 
 [caret jufife the fckmnity of a 
 Preface ; yet remembring 'tis dt- 
 fig^d for thefe who are accuflorned to Cere- 
 monious Addrejjesj I think it not befl to 
 apprcch them too abruptly. And indeed 
 be fides the Civility * there ferns fom uft cfit 
 in order to my defign. To admfe^ or re- 
 prove, is fo ungrateful an Office, that he that 
 
 under- 
 
The Preface* 
 undertakes it, had need ufe all previous arts 
 to vindicate thefincerity of his purpofe, and 
 to convince the per/on admonijhed, that 'tis 
 neither fpleen nor prejudice , but the rnojl 
 real exuberant kindnefs which promts him to 
 inflift thofe wounds of a friend, Prov.2j. 
 6. and that he is never lefs an enemy, then 
 when he thus tells them the truth, CaL 
 4. 1 6. Therefore, tho they may in the enfu- 
 irig leaves meet with fom things which may 
 have a Jhew of fever ity, yet let me affure my 
 Reader, they have indeed a defign of the 
 great eft fervice, by correcting the extrava- 
 gance of fom, to refcu the whole Sex^ as from 
 the contagion of the example, fo from the 
 community of the blame. For fitch is either 
 the inadvertence, or malice of a great part cf 
 mankind, that Cagainft all Rules cf Di- 
 fcourfej they deduce Generals from Parti- 
 culars, make every womanfofar an Eve,tbat 
 her depravation pall forfeit her whole kjnd; 
 and hecaufe there are foolijh and fcandalous 
 
 women, 
 
The Preface. 
 women, willfcarce allow there are any other. 
 The truth is, the Error feems in many 
 men to*be afefled; they propofe to themfdves 
 unworthy tnds on women, and make all their 
 obfervations wholly in order to thcfe. He 
 that is upon a bafepurfuit, takes particular 
 notice of all that he thinks for his turn ; the 
 reft fall not within his Sphere : and 'tis 
 too probable he isfo abundantly fupplied for 
 that abjolute confederation, that he never de- 
 fends to the comparative. Nay, perhaps 
 there may be a yet deeper original of the 
 fcandal : the World is much governed by esti- 
 mation; and as applaufe encourages and ex- 
 alts, fo an univerfal contcmt debafes and de- 
 jefts the Spirit. If it can once pafs into 
 a Maxim, that women are fuch felly or vici- 
 ous creatures, it may put fair for the making 
 them Jo indeed. Themfelves may imbibe 
 the common opinion, charge all their perfonal 
 faults on their Sex, think, that they do but 
 their kjnd,when indeed they mcfi contradict 
 
 b it 
 
The Preface. 
 it, and no more afpire to any thing worthy ^ 
 then a man can pretend to the excellencies of 
 an Angel. And indeed this feems to+be the 
 practical inference of fom women, who could 
 hardly have dtfeended tofuch dijhonors^ had 
 they not before bin as vile in their own eies^ 
 as they have afterwards rendred themfelvcs 
 in others. 
 
 It may therefore upon this account be a 
 neceffary Charity to the Sex, to acquaint 
 them with their own valu, animate them to 
 fom hightr thoughts of themfelves ; not to 
 yield their fuffrage to thofe injurious efli- 
 mates the V/odd hath made of them, and 
 f om a fuppofed incapacity of ncbler things 
 to neglefi the purfuit of them ; from which 
 God and Natui e have no more precluded the 
 Feminine, then the Mafculine part of man- 
 kind. 
 
 In reference to fecular Confiderations^ 
 their advantages are vwft important ; Wo- 
 men have a very powerful Influence up- 
 on 
 
The Preface. 
 
 on all forts of Tranfaftions in the World: 
 the engaging of the Delilah, and plowing 
 with the J&txkrjfudg* 14.^ 16. being ever 
 thefureft way to undermine the Counfels,and 
 mafter the fo y ce of the Stoutefl Samfon. 
 And accordingly \ Hi (lories of all kinds aft- 
 fur e us, that the Gyneceum has fiill had a 
 Rival fuffrage with the Senate. I might 
 urge the more regular Powers which apper- 
 tain unto that Sex ; that all mankind is the 
 Pupil and Difciple of Female Inftitution : 
 the 'Daughters till they write Women, and 
 the Sons till the firtt [even years be pajl ; 
 the time when the mind is mo ft duflile, and 
 prepared to receive impreffon, being wholly 
 in the Care and Conduct of the Mother. And 
 whereas 'tis obfervdby Ariftotle in his Po- 
 litics, (and is a proof of his being as wife, 
 as he was a learned mtnj that the Eft ate of 
 Republics entirely hangs on private Fa- 
 milies, the little Monarchies both cempofing 
 and giving law unto the gnat. 'Tis evi- 
 dent 
 
The Preface. 
 
 dent that the difpofal of Families and all 
 Dome/lie concerns therein lies chiefly on the 
 Wife ; whence the fame Ariftotle declares, 
 that the Spartans no twit branding their 
 ready addrejs to Empire by their great fru- 
 gality, indujlry, and military virtu, could 
 have but half an happinefs, as failing on the 
 part of their Wives. But waving thefe re- 
 flexions, I Jha II fix only on the perfonal Ac- 
 complifnments of the Sex, and peculiarly 
 that which is the mo$l principal endowment 
 of the rational nature, I mean their under-- 
 {landing. Where firfi it vill be a little hard 
 to pronounce, that they are naturally infe- 
 rior to men; when 'tis confidered how much of 
 extrinfic weight is put in the ballance to turn 
 it on the mens fide. Men have their parts 
 cultivated and improved by Education, re- 
 fined and fubtilized by Learning and Arts, 
 are like an inch fed piece of a Common,which 
 by indufiry and husbandry becomes a differ- 
 ent thing from the reft, tho the natural turf 
 
 own'd 
 
The Preface. 
 
 ownd no fuch inequality. And truly had 
 women the fame advantage , I dare not 
 fay but they would make as good returns of 
 it ; fom of thofe few that have bin tried, 
 have bin eminent in fever 'al parts of Learn- 
 ing. To omit the modern infiances, Theano 
 after the death of Pythagoras kept up his 
 School ; Socrates confefes himfelf to have 
 bin inflruftednot only in Rhetoric by Afpa- 
 tia, but even in the higheft Points of Phi- 
 lofophy by Diotime ; the Roman Story en- 
 forms us of the deep wifdom of Tanaquil, 
 Cornelia, Livia, to pafs by others. And 
 werewefure they would have balaft to their 
 fails \ have humility enough to poize them a- 
 gainji the vanity of Learning , I fee not 
 why they might not more frequently be in- 
 truded with it ; for if they could befecured 
 againfi this weed, doubtlefs the foil is rich 
 enough to bear a good crop. But not to op- 
 pofe a received opinion, let it be admitted* 
 that in rejpefl of their intellects they are 
 
 belovr 
 
The Preface. 
 below men \ yet pure in thefublimefi -part of 
 humanity, they a> e their equals : they have 
 fouls of as divine an Original^ as endlefs a 
 Duration., and as capable of infinit Beati- 
 tude. That fnritual Effence^ that ray of 
 Divinity owns no dhlinftion of Sexes ; fo 
 that in this fenfe alfo, that Aphorifm of the 
 Apofile holds good, there is neither Male 
 nor Female, but all are oie, Gal. 3.28. 
 And fur e this is the one tranfcendent Excel- 
 lency of Human Niture. For alas , what 
 valu can comparatively hefet uPon all other 
 Qualifications , which will finally leave us 
 but like the Beafis that perish. And this^ 
 as.it is the higheft pitch of their worth, fo it 
 is the fafefi fubjeti of their Contemplations : 
 other Knowledges the Apoflle /peaks, 1 Cor. 
 8. 1. may puff up, this only will edify. 
 
 As therefore when we would pride our 
 
 felves, we ufe not to boafi our meaner , but 
 
 our befi Qualities : fo let me folicit Ladies 
 
 to befojufitothemfclves 7 as not to take their 
 
 own 
 
The Preface, 
 own mefures by any thing below this. Why 
 Jljould they take Jo low a level of Greatnefs, 
 as to vain thevifelves upon a title which is 
 but a bigger blajl of air, when they may de- 
 rive their defcefit from above the Stars, 
 claim cognation with Divinity ? If byjhould 
 they dote on the fictitious image, of a perl , s 
 more fiSlit ions beauty, which their gldfs pre* 
 fents them, when they need but look inward 
 to fee an injinitly fairer Idea, an emanation 
 of the eternal Brightnefs ? Indeed, did they 
 makeajufi efiimate ofthemfelves in this re- 
 fpefi, it would overwhelm the vanity of theft 
 inferior things wherein they now have fuch 
 complacency, nor would they jujfer their no- 
 bier part to he affronted by the unequal com- 
 petition of their meaner. 
 
 But there is alfo another confequent 
 which would flow from that ejreem , they 
 would folicitoufly prejerve what theyfo hi-h- 
 ly prize, it being natural for us to propor- 
 tion cur care to cur valu. They would be 
 
 jealoufly 
 
The Preface. 
 jealoufly vigilant againjl every things that 
 might eclipfe the radiancy, or contaminate 
 the purity of their fouls. "Twas the advice of 
 an Heathen MoraliSi, Revere thy felf ; and 
 'twas very wholfom counfel: for next our due 
 Veneration to God, a Reverence to our Selves 
 is the moft fever e Controler of all Exorbitant 
 ties. How can a Soul that remembers its Ce* 
 leslial Extraftion,w allow it felf in the mire? 
 ftoop to any fordid degenerous • practices'? "lis 
 faid of Themiftocles, that feeing once a rich 
 booty about the deadCorpfes of his enemies, he 
 touch t it not, but pointing to another, faid, 
 Take thou that, for thou art not Themiflocles. 
 If then a little military fame could fo elevate 
 his thoughts , 'tis ajbame that any who car- 
 ry an Immortal Spirit about them ^Jhould 
 not be raifed above all the contemtible 
 baits of this fublunary World. Why Jbould 
 they not with the like difdain turn over all 
 fenfual Inordinancies to meer Animals, and 
 Creatures that have no higher Principle then 
 
 that 
 
The Preface. 
 that of/enfe , whilft themfelves fiar up to 
 thofe more fublimated plefures , which 
 are at God's Right Hand for evermore, 
 Pfal. 16.12. 
 
 I We may therefore conclude, that what ever 
 vicious impotence Women are under, it is ac- 
 quired \not natural; nor derived from any il- 
 liberality of Gods , but from the illmanagery 
 of his bounty. He has placed within them 
 a Pillar of Cloud and Fire y fufficient to fal- 
 ter and conduft them though all the florins, 
 all the intricacies that can occur in their 
 joumy to Canaan; if they will forget that 
 more intrinfic part of their being, live as if 
 they were all body, rejeft the Manna, and 
 rave after the Quails, that defirutlion which 
 mil thereby be induced they mu/l own to 
 fpringfrom themfelves. Let them not charge 
 Godfoolifily, or think that by making them 
 women, he necefitated them to be proud, or 
 tranton, vain, orpeevifb ; fince 'tis manijeft 
 he made them to better purpofes, was not par - 
 
 c tial 
 
The Preface. 
 tialto the other Sex, but that having, as the 
 Prophet fpeaks, abundance of fpirit, MaL 
 2. he equally difpencd it, and gave the 
 feebleft woman as large and capacious a foul 
 as that of the Greatejl Hero. 
 
 Nay give me leave to fay farther, that as 
 to an Eternal well being , he [terns to have 
 placed them in more advantagious circum- 
 fiances then he has don men. He has implan* 
 ted in themfom native pr open fwns, which (as 
 IJJjall hereafter have occafion to obfervej do 
 much facilitate the operations of Grace upon 
 them. Be/ides, there are many temtations to 
 which men are expofed that are out of their 
 road. How hard is it for a man to converfe in 
 the World, but he JJjall be importuned to de- 
 bauchery andtxeefs, mufi forfeit his fobriety 
 to maintain the reputation ofafociable Per- 
 fon ? Again, how liable are they byapromif- 
 cuous converfation among variety of humors, 
 to meet with affronts, which the Maxims of 
 Honor will tell them, mufi (in fpight of all 
 
 ' Chnft's 
 
The Preface. 
 Chriffs interdittsj be revenged? &nd this 
 engages them in Quarrels, fomthnes in Mur- 
 ders. Now none ofthefe are incident to wo- 
 men : they muji in thefe and[om other inftan- 
 ces attaque testation, violently ravijb guilt, 
 and abandon their Sex, the whole Economy of 
 their /late, e're they can diveji them/elves of 
 their innocency. So that God feems in many 
 particulars to have clofelier fenced them in, 
 and not left them to thofe wilder excurfions, 
 for which the cujlomary liberties of the other 
 Sex afford a mere open way. In Jhort, they 
 havefo many advantages towards Vertu, that 
 tho the Philofopher made it one of his folemn 
 acknowledgments to God, that he had madz 
 him a man, not a woman : yet I think ChrU 
 fiian women have now reafon enough to in- 
 vert that form, and to thank. God thai he 
 made tbem women, and not men. 
 
 But we know advantages which are only 
 in fpeculation, are look} on with fom diffi- 
 dence, till there have bin fom practical expe- 
 c 2 riment 
 
The Preface/ 
 rimtnt made of them ; 1 Jball therefore evi- 
 dence the problem by demonftration, and in- 
 (lance ; dtfiring my Readers to mefure the 
 poffibiUties of their arriving to eminent de-* 
 greesof Vertu and Piety, by what others have 
 attained to. I Jball not fetch examples of Mo- 
 rality from Heathen Women \becaufe lam now 
 upon an higher fir ain; (yet manyfuch might 
 ie brought to the reproch of many Women, 
 ^ho pretending to more, fall infinitly Jhort 
 cfthat'.J'tis Chriffian Vertu that I am now 
 recommending, and which has bin eminently 
 exemplified in many of their Sex. How many 
 Women do we read of in the Gofpel,who in all 
 the duties ofaffiduous attendance on Chrifl, 
 liberalities of love and refpefi, nay even in 
 Zeal and courage, furpafied even the Apo files 
 them/elves? We find his Crofs fur rounded, 
 his Paffion celebrated by the avowed tears 
 and lamentations of devout Women, when the 
 mojlfanguine of his Difciples haddenied,yea 
 forfwore, andjall had forfaken him. Nay, 
 
 even 
 
\ 
 
 The Preface. 
 even Death it [elf could not extinguifh their 
 love ; we find the devout Maries defigning 
 a laborious, chargeable, and -perhaps hazar- 
 dous refpeft to his Corps. And accordingly, 
 ''tis a memorable atteflation Chrifi gives to 
 their Piety, by making them thefirfi witneffes 
 of hi* Refurreflio%, the prime Evangelists to 
 Proclaim thofe glad Tidings; <ls as a Learned 
 man Jpeaks, Apojlles to the Apofiles. Nor 
 is the devotion of that Sex to be found only in 
 the /acred Records; the Primitive times have 
 left us many Memorials of the likg, and the 
 Martyr ologfus are full of Female fuferers of 
 all ages and conditions, who by the fervor of 
 their Zeal had overcome the timoroufnefs of 
 their Nature, and wearied the cruelty of their 
 Perfecutors. And as Women help to augment 
 the number of Martyrs, fo did they ofConfef- 
 fors alfo, in a flout owning, and diligent prar 
 Slice of Chriflianity. Queens and Empreffes 
 knew then no Title fo Glorious as that of a 
 nurfing Mother to the Church, have often 
 
 exchan- 
 
The Preface. 
 exchanged their Palaces for little Cells and 
 Oratories , and valued not their own Dia- 
 dems in comparifon with their Saviors Crown 
 of Thorns. And t ho by a perpetual declina- 
 tion from that prifiine Zeal, the inflames 
 have in every Age grown lefs numerous, yet 
 none has wanted fom very illuflrious Exam- 
 ples. Nay even in our dregs of time , in 
 this common decay of all good, there are, I 
 doubt not, many who recording to their op- 
 portunitiesj tranfcribe the former Copies, live 
 like People that know they muji live hereaf- 
 ter, andprefent us yet with fom Jpecimen of 
 ancient Vertu. Nay, to Jpeak an impartial 
 Truth, 'tis not to be denied, but the reputa- 
 tion of Religion is more kept up by women 
 then men ; many of the one countenancing it 
 by their Praflice, whereas more of the other 
 do not only neglett, but decry it. And now 
 fince Women are compared about with fo great 
 a cloud ofWitneffes, who by doing the thing, 
 give thefurefl evidence that 'tis not unfea- 
 
 fibky 
 
The Preface. 
 fible, why Jlould any plead an impoffibilityt 
 In matters of Vanity and Pomp they are not 
 fo eafily di/beartened, no pattern of that kind 
 can befet which will not be induftrioufly imi- 
 tated:, nay in the greatest inequality of ma- 
 terials for it. Why then Jlould their emula- 
 tion leave them where only it could do them 
 good ? How comes it, that of thofe who have 
 equal Principles of a fpiritual Being, fom live 
 according to the Dignity of it ; and others 
 who fee them dofo, do yet live as if they af- 
 fentedto thatPhilofophers Paradox, who (aid 
 Women had no fouls ; or at leas! were of the 
 Pythagorian Sell, andlookt upon themfelves 
 only as the J ails and Prifons of former offen- 
 ding Spirits, which they refolved to fit fct a 
 yet viler transmigration ; give them the ap- 
 petites ofBeafis before they affume the Bodies'? 
 This is indeed an unlucky Humility , that 
 thofe who in all other in fiances are apt to 
 overween , Jlould here fink fo much below 
 themfelves. And I hope 'twill not appear an 
 
 uncivil 
 
The Preface. 
 
 uncivil addrefs, toper/wade them to a jufier 
 ejiimate of their own worth. And if what 
 hasbinfaidto that end may have any effect, 
 IJball-not defire a better Preparative to the 
 enfuing Tratt^fincefbe that duly confiders her 
 own capacity of Eternal Blifs, and withal, 
 thepofjihility of as Endltfs a Mifery, accord- 
 ing as Jhe performs or negleffs the fever al 
 Parts of Duty, will Jure needno other incen* 
 the to the diligent Purfuit of it. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 LADIES CALLING. 
 
 PART I. SECT. I. 
 
 Of Modejlj. 
 
 jT is now many years fince an Addrefs 
 was made to the Gentry of this Na- 
 tion, to perfwade them to that Vertu 
 which would be both their Plefure 
 and Reward. I cannot , I confefs 5 boift any 
 fuch Effecl of that, as Ihould much infpirit the 
 hopes of a new Attemt ; yet fince we fee in cur 
 proper fecular Concerns, Defeats do many times 
 animate no lefs then Succefs, I know not why in 
 this more charitable Defign I ftiould fit down 
 difcouraged. Men ufually raife not a Siege 
 
 A upon 
 
2 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 upon the firffc repulfe, but reinforce their Bat- 
 teries, obferve more curioufly which are the moft 
 affiliable, acceffible parts,and accordingly difpofe 
 their Aflault : It will then be no unreafonable imi- 
 tation in the prefent cafe, if after a fucceflefs At- 
 temt upon the more impregnable Mafculine part 
 of the Gentry, I now efiay the Feminine, whofe 
 native Softnefs and Gentlenefs may render them 
 lefs apt for that refiftance of good Counfel,where- 
 in too many Men place their Gallantry. 
 
 I prefume thofe to whom that little Trad: 
 was at firft defign'd, will be fo willing to relin- 
 quish their Title, that I might without imputa- 
 tion of Robbery, exchange my Patrons, and by a 
 new Dedication fuperfede the labor of a new 
 Book, And indeed, fince what was there faid was 
 founded more on the diftin&ion of Qualities then 
 of Sex, there would not need many razures to 
 render it as proper for the one as the ofher ; and 
 I flnll take fo much advantage of it, as to affure 
 the Female Gen try, that they may there find much 
 of the Duty incumbent on them, in refpeft of that 
 Rank and Condition they hold in the World : and 
 therefore , tho / fhall fotntimes make fom re- 
 flexions en it ; yet, as to the main, / fhall think it 
 th^ eafieft courfe, as well for them as my felf, to 
 direct them thither. 
 
 3. But it may feem to have too much of the Pe- 
 dant, to entertain new Scholars only with the caft 
 or naufeated learning of the old ; and when I re- 
 member / write to Ladies, who ufe to think the 
 
 new- 
 
Sect. L Of Modeftj. 3 
 
 newnefsof any thing a confiderable Addition to 
 its valu ; I conceive my felf oblig'd as well in Ci- 
 vility to their humor, as Charity to their needs,to 
 give them fomthing which they may own as their 
 peculiar. And to render it the more unalienable, 
 I fhall affix it to their Sex ; and make it the Sub- 
 jeftof my prefent inquifition, what in refpeft of 
 that, are the proper and diftinft Obligations, un- 
 der which, by the affignment of God and Nature, 
 they are placed. 
 
 4. Thai the Obligation to Moral and Chriftian 
 Vertuesisin it felf univerfal, and not confin'd to 
 any Sex or Perfon, is not to be denied : yet, as in 
 human Conftitutions there are often Precept?, 
 which (tho not exclufive of any, do yet) more 
 peculiarly and eminently level at fom particular 
 Rank or Order of Men ; fo in the Laws of God 
 and Nature, there appears the like diftinftion. 
 That All-Wife Creator, who hath put peculiar 
 Proprieties and Inclinations into his Creatures, 
 hath accordingly defign'd their aftu^ting and im- 
 proving them : and altho in mankind, \\ hich differs 
 not in fpecies but in gender, the variety nny feem 
 lefs ; yet there is ftill enough to found fom di- 
 verfity, either in the kind or degree of duty. This 
 fure is fliadowed to us in that particular caution 
 given to the Jews , not to confound the habit of 
 the feveral Sexes, Dent. 22. 5, and yet more clear- 
 ly evinced in the Precept which the Apoftlesad- 
 drefsto women, 1 Tim. 2. and 1 Pet. 3. Nay, this 
 is fo granted a Truth, that all Ages and Nations 
 
 A 2 have 
 
4 THE LADIES C ALLING. Part L 
 
 have made fom diftinftion between Mafculine and 
 Feminine Venues, Nature having not only given 
 a diftindion as to the Beauties of their outward 
 Form, but alfo in their very mold and conftitution 
 implanted peculiar Aptneffes and Proprieties of 
 Mind, which accordingly vary the mefure of De- 
 cency ^ that being comely for the one Sex, which 
 often is not (at leaft in the fame degree) for the 
 other. It will therefore be no abfurd attemt to 
 decipher thofe Excellencies, which are the genuine 
 and proper Ornaments of Women: which thoin 
 fo:n inftances they may perhaps prove coincident 
 With thofe of Men 5 yet even thofe which are 
 equally inclufive of both, by the Divine command 
 may have fom additional weight on the Female 
 1ide, in refped of Decency, Fame, or fom other 
 (not defpifable) consideration. 
 
 5. For the better directing our prefent Inqui* 
 fuion.it will be moft regular, firft to inquire what 
 thofe Vermes are which are univerfally neceffary 
 to Women in all Ages and circumftances of their 
 lives: fuch which, like the firft matter, are pre-? 
 requir'd for all forms 5 which, like a firm and fo- 
 lid B^fis , muft fupport all various Events, all- 
 changes cf their Condition or Relations. Andfe-? 
 condly, we fliall confider them in thofe changes ; 
 track them thro the feveral Stages and Periods of 
 Life, thro thofe feveral States which create the 
 aioft considerable mutations to them ; and in each 
 of thofe confider what are the new and propor* 
 donate Acccifions of Duty* 
 
 0. As 
 
Sect. I. Of Modefty. 
 
 6. As in the outward Accommodations of Life, 
 the things of moft daily and indifpenfible ufe de- 
 ferve the greateft Valu ; fo in Moral or Divine 
 Endowments, the benefit of poflt fling is beft me- 
 fured by the mifery of wanting them. This firft 
 rank therefore of Female Venues which we are 
 to treat of,will have that to recommend them-, they 
 being fo flriclly necefiary,that their abfence is net 
 only a privative ill, but aifo expofes to a deluge of 
 allpofitive mifchiefs confequent to that priva- 
 tion. 
 
 7. This will be found true in all the feverals 
 wearetopafs thro, but in none more eminent- 
 ly then in that we fhall chufe to begin with, the 
 Vertu of Modefty ; which may be considered in a 
 double notion, the one as ins oppofed to Bold- 
 nefs and Indecency, the other to Lightnefs and 
 Wantonnefs. In the firft Acceprion Zmo has not 
 ill defin'dit, to be the Science of Decent Motion, it 
 being that which guides and regulates the whole 
 Behavior, checks andccntroles all rudeExorbi» 
 tancies, & is the great Civilizer of Converfations. 
 It is indeed a Vertu of a general Influence ; do's 
 not only ballaft the mind with fober and humble 
 thoughts of cnes felf, but alfo fteers every part of 
 the outward frame. It appears in the face in calm 
 and meek looks, where it fo imprefTes it felf, that 
 it feems thence to have acquir'd the name of 
 fhamefae'dnefs. Certainly, (whatever the modern 
 opinion is) there is nothing gives a greater lufter 
 to a Feminine Beauty: fo that St. Paul feems not ill 
 
 to 
 
« THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 to have confulted their Concerns in that Point,' 
 when he fubftitutes that as a fuppletory Ornament 
 to the deckings of Gold and Pearl and cosily Array^ 
 I Tim, 2. But /fear this now will be thought too 
 antiquated a drefs, and an Apoftle be efteemed no 
 competent Judg in this Science; which is now 
 become fo folemn a thing, that certainly no Aca- 
 demy in the World can vie numbers with the Stu- 
 dents of this Myftery. Yet when they have ftrein'd 
 their Art to the higheft Pitch ; an innocent Mo- 
 defty, and native fimplicity of Look, ffiall eclipfe 
 their Glaring Splendor, and triumph over their 
 Artificial Randfomnefs : on the other fide, let a 
 Woman be decked with ail the embellifhments of 
 ^rt, nay and care of Nature too, yet if Boldnefs 
 be to be read in her Face, it blots all the lines of 
 Beauty, is like a clcu^ over the Sun, intercepts the 
 view of all that was otherwife Amiable, and 
 renders itsblacknefs the more obfervable, by be- 
 ing plac'd neer fomwhat that was apt to attract 
 the eyes. 
 
 8. But Modefty confines not its felf to the 
 Face, floe is there only in fhadow and effigie ; but 
 is in life and motion in the Words, whence fhe ba- 
 nifhes all Indecency and Rudenefs, all infolent 
 Vauntings, and fupercilious Difdains, and what 
 ever elfe may render a Perfon troublefom, or 
 ridiculous to the Company. Nor do's fhe only 
 refine the Language, but fhe tunes it too, modu- 
 lates the tone and accent , admits no unhand- 
 ibm earneftnefs, or loudnefs of Difcourfe, 
 
 the 
 
Sect. I. Of Modefty. 
 
 the latter whereof was thought fo undecent in 
 Carneades, (tho in his public Leftures) that the 
 Gymnafiarch reproved him for it. And fure if 
 'twere not allowable in a Philofopher in his 
 School, 'twill lefs become a woman in ordinary 
 converfe; and if we confult Prov. 7. 11. and 9. 
 we fliall find loudnefsand clamor in women cou- 
 pled with fuch other epithets, as will furely not 
 much recommend it. A womans tongue fhould in- 
 deed be like the imaginary Mufic of the Spheres, 
 fweet and charming, but not to be heard at di- 
 ftance. 
 
 9. And as Modefty prefcribes the manner, fo 
 it do's alfo the mefurc of fpeaking ; rcftrains all 
 exceffive talkativenefs, a fault incident to none 
 but the bold • the monopolizing of Difcourfe be- 
 ing one of the greateft affumings imaginable, and 
 fo rude an impofing upon the company, that there 
 can fcarce be a greater indecency in converfation. 
 This is ingenioufly expreft by our Divine Poet 
 
 Herbert^ 
 
 A Civil Guesl, 
 Will no more talk all, then eat all the Feaft. 
 
 He that engrofies the talk, enforces filence upon 
 the reft, & fo is prefumed to look on them only as 
 his Auditors and Pupils, whilft he magifterioufly 
 diftates to them: which gave occafion to Socrates to 
 fay, It is arrogance to /peak all, and to be willing to 
 hear nothing. It is indeed univerfally an infolent 
 unbecoming thing, but moft peculiarly fo in a wo- 
 man. io.Thi 
 
8 THE LADIES CALLING. Paht.I. 
 
 10. THEancicnt Romans thought it fomuch fo, 
 that they allowed not that Sex to fpeak publicly, 
 tho it w:re in their owr* neceffary defence ; info- 
 much that when Amefia ftood forth to plead her 
 own caufe in the Senate 5 they Icokt on it as fo pro- 
 digious a thing, that they fent to confult the Ora- 
 cle what it portended to the State. And tho thefe 
 firft feveriues were foon loft ki the fucceffes of 
 that 'Emphe,Faleriits Maximus could find but two 
 more, whofe either neceflity or impudence, per- 
 fwaded them to repete this unhanfom attemt. 
 
 ii. And this great indecency of Loquacity 
 in Women, I am willing to hope is the reafon 
 why that Sex is fo generally charged with it ; not 
 that they are all guilty, but that when they are, it 
 appears fo unhanfom, as makes it the more emi- 
 nent and remarkable. Whether it were from that 
 ungracefulnefs of the thing, or from the proven- 
 fion Women have to it, I fliall net determin * but 
 we find the Apoftie very earneftin his cautions 
 againft it, 1 Cor. 14.35. He exprefly enjoins Wo^ 
 men to keep file/ice in the Church, where he affirms 
 it a ihame for them to fpeak: and tho this feems 
 only reftrain'd to the Ecclefiaftical Affemblies, 
 yet even fo it reaches home to the gifted Women 
 of our age, who take upon them to be Teachers ; 
 whereas he allowed them not to fpeak in the 
 Church, no not in order to learning, tho a more 
 niodeft deilgn then that of teaching. But befides 
 this,hehasamoreindefinitprefcriptioncf filence 
 
 to Women, 1 Tim, 2. 1 1. Let women ham in fi- 
 
 lence 3 
 
Sect, I. OfModeSly, 
 
 le?jce ; and again, v. 12. to be in filence* The Apo 
 ftle feems to ground the Phrafe 5 not only on the 
 inferiority of the woman in regard of the crea- 
 tion and firft fin , v. 13, 14. but alfo on the pre- 
 fumtion that they needed inftrucTion> towards 
 which , filence has alwaies bin reckoned an indif- 
 penfible qualification , the introductory precept 
 in all Schools , as that wherein all attention is 
 founded. Iffom women of our age think they 
 have oucgon that novice ftate the Apoftte fuppo- 
 fes ,. and want no teaching ; I muft crave leave to 
 believe , they want that very firft Principle which 
 fliould fet them to learn , vix* the knowledg of 
 their own ignorance : a fcience which fo grows 
 with ftudy and confideration , that Socrates after 
 a long lifefpent in purfuitof Wifdom , gave this 
 as the firm of his learning, This only Iknow^hrt I 
 knoy nothing. This proficiency feems much want- 
 ing to our female Talkers , who , in this , feem to 
 confute the common Maxim 5 and give what they 
 have not, by making their ignorance" vifible to o- 
 thers , tho it be undifcernable to themfelves : and 
 to fuch we may not unfitly apply the Sarcafm of 
 Zeno to a talkative Youth \ their ears are fain into 
 their tongue* 
 
 12. But befidesthis affuming fort of talka- 
 tivenefs, there is another ufually charged upon 
 the Sex , a meer charting , pratling humor , v* hich 
 maintains it feif at the coft of their neighbors, 
 and can never want fupplies as long as there is 
 any body within the reach of their obfervation. 
 
 C Tfjia 
 
io THE LADIES CALLING. Part i. 
 
 This I would fain hope is raoft the vice of the 
 vulgar fort of Women , the education of the No- 
 bler fetting them above thcfe mean entertain- 
 ments. Yet when 'cis remembred that Si. Taul^ 
 i Tim. 5. 13. makes Tatling the effect of Idle- 
 nefs , it may not unreafonably be feared , that 
 where there is moft of the Caufe, there will be 
 fom of the Effect. And indeed 5 it would puzzle 
 one to conjecture , how that round of formal Vi- 
 fits among Perfons of Quality ffcould be kept up 
 without this. That their Vifits fliould be only a 
 dumb SheWjHone will fufpect among women ; and 
 when the unfashionable themes of Houfwifery, 
 Piety, &c. are excluded 5 there will not remain 
 many Topics of Difcourfe , unlefs this be called 
 in to fupply. And this indeed is a moft inexhau- 
 ftible referve,it having fo many fprings to feed it, 
 that 'tis fcarce poflible it fliould fail. And wjjen 
 'tis farther considered , hew apt a miiiifter i c is to 
 Envy, Spleen^ Revenge, and other feminine Paf- 
 fions , we cannot fuppofe it can be unacceptable 
 where any of thofe bear (way. But I believe if is 
 not more frequently introduced by any thing then 
 the vanity of Wit,which has no where a more free 
 and exorbitant range than in cenfuringand de- 
 riding; nay, finds not only Exercife but Triumph 
 too, vain Perfons fcldom confidering the Infi- 
 nities or Follies of others , without fom Com- 
 placencies^andafiumiiig reflections on themfelves; 
 which how unagreabie it renders this liberty of 
 talking to that Modefty we recDuuneudi > is ob- 
 vious 
 
Se CT. I. Of Modefty. i t 
 
 vious enough. And would God 'twere only oppo- 
 fit co that ^ butitis no Ids fo to all the Obligations 
 of Juftice and Charity alio, which are fcarce fo 
 frequently viotetedby any thing , as by this licen- 
 tioufneD of the tongue. 
 
 13. There is yet another vice of it,for which 
 the femaie Sex has bin generally accus'd, and that 
 is reveling of fecrets : an infirmity prefum'd fo 
 incident to them 5 that Ariftotle is faid to have made 
 it one of the three things he folemnly repented 
 of, that he had ever trufred a Secret with a Wo- 
 man. But by how much the greater prejudice 
 they lie under in this refpeft,the greater ought to 
 be their caution to vindicate not only their Per- 
 fons but their Sex , from the impu ration , which is 
 indeed extreamly reprochful : this blafting hu- 
 mor being a fy mptom of a loofe , impotent foul, 
 a kind of incontinence of the mind , that can re- 
 tain nothing committed to it ; but as if that aifo 
 had its Diabetic piiTion , perpetually and almoft 
 infenfibly evacuating all. And indeed however 
 we are willing to appropriate this to the Sex , yet 
 the fault is c wing only to this illconflitution of 
 the mind,which is oft-times no lefs vifible in men ; 
 as on the contrary , thofe women who by reafon 
 and vertu have acquir'd a Solidity and Firmnefs 
 of mind , are as fure repofitories of a fecret , as 
 the moft mafculine confident : and fuch I have no 
 intent to involve in this charge,but rather by pro- 
 poiing their. example to the reft , fhew that nai,ure 
 has put them under no fatal neceffity of being 
 
 B z thus 
 
12 THE LADIES CALLING. Pari L 
 
 thus impotent. A fecret is no fuch unruly thing, 
 but it may be kept in : they may take the Wife 
 man's word for it, Eccluf. 19. 10. If thou hail 
 heard a word let it die wi:h thee , and he bold^ it will 
 not burfi thee. 
 
 14. Th is is a piece of daring manlinefs 3 which 
 they may affeft without breach of Modefty-, would 
 God they would take it in exchange for that vi- 
 rile Eoldnefs , which is now too common among 
 many even of the befit Rank. Such a degenerous 
 age do we now live in , that every thing feems in- 
 verted, even Sexes ; whilftmen fall to the Effe- 
 minacy andNicenefs of women , and women take 
 up the Confidence, the Boldnefs of men , and this 
 too under the notion of good Breeding. A blufh 
 {tho formerly reputed the color ofVertu) is ac- 
 counted worfe manners then thofe things which 
 ought to occafion it , and fqch as nothing but the 
 fimplicity of a Country Girl can excufe. But 
 the infirmity for the rnoft part proves very cor- 
 rigible ; a few weeks of the Town Difcipline 
 wears off that piece of Ruflicity, and advances 
 them to a modifh Affurance. Nor is that defign'd 
 to terminate in it felf , but it is to carry them on, 
 till they arrive to a perfect Metamorphofis , their 
 Gerlure 5 their Language, nay fom times their Habit 
 too being affeftedly mafculine ; fo that what Ta- 
 citus fpeaks of Vitellius in relation to his being a 
 Prince , we may apply to them 3 and fay 5 that if 
 others did not remember them to be women , them-* 
 f elves couldeafily forget it* 
 
 15. Yet 
 
Sect, I. Of Modefty. i3 
 
 1 5.Y e t were this affectation contin'd only to the 
 more innocent indifferent things, 'twere more to- 
 lerable , but alas it extends farther,and there are 
 women who think they have not made a fufficient 
 efcape from their fex , 'till they have afiluned the 
 Vices of men too. A fober modeft Dialeft is too 
 effeminate for them : a biuftring ranting frile is 
 taken up, and (to fhew them proficients in it) 
 adorn'd with ail the Oaths and Imprecations 
 their memory or invention can fupply : as if they 
 meant tovindicue their fex from the imputation 
 of Timeroufnefs by daring God Almighty. Tis 
 true indeed,an Oath founds gratingly out of what- 
 ever mouth j but out of a womans it hath fuch an 
 uncooth harfhnefs , that there is no noife on this 
 fide Hell can be more amazingly odious ; Yet this 
 is a mufic this difcordant age hath introdue'd, 
 no former having I think ever heard it in places 
 at all civiliz'd. So that the female (Wearers want 
 that poor fliadow of excufe the men pretend to, 
 it having bin fo far from cuftomary 5 that the un- 
 wontednefs could not but force them to fom in- 
 duftry and pains , e're they could acquire the ha- 
 bit 5 and let up for female Heclors; an e(Ly 5 where- 
 in they have bin very kind to the mafculine , by 
 ftewing the world there can be fomthing v orfe. 
 
 i.. 'Tis faid there want not fom who corn- 
 pleat the demonftration by the other parallel qua- 
 lity of Drinking alfo ; a vice deteftableinall 3 but 
 prodigious in women , who put a double vio- 
 lence upon their nature, the one in the intempe- 
 rance 
 
i4 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 ranee, the other in the immodefty. And tho they 
 may take their immediatcopy from men , yet (u> 
 the praife of their proficiency) they outdo their 
 Exemplar and draw near the Original: nothing 
 human being fo much beaft as a drunken woman. 
 This is evident enough if we look only on the 
 meer furface of the crime ; but if we dive far- 
 ther into its inferences and adherencies, the affir- 
 mation is yet more irrefragable. She who is firft a 
 proftitute to Wine , will foon be to Luftalfo : (he 
 has difmift her Guards , difcarded all the fugge- 
 frionsof reafon , as well as Grace ; and is at the 
 mercy of any , of every affailant. And when we 
 confider how much fuller the world is of Amnons 
 then Jofephs , it will not be hard to guefs the fate 
 of that womans Chafti ty , which has no other bot- 
 tom then that of mens. So that unlefs her vice 
 fecure her vertu , and the loathfomnefs of the 
 one prevent attemts en the other, 'tis fcarce 
 imaginable a wqman that lofes her Sobriety 
 iliouid keep her Honefty. So that indeed I might 
 more properly have made this reflexion when I 
 come to fpeak of Modtfty in the fecond notion of 
 it, as it is opposed to Lightnefs and Wantonnefs, 
 but it fills not much amifs now , to be the intro- 
 duction to it. 
 
 1 7. And if we confider Modefty in this fenfe 5 
 we fiiall find it the moft indifpenfible requisite of 
 a woman ^ a thing foeffential and natural to the 
 fex , that every the leaft declination from it, is a 
 proportionable receding from Womanhood , but 
 
 the 
 
Sect. I. of Mode ft y. 15 
 
 the total abandoning it ranks them among Brutes, 
 nay fets them as far beneath thofe , as an acquir'd 
 vilenefsis beiow a native. I need make no col- 
 lection of the verdifts either of the Philofophers 
 or Divines in the cafe, it being fc much an inftinft 
 of nature, that tho tco many makes fhift to fup- 
 prefs it in themfeives , yet they cannot \o darken 
 the notion in others,but that an Impudent v. oman 
 is lcokt en as a kind of Monfrer , a thing diverted 
 and diftorted from its proper form. That there 
 is indeed a ftrange repugnancy to nature , needs 
 no other evidence then the ftrugling, and difficul- 
 ty in the firft violations of Modtfty, which alwaies* 
 begin with regrets and blufhes , and require a 
 great deal of Self-denial , much of vicious Forti- 
 tude , to encounter with the recoilings andup- 
 braidings of their own minds. 
 
 18. I make no doubt but this age has arriv'd 
 to as compendious arts of this kind,as induftrious 
 vice can fuggeft, and we have but too manyin- 
 ftances of early proficients in this learning 5 yet 
 I dare appeal even to the forwarder! of them, whe- 
 ther at firft they could net with more eafe have 
 kept their vertu then loft it. Certainly fuch arc 
 the Horrors and Shames that precede thofe firft 
 Guilts, that they muft commit a rape upon them- 
 feives ( force their own reludancies and aver- 
 iicns) before they can become willing proftitutes 
 to others. This their Seducers feem well to un- 
 derstand 3 and upon that fcore are at the pains of 
 fomany preparatory courtfcigs, fuch expenfeof 
 
 prefents 
 
1 6 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 prefents too •, as if this were fo uncouth a crimei 
 that there were no hope to introduce it but by a 
 confederacy of fom more familiar vices , their 
 Pride or Covetoufnefs. 
 
 19 The beft way therefore to countermine 
 thofe Stratagems cf men , is for women to be fuf- 
 picioufly vigilant even of the firft approches. 
 He that means to defend a Fort, muft not aban- 
 don the Outworks , and fhe that will fecure her 
 Chaftity , muft never let it come to too clcfe a 
 fiege, but repafs the very fixft ^nd moft remote in- 
 finuatioiis of a Temter. Therefore when we fpeak 
 of Modtfty in our prefent notio.i of it,we are not 
 to oppcfe it only to the groffer act of Incontinen- 
 cy , but to all thofe misbehaviors , which either 
 difcover or may create an inclination to it ; of 
 which fort is all Lightnefs of carriage, wanton 
 glances, obfccne difcourfe* things that fbew a 
 v/oman fo weary of her honor, that the next comer 
 may re a fonably expect a furrender , and con fe- 
 quently be invited to the AiTault. Indeed they 
 arefuch, that one would rather think them the 
 refult of many afls , then meerly the Prologue to 
 one •, and yet nothing but a cuftom of private fin, 
 could fuppiy impudence enough to do what is fo 
 publicly fcandalous-, and where this is found in 
 thofe of any confiderable age, charity it felf can 
 fcarce pafs a milder cenfure. Yctpoffibly in thofe 
 of the youngeft fort , they may at firft be taken 
 up ( as their drefs is ) meerly in imitation of 
 others, embracd implicitly upon the autcrity 
 
 of 
 
Sect. I. Of Modtfj. 17 
 
 of thofe , wbofe examples govern the modes. 
 When a pcorgirle , who has frill fomuch of the 
 child as to admire every thing that glitters , fees 
 thefe things ufed by the gay people of the world, 
 'tis no wcnder if fhe take thefe as part of their 
 accomplishments, and upon peril of that formida* 
 ble calamity of being unfafhionable 5 conform to 
 them. Which yet do's not fo much extenuate the 
 guilt of thofe few feduced perfons, as it aggravates 
 that of the Seducers , and attefts the flrange cor- 
 ruption of the age,that thofe things which the lefs 
 hardened fort of proftitutes were formerly afha- 
 med of, fhould now pafs into the frequency and a- 
 vowednefs of a fafhion, become a part of Difcipline 
 and Inftitution of youth : as if vice now difdain'd 
 to have any punies in itsfchool, and therefore 
 by a prepofterous anticipation , makes its pupils 
 begin where they were wont toend initiates them 
 at firft into that fliamelefhefs, which was went to 
 be the product only of a long habit. What the 
 end Will be of thefe Piqueerers in impudence, 
 who thus put their vertu on the forlorn hope , is 
 eafie to divine. Yet is not this the only ftate of 
 danger : they who keep their ranks , and tho they 
 do not provoke affaults , yet ftay to receive them, 
 maybe far enough from fafety. She that lends a 
 patient ear to thepraifesof her Wit orBeauty* 
 intends at firft perhaps only to gratify her vani- 
 ty ; but when fhe is once charrnd with that Si- 
 rens fong, bewitcht with that Flattery, flieinfen- 
 fibly declines to a ; kindnefs for that perfon that 
 
 G values 
 
l8 THE LADIES CALLING. Pa^tI. 
 
 values her fo much. And when that fpark flnll be 
 blow'd up by perpetual remonftrances of Paf- 
 fion, and perhaps a lirtle Romantique artifices of 
 pretending to die for her , with a thoufand other 
 tricks , which Lull can fuggeft , 'twill like the 
 Naftha Naturalifts fpeak of,in a moment grow to 
 an unquenchable flame , to the ruin both of her 
 Vertu and Honor. 
 
 20. Let no woman therefore prefume upon 
 the innocence of her firft intentions ; Ihe may as 
 well upon confidence of a found conftitution, en- 
 ter a peft-houfe and converfe with the plague, 
 whofe contagion do's not more fubtily infinuate 
 it felf, then this fort of temtaticn. And as in that 
 cafe (he would not ftay to define what were the 
 critical diftance, at which ftie might approch with 
 fafety , but would run as far from it as (he could ; 
 fo in this,it nolefs concerns her,to remove her felf 
 from the poflibility of danger, and (howun- 
 falhionable foever it be) to put on fuch a fevere 
 Modefty , that her very looks fhould guard her, 
 and difcourage the moft impudent affailant. 'Tis 
 faid of Thilofemen , that the Lacedemonians find- 
 ing it their intereft to corrupt him with mony, 
 they were yet fo poffeft with the reverence of his 
 vermes , that none durft undertake to attaque 
 him 5 and fure 'twere not impoffible for women 
 to arrive at the fame fecurity. Such an autority 
 there is in Vertu , that where 'tis eminent , 'tis 
 apt to cbntrole all loofe defires 3 and he muft not 
 be only luftful but facrilegious , that attemtsto 
 violate fuch a Sancluary. 21. But 
 
$ECT. I. Of ModeSfy. 19 
 
 21. But perhaps thit fex may fear , that by 
 putting on fuch a Strictnefs , they ihall loofe the 
 glory of their Beauty , which is now chiefly efti- 
 mated by the number of thofe who court and a- 
 dore them. To this in the firft place I muft fay, 
 that they are miferable Trophies to Beauty that 
 muft be built on the ruins of Vertu and Honor ; 
 and fhe that to boift the length of her hair fliould 
 hang her felf in it, would but aft the fame folly 
 in a lower inftance. 
 
 22. But then fecondly , 'tis a great mifLke 
 to think their Beauty fhall be tne lefs prized,fince 
 'tis incident to mans nature to efteem thofc things 
 moft that are at a diftance , whereas an eafie and 
 cheap defcent begets contemt. So long as they 
 govern themfelves by the exacT: rules of Prudence 
 and Modefty, their lufter is like the Meridi n 
 Sun in its clearnefs, which tho lefs approchable, 
 is counted more glorious ; but when they decline 
 fro n thofe,they are like that Sun in a cicud, which 
 tho f Jelier g zed on , is not half fo bright. But 
 beiidcs thefe collateral advantages, 'tis certain 
 that Modefty gives an immediat and direct im- 
 provement to Beauty ; for tho men for their own 
 vicious ends wiih them fever'd , yet they cannot 
 but think they are the moft amiable when united, 
 and you fhali hear them cfcen commend the afpect 
 of that Modefty , which they would fain circum* 
 vent. 
 
 23. But in the 3d place,there is nothing but fuch 
 a Refervednefs that can indeed make their Beau- 
 
 C 2 ty 
 
2o THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 ty triumphant. Parly and conqueft are the moft 
 diftant things^ and ihe that defcends to treat with 
 an affailant, whatever he may tell her of his being 
 her captive, 'tis but in order to the making her 
 his ; which when Ihe once is , there is no ftate of 
 fervitude half fo wretched , nothing in the world 
 being fo flaviflhly abjed as aproftitute woman. 
 Forbefides all the intereft of another life which 
 fhe bafely refigns , fhe facrifices all that is valuable 
 in this : her reputation Ihe puts wholly in his 
 power that has debauched her, and which is worfe 
 her reformation too. If fhe fliould have a mind to 
 return to vertu , flie dares not for fear he fliould 
 divulge her former ft ravings from it : fo that, like 
 Catiline, fhe isengag'd to future evils to fecure the 
 paft. Yea ibe fubjeds her felf not only to his luft, 
 but to all his humors and fancies , nay even to all 
 thofe who have bin inftrumental to their priva- 
 cies , none of them all being to be difpleas'd for 
 fear of blabbing. And when 'tis remembred,what 
 a fort of cattel they are , which are the engines in 
 fuch affairs , there can fcarce be any thing more 
 deplorable then to be within their lafh, Tis true 
 indeed , fom have found a way to cure this uneafi- 
 nefs by being their own delators, not only con- 
 ferring but boafting their crime , and by an impu- 
 dent owning prevent all accufationsryet even this 
 ferves but to atteft the intolerablenefs of the for- 
 mer condition , when this worft of mifchiefs is 
 chafe as a refcu. Their impatience of being al- 
 waiesinaWj makes them take up that refolution 
 
 for: 
 
Sect. I. Of Madeflj. 21 
 
 for infamy, which Cefar did for death, who faid 
 'twas better to die once then to be alwaies in fear. 
 And tho this defperate remedy may cure the fear, 
 yet it afcertains the reproch ; for whereas in the 
 impeachment of others there is place for doubt, 
 and charity may promt fom to disbelieve it, yet 
 when the fad is juftified bj^the offender, the evi- 
 dence is uncontrolable, and withal doubles the in- 
 famy. For befides that which adheres to the crime, 
 there is a diftincft portion due to the impudence ; 
 yet, like the Scorpion, it muft cure its own fting, 
 and tho it increafes the obloquy, yet it deadens 
 the fenfe of it. 
 
 24. But when they have thus fteePd their 
 forheads againft all impreflions of Shame, they 
 are ftill liable to many other painful effects of 
 their fin. What fears of being abandoned, what 
 jealoufies of rivals do often torture them ? And 
 indeed not without ground : for they cannot but 
 know, that the fame humor of variety which en- 
 gaged their Paramors in their love, may do the 
 Fame for another, and another, and fo on ; it being 
 as poflible to grafp the air,, as to confine a wan- 
 dring luft. Befides, what anxious apprehenfions 
 have they of the approch of age, which they are 
 fure will render them loathed and defpicable, as 
 alfo of all intermedial decaies of Beauty ? How 
 critically do they examin their glafs ? and every 
 wrinkle that reprefents in their face, be- 
 comes a deep gafli in the heart. But if they have 
 at any time the lefure (or indeed the courage) to 
 
 Iook: 
 
22 THE LADIES CALLING. Part T. 
 
 look inward, the view is yet more dreadful, a de- 
 form'd foul, fpoild of its innocence, and rendred 
 almoft as brutifh as the fin it hasconfented to. 
 But tho it be in fom refbe&s like the beafl thatpe- 
 rijheth-, it is not, it cannot be in that which would 
 moft avail it ; an endlefs being it cannot lofe, nor 
 can it expeft any thiiy> from that preeminence of 
 its nature, but an infinity of mifery. This is fuch 
 an amazing contemplation, as, methinks, were it 
 infifted on, fhould allay tht hotteft bloody no 
 impure flames being fo fierce as to conteft with 
 thofe of unquenchable fire. It is therefore tho a 
 very impious, yet no unskilful artifice of thofe 
 who would vitiate women in tneir Manners, to 
 corrupt them in their Principles, and by extin- 
 guiflung all hopes or fears of ano:h r World, 
 perfwade them to immerfe boldly into all the abo- 
 minations of this. 'Tis faid, this is now an art 
 of wooing, the modern preludium to the bafeft 
 propofals. It feems this age dares not truft oniy 
 to the former waies of feducement, fcars there 
 will not be women enough that will forget the 
 interefts of another World-, and therefore is fain 
 to fet up a new party of others to disbelieve it. 
 And I fear that defign has bin too profperous; 
 many women are fo much more concerned for 
 their bodies then their fouls, that they are 
 contented the one fhould be elevated upon the 
 deprefnon and debafement of the other $ and 
 whilft with a vain tranfport, they can hear their 
 outward form applauded, as Angelical,or Divine, 
 
 they 
 
S*ct. I. Of ModrSly. 2j 
 
 thty can very tamely endure to have their better 
 part viliiied and defpifed 5 defm'd to be only a puff 
 cf air in their noftrils, which v ill fcatter with 
 thir expiring breath, or in the Atheifts phrafe, 
 W fd. 6. 6. i en ifh as the foft air. Whereas they 
 fhouldconfider,that they who preach this Doftrin 
 to them, defign it only to infer a pernicious Ufe. 
 'Tis a Maxim in Politics, that thofe counfels are 
 fufpicioufly to be fcan'd, which carry in their 
 frcnt the advifers intereft ; which certainly is ne- 
 ver more vifible then in this cafe, he that once 
 gains this point, never needing to conteft for all 
 the reft. For he that can perfwade a woman out 
 of her foul, will foon command her body 5 and 
 then what was at firft his intereft, becomes hers at 
 laft ; and her wilhes of the mortality of her foul, 
 are much ftronger then 'tis poffible her belief of 
 it could be : which confirms abundantly my affir- 
 mation of the fervile, wretched condition of fuch 
 a perfon. For if we judg that a very fevere flavery 
 which makes people defirous to refign a temporal 
 being, what lrull we think of that which provokes 
 them to renounce an eternal ? 
 
 25. And now by this gradation of mifchiefs 
 We may judg of the deplorable ftate of thofe who 
 have abandoned their Vertu ; wherein I doubt 
 not the confcicnces of many cannot only atreft, 
 but much improve the defenption ; and all I fhall 
 fay tofuch,is, only toconfult that bofom monitor, 
 which till they do, all Homilies will be infignifi- 
 cant. My defign was not therefore to tell them 
 
 what 
 
24 THE LADIES CALLING. Part. I. 
 
 what they too well feel, but only to point out 
 their wracks as warnings to others. 
 
 26. Let all thofe therefore who are yet un- 
 tainted, and by being lb, have their judgments 
 clear and unbiaft, confider foberly the mifery 
 of the other condition, and that not only to ap- 
 plaud, but fecure their own 5 and when ever the 
 outward pomps and gaudy fplendors of a vitiated 
 woman feem, like that of Crefus, to boaft their 
 happinefs, let them look thro that Fallacy, and 
 anfwer with Solonjhat thofe only are happy who are 
 fo at their end* Their moll exquifit deckings are 
 but like the garlands on a beaft defign'd for Sa- 
 crifice ^ their richeft gems are but the chains, not 
 of their ornament but flavery ; and their gor- 
 geous apparel, like that of Herod, covers perhaps 
 a putrid body, (for even that doth not feldom 
 prove their fate ) or however, a more putrid 
 foul. They who can thus confider them, will 
 avoid one great fnare -, for 'tis not alwaies fo 
 much the luft of the flefti, as that of the eies 
 which betraies a woman. 'Tis the known infir- 
 mity of the Sex, to love gaiety, and a fplendid 
 appearance, which renders all temtations of that 
 fort fo connatural to them,that thofe who are noc 
 arrived to a more fober eftimate of things, will 
 fcarce be fecure. It will therefore be neceffary 
 for them to regulate their opinions, and reduce 
 all fuch things to their ;uft valu, and then they 
 will appear fo trifling, that they can never main- 
 tain any competition with the more folid interefts 
 
 of 
 
Sect. I. Of Modefty. 25 
 
 o( Vertu and Honor. For tho thofe terms fern 
 in'this loofe age to be exploded ; yet where the 
 things are vifiblethey exrorta fecret veneration, 
 even from thofe who think it their concern pub- 
 licly to deride them : whereas on the other fide a 
 defection from them expofes to all thecontemt 
 imaginable , renders them dtfpis'd even by thofe 
 who betraid them to it , leiv^s a perpetual blot 
 upon their Names , and their Family, For in the 
 character of a woman, let Wiund Beauty,andall 
 female accompiifhments ftand in the front *, yet if 
 wantennefs bring up the rear , the Satyr foon de- 
 vours the Panegyric, and (as in an Echo) the laft 
 words only will reverberate , and her vice will be 
 remembred when all the reft will be forgor. But 
 I need not declame upon this theme 5 the Son of 
 Syrach has don it to my hand,in many paffag-s.but 
 efpecially Ecduf. 23. to which I refer the Reader. 
 32. What hath bin already faid,is, I fuppofe, 
 fufficient to convince every woman how much it 
 is her concern to keep her felf itriftly within the 
 bounds of Modefty and Vertu. In order to which* 
 there is nothing more important then a judicious 
 choice of their Company $ I mean not only for 
 men, but women alfo. Vice is contagious,andthis 
 efpecially has that worft quality of the Plague* 
 that 'tis malicious 5 and would infeel others* A 
 woman that knows her felf fcandalous, thinks fhe 
 is reprocht by the vertu of another , looks on hef 
 as one that is made to reprove herrvjies^ as it is 5 
 Wijd. 2. 14. and therefore in her own defence 
 
 D ftrives 
 
26 THE LADIES CALLING. PaRTI. 
 
 ftrives to level the inequality , not by reforming 
 herfelf, (thatflie thinks too hard a task) but by 
 corrupting the other. To this end , fucha re wil- 
 ling to fcrew themfelves into an acquaintance,will 
 be officioufly kind , and by all arts of condefcen- 
 tion and obliging , endevor to enfnare a woman 
 of reputation into their intimacy. And if they 
 fucceed, if they can but once entangle her into 
 that cobweb-friendfhip ; they then , fpider-like , 
 infufe their venom , never leave their vile infinua- 
 tions till they have poifoned and ruined her. But 
 and if on the other fide they meet with one of too 
 much fagacitytobe fo entrapped 5 if they can- 
 not taint her Innocence, they will endevor to 
 blaft her Fame •, reprefent her to the World to be 
 what they would have made her , that is in the 
 Tfalmiftsphrafe,/^tf» one as themf elves, Pfal.so, 
 34. fo that there is no converfing with them , but 
 with a manifeft peril either of Vertu or Honor, 
 which fliould methinks be a fufficient difluafive. 
 'Tis true, 'tis not alwaies in ones power to ihun 
 the meeting with fuch perfons , they are too nu- 
 merous, and too intruding to be totally avoided 5 
 unlefs, as Sr. Paul fays, 1 Cor. 5.10. one ffiould go 
 gut of the World- But all voluntary converfefup- 
 pofes a choice s and therefore every body that 
 will may refrain that , may keep on the utmoft 
 frontiers of civility, without ever fuffering any 
 approch towards intimacy and familiarity. 
 
 33. And fure were this diftance duly obferved, 
 it might be of excellent ufe, a kind of lay Excom- 
 
 jnuni- 
 
Sect. I. Of Mode fly. 27 
 
 niunication , which might come very feafLnably to 
 fupply the want of the Ecclefiaftic now out-dated. 
 And this feettts very well to agree with thefenfeof 
 Solon , the wife Athenian Law-giver , wh^ befides 
 that he fhiu the Temple-doors againft them,inter- 
 di&ed them the facred AflTemblies •, made it one of 
 his laws , that an Adulterefs fiiouldnot be permit- 
 ted to wear any ornaments 3 that fo they might in 
 their drefs carry the note of their infamy. Should 
 we bare the like diftinclion obferved , I fear many 
 of our gaieft birds would be unplumed , and tho 
 the fame be not now an expedient practicable, 
 yet the former is, and might be of very good 
 uie. Fcr befides that already mentioned of fecu- 
 ring the innocent, it might perhaps have a gocd 
 effecl: en the guilty , who could not but reflect 
 With fomfhime on themfelves, if they were thus 
 fingled out and difcriminated; whereas whiift they 
 are fuffered to mix with the bell Societies, (like 
 hurt Deer in an herd) they flatter themfelves they 
 areundifcernable. 
 
 34. But indeed the advantage of this courfc 
 is yet more extenfive, and would reach the whole 
 Sex, which now teems to lie under a general fcan- 
 dal, for the fault of particular perfons. We 
 know any confiderable number cf fmutty ears 
 caftsa blacknefs on the whole field, which yet 
 were they apart, would perhaps not fill a fmall 
 corner of it 5 and in this uncharitable age, things 
 are apt to be denominated not from the greater 
 but worferpart : whereas , were the precious fe- 
 ll) 2 vered 
 
28 THE LADIES CALLING. PartL 
 
 vercdfrom the vile, by fom note <pf diftin&ion, 
 there might then a more certain eftjfnate be made:, 
 and I cannot be fo fevere to womai\kind,as not to 
 believe rhe fc-ndalous part would then make but 
 afrnall fhew which now makes fo great a noife, 
 
 35. Besides this lean fuggeft but one way 
 more for a omen of honor to vindicate their fex, 
 and that isby making their ov-*n vertu asilluftriouS 
 as they can ; and by the bright fhineof that,draw 
 off menseies from the worfer profpecl:. And to 
 this there is requir'd not only innocence, but 
 prudence ; to abftain,asfrom all real evil ,/o from^ 
 the appearance of it too , 1 Theff. 5r.2 2. not, by 
 any doubtful or fufpicious a&ion , to give any 
 umbrage for cenfure , but as trie Ap^ftle faies in 
 another caf> v 2 Cor. 1 1. 11. to cut off occafion from 
 them that defire occafion ; to deny themfelves the. 
 moft innocent liberties, when any fcandalous in- 
 ference is like to be dedue'd from them. And 
 tho perhaps no caution is enough to fecure 
 againft the malicious, and the jealous,- tho 'tis 
 poffible fom black mouth may afperfe them , yet 
 they h*ve fiill Plato's ' referve, who being told of 
 fomwhohaddefam'd him, 'tis no matter f aid he y 
 I will live fo thut none f/sall believe them. If their 
 lives be but fuch , that they may acquit themfelves 
 to thefober and unprejudiced , they have all the. 
 fecurity can be afpirdtoin this world ; the more, 
 evincing atteftai ion they muft attend from the, 
 unerring Tribunal hereafter \ where there lies a 
 certain appeal for all.injur'd perfons who can 
 calmly wait for it, s k SECT, 
 
Sect. I, Of Mteknefs. 29 
 
 SECT. II. 
 
 Of Meekflejs. 
 
 X.'TN the next place wc may rank Meeknefs as 
 X a neceffkry feminine Vertu ; this even Na- 
 ture Terns to teach, which abhors raonftrofities 
 and difproportions, and therefore having allot- 
 ted to women a more fmooth and fcfc composi- 
 tion of body, infers thereby her intention, that 
 the mind fhould correfpond with it. For tho the 
 adulterations of art can reprefent in the fame 
 Face beauty in onepofition,and deformity in ano- 
 ther 5 yet nature is more fincere, and never meant 
 a ferene and clear forhead ihouldbe the frontif- 
 piece to a cloudy tempeftuous heart. 'Tis there- 
 fore to be wiflit they would take the admonition, 
 and whilft they confult their glafles, whether to 
 applaud or improve their outward form, they 
 wculd call one look inwards, and examin what 
 fymmetry is there held with a fair outfide; whether 
 any -florin of paffion darken and overcaft their in- 
 terior beauty, and ufe at leaft an equal diligence 
 to refcu that, as they would to clear their face 
 from any ftain or blemifh. 
 
 2. But it is not nature only which fuggefts this, 
 but the God of nature too, Meeknefs being net 
 only recommended to all as a Chriilian Vertu,but 
 particularly enjojn'd to women as a peculiar ac- 
 
 com- 
 
30 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 compliflimentof their Sex, i Fet. 3. 4. where af- 
 ter the mention of all the exquifit and coftly 
 deckings of art, this one ornament of a meek, and 
 quiet fpirit) is confronted to them, with this emi- 
 nent atteftation, that it is in the fight of God of 
 great frke, and therefore to all who will net en- 
 ter difpute with God, and conteft his judgmenr, 
 k muft be fo too. Now, tho Meeknefs be in it felf 
 a fingie entire Vertu,yet it i3diverfifi'd,according 
 to the feveral faculties of the foul, over which it 
 has influence ; fo that there is a Meekntfs of the 
 Underftanding, a Meeknefs of the Will 5 and a- 
 Meeknefs of the Affeftions^ all which muft concur 
 to make up the Meek and quiet fpirit. 
 
 3. And firft for the Meeknefs of the Under- 
 ftandihg, it confifts in a pliablenefs to conviction, 
 and is diredly oppofit to that fullen adherence 
 obfervable ia too many $ who judg of tenets not 
 by their conformity to truth and reafon, but to 
 their prepolTeflion^ and tenacioufly retained opi- 
 nions, *6nly becaufe they (or fom in whom they 
 confide) have once own'd them-, and certainly 
 fuch a temper is of all others the moft obftruftive 
 toWifdom. Thisputsthem upon the chance of a 
 Lottery, and what they firft happen to draw, de- 
 termines them meerly upon the priviledg of its 
 precedency, fo that had Mahomet firft feiz'd them, 
 his tenure would have bin asindefefabie as Chrift's 
 now. How great the force of fuch prejudices are, 
 we may fee by the oppofitions it rais'd againft 
 Chriftian Dodtrin in grofs at its firft promulga- 
 tion ; 
 
Sect. I. Of Meeknefs. 3* 
 
 tion 3 the Jews blind Zeal for the Traditions of 
 their Fathers, engaging them in the murder even 
 of that very Meilias whom thofe Traditions had 
 taught them to expert, and after in the perfec- 
 tion of that Do&rin which his Refurreclionhad, 
 fo irrefragably attefted. And to juftify the pro- 
 priety of this obfervatiors to thofe I now write 
 to, 'tis exprefly affirm'd, Acts 13. 50. That they 
 made ufe of the zeal of the female Ircfelytes for 
 that purpofe. The Jews fiirred up the devout and 
 honorable women , and raised a f execution againfl 
 Paul and Barnabas. So that 'tis no unfeafonable 
 advice to fuch, to be fure they fee well their way 
 before they run too fierce a carriere in it 3 other- 
 wife the greateftheat without light, do's but re- 
 femble that of the bottomlefs pit, where flames 
 and darknefs do at cnce cohabit. 
 
 4. But whiift I decry this prejudicate ftif- 
 nefs, I intend not to plead for its contrary ex- 
 treme, and recommend a too eafy Flexibility ; 
 which is a temper of equal, if not more ill confe- 
 quence then the former. The adhering to one (pi- 
 nion can expofe but to one error, but a mind that 
 lies open to the effluxes cf all new tenets, may 
 fuccelfively entertain a whole ocean of delufions ; 
 and to be thus yielding,is not a Meeknefs, but fer- 
 vilenefs of Underftanding. Indeed 'tis fo great a 
 weaknefs of mind, that the Apoftle finks it fom- 
 what below t|\e impotence of women, and reftm- 
 bies it to that ot children, £ph. 4. 14. yet it teems 
 the folly of fom women had levell'd them with 
 
 children 
 
32 THE LADIES CALLING. Part fi 
 
 children in this matter 3 for the fame Apoftle takes 
 notice of fuch,to whom as he gives the Epithet of 
 fiily, fo the latter part of the Character fpeaks 
 them incorrigibly fo, ever learnings and never able 
 to come to the knowkdg of the truths i Tim. 3. 6. a 
 defcriprion which if we compare with our times, 
 we muft think prophetic. For how many inftances 
 hath this age given us of women fo led captive 5 
 who being either affeftcd with the novelty, or re- 
 duced by the pretended zeal of a new teacher, 
 have given up their underftandings to him: and for 
 a while this ftrong man has kept poffeffion, but 
 when a ftrongerthen he hath come, it has fired 
 as with him in the Gofpel, a louder Zeal, or a 
 newer Bo&rin foon divides his fpoils ; and that by 
 force of the very fame principle on which he ftt 
 up, which within a while undermines the latter 
 alfo, andfo fucceflively, till the poor profelyte 
 has bin hurried thro all the mazes of wild er^ 
 ror, and at laft perhaps (like a palat diftraded by 
 too much variety) fhe fixes upon that which at 
 firft fhe moft decried. This has bin eventually 
 true in fom, who letting out in the fierceft dete- 
 ftation of Popery, have wandred fo long like the 
 blindedLS)rirf/2f,2 Kings 6.20. that they have at laft 
 found themfelves in the midft of Samaria ; by an 
 infenfible circular motion bin brought about to 
 that Religion, from which alone they defigned 
 to fly. So little do itching ears know whether 
 they may be carried : and indeed the ear when 
 infefted with that prurient humor, may vie Mif- 
 
 chiefs 
 
Sect. II. Of Meeknefs. 3 3 
 
 chiefs with the tongue, which Sr. James tells ur, 
 Chap. 3.1 5. is (tho a little member) <? »u/7</ o/V/zi- 
 
 4. 'Tis therefore the moft important concern 
 of all, tofortifie that fo affailable part ; but 'tis 
 efpecialiy foof women, not only in refpe&of that 
 natural imbecillity, which renders them liable to 
 feducement,but alfo becaufe the opinion of their 
 being fo,makes them particularly aim'dat by fedu- 
 cers.For,as he who is to put offaduiterated Wire?, 
 will chufe the moft unwary chapmen, fo thefe So- 
 phifticators of Divinity defire the moft undifcern- 
 ing Auditors. And truly that fo many of that Sex 
 arefo, I do notfo much impute to any natural de- 
 feel, as to the loofe notions they have of Religion, 
 of which they have perhaps fom general confuftd 
 apprehenfions, but have fo little penetrated the 
 depth of it, that they know not why they are 
 Christians rather then Turh x why of the Church 
 of England ratter thefl that of Rome*, or Geneva. 
 And while they are thus unfixt, and have no bet- 
 ter principle then Cuftom and Compliance $ they 
 have nothing to anfwer to any the groiTeft de- 
 ceit that can be obtruded upon them, which for 
 cught they know or have confider'd, may be as 
 true as any thing they formerly profeft. Now 
 when any one in this condition flhall be aflaulted* 
 not only by the repeated importunities of falfe 
 teachers, but alfo by ingeminated threatnings of 
 hell and damnation \ fiie is like one awaked by the 
 outcry of fire, and in that amaze w ill be apt to 
 
 E run 
 
34 THE LADIES CALLING- Part.I. 
 
 run where-ever the firft difcoverer of her danger 
 fhall lead her. 
 
 6, I Shall therefore mcft earneftly recom- 
 mend it as the belt Antidote againft the poifon of 
 novel Doftrins, to exarnin well the grounds of the 
 old. For want of this it is that our Church has bin 
 expofedto fa many frivolous cavils, it being tco 
 incident to the perverfe Pride of human nature, 
 to fpeak evil of things we underltand not. And 
 had our fhe-zea!ots firft confulted fom fober 
 guides, and from them underftood upon what 
 grounds the Pra&ice as well as Dodrin of our 
 Church was fcunded,they could not fo eafily have 
 bin carried away by every whd of Voftrin> as the 
 Apoftlephrafesir, Efh.^. 14. 
 
 7. Indeed this is no more then common ju- 
 ftice exalts, which forbids the condemning even 
 the viieft malefa&or unheard, (& unheard and not 
 underftood, are in this cafe terms equivalent) yet 
 fure they ow fomthing more to that Church from 
 whcfe miniftry themfelves mull: confefs to have 
 derived their Chriftianity, in whofe bofom they 
 j^ve bin cherifht, and consequently may plead a 
 mothers right in them. So that unlefs poffeiTion, 
 which fortifies civil rights, deftroies the Ecclefi- 
 aftic; (he may challenge befides that natural ju- 
 fiice, (v^hich is the common due of Humanity) a 
 parental refpeft and reverence, a debt which is 
 fure very ill anfwered by thoie who call: off her 
 obedience before they have at all confidered what 
 it is fhe commands. And if the abdicating a child 
 
 be 
 
Sect. II. Of Meeknefs. 3=; 
 
 be a thing fo unnatural, as needs iom very impor- 
 tant caufe to juftifie it 5 the renouncing of a Pa- 
 rent muft require a reafon as far tranfeending 
 that, as the guilt do's, if it be cauflefs ; and fuch 
 it muft inevitably be in all, who for want of due 
 examination, fuffer themfelves to be lead into 
 groundlefs prejudices and difgufts. 
 
 8, To prevent that guilt, and a multitude of 
 others which fpnng from it , I muft again repeit 
 my Propofal,that women of Quality (whoarepre- 
 fumed to want neither Parts nor lefufe for it ) 
 would a little look into the infide of the Religion 
 theyprofefs: if it be a true one, 'twill bear the 
 infpeclion, truth never fhunning the light; if it 
 be not, the difcovery cannot be too early. And 
 indeed among the many remarkable impreffes of 
 truth our Church bears, this is one, that fhe do's 
 not blindfold her Profelytes, leaves them the ufe 
 of their difcerning Faculty, and do's not by ob- 
 truding upon them an implicit belief, force them 
 to lay down their Pveafon when they take up their 
 Faith. And now why fhould not Ladies fpend a 
 few of their many idle hours in this inquifuion, I 
 mean, not to embark themfelves in a maze of ccn- 
 troveriies, but only to difcern thofe plain grounds 
 of Truth on which our Church builds* which if 
 well digefted, will prove a better amulet agiinft 
 delufion then the reading whole Tomes of Difputa-. 
 tions,more apt to diftracl then fortify their under- 
 ftandings. And had they thus don, had their minds 
 bin ballafted by fober principies,fo many. qf them 
 
 E % had 
 
36 THE LADIES CALLING. Pari L 
 
 had never made up the triumphs of To many and 
 fo various feducers. And tho to fuch this adver- 
 tifement may come too late (like affiftance after 
 a defeat) yet it may be a feafonable caution to o- 
 thers, and to thofe I offer it, as that very temper 
 wherein confifts that rational Meeknefs of the Un* 
 derftanding I would recommend to' them, which 
 is equally violated by a blind Obftinacy, or as 
 blind a Flexibility. 
 
 9, A Second fort of Meeknefs is that of the 
 Will* which lies in its juft fubordination 5 and fub- 
 miffion to a more fupream Autority, which in Di- 
 vine things is the Will of God •, in Natural or 
 Moral, right Reafon; :nA in human Conftitutions, 
 the command of Superiors. And fo long as the 
 Will governs it felf by thefe in their refpedive 
 Orders, it tranfgreffes not the Meeknefs requir'd 
 of it. But experience attefts, tha the Will is 
 now in its depravation an imperious Faculty, apt 
 to caft off that fubjeclion to which it was de- 
 figil'd 5 and act independently from thofe motives 
 which fhould influence it. This God knows is 
 top common in all Age?,all Condi tions,andS-xes: 
 but the Feminine lies more efpecully under an ill 
 name for it. Whether that have grown from the low 
 opinion conceived of their Reafon, lefs able to 
 maintain its Empire, or from the multipli'd habi- 
 tual inftances themfelves have given of unruly 
 Wills, I frail not undertake to determin \ but 
 either way 'tis, I am fure^ fo great a reproch, as 
 they fhould be very induftrious to wipe off. And 
 
 truly 
 
Se c t. II. Of Meeknefs. $1 
 
 truly I know nothing more incentive to that en- 
 devor, then the having a right eftimate of the 
 Happinefs as well as Vertu of a governable Wilt 
 How calmly do thofe glide thro all ( even the 
 rougheft) events, that can but matter that ftub- 
 born Faculty? A will refign'd to God's, how do's 
 it enervate and enfeeble any calamity? Nay in- 
 deed it triumphs over it , and by that conjunction 
 with him that ordains it , may be faid to command 
 even what it fuffers. 'Twas a Philofophical 
 Maxim, that a Wife moral man could net be in- 
 jured, could not be miferable. But fure 'tis much 
 more true of him who has that divine Wifdom of 
 Chriftian refignation , that twifts and inwraps all 
 his choices with God's , and is neither at the pains 
 nor hazard of his own ele&ions ; but is fecure, 
 that unlefs Omnifcience can be deceived , or Om- 
 nipotence defeated , he fhall have what is really 
 beftfer him. 
 
 10. Proportionable ( tho not equal) to 
 this , is the happinefs of a Will regulated by Rea- 
 fon in things within its Sphere: 'tis the dignity 
 of human Nature , and that which diftinguifhes it 
 from that of Beafts. Yea, even thofe grow more 
 contemtible in their kinds , the farther they are 
 removed from it. The ftupid fturdinefs of an 
 i\fs has rendered it Proverbial for folly 5 when 
 the tratfablenefs of other Animals has termed fun 
 to lift them among Rationals. Befides , reafon af- 
 fords fomthing of a Bafis and Foundation fcr the 
 Will to bottom on. He that governs himfelf by 
 
 reafon, 
 
38 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 Reafon (that being fhll the fame) will ad; equally 
 and confonant to himfelf ; but he that do's a thing 
 this moment, only becaufe he will , may the next 
 have as weighty an argument to do fomthing 
 quite contrary ; and fo may fpend his whole time 
 in unravelling his Spiders webs, as the Prophet 
 rightly calls the vain defignsof fuchbrutiih men , 
 If a. 59. 5. Not to fpeak of thofe recoilings and 
 upbraidings of the rational faculties, which are 
 the uneafy attendants of thofe who reiift its more 
 direct admonitions ; there is nothing expofes to 
 more fecular ruins. An ungovernable Will, is the 
 moft precipitous thing imaginable , and like the 
 Devil in the Swine, hurries headlong to deftrufii- 
 on *, and yet deprives one of that poor referve, 
 that faint comfort of the miferable, Pitty ; which 
 vvilLnoc be fo much invited by the mifery, as aver- 
 ted by that wilfulnefs which caufedit. Nay in- 
 deed , fo little can fuchperfons exped the com- 
 panion of others j that 'twill be hard for them to 
 afford themfelves their own : the confcioufnefs 
 that their calamities are but the iffues of their own 
 peryerfnefs , being, apt to difpofe. them more to 
 hate then pitty. And this is no fmall accumu- 
 lation, of wretchednefs , when a man fuffers not 
 only direftly , but at the rebound tco ; reinfli&s 
 his miferies upon himfelf by a grating refleftion 
 on his own madnefs. Yea, fo great an aggrava- 
 tion is it , that even Hell it felf is enhaunced and 
 compleated by it % all the torments there being 
 edged and fharpned by the woful remembrance, 
 that they might once have bin avoided. 1 1. In 
 
Sect. II. of Mceknefs. 39 
 
 11. In the hft place a Will duly fubmiffive 
 to lawful Superiors , is not only an amiable thing 
 in the eies of others , but exceedingly happy to 
 onesfelf; 'tis the parantof peace, and order both 
 public and private, A bleiling fo confiderable* 
 as is very cheaply bought with a little receeding 
 from ones own will or humor : whereas the con- 
 trary temper is the fpring and original of in- 
 finit confufions , the grand incendiary which fets 
 Kingdoms, Churches , Families , in combuftion ; 
 aflat contradiction net only to the word, but 
 even the works of God 5 a kind of Atnicreative 
 power, which reduces things to that Chaos from 
 whence God drew them. Our age has given us too 
 many and too pregnant inftances of its mifchic- 
 vouseffefts, which may ferve to enhaunce theva- 
 lu cf that governable malleable temper I now 
 recommend. And as a will thus refign d to Rea- 
 fon and juft Autority , is a felicity all rational 
 natures fhouldafpire to ; fo efpecially the femi- 
 nine Sex, whofe pafiions being naturally the more 
 impetuous , ought to be the more ftriSly guarded 
 and kept under the fevere difcipline of Reafon ; 
 for where 'tisotherwife, where a woman has no 
 guide bur her Will* and her Will is nothing but 
 her Humor, the event is furetobe fatal to her 
 felf, and often to others alfo. 
 
 12. And the hazard cf this renders that other 
 reftraint of the will > I mean that of obedience to 
 Superiors., a very happy impofition ; tho per- 
 haps 'tis not alwaies thought fo,for thofe who re- 
 
 1 fift 
 
4 o THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 fift the government of Reafon , are not very apt 
 to fubmit ro that of Autorhy.Yet fureGodand na- 
 ture do atteft the particular expediency of this 
 to women , by having placed that Sex in adegree 
 of inferiority to the other. Nay farther 'tis obfer- 
 Vable , that as there are but three fhtes of life, 
 thro which they can regularly pafs , »i& Vir- 
 ginity, Marriage, and Widowhood; two of them 
 areftates of Subjection , the firft to the parent, 
 the fecond to the husband ; and the third, as it is 
 cafual , whether ever they arrive to it or no , foif 
 they do, we find it by Godhimfelf reckon'd as a 
 condition the moft defoiate and deplorable, if 
 I fhould fay this happens upon that very fcore that 
 they are left to their own guidance, the fad wracks 
 of many would too much juftify the glofs , but 
 however it evinces,that God fets not the fame valu 
 upon their being mafterlefs, which fom of them 
 do , whilft he reckons them moft miferable , when 
 they are moft at liberty. 
 
 1 3. And fince Gods aflignation has thus deter- 
 mined fubje&iqn to be the womens lot,there needs 
 no other argument of its fitnefs 5 or for their ?cqui- 
 efcence. Therefore when ever they oppofe i t , the 
 contumacy flies higherthen the immediatSuperior, 
 and reaches God himfelf. And I am apt to think 
 there would not many of that timorous Sex dare 
 fofar, were it not for fome falfe punftillices of 
 honor, which (like thofe among our Duellifts)have 
 impofedthemfelves.Thefe reprefent Meeknefs and 
 Submiffion as a filly flheepifh quality unfit for wo- 
 men 
 
Sect. II. OfMeeknefs. 41 
 
 men of breeding andfpirit : whilft an imperious 
 obftinacy paiTes for noblencfs and greatnefs of 
 mind. But alas they are wofully mifraken in 
 their notion of a great fpirit , which ccnfifts in 
 fcorning to do unworthy and vi!e things,and cou- 
 ragioufly encountering the adverfe events of life, 
 notinfpurningatduty , or feekingtopull them- 
 felves from that Sphere where the divine Wifdotn 
 hath placed them. No fure , ftubbornnefs is the 
 mark only cf a great ftomac,not of a great mind; 
 and the cruelty of a coward may as well denomi- 
 nate him valiant , as the ungovernablenefs of a 
 woman can fpeak her generous. 
 
 14. I N this I prefume I fpeak the common 
 fenfe of all , for what valu foever they put upcn 
 themfelves 3 nothing renders them lefs acceptable 
 toothers; an imperious woman being a plague 
 to her relatives , and a derifion to ftrangers , 
 yea and a torment to her felf : every the leaft 
 contradiction (which ameekperfon would pafs 
 over infenfibly ) inflaming fuch an unruly tem- 
 per, and tranfporting her to fuch extravagan- 
 ces^ often produce very mifchievous erTecls. On 
 the other fide if (be be humor'd and complied 
 with 5 that ferves only to make her more infolent 
 and intolerable ; makes her humors grow ro fuch 
 an height, that fhe knows not her felf what would 
 pleafe her, and yet expeds that others ihouldr 
 fothat to fuch a one , we may apply what Hanni- 
 ^rf/faidof Marcellits, thai if he were vanquished, 
 he never gave reft to himfelf,nor if he were viclo- 
 
 F rious 
 
4 2 THE LADIES CALLING. Part . I. 
 
 rious , to others. Certainly the uneafinefs of a 
 perverfe fpirit is fo great , that could fuch come 
 but to compare it with the calm and happy fereni- 
 ty of Meeknefs and Obedience, there would need 
 no other Lefture to commend them to their 
 efteem or practice. 
 
 15. The laft branch of Meeknefs is that of 
 Affedicns , and confifts in reducing the paffions 
 to a temper and cahnnefs , not fufFering them to 
 make uproars within to difturb ones felf , nor 
 without to the difquieting of others ; and to this 
 regulation Meeknefsis generally fubfervient. Yet 
 becaufe the correding of fom particular paflions 
 are more immediatly affignable toother vermes, 
 I fhall infift only upon that , on which this has a 
 more dired and peculiar influence, I mean Anger, 
 a two edged pafiion, which whilft it deals its blows 
 without, wounds yet more fatally within. The 
 commotion and vexation which an angry man 
 feels , is far more painful then any thing he can 
 ordinarily inflid upon another : herein juftify- 
 ing the Epithet ufually given to Anger, that it is a 
 fhort madnefs-, for who that were in his right 
 wits , would incur a greater mifchief to do a lefs. 
 It is indeed fo great a diftemper of the mind , that 
 he that is poffeft with it is incompetent for any 
 fober undertaking, and fhould as much be fufpen- 
 dedfromadling, as one in aPhrenfie or Lunacy. 
 This was the judgment and pra&ice too of Plato, 
 who going to chaftifea fervant, and finding him- 
 lelf grow angry , ftopt his corredion \ a friend 
 
 coming 
 
Sect.II. Of Meeknefs. 43 
 
 coming in and asking what he was doing , f unify- 
 ing, replies he , an angry man , as thinking himfclf 
 unfit to difcipline another, till he had fubdued his 
 own paffion. Another time his (lave having offen- 
 ded him 3 Iwouldbeat thee, faies he, hut that I am 
 angry. It were endlefs indeed to recite the black 
 Epithets given by all Moralifts to this vice. It 
 fhall fuffice to take the fuffrage of the Wifcft of 
 men,onethat had acquainted himfelf to know mad- 
 nefs and folly , Eccl. 1. 17. and we find it his fen- 
 tence , that a/ger refis in the bofom of foo's , Eccl. 
 
 7. ir. ' 
 
 16. And what is thus univerfally unbecom- 
 ing to hyman nature, cannot fure be lefs indecent 
 for the gentler Sex : 'tis rather more fo , eve- 
 ry thing contracting fo much more of deformity, 
 by how much it receeds from its proper kind. 
 Now nature hath befriended women with a more 
 cool and temperat conftitution , put lefs of fire 
 andconfequentlyofcholer,in their compofitions; 
 fo that their heats of that kind are adventitious 
 and preternatural, rais'd often by fancy or pride, 
 and fo both look more unhanfomly , and have 
 lefs of pretence to veil and cover them. Befides 
 women have a native feeblenefs , unable to back 
 andafifert their angers with any effective force, 
 which may admonifh them 'twas never intended 
 they fliould let loofe to that pafllon , which nature 
 feems by that very unability to have interdicted 
 them. But when they do it , they render them- 
 felves at once defpifed and abhor'd ; nothing 
 
 F 2 being 
 
44 THE LADIES CALLING. Pari I. 
 
 being more ridicuioufly hateful, then an impo- 
 tent rage. 
 
 17. But as the moft feeble infecft may fom- 
 timesdifturb, tho not much hurt us, fo there 
 is one feminine weapon which as 'tisalwaies rea- 
 dy,fo proves often troublefom,I mean rheTongue, 
 which, tho in its loudeft clamors can naturally in- 
 vade nothing but the ear , yet even that is a mo- 
 leftation. The barking of a dog^tho we are fecure 
 he cannot bite, is a grating unplefant found; 
 and while women feek that way to vent their 
 rage , they are but a fort of fpeaking brutes , and 
 fhould confider whether that do not refleft more 
 contemt upon themfelves, then their moft viru- 
 lent reproches can fix upon others. 
 
 18. But fom things have had the luck to ac- 
 quire a formidablenefs nobody knows how , and 
 fure there is no greater inftance of it then in this 
 cafe. A clamorous woman is lookt on , tho not 
 with reverence, yet with much dread ; and we of- 
 ten find things don to prevent or appeafe her 
 ftorms, which wouldbe denied to the calm and ra- 
 tional defires of a meeker perfon. And perhaps 
 fuch fuccefies have not bin a little accefTory to the 
 fomenting the humor : yet fure it gives them lit- 
 tle caufe of triumph , when they confider how 
 odious it makes them, how unfit (yea intolerable) 
 for human fociety ; let them take the verdift of 
 Solomon who declares it better to dwell Prov.2 5.24. 
 in a corner of a houfe top , then with a brawling wo* 
 man in a wide houfe. Nor do's the fon of Sirac 
 
 fpeak 
 
Se c t, II. Of Meeknefs. 4 5 
 
 fpeak lefs fharply tho more ironically, Eccluf. 2 6, 
 27. A loud cry ing woman and a fcoldftallbe fought 
 out to drive away the enemy* And tho he taxes the 
 feminine vices impartially enough, yet there is 
 fcarce any of them which he more often and more 
 feverely brands then this of unquietnefs. It feems 
 'twas a thing generally lcokt on,as very infuffera- 
 ble;as appears by Socrates^ho when he defign'd to 
 difcipline himfelf to perfeft patience and tole- 
 rance,knew no better way of exercife, then to get 
 a fhrew to his vife,an excellence that may perhaps 
 again recommend a woman , when we fall to an 
 age of Philofophers ; but atprefent 'twill be hard 
 for any of our Xantippes to find a Socrates ; and 
 therefore that quality is as deftruftive to their in- 
 tereftsin getting husbands, as it is to the hus- 
 bands quiet when he is got. But I prefume I need 
 not declame further againft thisfault,whichl fup- 
 pofe cannot be frequent among that rank of wo- 
 men to whom this Tra<ft is intended:for if neither 
 moral nor divine Confederations have prevented 
 it 5 yet probably civility and a gentile education 
 hath : a fcold being a creature to be lookt for on- 
 ly in Stalls and Markets , not among perfons of 
 quality. Yet if there be any that have defcended 
 to fo fordid a praftice , they have fo far degraded 
 themfelves, that they are not to wonder if others 
 fubftraft that refpeft, which upon other accounts 
 they might demand. 
 
 19. And to fuch Ifhould recommend theu^- 
 fual method of Phyfic , which is to cure by revul- 
 
 fion, 
 
46 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 fion , let that ihirp humor which fo habitually 
 flows to the tongue , be taught a little to recoile , 
 and work inward ; and inftead of reviling others, 
 difcipline and correft themfelves : let them up- 
 braid their own madnefs , that togratifiean im- 
 potent , nay a mod painful paflion , have degene- 
 rated from what their nature, their qualities, their 
 education , defign'd them. And if they can thus 
 reverfe their difplefures, 'twill not only fecure 
 others from all their indecent aflkults , but it will 
 at laft extinguilli them. For Anger is corrofive, 
 and if it be kept only to feed upon its felf , mull 
 be its own devourer $ if it be permitted to fetch 
 no forrage from without, nur to nurifh it felf 
 with fufpicions and furmifes cf others, nor to 
 make any Tallies at the tongue, it cannot long 
 hold out. 
 
 20. And how much they will herein confult 
 their intereft and their reputation too , they may 
 be taug^by Solomon, who makes it the diftin&ive 
 fignoffijoolifk woman to he clamorous , Prov. 9. 13. 
 whereas when he gives the character of his Ex- 
 cellent woman , he links Wiiclom and Gentle- 
 nefs together , fl)e openeth her mouth with rv fdom, 
 and in her tongue is the law of kindness, Prov. 31.26. 
 If this verdift may be admitted (as fure it ougnt, 
 whether we confider his wifdom , or dear bought 
 experience in women) it will confute the com- 
 mon plea of querulous fpirits , who think to feem 
 infenfible of any the leaft provocation , is to ap- 
 pear £Ug and ftupid ; tho truly if it were fo, 
 
 'twould 
 
Sect. II. of Mceknefs. 47 
 
 5 j 1 — — — . , — . 
 
 twould be full as eligible as to appear mad and 
 raving , as they commonly do in the tranfport of 
 their fury. 
 
 2 j. To conclude , Meeknefs is fo amiable , fo 
 indearing a quality 5 and fo peculiarly embellifli- 
 ing to women , that did they but all confider it 
 with half the attention they do their more trivial 
 exterior ornaments , 'twould certainly be taken 
 up as the univerfal mode , in all the feveral varia- 
 tions of it this Sedionhas prefented. 
 
 SECT. 
 
48 THE LADIES CALLING. Part fc 
 
 SECT. III. 
 
 Of Cornfaffion. 
 
 I. /^\F near Affinity to the Vertu of Meek- 
 V_^/nefs, is that of Mercy and Compaflion, 
 which indeed can fcarce thrive in any place where 
 the former hath not prepared the foil : Anger 
 and Obftinacy being like that rough Eaft-wind 
 which brought the Egyptian Locufts,£;m/.io.i3. 
 to eat up every green thing in the Land. A mind 
 harraffed with its ownimpatiency , is not atlefure 
 to obferve , much lefs to condole the calamities of 
 others. But as a calm and clear day befriends us 
 with a more diftind Profped of diftant Obje&Sj 
 fo when all is quiet and ferene within us , we can 
 then look about us , and difcern what exigencies 
 of others invite our pitty. 
 
 2. I need not fay much to raife an eftimate of 
 this Vertu, fince 'tisfoeffential to our Nature, 
 fo interwoven in the compofition of Humanity, 
 that we find in Scripture phrafe, Companion is ge- 
 nerally feated in the moft inward fenfible part of 
 our frame^the bowels. So Col. 3.12. Tm on there- 
 fore bowels of mere) \ and Phil. 2. 1. Bowels and 
 mercies. So that a cruel ruthlefs perfon unmans 
 himfelf , and is by the common vote of mankind 
 to be lifted among brutes ; nay , not among the 
 better, but only the more hateful , noxious fort of 
 them. 3. B u T 
 
Sect. III. Of Companion* 49 
 
 3. But this is yet more unnatural in the female 
 Sex, which being of fofter moid, is more pliant 
 and yielding to the imprefilons ot' pirty , and by 
 the ftrength of fancy redoubles the horror of any 
 fad object. Yea fo remarkable is this tendernefs, 
 thatG r d 3 when he would moft magnify his own 
 companion , iliuftrares it by that of women , as 
 the higheft human inftance. Indeed fuch a pro- 
 penfionhave women to commiferation, that they 
 are ufually taxed with an excefs in it ; Co that any 
 imprudent lenity is Proverbially called, A wo* 
 manifli Pitty , and therefore it may be thought ao 
 impertinence to exhort them to that which they 
 can fcarce avoid. But to this I anfwer ; tirfr 3 that 
 in this degenerous age , 'tis no news to fee people 
 violate their inftindts , as well as their duties , and 
 be worfe then their nature inclines them 5 many 
 fins being committed even againft the grain , and 
 with violence to conftitution. 
 
 4. Yet fecondly, 'tis not a meer melting of 
 the eies, or yerning of the bowels I defign to 
 recommend: Alas, their tears will not be drink 
 to a thirfty foul , nor will fhivenng at his naked- 
 nefs cloth him. This is fuch an infignifkant mer- 
 cy as St. James defcribes , faying to a brother or 
 fifter, be ye warmed , beyeplled^ but notgivi g them 
 things needful to the bodj^ c. 2. 1 6. Indeed,fhe that 
 weeps over thofe diftrefTes Ihe will not relieve, 
 might have bin fit to be enter'd in the lift of the 
 mourning women among the Jews and Heathens, 
 who were hired to make up the Tragic Pomp of 
 
 G Func 
 
so THE L ADIES CALLING. PaRtI * 
 
 Funerals wiih their mercenary forrow, but had no 
 real ccncern in that lofs they feemedto bewail. 
 'Tis therefore a more adive fort of Compaffion 
 to which I would invite them ; and yet for method 
 fake , I fhall confider it under two diftinft Heads, 
 Giving, and Forgiving. 
 
 5. BY Giving, in this place, I mean not a ge- 
 neral liberality, (tho that prudently bounded , is 
 an Excellence well becoming Perfons of Fortune) 
 but only fuch a Giving as terminates upon the 
 needy , and is applied to fuccor their indigencies. 
 To give to thofe from whom they may expeft re- 
 turns, maybeadefign, but at the beft can be but 
 generofity and franknefs of humor. 'Tis only 
 then mercy (as Chrift Himfelf has defined it) 
 when it^is to thofe from whom they can hope for 
 nothing again. 
 
 6. And inthisVertu women have in former 
 Ages eminently excelled, yea foeffentialwasit, 
 that we find Solomon thought not their character 
 compleat without it, but numbers it among the 
 properties of his Vertuous Woman, Frov. 31.20. 
 Shefiretcheth forth her hand to the poor, and reach- 
 cth her hand to the needy. And it is a little obfer- 
 vable , that after he has defcrib'd her Induftry and 
 Diligence for the acquiring of Wealth, this is fet 
 in the front of her disburfments , as the principal 
 ufelhe made of it 5 and precedes her providing 
 Scarlet for her Houfhold,or fine Linnen and Pur- 
 ple for her felf, v. 2r, 22. The application is very 
 ebvious, and admoniflies all that own the fame 
 
 Title 
 
Sect. hi. Of Compdffion* 51 
 
 Title of Vertuous Women , to prefer the necefil- 
 ties of others before their own fuperfluities and 
 delicacies. Nay , if they look further , and con- 
 fider who it is that is performed in the poor , that 
 begs in every needy diftreft fuppliant, and that 
 will finally own every aft of mercy as don to him- 
 felf ; methinks they fhould fomtimes think fit to 
 facrificeeven their moft moderate enjohnents to 
 their charity , beafliamedto ferve themfelves be- 
 fore their Savior, or let him ftand naked and hun- 
 gry,whilft they are folacing with that which would 
 relieve him. 
 
 7. But how then fh ill they anfwerit,who fuf- 
 fer him to be fupplanted , not by their needs, but 
 excefles; who have fo devoted their hearts and 
 purfes to vanity and luxury , that they have nei- 
 ther will nor power to fuccor the wants of others t 
 How unequal and difproportionate is it, that 
 thofe who ftudy to fling away mony upon them- 
 felves, cannot betemted by any importuniry and 
 diftrefs , to drop an alms to the poor ? What a 
 prepofterous fight is it to fee a Lady > whofe gay 
 Attire gives her the glittering of the Sun , yet 
 have nothing of its other properties, never to 
 cheer any drooping , languifliing creature by her 
 influence i Tis the counfel of the fon of Sirac^ 
 not to give the poor any occafion to cur ft *&* 5 Eccluf. 
 4. 5 • But fure fuch perfons do it, if the poor hap- 
 pen not to have more Charity then they exem- 
 plity to them. For when they jfhall find fuch hard 
 hearts under fuch loft raiment , fee them beftow 
 
 G 2 fo 
 
THE LADIES CALLING. Part I, 
 
 fo much upon the decking their cwn bodies > and 
 do nothing towards the neceffrry fupport of 
 theirs ; 'tis a ihrewd trial of their Meeknefs. 
 Poverty is apt of it felf to imbitter the fpirit, 
 and needs not fuch an additional temtation. 
 
 8, NAY farther, when a poor ftarving wretch 
 (hall look upon one of thefegiy creatures,and fee 
 that any one of the baubles , the loofeft appen- 
 dage of her drefs , a fan, a busk , perhaps a black 
 patch, bears a price that wculd warm his emty 
 bowels ; will he not have flurp incitations not 
 only to execrate her pride, and his own poverty, 
 but conf-quently to repine at the unequal diftri- 
 bution of Providence , and add fin to his mifery i 
 The denial therefore of an alms may be a double, 
 cruelty , to the foul as well as to the body, 
 *Tis faid cf Xenocrates , 4 that a chafed Bird flying 
 tohisbofom, he refcued it with much fatis&fiicn* 
 faying ,Htr had not betraid a fuppliant ; but this 
 is in that cafe reverft , and in an higher inftance ; 
 for what can be mere the betraying of a fuppliant, 
 then inftead of fupplying his wants, to rob him of 
 his innocence , and be his fnare in lieu of his re- 
 fuge i This is a confideration I willi more deeply 
 impreft upon the women of this Age 5 and truly 
 'tis their concern it fliould be fo ; for fince at the 
 laft day the inqueft fiuil be fo particular upon 
 this very thing , 'tis but neceflary they fliould exa- 
 min how they are fitted to pafs that teft. 
 
 9, Let them therefore keep a preparatory 
 audit within their own breft , refled upon the ex- 
 
 psnees 
 
S e c t . HI. Of Cowpaffton. 5 $ 
 
 pences of their vanity, what the delicacy of their 
 food, what the richness and variety of their clothes, 
 nay what the meer hypocrifies of their drefs , in 
 falfe hair,and complexion has coft them ; to which 
 they may alfo add the charge of their recreations 
 anddivenifments, thofe coftly arts of chafinga- 
 way that time, which they will one d*y v.ifh to 
 recal : let them I fay compute all this* and then 
 confront to it the account of their Charity, and I 
 much fear the latterwill with many of them be 
 comparatively as undifcernible, as Socrates found 
 Alc'ibiades $ Lands in the Map of the whol eWorld, 
 befo perfectly overwhelmed, that it will appear 
 little in their own fight and nothing in Gods, 
 
 10. For if the poor Widows mite acquired 
 a valu meerly from her poverty , that ihe had no 
 more ; by the rule of contraries we may conclude, 
 how defpicable the fcanty oblations of the rich 
 are in Gods account. If even their liberality who 
 gave much , was outvied by a farthing , Mar. 12. 
 41. to what point of diminution muft their nig- 
 gardly offerings, who give little, be reduced, 
 efpecially when they (hall be compared with the 
 numerous and coftly facrirlces they make to pride 
 and luxury. Nay I wifh fom were not guilty of 
 more then the difproportion, even the coral omif- 
 fion of Charity,that in a multitude of Taylors bills 
 cannot produce the account of one Garment for 
 the poor, that amidft the delicacies of their own 
 diet (nay perhaps of their dogs too) never or- 
 der'd fo much as the crumbs of their Table to any 
 
 hungry 
 
54 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 hungry Lazarus. But let all fuch remember , that 
 there will come a time , when one of Tabithas 
 coats, AH. 9* 3 9. will be of more valu then all 
 their richeft Wardrobes, tho they could num- 
 ber Gowns with Lucullus 1 $ Cloaks, which the 
 Roman Story reports to be 5000 • and that when 
 their luxurious fare (hill only feaft the worms, 
 and render them paffive in that Epicurifm they 
 afted before, they will wifli they had made the 
 bellies of the poor their refe&ory, and by feeding 
 them nuriflied themfelves to immortality. 
 
 11. Let this I fay be ferioufly rememberd 
 now , leaft hereafter they fall under the fame ex- 
 probrating remembrance with the rich man in the 
 Gofpei , Luke 16. 25. Remember that thou in thy 
 life time received} thy good things , and Lazarus 
 that which was evil^but now he is comforted and thou 
 art tormented. A Text which St* Gregory profeffes 
 was ever founding in his ears , and made him look 
 with fufpicion and dread upon that grandeur to 
 which he was advanced , as fearing it might be de* 
 fign'd as his final reward. With what terror then 
 may thofe look upon their prefent good things, 
 who by ingrofling them wholly to themfelves^own 
 them as their entire portion , and implicitly dili 
 claim their (hare of the future? For to that none 
 tuuft pretend , who receive their tranfitory goods 
 under any other notion, then that of a Steward 
 or Faficr : as we may fee in the parable of the Ta- 
 lents , where thofe that had the reward of the five 
 and ten Cities were not fuch as had confumed 
 
 their 
 
Sect. III. Of Comfajfion. 55 
 
 their Talents upon their own riot and exceffes , 
 but fuch as had induftrioufly emploied them accor- 
 ding to the defign of their Lord.And if it there fa- 
 red fo ill with the meer unprofitable fervant , who 
 had hoarded up his Talent , what fhall become of 
 thofe , who fquander away theirs, and can give no- 
 account either of life or Principle ? 
 
 12. Were thefe confideraticns duly laid to 
 heart , we might hope to fee fom of the Primi- 
 tive Charity revive , when women of the Higheft 
 rank converted their Ornaments and coftly Deck- 
 ings into clothing for thepoor, and thought no 
 retinue fo defirable , fo honorable as a train of 
 Alms-folks. But I fpeak improperly, when I make 
 the poor their attendants , for indeed they rather 
 attended the poor , did not only order the fupply 
 of theirwants, but were themfelves their niinl- 
 fters, waited about their fickbeds,dreft their moir. 
 loathfem ulcers , and defcended to all the moft 
 fervile offices about them. 
 
 1 3 . B u t thefe were fuch heights , fuch tranf- 
 cendencies of mercy , as required a deeper foun- 
 dation of Humility then will now be often met 
 with : yet let me take the occaficn to fay j that it 
 may be a good managery of a charity to aft (as 
 far as they can) perfonally in it. Forbeiides that 
 it prevents fom abufes and frauds, which depu- 
 ted Agents may fomtimes be temted tco, they pay 
 God a double tribute in it, of their perfons as well 
 as their fortunes. Next they bring themfelves into 
 acquaintance with the poor, and by that means 
 
 ccrred 
 
S6 THE LADIES CALLING. Part. I. 
 
 corre&thofe contemts and nice difdains, which 
 their own profperity is tod apt to create. Further 
 yet, they excite their own compaflion , which be- 
 ing a motion of the fenfitive part of the mind* 
 cmnot be ftirr'd fo effe&ually by any thing , as by 
 the prefence of the objeft ; the nioft pathetic 
 tragical defcription of adiftrefs, being not able 
 to affeft us half fo much as one ocular demonftra- 
 tion. Laftly 'tis an ape means to increafe their 
 thankfulnefs to Almighty God, whofe bounty to 
 themfelves muft needs make a deeper impreflion, 
 when 'tis compared with the necefTnous condi- 
 tion of others. For things are beft iliuftrated by 
 their contraries , and 'tis too obfervable in our 
 depraved nature , that we valu not things by 
 their real pofitive worth , but comparatively as 
 they excel others , nor ever make a right eftimate 
 of what we enjoy 3 till our own or others wants 
 inftruftus, 
 
 14. Upon all thefe confiderations it may be 
 a very becoming ufeful circumftance in any cha- 
 ritable miniftery to be themfelves the a#ors ; and 
 to that end 'twill be a very commendable induftry, 
 to qualifie themfelves to be helpful to the poor in 
 as many inftances as they can ; not only opening 
 their purfes 5 but difpenfatories too , providing 
 medecines for fuch as either by difeafe , or cafual- 
 ty want that fort of relief.A charity which I doubt 
 not is pradifed by many, and I wifh it were by 
 more, that our nicer Dames who ftudy only Ccf- 
 metics forthemfelves,would change theScene,and 
 
 inftead 
 
Sect. III. Of Comfajfion. 6 I 
 
 inftead of repairing or difguifing their own com- 
 plexions, ftudy the reftauration of their decrepit 
 patient limbs. And fure, tho it be a lefs tailiiona- 
 ble«, 'tis much a better fight, to fee a Lady binding 
 up a fore,then painting her face; and fhe will aift 
 a much fweeter favor in God's noftnls, with the 
 fmell of unguents and ba!fo:n?, then with the moffc 
 exquifit odors and perfumes. For fince God pro- 
 feffes, I fa. i. that that very mttnft \* hich was de- 
 fign'd as a pari of his worfliip, was an abomination 
 to him, becaufe not accompanied with the acls of 
 Mercy, we cannot think he will better like of 
 thofe, which have no higher aim then delicacy and 
 fenfuality. 
 
 1 5. But befldes this part of mercy in Giving, 
 there is another, that of Forgiving, which may 
 happen to be of a larger extent then the former : 
 for whereas that was confin'd to the poor, this 
 has no fuch limits, but as it is poffible to be in- 
 jured by perfons of all ranks, fo this pardcning 
 mercy is to ieach equalh with that pofiibility. 
 This is that part of Charitv which we peculiarly 
 call Clemency, a Vertu which not only Chrifti- 
 anity but Morality recommends. The Ancient Ro- 
 mans had it in fuch venerationjthat they numbered 
 it not only among VertuesbutDeities, and built 
 it a Temple. And they were fomwhat towards 
 the right in it, for it was, tho net God, yet fo emi- 
 nent an attribute of his, that nothing can more af- 
 fimilate man unto him. 
 
 H l6.THsR* 
 
62 THE LADIES CALLING. Part L 
 
 16. There are many Heroic acls of this kind 
 to be met with among the vertuous Heathens. Ly- 
 curgus not cnly forgave Alexander who had flruck 
 out his eie, but entertain'd him in his houfe, and 
 by his gentle admonitions reclaim'd him from his 
 former vicious life. Arislides being after fignal fer- 
 vices, and without crime, unjuftly banifhed by- his 
 Citizens,was fo fir from acting, or imprecating a-, 
 gainft them, that at his departure from Athens he 
 folemnly praied the Gods, that they might never 
 by any trouble or diftrefs be forced to recall him. 
 So Phoaon being unjuftiy condemned, left it as a 
 folemn charge to his fon Phocas, that he fliould 
 never revenge his death. A multitude of the like 
 examples might be produced, but we need not 
 borrow Tght from their faint Tapers, when we 
 have the Sun-beams,I mean the Sun of Righteouf- 
 nefs, our bleffed Savior, who,as he has recommen • 
 ded this grace by his precept, fo he has fignally 
 exemplified it to us in his Practice ; the whole de- 
 fign of his defcent to earth being only to refcu 
 his enemies from deftrudtion. And as every part 
 of his life, fo the laft. Scene of it was particularly 
 adapted to this end, and his expiring Breath ex- 
 pended in mediating for his crucifiers ; Father 
 forgive them, Luk. 23. 34. And this copy of his 
 was tranferibed by his tirft followers, the Primi- 
 tive Chriftians in their fevereft Martyrdoms pray- 
 ing for their perfecutors. 
 
 17. Thus are we in the Apoftles phrafe com- 
 faffed about mth a cloud of mtneffes, Heb. 12. 1. 
 
 of 
 
Sect. III. . Of Companion. 63 
 
 of eminent examples, which ought to have a for- 
 cible influence upon all, but methinks fliould not 
 fail to have it on that Sex, whofe native tender- 
 nefs predifpcfes them to the Vertu, and who need 
 but fwimwith the ftream of their own inclina- 
 tions. How can we think that their melting eies 
 fliould ever fparkle fire, cr delight in fpeflacles 
 of cruelty, that their flexible tender hearts fliould 
 turn into Steel or Adamant, be uncapable of all 
 imprefTions of pitty ? Yet God knows fuch chan- 
 ges rnve too often bin feen : wemen have not 
 only put off that fofmefs peculiar to them, but 
 the common inftinft; of Humanity, and have ex- 
 ceeded not only favage men, but beafts in cruelty. 
 There have bin too frequent inflances of the im- 
 placable malice, and infatiable cruelties of wo- 
 men, /need not call in the aid of Poetic fidion, 
 and tell them of Clytemneftra, Medea, or the Ee- 
 lidesy with hundreds of others, celebrated as in- 
 stances of Heroic wickednefs. There are examples 
 enough in more authentic Stories, The Roman 
 Tullia, the Perfian F dry fat is 5 and that we may not 
 pafs by the facred Annals,y^W, and Athaliah. I 
 forbear to multiply examples of this kind,of which 
 all ages hare produced fom fo eminent, as have 
 render'd it a common obfervation,that no cruelty 
 exceeds that of an exafperated woman: & it is not 
 much to be wonder'd at, fince nothing can be fo 
 ill in itspriftine ftate as that which degenerates 
 from a better. No enmity we know fo bitter as 
 that of alienated friends ; no fuch perfection as 
 
 H 2 that 
 
tf 4 THE LADIES CALLING. P/rt I. 
 
 that of Apoftats, and proportionably no fuch fe- 
 rity as that of aperyerted mildnefs. So that the 
 Poets were not much out,who as they represented 
 the Graces under the figures cf women, fo they did 
 the Furies too. And fince 'tis in their eleftk n which 
 part they will acl, they ought to be very jealous 
 over themfelves. The declinations to any vice are 
 gradual, fomtimes at firft fcarce difcernable $ and 
 probably the greater! monfters of cruelty, would 
 at the beginning have dcteft.-d thofe inhumanities 
 which afterwards they a&ed with greedinefs. 
 
 i §. It concerns th^m therefore to ward thofe 
 beginnings whofe end may be fo fatal. She that 
 is quick in apprehending an affront, perhaps will 
 not be fo quick in diiiniiiing that apprehenfion; & 
 if it be permitted to ftay, 'twill quickly improve, 
 twenty little circumfrances (hall be fuborn'd to fo- 
 ment it with new fufpicions, till at laft it grow to 
 a quarrel , from thence to hatred, from that to 
 malice, and frcm that to revenge : ?nd when that 
 black paffion has overfpread the mind, like an E- 
 gyptian darknefs it admits no gleam of Reafon or 
 Religion, but hurries them blindfold to their own 
 ruin ofcen as well as others. 
 
 19. Let none think this only a fancy or 
 fcheme of Difcourfe: there have bin too many tra- 
 gical experiments of its truth.How many men have 
 bin mortally engaged upon no weightier original 
 then the fpleen of a woman ? the frantic notion 
 of honor among our Duellifts fitly correfponding 
 with the as frantic impulfes of feminine revenge, 
 
 and 
 
S e c T. Ill . Of Comfaflion. 6 5 
 
 andany imaginary injury (or perhaps but juft im- 
 putation) to the Lady 5 obliging her Gallant to 
 rufii upon the moft real fin and danger. A mad- 
 nefb fomthing beyond that vwiich the Romances 
 defcribe of Knight Errantry : for that generally is 
 for the relief of diftreffed Damfels , but this is 
 only to humor the too profperous ones z the info- 
 lent and the proud. Thofe therefore that haveob- 
 ferved the common occafions of Duels \ have not 
 unfitly divided them between Wine and Women 5 
 itbeing hard to fay v hich is the moft intoxicating 
 andbefotting. The Son of Sirac couples them 
 XOgtt\itv^Ecclif. 19. 2. Wine and Women will make 
 men of understanding fall away. The many mo- 
 dern examples cf this mifchief , asir fhouldftrike 
 an extreme terror into thofe Women who have 
 bin any way accefTary to the death , or but danger 
 of any man ; foit is juft matter cf caution to all, 
 fo to regulate their Paffions, that they never come 
 within diftance of Implacability 5 for if once they 
 arrive there, themfirlves can give no flop. 
 
 20. In order to this, 'twill be well to confi- 
 der at the firft incitation,what the real ground is ; 
 perhaps fomtimes they are angry (as the Galati- 
 answere at St. Paul, Gal. 4. i6.)*tf thofe that tell 
 them the truth 5 fom fcandalous, or at leaft fufpi- 
 cious behavior, may have engaged a friend to ad- 
 monilh them 5 (an office that has fomtimes proved 
 very fatal ; thofe commonly that have moft guilt 
 having lefs patience to hear of it.) And if this 
 be the cafe , 'tis the greateft injuftice in the world 
 
 to 
 
66 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 to make that a quarrel which is really an obliga- 
 tion : and therefore inftead of maligning their 
 Monitor, they ought to thank and reverence him. 
 Niy , tho theaccufation be not with that candid 
 defign, but be meant as a reproch ; yet if it be 
 true, it fhould not excite anger at their accufers, 
 but remorfe, and reformation in themfelves. 
 
 2r. It was the faying of a Wife man, that he 
 profited more by his enemies then his frends $ 
 becaufe they would tell him more roundly of his 
 faults. And this is excellently improved by Plu- 
 tarch , in his Traft , Of the benefits to be reap'd 
 from Enemies : fo that even a malicious accufa- 
 tion may beakindnefs, and confequently ought 
 not to be repaid with an injury. But fuppofe, 
 in the laft place, that the afperfion be not only 
 unkind, but untru, it will not even then befif to 
 let loofe to their indignation. Fh ft , in refpecfr of 
 Prudence, an angry vindication ferving thede- 
 fign of the enemy , and helping to fpread the ca- 
 lumny ; whereas a wife neglecT: nd diffembiing 
 do's often Trifle and fupprefs it. Secondly, in 
 refpecl of duty, for all that own themfelves Chri- 
 ftians , muft confefs they are under an obligation 
 to forgive, and not to revenge. Now if they in- 
 tend to pay a real obedience to this Precept, 'twill 
 be the more eafie,the fooner they let to it He that 
 fees his houfe on fire,will not dally with the flame, 
 much lefs blow , or extend it , revolving to quench 
 it at laft. And anger is as little to be trufted, 
 which if once throughly kindled , will fcarce ex- 
 pire 
 
SECT. III. Of Companion. 67 
 
 pire but with the deftrucftion of the fubjeft it 
 works on. 
 
 2i. Let therefore the difoblig'd not look 
 back upon the injury , but forward to thofe mif- 
 chiefs which too fharp a refentment may betray 
 them to: let them confider , that the boiling of 
 their blood may finally caufe the effufioiy of ano- 
 thers, and wrath may fwell into murder. If they 
 would do thus , and inftead of thofe magnifying 
 optics wherein they view the wrong , make ufe of 
 the other end of the perfpetfive , to difccrn the 
 difmal event at diftance ; it would fure fright 
 them from any nearer approch , would keep them 
 within thofe bounds which their duty prefcribes 
 them, and thereby acquaint them with a much 
 greater, and more ingenious plefurethen their 
 higheft revenge can giv* them : I mean that of 
 forgiving injuries, and obliging the injurious. 
 This is aplefure fo pure and refined, fo noble and 
 heroic, that none but rational natures are capa- 
 ble of it ; whereas that of Spight and Revenge (if 
 it can be called a plefure) is a meer beftial one ; 
 every the moft contemtible animal can be angry 
 when 'tis mclefted, and endevor to return the 
 mifchief. 
 
 23. It (liould therefore, methinks, be an eafy 
 determination, whether to embrace that Clemency 
 and Companion which we fte exemplified in the 
 wifeftandbeft of men , n^y in the Omnifcient, 
 immortal Cod , or that fav^ge fierceneis of the 
 ignobleft creatures. This is certain , that no wo- 
 
 niun 
 
6% THE LADIES CALLING. Part. I. 
 
 man would be content to affume the outward form 
 of any of thofe : why then fliould they fubjed 
 their nobler part , the mind, tofuch a transfor- 
 mation? For , as there are no mcnfters fo de- 
 formed , as thofe which are compounded of man 
 and beaft: fo among them ail , nothing can be 
 more unnatural , more odious, then a woman- Ti- 
 ger. I conclude all with the advice of Solomon, 
 Prov. 17. 14. The beginning of Sir ife is as when 
 one letteth out water : therefore leave off contention 
 before it be me died with. When once a breach is 
 made upon the fpirit by immoderate anger , all 
 the confequent mifchiefs will flow in , like a rapid 
 ftream when the banks are broken down ; nor is 
 there any way to prevent it , but by keeping the 
 mounds entire , preferving that Tendernefs and 
 Compaffion which Gcd and Nature do equally in- 
 force and recommend. 
 
 SECT 
 
Sect. IV. Of Affibilit). 65 
 
 SECT. IV. 
 
 Of Affability. 
 
 1. TN thenext place we may reckon Affability 
 XandCourtelle \ which as it is amiable in all, 
 fo it is Angularly fo in women ot Quality , and 
 more univei Tally neceffary in them then in the o- 
 therSex. For men have often charges and em. 
 ploiments which do juftity , nay perhaps require 
 fomwhat of fterniuis andaufterity ; but women 
 ordinarily have few or no occa lions of it , and 
 thofe who have well digefltd the former Leclures 
 of Meeknefs and Companion 5 will not be apt to 
 put it on unneceflurily. Noa Arfability may he 
 confidered either as a meer human Acccmpliih- 
 ment, or as a divine Vertu •, in either notion 'tis 
 commendable , but 'tis the latter that gives it the 
 higheft Excellence and Perfection. 
 
 2. To begin with the firft norion of it, we 
 may take an eftimate of its worth by its Caufe, 
 and by its Effects. For its Caufe, it derives it 
 felf either from a narive candor and generofity 
 of mind , or from a noble and ingenious Educa- 
 tion > or fomthing jointly from both; and thefe 
 are as good Originals as any thing meerly moral 
 can flow from. And that thefe are indeed its four- 
 ces, common experience will atteft : thofe of the 
 greateft Minds,andbeft Exrra#ions,being ufually 
 
 I molt 
 
6(5 THE LADIES CALLI NG. PaRTI . 
 
 moft condescending and obliging ; whereas thofe 
 of moft abjeft Spirits and Birth , are the moft in- 
 fulting and imperious, Alexander the Great > 
 tho terrible in the field, ye t was of a gentle, com- 
 plaifant converfation, familiarly treating thofe a- 
 bouthim: yet Criffmus, Narciffus, Nymph'tdms, 
 and other enfranchifed bondmen , we find info- 
 lentiy trampling upon the Roman Senators and 
 Confuls. Tis therefore a great error forPerfons 
 of Honor, to think they acquire a reverence by 
 putting on a fupercilious gravity, looking coily 
 and difdainfully upcn all about them 5 'tis fo far 
 from that , that it gives a fufpicion that 'tis but a 
 pageantry of greatnefs , fom mufhrom newly 
 fprung up, that ftands fo ftifr, and fwells fo much. 
 Butinfteadof teaching others to keep their di- 
 stance , this faftidious difdain invites them to a 
 clofer infpedion 5 that if there be any flaw either 
 in their life or birth, 'twill be fure to be difcover- 
 ed , there being no fuch prying inquifitor as cu- 
 rio(ity 5 when 'tis egg'd on by a fcnfe of con- 
 temt. 
 
 3,On the other fide , if we confider the ef- 
 fects of Courtefie, they are quite contrary 5 it en- 
 dears to all , and often keeps up a Reputation in 
 fpight of many blemifhes .• a kind look or word 
 trcm a Superior is ftrangely charming , and in- 
 fenfibly ftealsaw«y mens hearts from them. This 
 the Wife man refers xo£ccluf.i$.i6. when he pre- 
 fers a Word before a Gift. And 'tis ?lutarch\ 
 obiervation of CUmtms King of Spirta , that 
 
 when 
 
Sect. IV. Of Affability. 
 
 when the Grecians compared his Affability and 
 eafinefs of Accefs with the fallen ftate and pride 
 of other Princes, they were fo enamored with it, 
 that they judged him only worthy to be aKing. And 
 as there is no certainer, fo alio no cheaper way cf 
 gaining love : a friendly falutation is as eafy as a 
 frown or reproch ; and that kindnefs may be pre- 
 ferved by them, which if once forfeited , will not 
 at a far greater price be recovered. 
 
 4. Besides when human viciffitudes are con- 
 sidered, it may be a point of Prudence too-, 
 the greateft Perfons may fo 111 times want aiTi- 
 ftance from the meanefr ; nay fomtimesthe face 
 of a ffairs is quite changed , and the wheel of For- 
 tune turns them loweft that were uppermoft , and 
 proportionably elevates the meaneft. 'Tis wif- 
 dom therefore fo to treatall , as to leave no im- 
 prefTions of unkindnefs , fince none is fo defpiea- 
 ble, but may poffibly at one time or other have 
 an opportunity to retaliate. 'Twas therefore a 
 prudent as well as an equitable refohuicn of the 
 Emperor , who faid he would fo entertain the ad- 
 dreffes of his Subjeds , as , if he were a Subject, 
 he would wifti the Prince fliould entertain him: 
 a rule very worthy to fway all Perfons of Ho- 
 nor in their entercourfe with others. And fince 
 even among Perfons in Command there are de- 
 grees, and ihe which is fuperior to one 5 is inferior 
 to another ; they have a ready way to compare 
 the civility they pay , with that they expert. Let 
 therefore one who meets with a coid , neglectful 
 
 I a Treat- 
 
68 THE LAt lES CALLING, Part I, 
 
 Treatment from any above her , examin her c wn 
 refentments , and then reflet that if flie gire the 
 like to thofe below her , the v will doubtlefs have 
 the fame fenfe •, and therefore let her refolve ne- 
 ver to offer what fbe fo much diflikes to bear : and 
 fhe that do's thus, that makes fuch inferences* 
 will Convert an Injury into a Benefit ; civilize her 
 felf by the rudenefs of others , and make that ill 
 nurture her own difcipline, 
 
 5. But hitherto we confider Affabili ty only 
 inns ethnic drefs, as it is a human ornament; 
 'twill appear yet more enamoring upon afecond 
 view, when we look on it as bearing the imprefs of 
 the San&uary, as a divine Vertu. nod that it is 
 capable of being fo, we have the aiirority of St. 
 Paul 5 who inserts it in the number of thofe Chri- 
 ftian Graces which he recommends to his Roman 
 Profelyrcs 3 Covdefcend to them of low eftate , Rom. 
 1 2> 16. And that we may the better difcern its w- 
 lu, 'tis obferable that he links it wirh themoft 
 eminent Vertu of Humility 5 for it immediatly 
 fellows his Preceptof be not htgh minded. Indeed 
 'tis not only joined with it as a Friend or Allie, 
 but derivedfrom it as its ftockand Principle : and 
 certainly a more divine extraction it cannot have, 
 Humility being the Alpha and Omega of Venues, 
 that which laies the foundation (* ithout which the 
 moft towring Stru&ure will but crufh it felf with 
 its own weight) and that which perfects and con- 
 fummates the building alfo 3 (ecures and crowns all 
 other Graces 5 which when they are moft verdant 
 
 and 
 
Sect. IV. Of Affability. 69 
 
 and flourifhing, arc like Jonas his gourd,that may 
 afford fomflndow and refreshment for a wbil% 
 but are ape to breed that v orm which will deftroy 
 them. When once they are fmitten with Tride, 
 they inftaitly fade and wither; fo neceflary is Hu- 
 mility both for the acquiring and conferving all 
 that is good in us. 
 
 6. W i may therefore conclude,that Courtefie, 
 and Obligingnefs of behavior which proceeds 
 thence, is in refpe&ofits fpring and original , 
 infinitly to be preferr'd before that which defcends 
 from no higher ftock then natural or prudential 
 motives. And fince 'tis natural for every produ- 
 #ion to have fom fimilitude to that which pro- 
 duces it, we fhall find it no lefs excellent in re- 
 fpeft of it« properties then itsdefcent. /fhall in* 
 ftance only in two,Sincerity,and Conftancy. 
 
 7. For the firft as far as Affability partakes 
 of Humility it muff of Sincerity alfo, that being a 
 vertu whofevery elements are plainnefs and fim- 
 plicity : for as it has nodefigns which want a co- 
 ver , fo it needs none of thofe fubtilties and fimu- 
 lations , tho^e pretences and artifices requifite to 
 thofe that do. 'Tis the precept of the Apoftle, 
 Phil. 2.3. In lowlimfs of mind let each efleem others 
 better then him f elf ; where we fee 'tis the nature 
 of a lowly mind to transfer that efteem to others 
 which he fubftra&s from himfelf : now where fuch 
 an efteem is planted in the heart, it verifies all 
 the expreffions and outward fignifications of re- 
 fpecft, and renders the greateft condefcentions 
 
 which 
 
70 THE LADIES CALLING. 'l^TT. 
 
 (which to an info'ent humor may feem extrava- 
 gant and affeftcd) real and unfeigned, 
 
 8. O nt the contrary that Courrefle which de- 
 rives no higher then from meer human principles, 
 is not much to be contided in. J Tis the Pfalmifts 
 affirmation that Ml men are liars : and therefore 
 there is more then ia poffibniry of deceit in their 
 faireft fhews.Sonitimes we know fmooth and plau- 
 lible addrefTcrS have bin defigned as the ftale to 
 vile and trecherous practices. The extraordinary 
 blandishments and endearing behavior of Abfolom 
 to the people, was only to fteal their hearts , and 
 advance his intended rebellion, 2 Sam. 15. and 
 David r -lis us of fom , whofe words were fofter 
 then butter \ having war in the heart , whofe words 
 were [moot her then oil, and jet were very [words , 
 TfaL 55.21. and God knows this age has not fo 
 much improved in fincerity , that we fliould think 
 the fame Scenes are not daily acted over among 
 us. 
 
 9. But befides all the blacker projects of this 
 kind,which nothing but the event can deteft,there 
 is a lower fort of this trechery , which is vifible, 
 nay fo avowed ; that it is one of the moft common 
 fubjects of mirth and entertainment, I mean that 
 of fcofting and derifion , a thing too frequent a- 
 mong ail , but I fear I may fay very peculiarly a- 
 mong Ladies , thofe at leaft of the modilh fort , 
 their very civilities andcareffes being often de- 
 fign'd to gain matter of fcorn and laughter. Mu- 
 tual vifiis we know are an expreffion of refpect, 
 
 and 
 
Sect. IV. Of Affability 71 
 
 and fhould flow from a realkindnefs, but if thofe 
 now in ufc be fifted 3 how few will be found of that 
 make ? They are at the beft formal , a tnbut? ra- 
 ther paid to cuftom then friendfhip , and many go 
 to fee thofe , for whom they are perfect v indiffe- 
 rent whether they find them alive or dead, well 
 or fick. Nay very often they are worfc then thus, 
 defign'd only to make obfervations , to bolt out 
 fomthing ridiculous wherewith to fport them- 
 felves as foon as they are gon ; and leaft the in- 
 queft fhould return with a non inventus 5 they will 
 accept of the flighteft difcoveries , the leaft mif- 
 placing of a word , nay of a hair fhall be theme 
 enough for a Comedy. 
 
 io. Bur if a poor Country Gentlewoman fall 
 within their circuit , what a ftock of mirth do's 
 fhe afford them , how curioufly do they anatomife 
 every part of her drefs, her meen, her dialecl,nay 
 perhaps to improve the Scene , will recommend 
 yet greater abfurdities to hereunder the notion of 
 the Mode,that fo fhe may be the more ample fub- 
 jeft of their fcorn. Such vifits as thefe are but in- 
 fidicus intrusions, the infinuations of a fpy rather 
 then the good office of a neighbor 5 and when 'tis 
 remembred how great a portion of fom womens 
 time is fpent in this kind of diverfioo , we muft 
 conclude there have a multitude of a&s gon to 
 make up the habit. I wifli they would ferioufly re- 
 flect on it , and unravel that injurious mirth by a 
 penitential fadaefs* and either fpend their time 
 better then in vifnin&or elfe direcl: their vifits to 
 
 better 
 
7 2 THE LADIES CALLING. Part f. 
 
 better purpofcs. And this they would certainly do 
 if they would exchange their nieer popular civi- 
 lities (that kind of paint and varni/h in man- 
 ners) for that true Chriftian condefcenfion,which 
 admicsof no deceit , but is as tranfparent as Dra- 
 fts vriflu his hcufe fhould be 9 that has no fecret 
 fcrues and fprings , to move the eies or tcngue a 
 contrary way from the heart , but is in reality all 
 that it pretends to be. 
 
 1 1 . A feccnd property of it is Conftancy , for 
 as it is true toothers , foitistoitsfelf ; 'tis foun- 
 ded on the foiideft of Vertues , and is not fubjed 
 to thofe light and giddy uncertainties, that the 
 vulgarcivilities are. For he that out of a difefteem 
 of his proper worth , has placed himfelf in a ftate 
 of inferiority , will think it not an arbitrary mat- 
 ter , but a juft debt to pay a refpeft to thofe he 
 thinks his betters *, and an humble mind will in 
 every body find fomthing or other to prefer to 
 himfelf. So that he a#s upon a fixt principle, and 
 is not in danger of thofe contradi&ions in his 
 manners , which fliall render him one day fweet 
 and affable , and another fowre and morofe. But 
 fuch mutations are frequently incident to thcfe 
 who are fwaied by other motives 5 fomtimes an 
 intereft changes , and then the mod fauning Syco- 
 phant can tranfplant his flatteries, and court a 
 new Patron , yea many times to the defpight and 
 vilifying of the old. 
 
 12. SoMTiMES again, fortune may change ; 
 9 man may fall from a profperous to an ad- 
 
 verfe 
 
Sect. IV- Of Affability. 73 
 
 verfe ftate, and then thofe who were prodigal of 
 their civilities whilft he needed nothing elfc, will 
 withdraw even thofe from him, left they fhould 
 incourage him to demand fomthing more ; an ex- 
 periment of this Jeb made in his friends (or ra- 
 ther flatterers) whom he fitly compares to win- 
 ter brooks, running over when no*, needed, but 
 quite dry when they are, 
 
 15. But themoft frequent change is that of 
 fancy and humor, which has a much more general 
 fway then reafon and judgment. This is fo obfer- 
 vable in the vulgar rabble, th.it often in an inflate 
 they will fhift paffions, and hate this hour what 
 they doted on the laft. Of this all popular States 
 have afforded many coftly experiments, but we 
 need not go farther than the facred Story, where 
 we find the Acclamations and Hofannahs of the 
 multitude, quicMy converted into crucifie him^ 
 crucifie him. This levity of mind has bin obferved 
 fo incident to WOmen,that 'tis become almoft pro- 
 verbial ; for by how much their paffions are more 
 violent, they are commonly the lefs lafting, and 
 as they are reckon'd among thofe colder bodies 
 that are particularly influenced by the Moon, fo 
 they feem to bear a great refenablance to her in 
 her viciflitudes and changes 5 yet ftill with a 
 greater degree of uncertainty .' forlhe in all her 
 revolutions obferves fom conftant periods, and 
 we can tell in her wain when fhe will be at fu)l^ 
 fo that fhe has a kind of certainty even in her 
 planetary errors ; but whut Ephemerides can ba 
 
 K framed 
 
74 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 framed for fom womens humors < who can tell 
 how long che prefent will laft ? and what will be 
 the next that will fucceed ? 
 
 14, 1 need not bring inftances of their incon- 
 ftancy from that common place of paflionate 
 widows, who have let a new love fail even thro 
 thofe floods of tears wherewith they bewailed 
 the old. For (befides that, that is a cafe wherein 
 pofiibly they may find matter enough for retor- 
 tion ) it is here a little wide from my purpofe, 
 w r hich defigns no farther inquifition then into 
 their ordinary converfation, wherein that love of 
 variety which is fo remarkable in their habit,their 
 diet,their diverfions,extends its felf often to their 
 company, their friendships alfo and converfe. 
 Thofe intimacies which they cheriiht lately, 
 quickly grow defpicable, and at laft naufeous, 
 and confequently their behavior falls from kind 
 and civil , to cold and difdainful. I doubt not 
 this has often bin proved by many of thofe hum- 
 ble companions, which officioufly attend them, 
 who cannot alwaies fix themfelves,no not by thofe 
 flatteries that firft introduced them. Som new 
 comer perhaps has better refined the Art, 
 and do's the fame thing more acutely and inge- 
 niously, and then the old one is to be turned off 
 as too grofs a Sycophant. Or if they have bin fo 
 happy as to light upon fom of a more generous 
 temper, who inftead of a fervile compliance with 
 their humor, and high charafters of their worth, 
 entertain them with the true images of themfelves, 
 
 and 
 
Sect. IV. Of Affability. 7 5 
 
 and endcvor to make what others only fpeak 
 them, this is that unpardonable crime which for^ 
 feits all degrees of favor, and do's not only avert, 
 butincenfe. A faithful Monitor is as unaccepta^ 
 ble as a true Looking-glafs to a deformed perfon, 
 which at the beft will be fet ailde, and efcapes 
 well if not broken ; and while great perfons dif- 
 penfe their favors or their frowns by fuch per- 
 verfe mefuresas thefe, they will befure to do it 
 unjuftly, as well as unconftantly. 
 
 15. I Am far from making this an univerfal 
 charge, I know there are women of the higheft 
 quality, that guide themfelves by other rules, that 
 are deaf to all the fongs of Sirens^ and have the 
 prudence to valu a feafonable reproof before the 
 moft extravagant Panegyric : but this is ovving to 
 that Humility which I am now recommending, 
 without which 'tis as impoflible for greatnefs to 
 be proof againft flattery, as it is for a Pinnace 
 with fpreading fails, and a violent guft of wind, 
 to fail fteddily without ballafh And the frequent 
 Want of this is it which makes it no lefs frequent 
 to fee thofe unevennefTes, and inequalities in be- 
 havior ; thofe partialities in difpenfing even ihc 
 commoneft civilities, which / have now rcpre- 
 fen ted. 
 
 i^.AnD fure 'tis none of the meaneft attri- 
 butes due to that excellent vertu of Humility that 
 it can thus fix and poife the mind, cure thofe ver- 
 tigo's and giddy humors, incident to thofe who 
 are mounted alofc : and above all, that it is a fure 
 
 K % antidote 
 
j6 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 antidote againft the moft infinuating poifon of 
 Flattery,an holy fpell or amulet againft the venom 
 of a Parafite,which the Philofopher juftly calls the 
 worft of tame beafts,as a Detractor is of wild : He 
 being indeed a kind of vulture, in the way of fei- 
 zure nolefs then ravine, who firft picks out the 
 eies of that which he defigns to prey upon, fuffer- 
 ing not the perfon concern'd, to fee any thing of 
 that deftrudtion which he is to feel. And certainly 
 none of the ominous birds , no night-raven or 
 fcreech-owl can abode half fo dillnally as thefe do- 
 mestic birds of prey, which are not only prefages, 
 butinftrumentS'of ruin wherefoever they haunt. 
 17. ; Tis therefore the univerfal concern of 
 thcfe that are great and profpereus,to chafe them 
 away, as Abraham did the Fowls from his Sacri- 
 fice, Gen. if. 11. but yet more peculiarly fo of 
 thofe to whom fortune has given a fudden rife,and 
 unexpected grandeur, they being of all others the 
 moft obnoxious to this fort of Harpies. The fur* 
 prizes of profperity do no lefs difturb the judg- 
 ment then thofe of Adverfity : and as one who is 
 in an inftant fnatcht up to fom high Tower, is fo 
 amazed to fee himfelf there, that he has no juft 
 mefure of the altitude, but thinks every thing 
 farther below him then it is : fo they that afcend 
 to greatnefs-by fwift and rapid motions, have 
 theirheads fo turned, that they are apt to over- 
 yalu it^andto lcok with contemt on thofe who 
 before perhaps they thought worth their envy. 
 And on a mind thus prepared, flattery may make 
 . any 
 
SsCt.IV. Of Af ability. 77 
 
 any impreflions, it fuborning even Providence as 
 a witnefs on its fide, and inferring from rhe Dig- 
 nities obtained, the tranfeending merit of the cb* 
 tainer: a piece of Sophiftry which the ilightefc 
 obferver may eafily confute 5 all Ages giving in- 
 ftances cf thofe whofe Vices have preferred them, 
 and by a ftrange Chymiftry have extra&ed Honor 
 out of infamous afts. Yet to a mind poflcft with 
 its own admiration, this fhall pafs for a demon- 
 ftraucn: fo trecherous a thing is Pride, that it 
 combines with all who defign to cheat us. And in- 
 deed 'tis not only an acceffary, but the principal j 
 none being in danger by others flatteries, who 
 'are not firft feduced by their own. 
 
 18. It will therefore be a point of Wifdom 
 for all Perions of Honor to encreafe their cauti- 
 on with their fortune • and as they multiply their 
 Retinues without, fo efpecially to inforce their 
 Guard within,that they become not (laves to their 
 own Greatnefs, fix not themfelves in fuch a po- 
 fture of State, as to become immovable to all the 
 offices of Humanity and Civility ; nor think that 
 their admiflion to Greatnefs is upon the fame 
 terms on which the Jews were wont to receive 
 their Profelytes 3 that they muft renounce all 
 their former relations; but to remember that they 
 differ no more from others then as a counter fet 
 in the place of thoufands or hundreds, do's from 
 one fet in the place of tens or units. A little 
 tranfpofition may quite alter the cafe ; or how- 
 ever when they are all taken offthe fcore, they 
 
 are 
 
78 THE LADIES CALLING. PartL 
 
 are then indifcriminatly tumbled together, and 
 one has no precedence of another, either in place 
 orvalu. So undifcernible will be 1 the difference 
 between the rreateft Queen,and the meaneft Ser- 
 vant, when Death, that great Leveller, (hall have 
 mixr them ^ there will be no inquifition in the 
 Grave who came embalmed,or perfumed thither : 
 And 5 as a Learned man fays, the Ulcers of La* 
 Xnrus will make as goodduft as the Paint of zfe- 
 
 19. Bu T I fhall bethought to have out-run 
 my Subjed:, or inftead of that amiable Image of 
 Affability, and univerfal Obligingnefs, the great 
 Ornament of Life, introduce the grim figure of 
 Death, that fullen Executioner, whom no Gifts, 
 no Praiers can mollifie-. Yet I cannot yield it whol- 
 ly impertinent •, for, as its final ftroke cures all 
 the infirmities of the body, fo the forefight and 
 contemplation of it is as much a Catholicon for all 
 the maladies of the mind; efpecially that of /n- 
 folence and Difdain. For fure they cannot much 
 pride themfelves in any exaltation, that remem- 
 ber they muff finally fall into the duft : nor arro- 
 gantly defpife others, who confider that them- 
 felves llnil one day be infulted over by worms 
 and infects. Such mental defcents into the vault 
 or charnel-houfe, are the beftdifciplines for the 
 demeanor in other places, according to the admo- 
 nition of the Wife man, Remember thy end, and 
 thou JI)alt never do amifs. t 
 
 SE:CT. 
 
Sect. V. * Of Pkty. 79 
 
 ., — ■ ■ ■ ■■ ■ ■ 1. 1 1 ■ 1 1 1 1 » 
 
 SECT, V. 
 Of Piety. 
 
 i . T ASTLY, To compleat and crown all o- 
 JLjther Excellencies, nothing is fo proper, fa 
 neceffary as Piety and Devotion, This is the 
 fait which feafens all Sacrifices; yea, the Altar 
 which fanftifies the Gift , no gocd (how fptendid 
 foever in the fight of man) being acceptable to 
 God,till it be thus confecrated , and have this feal 
 of the Sancluary upon it. This is a Vertu truly 
 Divine, as well in its original as its end; for as 
 it comes from Heaven , ( is an affiation of the 
 bleffed Spirit) fo it tends thither alfo, and thi- 
 ther raifes its Votaries. This is it which fubli- 
 niatesand fpiritualizes Humanity, defecates and 
 refines it from all the dregs of mortality , and fo 
 wings our earthly lumpifli nature, that we can 
 foar aloft to the region of fpirits, and by its rap- 
 tures make fom eflay of that ftateof feparation, 
 even while we are linked to the body. This is it 
 which combines us fo with God , that w 7 e have the 
 fame interefts , the fame choices $ nay it do's in a 
 fort communicate and enterchange properties 
 with him ,• the all-Powerful God feems impotent 
 and unable to refift its influence , whilft it inverts 
 us feeble wretches in a kind of Omnipotence, by 
 engaging him for us who can do all things. 
 
 2. Now 
 
So THE LADIES CALLING. Part. I. 
 
 2. Now this Piety may be confidered either 
 in a larger , or more limited fenfe : in the former 
 'tis as wide as the whole fcheme of Duty, not con- 
 fined to any one aft , but extended to all the com- 
 mands of God. For as the animal Spirit diffufes 
 its felf into all the moft difltant members of the 
 body; fo this more vital Principle has as uni- 
 versal an influence on the mind , ftamps that with 
 fuchan admiration and reverence of Gcd , fuch a 
 love and complacency in him , that every aft is (at 
 leaft habitually) defign'd to obey and glorific 
 him. 
 
 3. In the more limited ferife , Piety is taken 
 for our more immediate entercourfe with God , in 
 things purely divine, as Adorations, Praiers, 
 Afpirations, and allpantings and breathings of 
 the foul after him 5 and in this notion 'tis more 
 particularly called Devotion. And this is com- 
 prehended in the other , as a part in the whole ; 
 nay indeed, asaneffecl: in its caufe ; for where 
 Piety has not firft formed and modelled the foul, 
 there can be no true Devotion. External forms 
 of it there may be , but that is but ceremony and 
 pageantry , the moft fubmiffive proftrations are 
 thdre but like that of Vagon before the Ark , the 
 fall of a livelefs trunk ; the moft elevated eies 
 but a kind of convulfive motion , and the moft 
 rigid mortifications, but like the cuttings and 
 launcings of Baal's Priefts. Of this the very 
 Heathen hadfom notion , and therefore in their 
 worfhipS had many preparatory ceremonies of 
 
 luftra* 
 
Sect.V. Of Titty. 8 1 
 
 luftration, and purifying , as being confcious of 
 the incongruity,that unholy Perfons fhould be ad- 
 mitted to Sacred thing?. And accordingly So* 
 crates has excellently (I had almoft faid Evange- 
 lically) defined, the be ft way of wor flipping God ^to 
 be the doing what he commands* Indeed without 
 this 3 our Devotion is meer ftratagera and defign : 
 we invoke God as we ufe to cajole men , only to 
 ferve a prefent turn ; and of fuch difingenious 
 addreffes, 'tis eafy to read the event, or if we can- 
 not , Solomon will inftrucT: us , ?rov. 15.8. The 
 Praiers of the wicked are an abomination to theLord. 
 4. T o treat of the feveral branches of Pie- 
 ty in the firfl: notion , is not agreeable to the in- 
 tended brevity of this Treatife ; nor necefiary > 
 becaufe there are fo many diftincl Trafis extant 
 on that Subjecl ; yet I fhall the more clofely to 
 adapt it to my female Readers , obferve the 
 propriety of it to women , not only as it is their 
 greateft Ornament and Advantage 3 but efpecially 
 as they have fomwhat more of predifpofition to* 
 wards it in their native temper. God's Laws* 
 which are the rule of Piety, have this common 
 with mens , that they are inforced upon us by the 
 propcfals both of runifliments and Rewards , by 
 that means engaging two of our mofr fenfible 
 paffions, Fear and Love ; and the female Sex be- 
 ing eminent for the pungency of boththefe, they 
 are confequently the better prepared for the im- 
 ■preffions of Religion. 
 
 L 5. This 
 
82 THE LADIES CALLING. PaRtL 
 
 5, This is fo much acknowledged , that our 
 mafculine Atheifts make an ill ufeof it, and are 
 willing to think that Religion ow's its force on- 
 ly to the impotence of the fubjecl on which it 
 works , that 'tis cnly an impofition upon the eafy 
 credulity of women , and are content to allow 
 them the inclofure of it: wherein , tho they fuf- 
 ficiently fliew their contemt cf Piety, yet they 
 unawares give a greater honor to that Sex then 
 they intend , whiift they confefs it more capable 
 of an affimilation to the fupreme Goodnefs 5 and 
 of the renewal cf God's Image (for to that all 
 Piety is defign'd) then their own. And therefore 
 women have fo little reafon to be aihamed , that 
 they ought to glory in the conceffion , and grate- 
 fully to celebrate the goodnefs of God to them , 
 who , as he brings light out of darknefs , fo con- 
 verts their natural infirmities into a means of fpi- 
 ritual ftrength , makes the impotericies and de- 
 fects of their nature fubfervient to the operation 
 of Grace $ and by confecrating their very Paf- 
 fions, makes even thofe Gibeonites ferviceable 
 to the Tabernacle. But then 'tis to be remem- 
 bred , that the greater is their obligation to 
 comply with this defign of Gods 5 to let their paf- 
 fions run in the channel he has cut for them ; fo to 
 confine their Fear and Love to fpiritual Objeds, 
 that they make no inordinate eruptions to any 
 thing elfe, but in all their eftimations of things 
 dreadful or defirable 3 to give ftill the juft defe- 
 rence to that which is eternal. 
 
 6. And 
 
Sect.V. Of Piety. 83 
 
 6. And, as Women in General have this ad- 
 vantage towards Piety , and obligation to it ; fo 
 particularly thofe of Quality , who we may fup- 
 pofe to have generally a more early inftitution and 
 inftruction in it then thofe of a meaner rank : and 
 befides , have afterwards more opportunities of 
 being built up in the knowledg of their duty , 
 and (by the help of an ingenious education ) 
 clearer apprehenfions to difcern it 3 and when 
 they do fo, have greater obligations to perform 
 it, both in refpeft of God, of others 5 and them- 
 felves. 
 
 7. In refpecl of God they have the greateft 
 tie of gratitude , not only for the common mer- 
 cies which they partake with the reft of man- 
 kind , but for thofe peculiar , by which they are 
 differenced from others 5 of which, if they want 
 a juft valu , let them ask themfelves how willing 
 they would be to part with them, how fbe that 
 has fed delicatly 1 would like to be defolate in the 
 ftreet , or (lie that has bin brought up m Scarlet J* 
 embrace the Dunghill^ Lam. 4. 5. and according 
 to the averfion they find to filch a change , let 
 them eftimate their prefent enjoiment, and the 
 thankfulnefs it exa&s. 
 
 8. Secondly 5 in regard of others , their Piety 
 backt with their fecular advantages , may be cf a 
 more extenflve benefit ; they have many oppor- 
 tunity of doing good by their influence on o- 
 thers ; or if no way elfe, yet the fplendor of their 
 example, will by the eminency of their conditions 
 
 L 2 iliine 
 
8 4 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I 
 
 fhine (as a light on fomhigh Tower) more per- 
 fpicuoufly ,«and guide many into the fame path of 
 Vertu. And certainly 'tis no fmall obligation 
 that lies on them in this refpeft ; for Gcd , who 
 do's nothing without an end worthy of hia Wif- 
 dom, can never be thought to have fele&ed fom 
 perfons as the objeds of his bounty , mecrly that 
 they may fwill and glut themfelves with fenfual 
 plefures. No doubtlefs , he that is the great Ma- 
 iler of the Univerfe , difpofes all things for com- 
 mon benefit ; and therefore , if He have placed 
 fom in an higher Orb then others , it is that they 
 may have an aufpicicus influence on thofe below 
 them ; and if they fail in this, they are no longer 
 Stars but Comets, things of ominous and unlucky 
 abode to all about them. I might enlarge on this 
 Subjed: , jbut having don it already in the Gentle^ 
 mans Calling, I fuppofe it unneceffary ,fince that 
 part is equally adapted to both Sexes. 
 
 p. In the laft place, they have all obligation to 
 Piety , in refped of themfelves , and that in two 
 considerations ; the firft, of their prefent dan- 
 ger 5 the fecond, of their final account* For 
 their danger, 'tis evident they do not more out- 
 number their inferiors in any thing then in the 
 opportunities , nay follicitations to fin. Wealth 
 and Honor have many fnares 3 and which is worfe, 
 do often difpofe the mind to fuch an heedlefs fe- 
 curity , that it takes no care to avoid them : and 
 as in the body , the difeafes of repletion are far 
 jyigre nunierous then thpfe of emtinefs , fo the 
 
 jxund 
 
Sect.V. Of Piety. 85 
 
 mind is oftner vitiated by Affluence and Profperi- 
 ty, then by /iidigence and Adverfity. It becomes 
 therefore thcfe who are fo furrounded with ene- 
 mies to fortifie themfelves : and that they can no 
 way do, but by a fincere Piety, that whole Armor 
 of God which the Apoffie defcribts, Eph. 6. 13. 
 by which alone they may refell all the darts of tern- 
 tations ; nay not only ward the blow, but wreft the 
 weapon out of Satans hand, fo that when he urges 
 to them the opportunities, the impunity which 
 their wealth and greatnefs gives them to be had, 
 they may reton his argument, and by a wholfomer 
 inference colled thence their great obligation to 
 be good; and that not only upon the fcore of Gra- 
 titude(tho that were enough to an ingenious foul) 
 but in the fecond place of Tine reft alfo 5 in refpeft 
 of that account they muft finally give. For tho 
 God be not an unjuft exaftor to reap where he 
 has not fowed, yet he is not fo negligently pro- 
 fufe, as to do that which no prudent man will 
 do, fcatter his goods promifcuoufly, without 
 taking notice where they fall ; but as he dif- 
 pences all things by a particular Providence, fo 
 he do's it to a particular end, and will exaft as 
 particular an account how that end has bin com- 
 plied with. 
 
 10. It is a fmart exprobation of Gods to 
 Ifraely Ezek. 16, 1 7, 18, 19. that fhe had faerile- 
 gioufly emploied his Jilver and gold^ his oil* his 
 flower and bony which he had given her in the fer* 
 vice cf her Idols 5 by which as we may fee he takes 
 
 notice 
 
S6 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 notice how we difpofe of our temporal poffef- 
 fions, fo it fiiev s us how the enditement will pro- 
 ceed againft a!l thofe who fo pervert their ufe. 
 With what confufion muft they appear at the 
 great Audit who can give no other account of 
 their receits, but that they confumed them upon 
 their lufts, waged war againft God with his own 
 trefure, and bin as well thieves as rebels ? What 
 a Luciferian fall will they have from their honors, 
 who have endevored to undermine Gods? thought 
 themfelves too great to pay him homage, and by 
 their profane and vicious example, induced a con- 
 temt of him £ In fliort , what a retaliation of in- 
 verfions will there then be ? thofe that have turn- 
 ed Grace into wantonnefs, converted his bounty 
 into the fuel of their pride and luxury, lhall then 
 have their glory turn d into fhame, their riots and 
 exceffes into the want of a drop of water, and 
 fliall retain nothing of their greatnefs, but the 
 guilt, the grating remembrance of having abufed 
 thofe temporal biefllngs, which if well managed, 
 might have received them into everlafting habi- 
 tations. How neceffary then is it for all who have 
 receiv'd fo much upon account, to be often refle- 
 fting on it, examining what charges the great 
 owner has impofed upon fo ample an income ? 
 what God requires of them for whom he hath don 
 fo much? And this is particularly the bufinefs of 
 Piety, which in all the forementioned refpects, is 
 as the ufefulleft, fo the nobleft accomplifhment 
 of greatnefs, 
 
 ii. And 
 
Sect. V. Of Piety. S7 
 
 11. And fuch it hath bin accounted till this pro- 
 fane Age of ours, which has removed all the 
 boundaries of the former, reverft even the in- 
 ftincls of nature, and will not leave us fo much of 
 Religion as had the very word of Heathens. For 
 how erroneous foever they were in the choice of 
 their Deities, they alwaies honored and reve- 
 renc'd thofe they chofe , committed moft of their 
 enormities in obedience not inaffrcntto them: 
 did not aflign them votaries as Jeroboam did his 
 Priefls of the meancft of the people , but thought 
 themfelves dignified by their fervice, and efteem- 
 ed it an infamy not to be pious. But alas now we 
 adaies make other eftimates , Religion is fo abject, 
 fo contemtible a thing, as is thought fit to in- 
 fluence none that are great either in parts or qua- 
 lity : and therefore tho too many are willing to 
 appropriate it to women , upon the firft account, 
 as the Gofpel is thefooUflwefs of preaching , 1 Cor. 
 1. 21. yet they make exceptions upon the latter, 
 and are not willing to afford it any of the nobler 
 Profelytes even of that Sex. 
 
 12. I doubt not there are many Lectures read 
 to fuch, to fortifiethemagainfl all impreffionsof 
 Piety, to raife out the common notion of a God, & 
 in order to that to def)ofe his Vicegerent within 
 them, difcard their confcience , that unman- 
 nerly inmate, which is ftill fpeaking what they 
 have no mind to hear, and will be apt fomtimes to 
 queftion their grand principle , and tell them they 
 
 have 
 
88 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 have fouls. And truly 'tis no wonder if the abet- 
 ters of Atheifm take this courfe ; for fince they 
 !we no foiid foundation of truth or reafon , 'tis 
 but neceifary they fupport their Party by Auto- 
 rity •, the countenance and applaufe of great Per- 
 fons, and God knows they have too muchfucceed- 
 ed in the defign. But, in the mean time,what fe- 
 curity do they give for the truth of their pre- 
 tentions^ We know 'tis ftill required of thofe 
 that will praftice upon other peoples concerns, 
 that they put in caution to fecure the owner from 
 damage. But alas , what gage can they give for 
 afoul? Who can contrive a form of Indemnity 
 where that is the thing hazarded # 
 
 13. 'Tis eafy indeed for one of thefe Apoftles 
 of Satan * to tell a Lady that ilie has nothing to 
 do but to indulge to herplefure^ that 'tis the 
 extremeft folly to be frighted from a prefent en- 
 rolment , by a fear of I know not what future 
 froarc ; that God, and Sin, andHell,arebut names, 
 certain Mormos and Bug-bears conjur'd up by 
 Divines , to work upon her fear , and abufe her 
 credulity. This , and much more of this kind 
 maybefaid, and I doubt often is; but all this 
 while the queftion is begg'd ," and a ftrong 
 affirmation muft pafs fdr proof: for I defie 
 all the Doftors of Atheifm to make any de- 
 monftration of their Tenet ; and yet , though 
 they pretend to no Demonftration thetn- 
 felves, Religion muft be condemned meerly for 
 
 the 
 
Sbct.V. Of Piety. 89 
 
 the want of it : that is for not making fpiritual 
 things liable to fenfe, for diftinguifhing between 
 Belief and Science \ which is indeed for doing the 
 raoft reafonable thing in the world, vir^ the re- 
 mitting every objed to the trial of its proper fa- 
 culty : and they who fufpecl; it upon that account, 
 may by the fame kind of Logic wrangle us out cf 4 
 all our fenfes 5 may perfwade us we hear nothing 
 becaufethe eie difcerns not fownds 5 thatwetaft 
 not, becaufe the ear underftands notgufts and fa- 
 pors, and fo on to the reft. 
 
 14. And yec this is the bottom of thofe Ar- 
 guments which the great pretenders to Reafon 
 make againft Religion ; and in the mean time have 
 fo little ingenuity as toexclaim on the light cre- 
 dulity of fools and women , that embrace the di- 
 ctates of faith,whilft at the fame inftant they exaft 
 a more implicit affent to their negative Articles^ 
 their no Religion, A ftrange magifterial confi- 
 dence fo to impofe on this Age , what is fo univer- 
 fally contradictory to all former , and to the com- 
 mon verdict of mankind. For 'tis obfervable 
 thro all the fucceflions of men , that there were 
 never any fociety,any collective body of Athcifts, 
 A fingle one perhaps might here and there be 
 found (as we fee fomtimes monfters or mifhapen 
 births) but for the generality they hadalwaies 
 fuch inftinfts of a Deity* that they never thought 
 they ran far enough from Atheifm ; but rather 
 chofe to multiply their Gods ■> to have too many 
 
 M the$ 
 
9 o THE LADIES CALLING- Part.! , 
 
 then none at all i nay were apt to defcend to the 
 adoration of things below themfelves, rather then 
 to renounce the power above them. By which we 
 may fee that the notion of a God is the moft in- 
 delible character of natural Reafon* and therefore 
 whatever pretence our Atheifts make to ratiocina- 
 tion and deep difcourfe , it is none of that primi- 
 tive fundamental reafoncoetancouswith our hu- 
 manity ; but is indeed a reafon fit only for thofe 
 who own themfelves like the beafts that perifli. 
 
 15. But admit we could be more bountiful 
 to them > and allow their opinion an equal pro- 
 bability with our Faith , yet even this could never 
 juftifie any body in point of Prudence,that fhould 
 adhere to them. Common difcretion teaches us 
 that where two propofitions have an equal appea- 
 rance of truth, there is no rational inducement 
 to prefer one before the other , till we have exa- 
 mined the confequences , andfindfomthingin the 
 one which may over-poife and outweigh the con- 
 trary. Now in all things that concern practice, 
 there are no motives fo confiderable, either to in- 
 vite or avert, as Advantage or Danger. 
 
 16. Let us apply this to the prefent cafe, and 
 cxamin the pretentions of the Atheift and the 
 Chriftian ia both refpe&s. But firft we are to re- 
 member 5 that both Advantage and Danger are to be 
 viewed under a double notion, either as prefent 
 or as future. The former is the Atheifts moft pro- 
 per fub;e#, and indeed all ht can pertinently 
 
 fpeak 
 
Sbct.V. Of Piety. 91 
 
 fpeak to, who profefles himfelf only a man of this 
 world.Here he will tell us that the disbelief of God 
 and another life, is the great enfranchifer of man- 
 kind , fets us at liberty from that thraldom , thofc 
 Bonds wherewith our fuperftitious fears had fet- 
 ter'd us, that it fuperfedes all thofe nice and per- 
 plexing inquiries of lawful and unlawful, and 
 reduces all our inquifitions only to this one, how 
 we fliall moft pleafe our felves. The glutton need 
 not put a knife to his throat , but is only to put an 
 edg upon his palate. The drunkard need not re- 
 frain his cups , but only take care that they be fil- 
 led with the moft delicious liquor. The wanton 
 need not pull out his eie, but only contrive to 
 poffefs what thattemts himtodefire; and in a 
 word none of our appetites need be reftrain'd, 
 butfatisfied. And this uncontrol'd licentioufnefs, 
 this brutifh liberty , is that fummum bonum^ that 
 fupreme happinefs which they propofe to them- 
 felves, and to which they invite ethers. 
 
 17. On the other fide the Chriftian is not 
 without his claim to a prefent advantage, tho of a 
 far differing nature : he is not fo prepofterous as 
 to think it a preferment to fink below his kind , 
 to afpire to an affimilation with meer animals, 
 which is the utmoft the former amounts to,but he 
 propofes to himfelf the fatisfa&ion of a man ; 
 thofe delights which may entertain hisReafon not 
 his Scnfe , which confift in the reftitude of a well 
 inform'd Mind. His Religion is the perfc&eft 
 Scheme of Morality , and makes him a Philofo- 
 
 pher 
 
92 THE LADIES CALLING. Pari £ 
 
 pher without thehelp of the Schools , it teaches 
 him the art of fubduing his appetites , calming his 
 pafllons , and in a word makes him Lord of him- 
 felf 5 and by that gives him all the plefures which 
 refult from fuch a foveraignty. Nor is he totally 
 void even of the plefures of fenfe , which in ma- 
 ny inftances are greater to him then to thofe that 
 moft court them. Temperance cooks his ccurfeft 
 diet to a greater guft, then all their ftudied mix- 
 tures ; Chaftity makes one lawful embrace more 
 grateful to him , then all the naufeating variety of 
 their unbounded lulls ; and Contentment ftvells 
 his mite into a talent, makes him richer then the 
 Indies would do if he defired beyond them. Nor 
 is it a contemtible benefit that his Moderation 
 gives him an immunity from thofe fenfitive pains 
 which oft bring up the rear of inordinate fenfual 
 plefures, So that his condition even fet in the worft 
 light, in that very particular wherein the Atheift 
 moft triumphs over him > is not fo deplorable as 
 'tis reprefented. 
 
 1 2. But if it were, he has plefures that would 
 infinitly overwhelm that fmart, and that not only 
 inhisreafon (as hath bin faid before) but in his 
 more fublime diviner part, fuch irradiations from 
 above,fuch antepafts of his future blifs , fuch ac- 
 quiefcence in a calm & ferene confcience,as is very 
 cheaply bought with all he can fuffer here J know 
 the profane laugh at thefe things as Chimera's and 
 the illufionsofaprepoffefledfancy(& truly if they 
 were fOjthey might yet come in balance with many 
 
Sect.V. Of Piety. 91 
 
 of their plefures which arc as much owing to oni- 
 nlonand imagination:) but if we confider what 
 fupports they have given under the heavieft pref- 
 fures, how they enabled the primitive Martyrs, 
 not only tofuffer 5 but even to court all that is for- 
 midable to human nature , we cannot think that 
 a meer phantaftic imaginary joy could deceive 
 the fenfe of fuch real , fuch acute torments. And 
 tho in this great declination of Zeal > there be 
 perhaps few that can pretend to thofe higher de- 
 grees of fpiritual raptures, yet certainly were the 
 votes of all devout perfons collected, they would 
 all concur in this teftimony , that even in the com- 
 mon offices of Piety , the ordinary difchargeof a 
 good Confcience,there is an infini tly greater com • 
 placence , a higher guft and relifli then in all the 
 plefures of Senfe. But of this the moft irrefra- 
 gable witnefles are thofe who from great volup- 
 tuaries have turned devotes ; and I dare appeal to 
 their experience , whether of the two ftates is the 
 moft plefant. I wifh thofe who will not believe 
 this on others words, would themfelves make the 
 trial , and till they do fo they arenotorioufly un- 
 juft to pronounce that a ficftion , of whofe reality 
 they refufe to make proof. 
 
 1 9. B Y what hath bin faid , fom eftimate may 
 be made which bids faireft (the Atheift or Chri- 
 ftian) as to prefent temporal felicity : but alas 
 what an allay , what a damp is it to felicity to fay 
 'tis temporal ; yet we may give it a term below 
 that, and fay 'tis momentary. For fince our life is 
 
 fo, 
 
94 THE LADIES CALLING* Part I. 
 
 fo , nothing that depends on that can be other- 
 wife , and yet in this fliallow bottom the irreligi- 
 ous embark their all. For, as to all future ad- 
 vantage , 'tis their Principle to difclaim it, they 
 difcern no reward for blamelefs fouls, Wifd. 2. 22. 
 So that in this particular the Chriftian do's not 
 compare with, but triumph over them. He knows 
 that if his earthly h on fe of this Tabernacle he dif 
 folved, he hath a building of God $ an Houfe not 
 madt with hands, eternal in the Heavens y 2 Cor. 5. r . 
 That when he parts with his life, he do's not re- 
 fign his happinefs, but (lull receive it infinitly im- 
 proved both in degree and duration. And now 
 certainly 'tis vifible enough which opinion pro- 
 pofesthe fairer hopes, and confequently which 
 (fuppofing but an equal probability of truth) is 
 the moft inviting. 
 
 20. But fem fpirits there are fo ignoble, 
 that the moft glorious Prize cannot animate 
 them ; that like a fwine , the mufcles of whofe 
 eies , they fay , permit him not to look upwards, 
 is not concerned in all the felicities above, but 
 would at a venture refign his fliare in thofe , fo he 
 may fecurely enjoy his husk and draff. But yet 
 even thofe who are uncapable of the more gene- 
 rous refentments , may be apt enough to the more 
 fervile 5 and danger may fright , tho glory cannot 
 allure them. It concerns fuch therefore to com- 
 pare the mifchiefs which each Opinion threatens 
 to their oppofits , and from thence make an efti- 
 mate which is fafeft to be chofen. And here let 
 
 the 
 
Sect. V. of Piety. 9$ 
 
 the Atheift himfelf caft up the account of the dan- 
 gers confequent to Chriftianicy , and it can all a- 
 mount but to this, the deprivation (or rather mo- 
 deration ) of fomprefent fenfual PlefureS,or the 
 incurring of fom prefent fenfitive Pains; the 
 former in the daily exercife of Temperance^ and 
 Mortification ; the latter, (more rarely and oft- 
 ner in purpofe then aft) the fuffering forRighte- 
 oufnefs fake. And both thefe the Chriftian bal- 
 lances, nay out-weighs by two more important 
 prefent hazards on the other fide. To the for- 
 mer , he oppofes the danger of being enflaved to 
 the brutifh part of a mans felf , a thing fo de- 
 plorable even in the judgment of humanity, that 
 all Writers of Ethics have uniformly declared no 
 fervility to be fo fordid and intolerable , as that 
 of the vicious man to his Paffions and Lufts. To 
 the latter, he confronts the mifchief of being a 
 flave to every man elfe 5 for fuch he certainly is, 
 whom the fear of fuffering can baffle out of any 
 thing he thinks juft and honeft. For if all the 
 men in the World could fucceflively have the pow- 
 er to afflift him, they would alfo have to command 
 and rule him ; and what can be more abjeft, more 
 below the dignity of human nature, then to have 
 afpirit alwaies prepared for fuch a fervitude? 
 Befides, even theutmoft fufferings which Chri- 
 stianity can at any time require , is outvied daily 
 by the effects of Luxury and Rage $ and for one 
 that has opportunity to be a Martyr for his God, 
 thoufands become fo to their Vices. 
 
 * 21. If 
 
9 6 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 21. If from the prcfent we look forward to 
 future dangers 5 the Atheift muft here be perfect- 
 ly filent;he cannot fay that the Chriftian after this 
 life fhall be in any worfe eftate then himfelf, fince 
 he concludes they (hall both be the fame nothing : 
 but the Chriftian threatens him with amoredif- 
 mal ftate. He allows him indeed a being , yea an 
 eternal one ; but it is only fuch as qualifies him 
 for a nrifery as eternal ; the worm that never dies, 
 the fire unquenchable , where all the excefTes of 
 his fhort Plefures fhall be revenged with more ex- 
 ceffive 5 endlefs Torments : his fenfes which were 
 here the only Organs of his felicity , (hall then be 
 <tho not the only) the very fenfible mediums of 
 his wretchednefs $ and that Confcience which he 
 ierefufpended from its office , fhall then take out 
 its arrears , and return all its ftifled admonitions 
 in perpetual horrors , and defperate upbraidings. 
 I need not now fure ask on which fide the greater 
 danger lies. 
 
 22. To cbnclude 5 the refult of all is, that the 
 tranfitory Plefures of the Atheift are over-poifed 
 even by the prefent Satisfadions of the Pious. 
 And the eternity of unbounded , unconceivable 
 joies he expeds hereafter , comes in tx abundant'^ 
 having nothing on the other fide that offers at a 
 competition with it. And at the very fame rate 
 of Proportion we have feen the dangers alfo are 
 fo, that we can eafiiy compute the utmoft mifchief 
 our Chriftianity can do us , if it fhould be falfe * 
 but the damage of the other is ineftimable , both 
 
 for 
 
Sect. V. Of Piety. 97 
 
 for the penalty of Lofs and Senfe. I may no v 
 appeal to common Prudence to judg of the vaft 
 inequality, and to pronounce, that fure there had 
 need be fom great evidence of truth en the A- 
 theifts fide , to preponderate all thefe difadvan- 
 tages. Indeed , nothing much below a demon- 
 stration can juftify the choice of fo dangerous 
 Principles ; I am fure an equal probability can 
 never do it , where the danger is fo unequal ; and 
 Were the verieft Atheift confulted in a fecular 
 cafe of the like circumftances, he would certainly 
 pronounce him a mad man thatfficuld makefuch 
 an ektfion. How defperate a phrenfy then is it 
 to do it , without fo much as that equal proba- 
 bility: nay indeed, without any probability at 
 all i And yet this madnefs fets up for the mono* 
 poly not of Wit only, but Reafon too; and by 
 confidence and clamor , feeks to run down thofe 
 Arguments it can never confute. 
 
 23. I may be thought here to have made too 
 long a digreflion from my proper Subject, but I 
 eannot cenfefs it fo ; for fincemy prefent bufi* 
 nefsis to recommend Piety, I can noway do that 
 fo effe&ually as by Shewing its confonancy to 
 right reafon , efpecially considering the bufie in- 
 duftry now ufed to reprefent it under ano- 
 ther form, and to alienate from it thofe perfons 
 Whofe Greatnefs may give it any luftreor repute 
 in the World ; of which fort I fuppofe there arc 
 few more frequently aftaqiied then Women of 
 Quality, that converfe among thofe who call 
 
 N them* 
 
98 THE LADIES CALLING, Part I. 
 
 thcmfelves the Wits of the Age 5 who living in fo 
 inf diousan air, had need of fom antidotes a- 
 bout them ; and if what I have now offered , ap- 
 pear not forcible enough , (for it pretends not to 
 the tith of what may be faid on the Subject) yet 
 it may at leaft do them tbisfervice, to put them 
 in mind of v>hat they need , and fend them to the 
 fuller difpenfatories of others. 
 
 24. And that is the thing I fliould earneftly 
 beg cf them , that they would be fo juft to their 
 ownintereft, as not to combine with feducers a- 
 gainft themfelves ; but if they have bin fo un- 
 happy as to lend one ear to them , yet at leaft not 
 to give up both to be forced in a flavifh fubmiffion 
 to their di&ates , but hear what miiy be faid en 
 the odier fide. And fure 'tis but a lowcompo* 
 fitionforGod thus to divide with Satan 9 yet 'tis 
 that of v^hich his Emifiaries are fo jealous that 
 'tis one of their grand Maxims , that none who 
 profeffes Divinity is to be advifed with 5 and 
 therefore by ali Arts they are to be rendred either 
 ridiculous, or fufpefted ; to which methinks may 
 be applied that Fable ( which Vemoflhents once 
 recited to tne Atbenians^vhtn Alexander demanded 
 of them to deliver up theirOrators)of the Wolves 
 and the Sfteep 3 v ho coming to a Treaty , the firft 
 Article of the Wolves was, that the Sheep fliould 
 give up their m<tfrives whieh guarded them: the 
 refembiance is too obvious to need a minute ap* 
 plication. 
 
 35.BKT 
 
SECT.V. Of Piety. 99 
 
 25. But this is manifeftly to reverfe all for- 
 mer Rules,and t truft a man rather in any Facul- 
 ty then his own, and would never have prevailed 
 in any thing but where the foul is cona rn J d, that 
 poor defpicable thing v. hereon alone we think 
 fit to mal^e experiments. 'Tis lure, that if any 
 ihouid difpute their title to an earthly Foff ffion, 
 they would not fo tamely refign it, nor would 
 truft their own felves in its defence, but would 
 confult their ableft Lawyers,and, by them, fift out 
 every circumftance that might eflablifti their 
 claim. Why fhould they then fuffer themfelves 
 to be talk'd out of an Heavenly Inheritance, 
 without fo much as once propofing their doubts 
 to thofe whofe ftudy and profefllon it is to refclve 
 them? Bnt as in all other ills, fo in this, preven- 
 tion is better then cure ; and therefore to thofe 
 pat are yet untainted, the fecureft courfe will be 
 to ftop both ears againft all profane infinuations, 
 and to ufe thofe who temt them to be difloial to 
 their God, that fpiritual adultery, as they iliould 
 do thofe who folicit them to the carnal, not fo 
 much as to enter parly, but with the greateft in- 
 dignation deteft and rejedt them. 'Tis the faying 
 pf the Wife man, Prov. 25. 23. that an angry 
 countenance driveth away a back^hlting tongue. And 
 certainly, wculd Great Perfons look feverely on 
 fuch defamers of Religion, they would give fom 
 check to that impudence of pro fanenefs which ha§ 
 given it fuch a vogue in the World, 
 
 Z6. An* 
 
iQ' TH E LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 26. And furethisis much their Duty ro do, 
 if they own any relation to that God who is fo 
 difhqnored. They would think it a very difinge- 
 nious thing to fit by to hear a Fri nd or Benefa- 
 ctor reviled, and exprefs no difplefure 5 and is 
 God fo friendlefs among them , that only his tra- 
 ducers and blafphemers can be patiently heard ? 
 ^mong the Jews, at the hearing of any Blafphe- 
 my, they rent their clothes ; but I fear we have 
 fom of our nice Dames that would be much more 
 concern'd at a rip in their garment , then at the 
 rending and violating God's Sacred Name ; and 
 could more patiently behold the total fubverfion 
 of Religion, then the diforder or mifplacing of 
 a lock or riband. But 'tis to be hoped there are 
 not many fo impious , and thofe that are not 5 will 
 furely think themfelves obiiged with all their 
 power, to difcountenance all the Fautors of irre- 
 ligion , whether they be the folemn fedater fort 
 that would argue 5 or the jollier that would railly 
 them out of their Faith. 
 
 27. But when they have thus provided a- 
 gainft the afTaults of others , and fecured the fpe- 
 culative part of Religion, they have only efta- 
 blifted a Judicatory againft themfelves , ftored up 
 matter of Conviction and Peculation , if they 
 anfwer it not in the pracYic. I muft therefore 
 after this long excurfion, return to my firft Point, 
 and befeech them ferioufly to weigh the obliga- 
 tions th:y have te Piety in the general notion of 
 it , as it comprehends all the duties of a Chriftiai) 
 
 life 5 
 
SeCT. V. Of Piety. 10I 
 
 life ; of which as I intend not to fpeak particular- 
 ly , fo I know not where to find a better fumma- 
 ry, then that which S. zpames has drawn up, Chap. 
 i. if erf. 27. Pure Religion and wide filed before God 
 even the Father is this, to uifit the fath trie J s and wi- 
 dows in their afflittion , and to keep himfelf ttnfpot- 
 ted from the world. 
 
 28. But befides this general, there is (as I 
 faid before) another more reftrained notion of 
 Piety, as it relates to our more immediat enter- 
 courfe with God in divine Ordinances and Wor- 
 lhip , in which refpecfr. it commonly partes under 
 the nameof Devotion, andthusconfidcrr'd it has 
 a great propriety to the female Sex. For Devo- 
 tion is a tender Plant, that will fcarce root in ftiff 
 or rocky ground,but requires a fupple gentle foil t 
 and therefore the feminine foftnefs and pliable- 
 nefs is very apt and proper for it. And according- 
 ly there have bin very eminent growths of it in 
 that Sex. I need not heap up examples of former 
 Ages, but rather perfwade this to leave fom at 
 leaft to the following ; and the more confiderable 
 the perfons are, the moreconfpicuous will be the 
 Example, w hich feems the more to adapt it to thofe 
 I now fpeak to. Devotion in a Cloifteris as reclufe 
 as the Votary , a light rather under a bufliel then 
 on a candleftick : and in an obfcurc Cottage 'tis 
 either not obferved 3 or elfe thought to be but the 
 effeft of deftitution and fecular wants 5 a referve 
 rather then a choice : but when thofe who are in 
 the eie of the w orld , the moft eminent Aclors on 
 
 the 
 
j 02 THE LADIES CALLING. V^rh 
 
 the Theater of human life , fliall chufe the p^irt o* 
 a Saint , when thofe who want none of the diver- 
 tifments or blandishments of earth, flnll have 
 their ccnverfation in Heaven, this recommends it 
 to the Spectators , as the true and greateft objeA 
 of human choice ; fince 'tis chofen by thofe who 
 know the utmoft pretence of all its competi- 
 tors. 
 
 29. Nor is devotion only more excellent in 
 them in regard of its effefts, but 'tis alfo more 
 neceflary in refpeft of their obligation. Devo- 
 tion is an abftradiou from the world, and there- 
 fore cannot in any eminent degrees , be pracftifed 
 by thofe whofe neceflities or bufinefs do much en- 
 tangle them in it. So that from fuch , a far lefs 
 proportion will be accepted, then from thofe, 
 whofe plenty and eafe give them no other want 
 but that of emploiment. And certainly if there be 
 any of whom that can truly be faid ; women of 
 quality are the perfons: for they in this refped 
 exceed even men of the like rank : for the men are 
 often engaged in public emploiments , and mull 
 lend moft of their time to the ufe of others ; or 
 however all have the care of their own privat 
 affairs , the managery of their fortunes to employ 
 them. But of women the utmoft that is ordinarily 
 required, is but a little eafie infpe&icn within 
 their own walls 5 theoverfight of a few children, 
 and fervants 5 and even from this how many are by 
 their condition of life exemted ; and how many 
 more do by their nicenefa and delicacy exemt 
 
 them- 
 
Sect. V. Of Piety. ioj 
 
 themfelves ? Andfurely fo perfect a vacancy is 
 neither happy norfafe. And therefore God who 
 projefts v e fhould be both , never deilgn'd it for 
 any of mankind: but where he gives fo much li- 
 berty from fecular , he expeds a greater diligence 
 in fpiritual empioiments. 
 
 bo. And indeed 'tis an amazing thing to fee, 
 that any inio whom he has breathed the breath of 
 life, on whemhe has ftamped the image of his cwit 
 eternity , can think thofe immortal fouls v ere gi- 
 ven them only to ferve the mean and abjetfufes 
 of their conupuble bodies , (for which the foil! 
 of theduJeft Animal would have don as well ;) 
 that eating and drinking, fleep and recreations, 
 which are only ufeiul to the fupporting us in this 
 world, are the only things for which we were fent 
 hither* And yet if we may mefure their opinions 
 by their practice , this feems to be the perfwafic n 
 of many of our femaltGentry,who look upon it a* 
 a degrading,a kind of attainder of their blood, to 
 do any thing but pleafe their fenfes. An error fure 
 of the moft pernicious confequence imaginable. 
 We know a Lady of plefure is in one fenfea very 
 fc.ndalous Epithet 5 and truly 'tis no very laudable 
 one in the other , nay which is worfe, they are of* 
 ten coincident, and fall in with each other. She 
 whofefole univerfal aim is plefure , will not think 
 her felf much out of her road , in the purfuit of 
 any particular. >ind fhe that thinks fhe lives for 
 no other purpofe , wiil fo often be at a lofs for in- 
 nocent plefure 3 that file is alm©ft under a necefli- 
 
io4 THE LADIES CALLING. Part. j§ 
 
 ty to call in the nocent , to ferve the very end fas 
 fhe fuppofes) of her being. But indeed were 
 they fure to confine themfelves to fuch as are 
 harmlefs in their kind,yet the excefs of them ren- 
 ders them finful , and the doting purfuit denomi- 
 nates them lovers of TUfures more then lovers of 
 God) a character fo black that the Apoftle corn- 
 pleats his Catalogue of the worft vices of the 
 worft times with it* i Tim. J. 4. 
 
 31. It is therefore the great goodnefs of God 
 to defign a refcu for thofe whofe condition ex- 
 pofes them to that danger , and by exacting a libe- 
 ral expence of time in their devotion, divert them 
 from lavishing both it and their fouls together. 
 Neither do's he by this defeat their aim of a ple- 
 fant life ^ but rather afllft it : for whereas fenfual 
 delights are vagrant , and muft be chafed thro 2 
 hundred turnings, and wild Mazes , the fpiritual 
 are fixt , and one may alwaies know where to find 
 them. How often are the voluptuous in pain to 
 know which plefure to choofe < like a forfeited 
 ftomac the greater variety is fet before it,the more 
 it naufeats all. What difficulties hath a Lady many 
 times to refolve whether an afternoon fhall be 
 fpent at the Coun,or at the Theater ; whether in 
 dancing or at cards , in giving or receiving vifits, 
 as not knowing which willbeft pleafe her? But 
 {he that knows the delights of Devotion, knows 
 withall that there is (no other fit to come in cons* 
 petition with it ; and fo is not diftrafted in her 
 choice , nor need go farther then her Clofet for 
 
 the 
 
Sect.V. Of Piety. l0$ 
 
 the moft agreable entertainment. I know this will 
 found a little incredible to thofe that know no o- 
 ther ufe of Clofets then as a confervatory of gauds 
 and baubles; that afpire to no plefure there a- 
 bove that of children , the playing with the Pi- 
 ftures and Popets that adorn it. Nor indeed do 
 I pretend that fuch fhall find thofe fatisfactions I 
 fpeak of. Thofe whefe errand is to Beel-^ebub the 
 God of flyes, muft n-^t exptft to be treated by the 
 God of Ifrael An ingenious man will fcorn to 
 obtrude himfelf on thofe who defire not his com- 
 pany , and fure God will not make himfelf more 
 cheap. Thofe that will meet him in their Clofets, 
 muft come with that defign , refort thither as to 
 an Oratory ; nay more then fo , they muft come 
 frequently. Spiritual joies know not the way to a 
 place where they are not often invited;and as man 
 feek for each other nor in places where they fel- 
 dom or never come , but where they daily fre- 
 quent 5 fo God contrives , not to meet us in that 
 place where we appear rarely and accidentally , 
 but where we ufually refort. 
 
 32.I (hall not need to branch out devotion in- 
 to the feveral parts, that being don already in a 
 multitude of other Treatifes, of which if they 
 pleafe to confult any one , they cannot want a Di- 
 rectory for their worship, whether privat or pub- 
 lic. Only let me obferve the order and connexion 
 of thofe two , that they are neither to be fever'd 
 nor yet to be ranged prepofteroufly. The privat 
 muft not juftleout the public, for God expecfts his 
 
 O folemn 
 
io6 THE LADIES CALLING. Part.I. 
 
 folemn he mage : and their hudling it up inprivat, 
 as it may give men Ground to fufpeft they pay 
 rone at all ; fo neither God nor man can colled 
 any thing better from it , then that they are alha- 
 med of the Deity they pretend to ferve. On the 
 other fide the public muft as little fwallow up the 
 privat,and where it does,there may be a juft doubt 
 of its fincerity. Many attraftives there may be 
 to Church befides that of Piety,and indeed where 
 that is really the motive , it teaches fomuch reve- 
 rence to that awful prefence they are to approch, 
 as not to ccme without fom preparation. What 
 foiicitude , whaf critical nicenefs will a Lady have 
 for her drefs , when ihe is to appear at a folemn 
 meeting at Court , and fhallfhe take no care how 
 fordidly, how undecently fhe appear when the 
 King of Kings gives audience < Shall many hours, 
 daies, nay perhaps weeks, be taken up in contri- 
 ving for the one, and fhall there never be a minute 
 allotted for the other ? This were fure very une- 
 qual , and yet this is the cafe where the devotion 
 of the Clofet do's not prepare for that of the 
 Church. If the mind be not firft tuned there , it 
 will be very ill qualified for that harmony of 
 fouls i which is the only thing God regards in 
 our public offices. So that were there no other 
 ufe of privat devotion , but as it relates to the 
 public, that were enough tofpeak the necefiity 
 cf it* 
 
 3 j . But indeed 'tis not only a needful prepa- 
 rative to that facred commerce , but to our civil. 
 
 The 
 
Sect.V. Of Piety. 107 
 
 The World is but a larger fort of Pefhiouie , in 
 every corner of it we meet with infectious airs, 
 and thofe that converfe in it had need of this An- 
 tidote. How many temtations do's every place, 
 every hour, every interview, pref^nt to the fhock- 
 ing even of that moral integrity which a fober 
 Heathen would judg fit to preferve ; much more 
 of that ftrift Piety our Chrifthnity exafts ? 
 
 34. 'Twas the obfervation that O.i^ai tmde 
 of himfeif , that the day in which he fo fluor fully 
 fell by facrificing to Idols, he had ventured out in 
 the mcrning before he had compleated his ufual 
 praiers ; the Devil finding him lb unarmed tcok 
 advantage to afiault him , as knowing he had then 
 but a fingle impotent man to wreftle with, who 
 had forfeited , by not invoking , the protection of 
 God. And indeed fince praier is the moft power* 
 ful exorcifm to ejeft him, we may well conclude, 
 the omiflion of it is a likely means to invite him : 
 for if God have not the prepoileiTion , if we do not 
 by hearty praier furrender our fouls to him in the 
 mcrning , they are then all the day after like that 
 emty houfe mention'd in the Gofpe! , a fit recep- 
 tacle for as many evil fpirits aspleafe to inlubit 
 there. Nor are thefe fpirituil the only dingers 
 that attend us , we are liable to multitude of fe- 
 cularonesalfo: our perfons, our fortunes, our 
 reputations, every thing wherein we can receive 
 a berlefit, renders us equally capable of a preju- 
 dice. What multitudes of accidents are there 
 to which we lie open , and nothing to guard us 
 
 O 2 from 
 
io8 THE LADIES CALLING. Pari I. 
 
 from them bur the divine Providence < which if 
 weneglecft rofolicit we are fure very unworthy 
 of its defence. And this is a confideration that me* 
 thinks fhould bring even the moft fenfual perfons 
 upon their knees : for tho too many may be found 
 that defpife the former danger , and can conten- 
 tedly enough expofe their fouls , yet fuchare ufu- 
 ally the mofr tender of their temporal concerns, 
 it being commonly the exceffive love of thofe which 
 makes them negleft the other. She that fears not 
 the fall into fin , will yet fear the tumbling into a 
 precipice 5 and tho fhe care not for the fpotting 
 of her innocence,would be very loth any accident 
 fhould blemifh her face , difparage her fame 5 cr 
 irapoverifh her fortune, and yet from any or all 
 of thefe fhe is utterly unable to guard herfelf. So 
 that if Piety will not,yet intereft methinks fhould 
 render her an homager to that omnipotent power, 
 from whence alone Ihe can derive her fafety. 
 
 35. And now methinks a Duty that is thus 
 bound on with the cords of a man , with human as 
 well as divine perfwafives 5 fhould not eafily be 
 fhaken off f I wifh I could fay it never is , but I 
 fear there are fomof thofe I nowfpeakto, who 
 negle&itin fpight of all thefe inducements ; who 
 tho they can pretend nothing lerious enough to 
 own the name of bufinefs , do yet fiiffer a fuccef- 
 fion cf I know not what impertinencies to divert 
 them. And indeed were the expence of fom La- 
 dies daies calculated, we fhould find every hcur fo 
 full of enninefs , fo overladen with vanities, that 
 
 'tis 
 
 
Sect.V. Of Piety. 109 
 
 'tis fcarce imaginable where an office of devotion 
 fhculd croud in. 
 
 36. The morning is divided between deep 
 anddrefling, norwould the morning fuffice, but 
 that they are fain to make a new computation to 
 mefure it, not by the Sun y but by their time of di- 
 ning, which is often as late as the ftationary hours 
 of the Primitive Fafts , tho upon a far differing 
 motive. The afternoons being by this means re- 
 duced , are too fhort for thofe many divertife- 
 ments that await them > and muft therefore bor- 
 row as much of the night as they lent to the mor- 
 ning. And when the meer fatigue of plefures fend 
 a Lady to her reft 5 'tis not imaginable that (lie 
 will permit Devotion to induce a yet greater , and 
 more-difagreeable laflitude , fo that the whole 
 round of her time feems to be a kind of magic 
 circle , wherein nothing that is holy muft appear. 
 And indeed 'tis none of the higheft ftratagems 
 of Satan thus to forefhl thtir time ; and by a 
 perpetual fupply of diverfions 5 infenfibly fteal 
 from them the opportunities of divine Offices 5 
 an artifice by which I prefume he prevails on 
 fom , who would liar tie at his groiTer and more 
 apparent temtations. 
 
 37. Nor needs he more then the fucctfs cf 
 this projed • for if this habitual neglefi of Piety 
 fliould not finally end in great and criminal com- 
 miflions, (as 'tis naturally very apt to do) yet his 
 intereft is fufficiently fecured by fuch a cuftoma- 
 ry omiffion , which amounts to no lefs then the 
 
 living 
 
no THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 living without God in the World: a ftate fo hope- 
 lefs, that when the Apoftle recolleds to the Ephe- 
 fians the wretchednefs of their Gentile State , he 
 do's i^n thofe very words, Eph. 2. 1 2. And fure, 
 thofe tbat live fo under Cbriftianity , are not in a 
 better , "but worfe condition, by how much con- 
 temt of God is more unpardonable then igno- 
 rance. 
 
 38. It therefore infinitly concerns thofe who 
 are in danger of fo fatal a fnare, to look about 
 them, and endevor to countermine Satan , and 
 beasinduftrious to fecure their duty, as he is to 
 fupplant it ; and to this purpofe , one of the ufe- 
 fulleft expedients I know , is to be aforehand with 
 him ; I mean 3 to make their Devotions thefirftbu- 
 finefs of the diy ; by which I intend not only 
 thofe Ejaculations wherewith we all fhouldopen 
 our eies, but their more fee and foiemn Praiers ; 
 a Practice fo highly expedient to the perfons fore- 
 mentioned , that it falls little fhert of neceffary 5 
 and that upon feveral reafons. 
 
 39' First, in relation to one of the great 
 ends of Morning Praier , which is to fupplicate 
 the guidance and protection of God for the whole 
 day. Now if this be not don till fom Ladies 
 Dreffings be finished , 'twill be h Af a mockery , a 
 moft prepofterous requeft , as to the greateft part 
 of the day , which will be paft before ; andbe- 
 fides the abfurdity , there is danger in it ; for all 
 the preceding time is as it were outlawed by it, 
 put from under the Divine Protection. Alas, are 
 
 God's 
 
Sect. V. of Piety. in 
 
 God's fafeguards to be oniy meridional , to fhine 
 out only with the noon-day Sun f To they fup- 
 pofe Satan keeps their hours , and ftirs not a- 
 broad till the afternoon 5 that there is no danger 
 either of corporal or fpiritual mifchiefs before 
 that time of the day i Certainly, if the wife of 
 the harp and the viols hich lfaiah mentions , Ch. 5. 
 12. do not drown it, they may often hear a morn- 
 ing as well as evening Paffing-bell. With how ma- 
 ny others do's the glafs of life run out \ whilft 
 they are at their looking-glaffes ? How many 
 bodies are maimed and wounded in the time they 
 are trimming and decking theirs i And who made 
 them differ from others, 1 Cor. 4. 7 * Or what te- 
 nure have they in the fafety of one moment , fdvt 
 what they ow to God's Providence? And what 
 rational expectation can they have of that 5 when 
 they do not invoke it f 
 
 40. Nor are the fpiritual dangers lefs , but 
 rather much more;and they muft be very flight ob- 
 fervers of themfelves , if they do not difcern that 
 fnares may be laid for them in their recefTes in 
 their chambers, as well as in places of the moft 
 public refort. Indeed , were there no other then 
 what relates to their drefs, and curiofity there- 
 of^ were enough to evidence their danger; fcarce 
 any part of that but carrying a temtation in it: 
 to Pride, if it hit right, and pleafe their fancy: to 
 Anger and Vexation, if it do not. They had 
 need therefore to put on their armor before their 
 ornaments , by a prepoffeffion of Praier and Me- 
 ditation 
 
ii2 THE LADIES CALLING. Part L 
 
 ditation to fecure their vitals, left by an internal 
 death of Grace, their bodies (in their utmoft 
 lufter) prove but the painted Sepulcher of their 
 
 fouls. 
 
 41. In the fecond place , this appears requi- 
 fic in oppcfition to the indecency and incongruity 
 of the contrai y.How inverted an eftimate do they 
 make of things that poftpone the interefts of their 
 fouls,to the meaneft member of their bodies,pay a 
 fupererrogating attendance to the one, before the 
 other comes at all into their care. But what is 
 yet vvorfe , how vile a contumely is offered to the 
 Ma jefty of God, who is ufed as they do their dun- 
 ning Creditors , pofted off with an excufe of no 
 lefure yet to fpeak with him ; whilft in the mean 
 time all the faftors for their vanity can have ready 
 accefs and full audience. God mull attend till 
 their Tailor , their Shcomaker pleafe to difmifs 
 them , and at the beft 5 can be allowed only to 
 bring up the rear of a whole ftiole of Arti- 
 ficers. 
 
 42. B u T thirdly, 'tis very doubtful whether 
 he lhall obtain fo much from them 5 for it may 
 often happen that he lhall be quite precluded : 
 fo numerous are the parts of a modifh equipage, 
 and fo exacl: a fymmetry is required in the whole, 
 that 'tis the bufinefs of many hours to compleat 
 it 5 when as 'twas faid of the Roman Ladies , a 
 counfel muft be called about the placing of an 
 hair that fits irregularly , when one thing after an- 
 other lhall be tried, and again rejc&ed , as not ex- 
 acl:, 
 
Sect. V. 0/ Piety. 113 
 
 aft, or not becoming ; time all the while infenfi- 
 bly fteals away, and tho that will not ftay for 
 them, yet dinner doth, and then their- bellies be- 
 gin to murmur to pay any longer attendance on 
 their backs, and claim the next turn 5 and between 
 thefe two competitors, 'tis odds Devotion will 
 be quite excluded, or reduced oniy to a grace be- 
 fore meat : (and well if th.it, conilderin ho^ un* 
 fafhionable even that is grown.) In the mean time, 
 what a wretched improvidence is it, ro reduce the 
 one neceffary bufinefs of the day to fuch uncer- 
 tainties, nay almoft to a certain difappdnt- 
 ment. 
 
 43. Yet fuppofe this hazard were only ima- 
 ginary 5 and a Lady were infallibly fure not to 
 lofe the time for her Praiers ; yet in the fourth 
 place* fhe will be likely by iuch preceding diver- 
 fions to lofe much of her zeal in tnem, fo that if 
 they befaid at all, they will fcarce be faid in a 
 due manner* There is alas fuch a repugnancy 
 in our nature to any thing fpiritual, that we can- 
 not clofe in an inftant ; but as a benummed, frozen 
 body will needfom rubbing and chafing before it 
 can be fit for motion 5 fo our more frozen fouls 
 require fom previous incitatkns before they can 
 with any vigor exert themfelves in Devorion. Now 
 fure the drefTingtime(I mean fuch a dreffing as 
 we now fuppofe) is not very proper for fuch 
 preparations. 'Tis , on the contrary, extreme 
 apt to indifpofe and unfit them j for when the 
 fancy ispoffeft with fo many little images of va* 
 
 P nity 
 
ii 4 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 4 ^ . 
 
 nity, tbey will not eafily be ejected. That ran- 
 ging faculty is, God knows, tco apt to bring in 
 even the remoteft diverfions; but when it has fuch 
 a ftock ready at hand, how will it pour them in 
 upon the mind, to the great allaying, if not utter 
 extinguifhingof Devotion. 
 
 44. When all thefe confiderations are put 
 together, 'twill fure appear wholfom counfel,that 
 fuch perfons fhould not truft fo important a Duty 
 to fo many cafualties , but in the firfr. place fe- 
 cure a time for that, repair to their Oratory be- 
 fore their dreiTmg room, and by an early conse- 
 cration of themfelves to God , defeat Satan s 
 claim, and difcourage his attemts for the reft of 
 the diy. We know there is a natural efficacy 
 in a gcod beginning, towards the producing a 
 gcod ending : but in fpirkual things the influence 
 is yet greater,becaufe it draws in Auxiliaries from 
 above, and engages the yet farther afliftances of 
 Grace. Upon which account I am apt to believe, 
 that where this Duty is fincerely and fervently 
 performed in the morning, it will not totally be 
 neglected in the fucceeding parts of the day. 
 'Twill be eafy to difcern the fame obligation, the 
 fame advantage of doling the day with God, that 
 there was to begin it ; and when thofe two boun- 
 daries are fecu red, when thofe are lookt upon as 
 ftricl duty, and conftantly obferved, 'tis not un- 
 likely but their Piety may grow generous, and 
 with Davids ?f. 5$. 17. add to the evening and 
 morning a noon-day office ^ for where Devotion is 
 
 real, 
 
Sect. V. Of Piety. 1 1 5 
 
 real, 'tis apt to be progreffive^ and the more wc 
 converfe with God, the more we fhall defire to 
 dofo. Thus we fee how this little cloud like 
 that of Elijah, 1 King. 18. 44. may ovcr-fprcad 
 the Heavens , and this handful cf firft-fruits may 
 hallow the whole day. 
 
 45. NAY indeed, when it has advanced thus 
 far, 'twill probably go farther, 'twill not keep 
 it felf only on the defenfive part , but invade 
 its oppofits, get daily ground of thofe vanities by 
 which it was before oppreff. For when a Lady 
 has in her Clofet wailit her cheeks with peniten- 
 tial tears, fhe cannot fure when (he comes out, 
 think them prepared for the varnifh of the paint 
 and fucus. When (lie has attentively examined 
 Jier Ccnfcience, that impartial mirror, and there 
 difcern'd all the blemilhes of her nobler part, fhe 
 will fure with fomwhat a more cold concern ccn- 
 fultherlooking-glafs. And when (lie has by pi- 
 ous vows and refoJuticns f*t on the Lord Jefus 
 Chrisl, Rom. 13. 14. 'twill be impoffible for her to 
 be very anxioufiy careful about her garments. 
 This devout temper of her mind will by a holy 
 legcr-demain (Wile the Romances out of her hand, 
 and fubftitute the Oracles of Truth ; will not let 
 her dream away her time in phantaftic fcenes, and 
 elaborate nothing, but promt her to give all dili- 
 gence to make her Calling and Elettion fure* In a 
 word, when (lie once underftands what it is to 
 fpend one hour devoutly, fhe will endevorto re- 
 fcue all the reft from trifles and impertinent en- 
 
 P 2 tertain- 
 
1 1 6 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I* 
 
 tertainments ; and employ them to purpofes 
 more worthy the great end of her being. Thu3 
 may (lie almoft infenfibly wind her felf out of the 
 fnare, difintangle her felf from thofe temtations 
 wherewith flie was enwrapt ; and by having her 
 heart fo fet at liberty, may run the tvaks of God's 
 Commandment s^Pf. 1 19. 
 
 46. But Privat Devotion, tho of excellent 
 effect, cannot commute for the omrffion of Pub* 
 lie* nor indeed can it long maintain its vigor, un- 
 lefs fomtimes cherifhed by the warmth of Chri- 
 ftian AiTemblies : and if God pleafe to vifit them 
 in their Clofets, they are (even by their own 
 Laws of Civility) obliged to return his Vifits, 
 and attend him in his houfe. I fear too many 
 adapt the inftance in the Formality too, and come 
 as unconcernedly to him as they do to one ano-* 
 ther. 'Tis true, thofe that pay him a cordial re- 
 verence at Home , will certainly do it at the 
 Church ; and therefore by the little we fee per-, 
 formed by fom there, we may doubt God fees as 
 little in their Retirements. But what fpeak I of 
 an hearty Reverence, when 'tis vifible that there 
 are thofe who pay none at all ? How rare a light 
 is it for fom Ladies to appear at Church ? How 
 many times (I had almoft faid hundreds) do we 
 fee their Coaches ftand at the Play-houfe, for 
 once at Gods i They feem to own no diftinftion 
 of diies, uniefs it be, that Sunday is rheir moft 
 vacair feafon to take Phyfic, or to lie a nd 
 
 if fuch do ever come to Churchy Devoti 
 
Sect. V. Of Piety. 117 
 
 to be the leaft part of their errand. Some new 
 garment perhaps or drefs is to be fliew'd 3 and that 
 thought the place where the moft critical Judges 
 of thofe things will be moft at lefure to obferve 
 them : or if they come not to teach new fafhions^ 
 it may be they come to learn 5 and fuch docu- 
 ments will be furer to be put in practice then any 
 in the Sermon. Poflibly they exped to fee fom 
 friend or acquaintance there , and as if Chrift 
 were to be ferved (as he was born)in an Inn, make 
 his houfe the common rendezvouz in which to 
 meet their AfTociates. If they have any more in- 
 genious attra&ives , 'tis commonly that of Curio- 
 fity , to hear (bme new celebrated Preacher , and 
 that rather for his Rhetoric then his Divinity ; 
 and this Motive ( tho the beft of the fet ) is but 
 like that which prevail'd with thofe Jews St. John 
 mentions, who came to tfefusthat they might fet 
 Laxarm, Jo. 12. 
 
 47. I fhall not rank among thefe Motives, that 
 of Hypocrifie andfeeming Holinefs, fcr from that 
 all the reft do acquit them. Indeed 'tis the only 
 fin which this Age has feemed to reform , and that 
 tco only by way of Antiferifirfis^ not by the Ver- 
 tu but the Iniquity of the Times. Religion is 
 grown fa u nfa lh icn able , fo contemtible , that 
 none can now be temted to put on fo ridiculous 
 a difguife. And alrho as to fingle perfons I confefs 
 Hypocrifie one of thedeepeft Guilts 5 fuch as has 
 a peculiar portion afiign'ditby Chrift in the place 
 of torment, Mat* 2 4, 51. yet as to Communities, 
 
 I can- 
 
u8 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 I cannot but think it better to have a face of Reli- 
 gion then Profanenefs.The example of the former 
 may work beyond its felf, and the Form of Godli- 
 nefs in fome may produce the Power of it in o- 
 thers ; but a pattern of Profanenefs,the farther it 
 operates the worfe , and all the progrefs it can 
 make , is from one wickednefs to another , fo that 
 I fear as St. Bernard wiiht for his Feaver again , fo 
 the Church may ere long for her Hypocrites. 
 
 48. BuT to recal my felf from this digref- 
 fion , let us a little enquire how thofe, whom the 
 foremention'd Motives bring to Church, behave 
 themfelves there 5 and that is indeed with great 
 conformity to the ends of their coming , their er- 
 rand is not to be Suppliants 3 neither do they put 
 themfelves in the pofture , kneeling is impertinent 
 for them who mean not to pray , but as the Apo- 
 ftle defcribes the Idolatrous fervice of the Ifra- 
 elites^ They fat down to eat and drinks and roft 
 up to play$ f° thefe fit down to talk and laugh with 
 their Few-fellcws, and rife up to gape and look 
 about them. When they fliouldbe confefling their 
 fins to Almighty God, they are apologizing (per- 
 haps) to one another for the omiffion of a cere- 
 monious vifit, cr fom other breach of civility ; 
 when they fliould be obferving the goings of God in 
 theSanftuary , Pfa. 68. they are inquiring when 
 this Lady came to Town , or when that goes out ; 
 nay perhaps the Theater is brought into the Tem- 
 pie, the lair Piay they faw is recoil efted, and Quo- 
 tations enough brought thence to vie with the 
 
 Preacher* 
 
s ect. V. Of Piety. up 
 
 Preacher. 'Tis impoffible to reckon up all their 
 Topics of difcourfe , nay it were indeed fcan- 
 dalous for one that reproves them to pretend to 
 know by how many impertinencies ( to fay no 
 worfe) they profane that holy Place and Time. 
 
 49. But that allfeeingeyein whofe prefence 
 they are , keeps an exaft account , and will charge 
 them not only with the principal but the product ; 
 not only with their own irreverences , but with 
 thofe which by their example or incouragement 
 they have occafion'd in others, nay farther even 
 with that fcandal which redounds to Chriftianity 
 by it. For when one that is to choofe a Religion, 
 fhall read the Precepts of Pythagoras enjoining 
 that the Gods muft not be worftiipi in patting by, 
 as it were accidentally , but with the greateft fo- 
 lemnity and intention, when they fhall confider 
 the care of Numa in inftituting Officers, who at 
 Sacrifices,and all divine Services, ihould call upon 
 the people to keep filence and advert to Devo- 
 tion , or but the practice of the prefent Mahome- 
 tans , who permit aone to fit in their Mofchos , 
 nor to pray without proftration : When I fay 
 thisisconfidered, and compared with thefcanda- 
 lous indecency obfervable in our Churches,he will 
 certainly exclude Chriftianity from all competi- 
 tion in his choice;not allow that the name of a Re- 
 ligion, whofe very Worfhip appears fo profane, 
 and whofe Votaries mock the God they pretend 
 to ferve. 
 
 50. Yet 
 
120 THE LADIES CALLING. Pa*t. I. 
 
 50. Yet how fevere foever the charge may lie a* 
 gainft fom, I am far from including all under it. I 
 know there are many Ladies whofe examples are 
 reproches to the other Sex, that help to fill our 
 Congregations when Gentlemen defert them>& to 
 whom fomtimes we alone ow that our Churches 
 are not furnished like the Feaft in the Parable, 
 Lu. 14. 21. meeriy out of the high wales and 
 hedges , with the foor and the maimed, the hait and 
 the blind ; yet Torn even of thefe may be liable to 
 fome irregularity, which may be the effefts of in- 
 advertence or mifperfwafion, tho not of contemt 
 or profanenefs. 
 
 51. And firft'tisobfervableinfom who come 
 conftantly , that yet they come not early , fo that 
 a confiderable part of Praiers is paft ere they 
 enter the Church. This firft caufes fom diftur- 
 bance to others 5 the fucceffive entry of new 
 comers keeping the Congregation in a continual 
 motion and agitation; which how unagreeable it is 
 to Devotion 5 Numa a Heathen Prince may teach 
 us , who Plutarch tells us took a particular care* 
 that in the time of divine Wcrfliip , no knocking, 
 clapping , or other noife Ihould be heard ; as well 
 knowing how much the operations of the intel- 
 lect are obftrufted by any thing that importunes 
 the Senfes. What would he have faid , fhould he 
 come into one of our City Congregations , where 
 often during the whole time of Praier,the clapping 
 of Pew-doors dees outnoife the Reader. 
 
 52. But befides the indecency of the thing, 
 ; and 
 
SeCt.V, Of Piety. 121 
 
 and the interruption it gives to others* 'tis very 
 injurious to themfelves $ a kind of partial excom- 
 munication of their own infli&ing, which ex- 
 cludes them from part of the divine Offices* and 
 from that part too which is of the moft univer- 
 sal Concern , I mean the confefiion of fins , 
 which the wifdom of our Church has fitly placed 
 in the beginning of her Service, as the necefTary 
 introdu&ion to all the reft. For confidering how 
 obnoxious we are all to the wrath and vengeance 
 of God, our firft bufinefs is to deprecate that by 
 an humble confeffion of our guilt* Would any 
 .Malefa&or that had forfeited his life to Juftice, 
 come boldly to his Prince, and without taking 
 notice of his crimes, importune him to beftow 
 the greateft favors and dignities upon him? Yet 'tis 
 the very fame abrupt impudence in us, to fuppli- 
 catethe Divine Majefty before weattemt to atone 
 him, £0 ask good things from him before we have 
 acknowledged the ill we have don againft him. 
 And to fuch God may juftly make fuch a return as 
 AuguBus did to one that had entertained him much 
 below his Greatnefs, I knew not before that we 
 were fuch familiars. 
 
 53. It will much better become them to and* 
 cipate the time, to wait at the foslsof his doors. 
 Pro. 8. and contrive to be there before the Ser- 
 vice begins, that fo by previous recollection they 
 may put their minds in a fit pofture of addrefs 
 at the public Audience : which ( by the way ) 
 fpeaks it to be no very laudable cuftom which al- 
 
 Q_ moft 
 
122 THE LADIES CALLING. PaRTI. 
 
 moft univcrfally prevails, that thofe few who do 
 come early, fpend the interval before fervice in 
 talking with one another, by which they do not 
 only iofe the advantage of that time for prepara- 
 tion, but convert it into the direct contrary, do 
 thereby actually unfit and indifpofe themfelves, 
 God knows our hearts, even in their moft compo- 
 fed temper, are too apt to create diversions ; we 
 need not ftart game for them to chafe, and by pre- 
 facing our Praier with fecular difcourfe, make a 
 gap for the fame thoughts to return upon us in 
 them. Befides, in relation to the place, it has a 
 fpice of Profanenefs, 'tis the bringing the Moabite 
 and Ammonite into theTemple,Zto/-.23.3.a kind 
 of invafion on God's Propriety, by introducing 
 cur worldly concerns or divertifments into the 
 houfe which is called by his name, folemnly de- 
 dicated to him,, and therefore dedicated that it 
 might be his peculiar. So that with a little varia- 
 tion, we may tofuch apply the expoftulatory re- 
 prcof of the Apoftle to the Corinthians, i Cor. 
 11.22. what, have ye not houfes to talk and converfc 
 in, or defpife ye the Church of God? But this is, I 
 confefs, a reprcof that will not reach to many, 
 there being fo few of the better fort that come 
 early enough to talk before Service, and as for 
 thofe who talk at it, we have already rankt them 
 under another Clajfis. Yet give me leave to add, 
 that thofe fall not much fliort of that degree of 
 profanenefs, who come late only becaufe they are 
 loth to rife, or to abate any thing of the curiofi- 
 
Sect.V. Of Pinj. 123 
 
 ty of their drefs. For (he that prefers her floth 
 or her vanity before God's Service, is like (how 
 decently foever (lie behave herfelf) to give but 
 an unfignificant attendance st it. 
 
 54- But Iguefs this may in many proceed 
 from another caufe, which tho lefs ill in their in- 
 tention, is not fo in refpeft either of its unreafon- 
 ablenefs, or its effe&s, and that is an unequal efti- 
 mate they make of the parts of God's Service. 
 This laft Age has brought in fuch a partiality for 
 Preaching, that Praier feems comparatively (like 
 Sarah to HagAr} defpicable in their eies : fo that 
 if they can but come time enough to the Sermon, 
 they think they have difcharged the weightier 
 part of the Law, and of their own duty. This mif- 
 perfwafion,thoit have too generally diffufed ic 
 felf thro both Sexes, yet feems to have bin very 
 efpecially imbibed by the Female. And befidea 
 the evidence that Sunday gives , the week-daies 
 afford no lefs. Let there be a Lefture tho at the 
 remoteft part of the Town, what hurrying is there 
 to it, but let the Bell tole never fo loud for the 
 Canonical hours of Common Praier, 'twill net 
 call the neareft of the Neighborhood. I fpeak 
 not of thofe who are at defiance with our Service, 
 and have lifted themfelves in fcparate Congrega- 
 tions ( for I intend not to trace them thro 
 their wild mazes) but of thofe who yet own our 
 Church, and objed not to its Offices, but only 
 have fuftered their valu for them to be infenfibly 
 undermined by their greater zeal for Preaching, 
 
 Q_a Cod 
 
124 THE LADIES CALLING. Part!. 
 
 God fure intends an Harmony in all facred Ordi- 
 nances, and would not have let up a Party againft 
 another, but mutually aflift each others opera- 
 tion upon us. Thus Praier difpofes us to receive 
 benefit by Preaching, and Preaching teaches us 
 how to Pray aright ; and Gcd grant we may long 
 enjoy the public opportunities of both* Yetfince 
 this A%t has brought them to a competition J rauft 
 take leave to fay, that if we come impartially to 
 weigh Praier and Preaching, the Ballance will in- 
 cline another way then it feems with many to do, 
 and we (ball find Praier the more effential part of 
 Religion. 
 
 55. THE end of Preaching is twofold, either 
 to teach us what we know not, or to excite us to 
 practice what we already know : now in relation 
 to the firft of thefe ends, I fuppofe there is a 
 wide difference between Preaching at the firft 
 promulgation of the Gofpel,and now. 'Twas then 
 the only way of reveling to the World the whole 
 myftery of cur Salvation, fo that the Apoftles in- 
 ference was then irrefragable, How /hall they be- 
 lieve on him of whom they have not heard, and how 
 /hall they hear without a Treacher* Ro. 10.14. But 
 where Chriftianity is planted, and the NewTe- 
 ftament received, we have therein the whole Do- 
 ftrin cf Chrift; nay we have not only the matter, 
 but the very form of many of thofe Sermons 
 which Chrift and his Apoftles Preached 5 fo that 
 unlefs we think them not fufficiently. gifted, we 
 cannot but acknowledg we have in them ample 
 
 inftnidion 
 
SECT.V. Of Piety. 12 J 
 
 inftruftion both for Faith and Manners ; enough, 
 as the Apoftle fpeaks, to make us wife unto Satva- 
 tion^ 2 Tim. 3. 15. And the reading of thofe be- 
 ing a confiderable part of our Churches Service, 
 we have the moft genuine Preaching even before 
 the Minifter afcends the Pulpit. Befides, for 
 the help of thofe whofe youth or incapacity dif- 
 ables them from making collections thence for 
 themfelves, our Church has epitomizd the moft 
 necefTary Points of Belief and Practice in the Ca- 
 techifm,not (as the Roman) to preclude their far- 
 ther fearch, but to fupply them in the interim till 
 they are qualified for it; and by that early infu- 
 ficn of Chriftian Principles, to fecure them of 
 that knowledg which is fimply necefTary to their 
 Salvation. 
 
 6.N0W fure, to people in this ftate, Preach- 
 ing is not of fo abfolute necefTity in refpecft of in- 
 ftru&ion, as it was to thofe who from Heathenifin 
 and Idolatry were to be brought firft to the 
 Knowledg, and then to the Faith of Chrift. We 
 feem therefore now more generally concern'd in 
 the other end of Preaching, the exciting us to 
 Practice 5 for alas, there are few of us who Hum- 
 ble on fin for want of light, but either throheed- 
 lefnefs, and want of looking before us, or elfc 
 by a wilful proftration of our felves to it ; fo that 
 we often need to be roufed out of our negli- 
 gence, to be frighted cut of our ftubbornnefs,and 
 by a clofe application of thofe Truths we either 
 forget, or fupprefs,be animated to our Duty. And 
 
 for 
 
126 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 for this purpofe Preaching is doubtlefs of excel- 
 lent ufe, and the naufeating of it fhews a very fick 
 conftitution of mind ; yet fure the over-greedy 
 defire may be a Difeafe aifo, He that eats more 
 then he can concocl, do's not fo much afllft as op- 
 prefs nature, and thofe that run from Sermon to 
 Sermon, that allow themfelves no time to chew, 
 much lefs to digeft what they hear, will footier 
 confound their brains then better their lives. 
 Nay, it oft betraies them to a very pernicious de- 
 lufion, it diverts them from many of the practical 
 parts of Piety, and yet gives them a confidence 
 that they are extraordinarily Picus ; and by their 
 belief that Religion confifts principally in hear- 
 ing, makes them forget to try themfelves by that 
 more infallible teft of doing God's will. So that 
 whereas God never defign'd Preaching for more 
 then a guide in their way, they make it their way, 
 and their end too; and Hearing muft, like a circle, 
 begin and terminate in it felf. 
 
 57. I am fure in fecular concerns, we fliould 
 think him a very unprofitable fervant, that after 
 his Lord had given him directions what to do, 
 fliould be fo tranfported with hearing his inftru- 
 dions, that he fliould defire to have it infinitly re- 
 peated, and fo fpend the time wherein he fliould 
 do the work. And we have reafon to think God 
 will make the fame judgment of thofe who do the 
 like in his fervice. 
 
 58. On e would now think that this ravenous 
 appetite of hearing fliould fuperfede allnicenefs 
 
 in 
 
Sect, V. Of Piety. 127 
 
 in it, yer we find it do's not, but that Torn make a 
 fliift to be at once voracious and fqueamift. If this 
 fpiritual food be not artificially dreft, 'tis too 
 grofs for their palats ; the Phrafe muft be elegant, 
 the words well accented, and the inticing words 
 of mans wifdom which St. Paul difclaims in his 
 Preaching, 1 Cor. 2. 4. is that which they princi- 
 pally regard. Nay the memory of the Preacher 
 becomes the moft material Point of his Sermon, 
 and the firft glance on his Book prejudges him. 
 I need not add the extravagances of an uncouth 
 tone, a furious vehemence, or phantaftic gefture, 
 wherein the foul and vital efficacy of Preaching 
 has bin folemnly placed. Now 'tis evident all 
 thefe are but trivial Accomplishments; fo that 
 thole who infift fo much on them, do make Preach- 
 ing much lefs Sacred and Divine then indeed it is; 
 and therefore cannot without abfurdity lay the 
 main ftrefs of Religion upon it, cr make that the 
 higheft of God's Ordinances, which owes all its 
 gratefulnefs with them to the Endowments of 
 men. Som may think I purfu this fubjtd: too far, 
 but I am fure I do it not with defign to derogate 
 from the juft refped: due to Preaching-, only I 
 would not have it monopolize our efteem,or jufrle 
 out another Duty, which is of more conftant ufe, 
 and indifpenfible neceflity. 
 
 59. And fuch certainly is Praier, that refpira- 
 tion of the foul, which is fo neceffary, that it ad- 
 mits not of long intermiilion, and therefore feems 
 to carry the fame proportion to hearing, which 
 
 breath- 
 
128 THE LADIES CALLING. Part t 
 
 breathing does to eating: we may make long in- 
 tervals of feeding , and yet fubfift ; but if we 
 ihould do fo in breathing, we cannot recover it. 
 Praier is like the morning and evening Sacrifice 
 under the Law, which Gcd ordained Ihould be 
 perpetual 5 whereas Preaching is but like the 
 Readings in the Synagogues on Sabbaths and Fe- 
 ftivals. Indeed , however we have confounded 
 the terms, 'tis Praier only that can properly be 
 called the worflrip of God ; 'tis that by which 
 w 7 e pay him his folemn homage,acknowledg his fo- 
 veraignty, and our own dependance. When we 
 hear, we do no more then what every Difciple 
 doestohisMafter; but when we pray, we own 
 him as the fpring and fource of all the good we 
 exped, as the Author of our Being, and the Ob- 
 ject of our Adoration: in a word, we do by it 
 profefs him our God ; it being an imprefs of 
 meer natural Religion to fupplicate the Deity we 
 acknowledg. 
 
 60. And as by Praier we render the greateft 
 Honor to God, fo likewife do we procure the 
 greateft advantages to our felves. Praier is the 
 powerful Engin, by which we draw down Blef- 
 fings ; 'tis the key which lets us into the immenfe 
 Store-houfe of the Almighty 5 nay 'tis that upon 
 which the Efficacy of Preaching depends. The 
 Word is but a dead letter without the Spirit ; and 
 God has promifed the Spirit to none but thofe 
 that ask it, Luk. 11. 13. So that Praier is that 
 which enlivens and infpirits cur moft fkcred acti- 
 ons: 
 
Sect.V. Of Piny. 129 
 
 ons: and accordingly in Scripture we fed it ftill 
 a concomitant in all Ecciefiaftical Concerns. 
 When an Apoftle was to be fubftituted in the 
 room of Judas, we find they referred it not to 
 the decificn of lots, till God, who had the fole 
 difpofingof them, Frov. 16. 33. had bin invoked 
 by folemn Praier, AH. 1. 24. So when Barnabas 
 and Saul were to be feparated to the Miniftry, 
 tho the appointment were by the Holy Ghoft , yet 
 that fuperfeded not the neceffity of Praier ; the 
 Apoftles praied, (yea, and failed too) before they 
 laid their hand on them, All. 13.3. Nay, cur Blef- 
 fed Savior Himfclf, tho He knew what was In ma?i, 
 and needed no guidance but his own Omnifcience 
 in his choice: yet we find that before his Election 
 of the twelve Apoftles, he continued a whole 
 night in Praier to God, Lukj 6. 12. doubtlefs to 
 *teach us how requifit Praier is in all our impor- 
 tant interefts, which like the Pillar cf Cloud and 
 Fire to the Israelites, is our beft Convoy thro 
 the Wildernefs, thro all the fnares and tem- 
 tations, thro all the calamities and diftreffes 
 cf this World, and our moft infallible Guide to 
 the Land of Promife. 
 
 61. And fure when all thefe are the proper- 
 ties of Praier, thoprivat, they will not lefs be- 
 long to the public ; fuch a ccnfpiration and union 
 of importunate Devoticn muft have a propor- 
 tionable increafe in its effect ; and if Heaven can 
 fuffer violence by the fervcr of one fingle Votary, 
 
 R. with 
 
130 THE LADIES CALLING, Parti. 
 
 with what ftorms, what batteries will it be forced 
 by a numerous Congregation? We find the 
 Church is, by Chrift, compared to an Arm 1 ) with 
 banners, Cant, 6. 3. but fure never is this Army in 
 fo good array, in fo invincible a pofture as upon 
 its knees. The Ecclefiaftical ftory tells us of a 
 Legion of Chriftians in Aurdius's Camp, who in 
 that pofture difcomfited two affailants at once, 
 the enemy and the drought. That breath which 
 they fent up in Praiers, like a kindly exhalation 
 returned in rain, and relieved the perilling Ar- 
 my : and had we but the fame fervor, and the fame 
 innocency , could we lift up but as pure hands 
 as they did D there would be no Bleffing beyond 
 our re?ch. But the lefs any of us find our ielves 
 fo qualified, the more need we have to put our 
 felves among thofe that are. 
 
 62. There is an happy contagion in good- 
 nefs; like green wood we may perhaps be kind- 
 led by the neighboring flame: the example of 
 anothers zeal may awake mine. However, there 
 is fom advantage in being in the company : thofe 
 iliowers of benediction which their Praiers bring 
 down, are fo plentiful,that fom drops at leafl may 
 fcatterupon thofe about them. We find Eli/ha 
 for Jehofliaphats fake 5 endured the prefence of 
 Jehoram, whom oiherwife he profeffes he would 
 not have lookt towards, 2 King. 3. 14. and God 
 may perhaps do the like in this cafe • and as he 
 pixipzved Fotipbar forjofepfrs fake, Gra. 39. 23. 
 
 fo 
 
Sect.V. Of Piety. 131 
 
 fo the Piety of fome few may redound to the be- 
 nefit of all. From all thefe confederations I fup- 
 pofe may fufficiently be evinced the neceflity 
 and benefit of public Praier, and confequently 
 the unreafonablenefs of thofe , who upon any 
 pretence neglect it. I fliall now only befeech thofe 
 to whom I fpeak to make the application to them- 
 felves, and to fh?w they do fo by their more early 
 and more afllduous attendance on it. 
 
 63. THERE is alfo another Duty to which 
 many of thefe to whom I write feem to need fom 
 incitation, and that is Communicating, a part of 
 Devotion which the loofer fort fcarceever think 
 infeafon till their death beds; as if that Sacra- 
 ment like the Romanifts Extreme Unclion, were 
 cnly fit for expiring fouls : but to fuch we may 
 apply the words of the Angel to the woman, 
 Luk. 24.5. Why feek ye the living among the decide 
 Why think ye that the Sun of Righuoufnefs is 
 only to fliine in the fliades of death, or that Chrifr 
 is never to give us his flefh , till we are putting off 
 our own i 'Tis one principal end cf that Sacra- 
 ment to engage and enable us to a new life 5 how 
 prepofterous then is it, how utterly inconiiftent 
 with that end to defer it to the hour of death. 'Tis 
 true'tis a good Viaticum for fuch as are in their 
 way towards blifs , but it is too bold a hope to 
 fancy that it fhall in an inftant bring them into 
 that way, who have their whole life pcfted on in 
 the contrary. The ixxids to Heaven and Hell lie 
 
 R 2 fure 
 
i 3 2 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 fure tco far afunder to be within diftance of one 
 ftep; nor can it with any fafety beprefumed that 
 once receiving at their death,fliall expiate fo ma- 
 ny wilful neglefts of it in their life. 
 
 64, But I fhall fuppofe thefe total Omifllons 
 are not a common guilt : yet with many others the 
 fault differs only in degree , they do not wholly 
 omit , but yet come fo infrequently as if they 
 thought ir a very arbitrary matter whether they 
 come or no. And this truly ts obfervable in ma- 
 ny who feem to give good attendance on other 
 parts of divine Worflbip : for indeed 'tis a fad 
 fpe&acle to fee, that let a Church be never fp 
 much crouded at Sermon , 'tis emtied in an inftant 
 when the Communion begins : people run as it 
 were frighted from it, as if they thought with 
 thofein MaUchy , that the table of our Lord is pol- 
 luted, Mai. 1. 12. that fome peft or infeftion 
 would thence break forth upon them. A ftrange 
 indignity to the Majefty , and ingratitude to the 
 love of our Redeemer. Let a King, or but fom 
 great man make a public entertainment 3 how 
 hard is it to keep back the preffing multitude : 
 many Officers are neceflfary to repel the uninvi- 
 ted guefrs: and yet here there needs more to drive 
 us to it, tho the invitation be more general y and 
 the Treat infinitly more magnificent. 
 
 <$)♦ I know this fault (like many other) 
 fhrouds it felf under a fair difguife 5 and this bar- 
 barous neglecl: pretends to the humbleft venera- 
 tion. 
 
SECT.V. Of Titty. 133 
 
 tion. People fay 'tis their great reverence they 
 have for the Sacrament that keeps them at fo 
 great a diftance ; but fure that is but a ficti- 
 tious- reverence which difcards Obedience ; and 
 when Chrift commands ourcoming, ourdrawing 
 back looks more like ftubbornefs and rebellion, 
 then awe and refpe#. I fuppofe we pretend not 
 to exceed the Primitive Chriftians in humility 
 and godly fear; and yet they communicated daily, 
 and therefore fure our reverence is of a much 
 differing make from theirs , if it produce fuch 
 contrary effects. Indeed 'tis to be feared that 
 many put a great cheat upon themfelves in this 
 matter. The Eucharift is juftly accounted the 
 higheft of divine Ordinances, and thofe who 
 think of no preparation in other , yet have fom 
 general impreflions of the necefTity of it in this 5 
 but the uneafinefs of the task difcourages them, 
 they dare not come without a wedding garment, 
 and yet are loth to be at the pains to put it on : fo 
 that all this goodly pretext of reverence, is but 
 the Devil in Samuels Mantle , is but floth clad in 
 the habit of humility. 
 
 66. And to this temtation cf floth , there is 
 another thing very fubfervient , and that is the 
 eafie and flight opinion which is commonly taken 
 of fins of OmifTion. Many are ftartled at great 
 CommiflloriSjthink them to carry a face of defor- 
 mity and horror, who in the mean time look on 
 OmifTions only as privations and meer nothings,as 
 
 if 
 
134 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 if all the affirmative Precepts were only things of 
 form,put in by God rather to try our inclinations, 
 then to oblige our performance ; and fo were 
 rather overtures and propofals which wemayaf- 
 fent to or not , then injunctions which at our peril 
 we muft obey. A fancy no lefsabfurd then impious. 
 That God fhould be content fo to compound with 
 his creatures(and like aPrince overpowered by his 
 vaffals) confent to remit all their homage>abfolve 
 them from all pofitive Duty , fo they would be but 
 fo civil as not to flie in his face 9 or to commit 
 outrage on his Perfon. But this wild imagination 
 needs no other confutation, then that fcrm cf 
 Inditement our Savior gives ns as the Model of 
 that which fliall be ufed at the laft day , Mat. 25. 
 where the whole Procefs lies againft fins of Omii- 
 fion , and yet the fentence is as difmal and irre-r 
 verfible, as if all the Commiffions in the World 
 had bin put into the Bill. 
 
 67. And certainly of all Omiffions none is 
 like to be more feverely charged then this of 
 communicating, which is not only a difobedience> 
 butanunkindnefs , which ftrikes not only at the 
 Autority but the Love of cur Lord, when he fo 
 affefts a union with us that he creats Myfteries 
 only to efted it s when he defcends even to our 
 fenfuality , and becaufe we want fpiritual appe- 
 tites , pins himfelf within reach of our natural, 
 and as he once veil'd his Divinity in flefh , fo now 
 veils even that flefli under the form of our ccr-r 
 
 poral 
 
Sect, V. O f Piety. lj$ 
 
 poral nurifhment, only that he may the more in- 
 diffolvably unite,yea incorporate himfelf with us: 
 When I fay he do's all this , we are not oniy im- 
 pious but inhuman if it will not attract us. Nay 
 farther, when he do's all this upon the moft en- 
 dearing memory of what he has before don for us, 
 when he prefents himfelf to our embraces in the 
 fame form wherein he prefented himfelf to God 
 for our expiation, when he fliews us thofe wounds 
 which our iniquities made , thofe ftripes by which 
 we were healed , that death by which we are revi- 
 ved, fliall we to compleat the Scene of his Paflion, 
 force him alfo to that pathetic complaint , Lam. 
 i . 1 2. Have ye no regard all ye that pafs by ? Shall 
 we inftead of fmiting our breads (as did other 
 witneffes of his fufferings) turn our backs:' If 
 we can habitually do this, 'tis to be feared the 
 next degree will be to wag our heads too, and we 
 ihall have the profanenefs to deride, what we have 
 net the Piety to commemorate. 
 
 68. And this feems to be no improbable fear: 
 for in Religion there are gradual declinations as 
 well as advances : coldnefs and tepidity will (if 
 not ftopt in its progrefs) quickly grow tolothing 
 and contemt. And indeed to what can we more 
 reafonably impute the great overflowings of pro- 
 fanenefs among us, then to our ill-husbanding the 
 means of Grace? Now certainly of all thofe 
 means there is none of greater energy and power 
 then the bleffed Sacrament, 
 
 69. \VeRb 
 
i 3 6 THE LADIES CALLING. Part I. 
 
 69 . Were there no other benefit derived 
 from it fave that which the preparation implies, 
 'twere very confiderable. It brings us to a recol- 
 lection , fixes our indefinitpurpofes of fearching 
 and trying our waies 9 which elfe perhaps we 
 fliould infinitly defer,ftops our carrier in iin, and 
 by acquainting us with our felves , (hews us where 
 our danger lies, and how we are to avert it , what 
 breaches are made in upon our fouls, and how we 
 muft repair them ; all which are with many fel- 
 dom thought of, but when the time of commu- 
 nicating approches. We live fo far off from our 
 .felves , know fo little what is don in us , that we 
 aufwer the defcription the Prophet makes of the 
 furprize of Babylon , of which the King knew 
 nothing till poll after poft run to inform him 
 that his City was takm at one end , Jen 51. 14. we 
 often lie fecure while the enemy is within our 
 walls , and therefore they are [friendly alarms 
 which the Sacrament gives us to look to our de~ 
 fence. But if when the Trumpet founds none 
 will prepare himfelf to the Battel , if when the 
 Minifter gives warning of a Sacrament , and the 
 preparation it requires , we go our waies , and 
 with Gallio care for none of thofe things, or with 
 Felix, Afts 2^.26. put it of to a convenient time, 
 we wilfully expofe our felves, and 'tis but juft 
 Chrifts dreadful menace fhouldbe executed upon 
 us , that we die in our fins , who will fruftrate iuch 
 an opportunity of a refcufrom them. 
 
 70. But 
 
SECt.V. Of Piety. 137 
 
 70. But 'tis not only this remoter and acci- 
 dental advantage (this preventing Grace) which 
 the Holy Eucharift affords; it contains yet greater 
 and more intrinfic benefits , is a Spring of af- 
 fifting Grace alio : 'tis a Magazine of Spiritual 
 Artillery to fortifieusagainfr all aflkults of the 
 Devil , the great Catholicon for all the Maladies 
 of our Souls, that which, if duly received, will 
 qualifie us to make St. Pauls boaft , Phil. 4. 13. 
 JT cdn do all things thro Chrisl which ftrengthens. 
 me. In a word, 'tis to us whenever we need, Wif- 
 dom , Righteoufnefs , San&ification , and Redem- 
 tion, becaufe it pofTefTes uscf him who is fo, 1 Cor. 
 1. 31. So that whenever we negled: it, wemani- 
 feftly betray our own intereft , and do implicitly 
 chofe death whilft we thus run from life. 
 
 71. Thus we fee there is a concurrence of 
 all Torts of Arguments for this Duty ; oh that fom 
 (atleaft) of them may prevail I If we are not 
 tradable enough to do it in Obedience, yet let us 
 be fo ingenious as to do it for Love , for Grati- 
 tude ; or if for neither of thofe , let us beat leafl 
 fo wife as to do it for Intereft, and Advantage. I 
 know people are apt to pretend bufinefs ; the 
 Farm and the Oxen muft excufe their coming to 
 th^Feaft: but alas what bufinefs can there be of 
 equal necefiity or advantage with this * Yet even 
 that Apology is ftiperfeded to thofe I now fpeak 
 to, who as I obferved before have lei u re more 
 then enough - fo that it would be one part of the 
 
 S benefit 
 
13$ THE LAMES CALLI NG. PaRTL 
 
 benefit , its taking up fom of their time : let 
 me therefore earneftly befeech them , not to 
 grudg a few of their vacant hours to this fo happy 
 an emploiment. 
 
 72. Did any of their near Friends and Rela- 
 tions invite thera to an interview 5 they would not 
 think him too importune , tho he repeated the 
 fummons weekly ^ nay daily , but would punctual- 
 ly obferve the meeting : and when their Savior 
 "much feldomer entreats their company, lh>ll he 
 not obtain it ?.muft he never fee them but at two 
 or three folemn times of the year * and fhall they 
 wonderat any intervening invitation (as the Shu- 
 namites husband did at her going to the Prophet 
 when it was neither new Moon or Sdbbath , 2 Kings 
 4. 23.) and tell him 'tis not yet Ed8er or Chrift* 
 mas: this were not only to be irreligious but rude ; 
 and methinks thofe who ftand fo much upon the 
 punctilios of Civility to one another , fhould 
 not then only lay afide their good manners when 
 they are to treat with their Redeemer. Certain- 
 ly he is not fo unplefant company that they need 
 lhun his converfe: if he do appear fo to any y *tis 
 that ihunning that is the caufe of it. He do's not 
 open his trefures to ftrangers : they that come 
 now and then for form fake , no wonder if their 
 entertainment be as cold as their addrefs. They 
 that would indeed taji how f Meet the Lord is , 
 Pfa. 34. 8. muft by the frequency of their com- 
 ing fliew the hearcinefs of it 5 and then they would 
 
 indeed 
 
SECT.V. Of Tietj. 139 
 
 indeed find it a feafl of fat things > as the Pro- 
 phet fpeaks. 
 
 73. In a word, let them but make experiment, 
 refolve for a certain time (be h a year or there* 
 abouts) to omit no opportunity, (and ^ ithall no 
 due preparation) of communicating, I am a lit- 
 tle confident they will afterwards need r.o other 
 importunity but that of their own longings : the 
 expiration of that definit time will prove the 
 beginning of an indefinit , and their refolutions 
 will have no other limit but their lives. Forcer* 
 tainly there is not in all the whole myftery of 
 Godlinefs, in all the Economy of the Gofpel , fo 
 expedite,fo infallible a means of growth in Grace, 
 as a frequent and worthy participation of this 
 bleficd Sacrament. I cannot therefore more perti- 
 nently clofe this Section , then with this exhorta- 
 tion to it , by which they will not only compleat 
 all their Devotions , crown and hallow the reft of 
 their Oblations to God,but they will be advanced 
 alfo in all parts of pra&icai Piety. For thothis 
 and other facred Offices be perform'd in the 
 Church, the efficacy of them is not circumfcribed 
 within thofe walls, but follows the devout foul 
 thro all the occurrences of human life. 
 
 74. SHE that has intently confider'd the pre- 
 fence of God in the Sanctuary , has learn'd fo 
 much of his Ubiquity, that fhe will not eafily for- 
 get it in other places,' and fhe that remembers that, 
 will need no other guard to fecurs her innocence, 
 
 g z no 
 
ijjo THE LADIES CALLING. Part I, 
 
 no other incentive to animate her endeavors,fince 
 (lie is view'd by him who is equally powerful to 
 punifh or reward , who regards not the performs 
 of the mighty, nor can be awed into the conni- 
 vance of a crime. Indeed a ferious advertence to 
 the divine Prefence 5 is the mod certain curb to 
 all diforderly appetites , as on th* contrary the 
 not having God before their eies y is in Scripture 
 the comprehensive defcription of the moft wretch- 
 lefs profligated ftate of fin. It concerns there- 
 fore all thofe who afpire to true Piety, to nurifh 
 that awful fenfe in their hearts , as that which will 
 befi enable them to pradice the Apoftles advice, 
 2 Cor. 7. r. To ckanfe themfelves from all filthinefs 
 vf the fiefh and fair it , and to perfeft holme fs in the 
 fear of God. 
 
 75-1 Am fenfible that this Se&ion is fpun out 
 to a length very unproportionable to the former 2 
 but as the principal wheel in an artificial move- 
 ment may be allowed a bulkfomwhat anfwerable 
 to its ufe , fo upcn the fame account , the fize of 
 this is not unjuftifiable , the Piety which this ds- 
 figns to recommend being the onenecefTary thing, 
 which muft influence all other endowments. We 
 know the coarfe refemblance Solomon makes cf a 
 /air woman without difcretion , that fie is like a 
 jewel of goldin a fwines fnotit , Prov. 1 1. 12. but 
 even that difcretion (if any fuch could be) with- 
 out Piety were but the adding one jewel more,ex- 
 pofog another valuable thing to the fame defpi- 
 
 eable 
 
SeCt. V. Of Tkty. 141 
 
 cable ridiculous ufe. But to fpeak truly there is 
 no real Difcretion,where there is no Religion. And 
 therefore Solomon feems in this place to under- 
 ftand by it that practical Wifdom, which in the fa- 
 credDialecl (his writings efpecially) is equiva- 
 lent to the fear of the Lord. 'Tis true, there may 
 be a rallying wit to feoff and abufe , a ferpentine 
 Wilinefs to undermine and deceive - 7 but that fort 
 of Wifdom (like that of Achitofhel) finally 
 converts into Foolilhnefs, do's very often appear 
 to do fo in this life,but rauft certainly in the next, 
 becaufeit builds upon a falfe bottom,prefers tem- 
 poral things before eternal. And as neither Beau- 
 ty nor Wit (the two celebrated accomplifhm^nts 
 of women) fo will neither Greatnefs and Honor 
 give any advantage without Piety : 'twill only (as 
 hath bin already obfervtd) make them more 
 exemplary finners, inflame the account,and fo ex- 
 pofe them to a greater degree of condemnation. 
 For fure 'tis not their Sex that will refcu them 
 from the difmal denunciation of the Wife man* 
 Wifd. 6. 6. Mighty men frail be mightily tormented* 
 I conclude all with another irrefragable Maxim of 
 the fame Author , Whether one he Rich, Noble > or 
 Pior , their Glory is the fear of the Lord* 
 
 THE 
 

THE 
 
 LADIES CALLING 
 
 The Second Part. 
 
THE 
 LADIES CALLING. 
 
 PART II. SECT. I. 
 
 Of Vvrgl 
 
 ns. 
 
 *E have taken a view of thofe ge- 
 neral Qualifications, which are 
 at once the Duty and the Or- 
 ment of the Female Sex con- 
 fider'd at large : Thefe, like the 
 common Genus, involve all. But there are alfo 
 fpecific differences ariling from the feveral circum- 
 ftances and dates of Life, fom whereof may exa<3 
 greater degrees even of the former Vertues , at*d 
 all may have fom diftinft and peculiar Requifits ** 
 dapted to that particular ftate and condition ; and 
 of thefe our propofed method engages us now to 
 confider* Human life is full of viciflitudes and 
 
 A a changes, 
 
2 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 changes, fo that 'tis impoffible to enumerate all the 
 leffer accidental alteration to which it is liable; But 
 the principal and moft diftindi Scenes, in which a 
 Woman can be fuppoC'd regularly to be an A#or,are 
 thefe three, Virginity, Marriage, and Widowhood : 
 which as they differ widely from each other, fo for 
 the discharging their refpe&ive Duties, there are 
 peculiar cautions worthy to be adverted to. 
 
 2. Virginity is firft, in order of time 3 and if 
 we will take S l Pauls jadgment,in refpeft of excel- 
 lence alfo, i Cor. 7. And indeed, lhe that preferves 
 her felf in that (late upon the account he mentions, 
 v. 3 3 , that /he may care for the things that are of the 
 Lord, that fin may he holy both in Body andin Spirit, 
 defei -ves a great deal of Veneration, as making one 
 of the neareft approaches to the Angelical State. 
 And accordingly, in the Primitive Times, fuch a 
 Virginity was had in a Angular Eftimation, and by 
 tbeaffignment of the School-men hath a particular 
 Coronet of Glory belonging to it. Nay even a- 
 mong the Heathens,a confecrated Virgin was lookc 
 on as a thing moft facred. The Roman Veftals had 
 extraordinary priviledges allowed them by the (late: 
 and they were generally held in fuch Reverence, 
 that Teilaments and other Depofitums of the great- 
 eft Truft were ufually committed to their Cuftody, 
 as to the fureft and mod inviolable Sanduary. Nay 
 their prefence was fo to convi&ed Malefactors 5 the 
 Magistrates veiling tht'ixfafces when they appear'd, 
 and giving up the Criminal to the commanding In- 
 terception of Virgin Innocence. 
 
S 3 c t . I. Of Virgins. 
 
 3. As for the Religious Orders of Virgins ia the 
 prefent Roman Church, tho fome, and thofe very 
 great abufes have crept in •, yet I think 'twere to 
 be wifh'd, that thofe who fuppreft them in this Na- 
 tion, had confin'd themfelves within the bounds of 
 a Reformation, bychoofing rather to re&ifie and 
 regulate, then abolifh them. 
 
 4. But tho there be not among us fuch Socie- 
 ties, yet there may be Nuns who are not Profeft. 
 She who has devoted her heart to God, and the 
 better to fecurehis Intereft againft the moft infinu- 
 ating rival of Human Love, intends to admit none, 
 and praies that (he may not •, do's by thofe humble 
 purpofesconfecrate herfelf to God: and perhaps 
 more acceptably , then if her prefumtion ihould 
 make her more "pofitive, and engage her in a Vow 
 ihe is not fure to perform. 
 
 5. But this is a cafe do's not much need dating in 
 our Clime,wherein Women are fo little tranfported 
 with this zeal of voluntary Virginity, that there 
 are but few can find patience for it when neceflary. 
 An old Maid is now thought fuch a Curfe as no 
 Poetic fury can exceed, look'd on as the moft cala- 
 mitous Creature in nature. And I fo far yield to the 
 opinion, as to confefs it fo to thofe who are kept in 
 that ftate againft their wills \ but fure the original 
 of thatmifery is from the defire, not the reftrainc 
 of Marriage: let them but fupprefs that once, and 
 the other will never be their Infelicity, Butlmuft 
 not be fo unkind to the Sex, as to think 'tis alwaies 
 fuch defire that gives them averfion to Celibacy ; 
 
 Aai I doubt 
 
— ^ — ^ — s 
 
 4 THE LADIES CALLING. Part IL 
 
 I doubt not many are frighted only with the vul- 
 gar contemt under which that ftate lies: for which 
 if there be noctire, yet there is the fame armor a- 
 gauift'this, which is againft all other caufelefs Re- 
 proaches, vix^ to contemn it. Yet I am a little apt 
 to believe there may be a prevention in the cafe* If 
 the fuperannuaced Virgins would behave themfelves 
 with Gravity and Refervednefs, addid themfelves 
 to the ftri&eft Virtu and Piety, they would give 
 the World fom caufe to believe, 'twas not their 
 neceffity, but their choice which kept them un- 
 married 5 that they were pre-engag'd to a better 
 Amour, efpoufed to the Spiritual Bridegroom: and 
 this would give them among the foberer fort, at 
 leaft the reverence and efteem of Matrons. Or it 
 after all caution and endeavor, they chance to fall 
 under the Tongues of malicious, flanderers 3 this 
 is no more then happens in all other Inftances of 
 Duty: and if contemt be to be avoided, Chriftia- 
 nity it fe! f muft be quitted as well as Virgin Cha- 
 ftity. But if on the other fide they endeavor to dif«? 
 guile their Age by all the impoftures and gaieties of 
 a youthful drefs and behavior,if they ftill herd them- 
 felves among the youngeft and vaineft company, 
 betray a young Mind in an aged. Body ; this muft 
 certainly expofe them to fcorn and cenfure. If no 
 Play, no Ball or Dancing-meeting can efcape them, 
 people will undoubtedly conclude that they defire 
 to put offthemfelves 3 to meet with Ghap-men,who 
 fo conftantly keep the Fairs. I wifh therefore they 
 would more univerfallv try the former expedients 
 
 which 
 
Sec t.I. Of Virgins, 
 
 which I am confident is the beft Amulet againft the 
 reproch they fo much dread, and may alfo deli- 
 ver them from the danger of a more coftly remedy; 
 I mean that of an unequal and imprudent Match, 
 which many have ruflfd upon as they have ran 
 frighted from the other, and fo by an unhappy 
 contradi&ion, do borhftay long and marry hafti- 
 iy, gall their neck to fpare their ears, and run into 
 the Yoke rather then hear fo flight and unreason- 
 able a Reproch.They need not, I think,be upbrai- 
 ded with the folly of fuch an Election, fince their 
 own Experience is (to mmy of them) but tco fe- 
 vcre a Monitor. I fliall not infift further on this, 
 but having given the elder Virgins that Enfign of 
 their Seniority as to ftand firft in my Difcourfe, I 
 fliall nowaddrefs more generally to the reft. 
 
 6. And here the two grand Elements efTential 
 to the Virgin ftate, are Mcdefty and Obedience, 
 which tho necefTary to all, yet are in a more emi- 
 nent degree requir'd here. And therefore, tho 
 I have fpoken largely cf the vertu of Modefty in 
 the firft part of this Trad, yet it will not be im- 
 pertinent to make fem further refleclicns en it, 
 by way of application to Virgins, in whom* Mode- 
 fty ftiould appearin its higheft elevation,% ftiould 
 come up to Shamefacednefs. Herlook,her fpeech, 
 her whole behavior fhould cwn an humble diftruft 
 of herfelf* flieistolookon her felf butasa No- 
 vice, a Probationer in the World, and muft take 
 this time rather to learn and obferve, then to di- 
 ctate and prcfcribe.Indeed there isfcarceany thing 
 
 looks 
 
6 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 looks more indecent,then to fee a young Maid too 
 forward and confident in her talk. Tis the Opini- 
 on of the Wife- man, Eccl. 32. 8. that a young man 
 fhouldfcdrce /peak, tho twice ask! d: in proportion 
 to which, 'twill fure not become a young Woman, 
 whofe Sex puts her under greater reftraints, to be 
 either importunate or magifte rial in herdifcourfe. 
 And tho that which former Ages called Boldnefs, 
 is now only Afluranceand good Breeding, yet we 
 have feen fuch bad fuperftruclures upon that 
 Foundation, as fure will not much recommend it 
 to any confidering Perfon. 
 
 7. But there is another breach of Modefty, as 
 it relates to Chaftity, in which they are yet more 
 efpecially concern'd.The very name of Virgin im- 
 ports a moft critical nicenefs in that point. Every 
 indecent curiofity 5 or impure fancy ,is a deflowring 
 of the mind, & every the leaft corruption of them 
 gives fom degrees of defilement to the Body too. 
 For between the ftateof pure immaculate Virgini- 
 ty and arrant Proftitution, there are many inter- 
 medial fteps *, and flie that fnakes any of them,is fo 
 far departed from her firft Integrity. She that li- 
 ftens to any wanton Difcourfe has violated her 
 ears, flie that fpeaks any her tongue, every immo- 
 deft glance vitiates her eye, and every the lighteft 
 ad cf dalliance leaves fomthingof ftain & fullage 
 behind it. There is therefore a moft rigorous 
 caution requifit herein : for as nothing is more 
 clean and white then a perfect Virginity, fo every 
 the leaft fpot or foil is the more difcernable. Be- 
 
 fides 
 
Sect. I. Of Virgins. 
 
 fides,Youth is for the moft partflexible,and eafily 
 warps into a crookednefs,and therefore can never 
 fet it felf too far from a temtation. Our tender 
 bloffoms we are fain to skreen and fhelter, becaufe 
 every unkindly air nips and deftroies them: and 
 nothing can be more nice and delicate then a Mai- 
 den Vertu, which ought; not to be expof d to any 
 of thofe malignant airs which may blaft and cor- 
 rupt it, of which God knows there are too many, 
 fom that blow from within, and others from with- 
 out. 
 
 8. Of the firft fort, there isncnemoremifchie- 
 vousthenCuriofity, a temtation which foil'd hu- 
 man Nature even in Paradife: and therefore fure 
 a feeble Girl ought not to truft her felf with that 
 which fubdued her better fortified Parent. The 
 truth is, an affected Ignorance cannot be fo bla- 
 mable in other cafes as it is commendable in this. 
 Indeed it is the fureft and moft invincible Guard ; 
 for fhe who is curious to know Indecent Things, 
 'tis odds but fhe will too foon and too dearly buy 
 the learning. The deprefling and deteftingall fuch 
 Curiofities,is therefore that eminent fundamental 
 piece of Continence I would recommend to them, 
 as that which will protect and fecure all the reft. 
 
 9- But when they have fet this guard upcn 
 themfelves,they muft provide againft Foreign af- 
 faults too ; the moft dangerous whereof I take to 
 be ill Company,and Idlenefs. Againft the firft they 
 muft provide by a prudent choice of Converfation, 
 which fhould generally be of their own Sex ; yet 
 
 net 
 
8 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 not all of that neither, but fuch who will atleaft 
 entertain them innocently if not profitably. A-* 
 gainft the fecond they may fecure thenifelves by a 
 conftantferies of Emploiments : I mean not fuch 
 frivolous ones as are more idle then doing no- 
 thing, but fuch as are ingenuous, aud fom way 
 worth their time : wherein as the firft place is to 
 be given to the offices of Piety, fo in the Intervals 
 of thofe, there are divers others, by which they 
 may notunufefully fill up the vacancies of their 
 time : fuch are the acquiring of any of thofe orna- 
 mental improvements which become their Quali* 
 ty, as Writing, Needle-works, Languages,Mufic, 
 or the like. Iflfhould here infert the art of Eco- 
 nomy and HoufholdManagery,I lhouldnot think 
 I affronted them in it ; that being the moft proper 
 Feminine bufinefs 5 from which neither wealth nor 
 greatnefs can totally abfolve them : and a little of 
 the Theory in their Parents houfe, would much 
 affift them towards the Praftic when they come to 
 their own* In a word, there are many parts of 
 knowledg ufeful for Civil as well as Divine Life ;- 
 and the improving themfelves in any of thofe, is 
 a rational Emploiment. 
 
 10. But I confefs I know not how to reduce to 
 that Head many of thofe things which from di- 
 vertifements, are now ftept up to be the folemn 
 bufinefs of many young Ladies, (and I doubt of 
 fome old.) Such is in the firft place Gaming* a re- 
 creation whofe lawfulnefs I queftion not, whilft it 
 keeps within the bounds of a recreatiombuE when 
 
 it 
 
S e c t . I. Of Virg ins. 
 
 it fets up for a Calling, I know not whence it de- 
 rives itslicenfe. And a Calling fure it feems to 
 be with fom ; a laborious one too, fuch as they toil 
 night and day at,nay do not allow themfelves that 
 remiffion which the Laws both of God and Man 
 have provided for the meaneft Mechanic : the Sab- 
 bath is to them no day of reft, but this Trade go's 
 en when all Shops are fhut. I know not how they 
 fatisfie chemfelves in fuch an habitual waft of their 
 time, (befides all the incidental faults of Avarice 
 and anger,) but I much doubt that Plea, whatfoe- 
 ver it is which paiTes with them, will fcarce hold 
 weight at his Tribunal, who has commanded us to 
 redeem, not fling away our time. 
 
 II. There is another thing to which fom de- 
 vote a very confiderable part of their time, & that 
 is the reading Romances, which feems now to be 
 thought the peculiar and only becoming ftudy of 
 young Ladies. I confefs their Youth may a little 
 adapt it to them when they were Children, and I 
 wifli they were always in their event as harmlefs ; 
 but I fear they often leave ill impreflions behind 
 them. Thofe amorous Paflions, which 'tis their 
 defign to paint to the utmoft Life, are apt to infi- 
 nuate themfelves into their unwary Readers, and 
 by an unhappy inversion a Copy fhall produce an 
 Original. When a poor young Creature fliall read 
 there of fom triumphant Beauty, that has I know 
 not how many captiv'd Knights proftrate at her 
 feet, fhe will probably be termed to think it a fine 
 thing ; and may refit & how much fhe loofes time, 
 
 B b that 
 
io THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 that has not yet fubdu'd one heart : and then her 
 bufinefs will be to fpread her nets, lay her toils to 
 catch fombody who will more fatally enfnare her. 
 And when fhe has once woundherfelf into anA- 
 mour, thofe Authors are fubtil Cafuifts for all 
 difficult cafes that may occur in it, will inftruft in 
 the neceffary Artifices of deluding Parents and 
 Friends, and put her ruin perfectly in her own 
 power. And truly this feems to be fo natural a con- 
 fequent of this fort of ftudy, that of all the diver- 
 tifements that look fo innocently, they can fcarce 
 fall upon any more hazardous. Indeed, 'tis very 
 difficult to imagine what vaft mifchief is don to the 
 World, by the falfe notions and images of things; 
 particularly of Love and Honor, thofe nobleft 
 concerns of human Life,reprefentedin thefe Mir- 
 rors. But when we confider upon what principles 
 the Duellifts and Hefiors of the Age defend their 
 Cutrages,and how great a Devotion is paid to Luft, 
 inftead of virtuous Love, we cannot be tofeek for 
 the Gofpel which makes thefe Doftrines appear 
 Orthodox. 
 
 12. Asfor the entertainments which they find 
 abroad, they may be innocent, or otherwife, ac- 
 cording as they are managed. The common enter- 
 jccurfe of Civility is a debt to Humanity, & there- 
 fore mutual Vifits may often be neceffary, and fo 
 (in fom degree) may be feveral harmlefs and 
 healthful recreations which may call them abroad, 
 for I write not new to Nuns,and have nopurpofe 
 to confine them to a Cloifter. Yet on the other 
 
 fide 
 
Sect. I. Of Virgins. H 
 
 fide to be alway9 wandring, is the condition of a 
 Vagabond $ and of the two, 'tis better to be a Pri- 
 foner to ones home, then a Stranger. Solomon links 
 it with fom very unlaudable qualities of a Woman, 
 Prov. 7. 11. that her feet abide not in her houfe ; 
 and 'tis an unhappy impotence not to be able to 
 flay at home, when there is any thing to be feen a- 
 broad: that any Mask, or Revel, any Jollity oi o- 
 thers muft be their rack and torment, if they can 
 not get to it. Alas fuch Meetings are not fo fure to 
 be fafe, that they had need be frequent, and they 
 are of all others leaft like to be fafe to thofe, who 
 much dote on them. And therefore thofe that find 
 they do fo, had need to counterbiafs their minds, 
 and fet them tofomthing better, and by more fe- 
 rious entertainments fupplant thofe vanities, which 
 at the beft are childifli, and may often prove worfe •, 
 it being too probable that thofe Dinah's which are 
 ftill gadding, tho on pretence to fee only the daugh- 
 ters of the Land, Gen. 34. may at laft meet with 
 a fon of Hamor. 
 
 13. There is alfo another great devourer of time 
 fubfervient to the former, I mean Drefling: for they 
 that love to be feen much abroad, will be fure to be 
 feen in the moft exaft Form. And this is an em- 
 ploiment that do's not fteal but challenge their 
 time 5 what they waft here is cum Privilege it 
 being by the verdid: of this age the proper buiinefs, 
 the one fcience wherein a young Lady is to be per- 
 fectly verft : fo that now all vei tuous emulation is 
 converted into this fingle Ambition , who fhall 
 
 Bb 2 excel 
 
12 THE LADIES CALLING. Part IP 
 
 excel in this Faculty. A vanity which I confefs 
 is more excufable in the youngeft then the elder 
 fort •, they being fuppofable not yet to have out- 
 worn the reliques of their Childhood, to which 
 toies and gaiety were proportionable. Befides, 'tis 
 fure allowable upon a foberer account, that they 
 who delign Marriage fhould give themfelves the 
 advantage of decent Ornaments, and not by the 
 negligent rudenefs of their Drefs belie Nature, and 
 render themfelves lefs amiable then ihe has made 
 them. But all this being granted, 'twill by no 
 means juftifie that exceffivecurioiity and folicitude, 
 that expence of time and mony too which is now 
 ufed. A very moderate degree of all thofe will 
 ferve for that ordinary decency which they need 
 providefor,willkeep them from the reproach of an 
 affe&ed singularity, which is as much as a fober 
 Ferfon need take care for. And I muft take leave to 
 fay, that in order to Marriage, fuch a moderation 
 is much likelier to fucceed then the contrary extra- 
 vagance. Among the prudenter fort of Men I am 
 fure it is, if it be not among theloofe and vain, a- 
 gainft which 'twill be their guard,and fo do them the 
 greater fervice. For certainly, he that choofes a 
 Wife for thofe qualities for which a wife man would 
 refufe her, underilands fo little what Marriage is, as 
 portends no great felicity to her that (hall have him. 
 But if they defire to marry Men of fobriety and 
 difcretion, they are obliged in juftice to bring the 
 fame qualities they expeft, which will be very ill 
 evidenced by that excefs & vanity we now fpeak of. 
 
 14. For 
 
Sect, I. of Fir gins. 
 
 14. For to fpeak a plain (tho perhaps ungrate" 
 fill) truth, this (together with fom of the modifli 
 liberties now in ufe) is it, which keeps To many 
 young Ladies about the Town unmarried, 'till they 
 lofe the Epithet of young. Sober Men are afraid to 
 venture upon a humor fo difagreeing to their own, 
 left whilft (according to the primitive reafon of 
 Marriage) they feek a help, they efpoufe a ruin. 
 But this is efpecially dreadful to a plain Country 
 Gentleman, who looks upon one of thefe fine Wo- 
 men as a Gaudy Idol, to whom if he cnce become 
 a Votary, he mud facrifice a great pare of his For- 
 tune, and all his Content. How reafonable that 
 apprehenfion is, the many wracks of confiderable 
 Families do too evidently atteft. But I prefume fom 
 of thenicer Ladies have iuch a contemt of any thing 
 that theypleafe to call Ruftic, that they will not 
 much regret the averting of thofe whom they fo 
 defpife. They will not, perhaps, while they are 
 inpuifuitor hopes of others ; but when thofe fail, 
 thefe willbelook'd on as a wellcom Referve : and 
 therefore 'twill be no Prudence to cut themfelves 
 off from that laft refort, left they (as many have 
 don) betake themfelves to much worfe. For as in 
 many inrftances 'tis the Country which feeds and 
 maintains the grandeur of the Town, fo of all com- 
 merces there. Marriage would fooneft fail, it ail 
 Rural fupplies were cut off. 
 
 1 ?. But I have purfued this fpeculation farther 
 then perhaps my Virgin Readers will thank me tor : 
 1 fliall return to that which it was brought to in- 
 
 foice, 
 
H THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 force, and befeech them, that if not to Men, yet to 
 approve themfelves to God , they will confine 
 themfelves in the matter of their Drefs v ithin the 
 due limits of Decency and Sobriety. I Hull not di- 
 rect them to thofe find Rules which Tertullian and 
 fom other of the ancient Fathers have prefcrib'd in 
 this matter •, my Petition is only, That our Virgins 
 would at lead fo take caie of their Bodies, as Per- 
 fons that alfo have a Soul : which if they can be per- 
 fwaded to, they may referve much of their time for 
 more worthy ufes then thofe of the Comb, the 
 Tuillets, and the Glafs. And truly, 'tis not a little 
 their concern to do fo, for this Spring of their age 
 is that Critical Inft ant thatmuft either confirm or 
 blaft the hopes of all the fucceeding Seafons. The 
 minds of young People are ufually compared to a 
 blank lheet of Paper, equally capable of the bed 
 ortheworftlmpreffions: 'tis pitty they (houldbe 
 fill'd with childilh Scrawls, and little infign ficant 
 Figures, but 'tis fhame and horror they (hould be 
 ftaind with any vicious Chara&ers, any blots of 
 Impurity or Difhonor. To prevent which, let the 
 fevereft notions of Modefty and Honor be early and 
 deeply impreft upon their Souis,graven as with the 
 point of a Diamond, that they may be as indelible 
 as they are indifpenfibly neceffary to the Virgin 
 flate. 
 
 t6.Th ere is alfo another very requifite Quality, 
 and that is Obedience. The younger fort of Virgins 
 are fuppofed to have Parents, or if any has bin fo 
 unhappy as to loofe them early, they commonly 
 
 are 
 
S e c t . I. Of Fir gins. i y 
 
 are left in the charge of fom Friend or Guardian, 
 that is to fupply the place : fo that they cannot be 
 to feek to whom this Obedience is to be paid. 
 And it is not more their Duty then their Interelt to 
 pay it. Youth is apt to be fooliihinitsDefigns, 
 and heady in the purfuit of them ; and there can be 
 nothing more deplorable then to have it left to its 
 felf. And therefore God, who permits not even 
 the Brutes to deftitute their young ones till they 
 attain to the perfection of their Kind, has put Chil- 
 dren under the guidance and protection of their Pa- 
 rents, 'till by the maturing of their Judgments they 
 are qualified to be their own Conductors. Now 
 this Obedience (as that which is due to all other 
 Superiors) is to extend it felf to all things that 
 are either good or indifferent, and has no daufe of 
 exception, but only where the Command is unlawr 
 fill. And in fo wide a fcene of A<5tion, there will 
 occur fo many particular occafions of fubmifllon, 
 that they had need have a great reverence of their 
 Parents judgments, and dilhuft of their own. And 
 if it fhould happen that fom Parents are not quali- 
 fied to give them the former, yet the general im- 
 becilhty of their age, will remain a conftant ground 
 of the latter : fo that they m^y fafelier venture 
 themfelves to their Parents mifguidance then their 
 own, by how much the errors of Humility andO- 
 bedience, are lefs malignant thenthofe of Prefum- 
 tion and Arrogance. 
 
 17. But this is a Do&rin which will fcarce pafs 
 forOrthodox with many of the young Women of 
 
 our 
 
16 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 ourdaies, with whom 'tis prejudice enough againft 
 the prudenteft advice, that it comes from their Pa- 
 rents. *Tis the grand Ingenuity of thefe Times to 
 turn every thing into Ridicule ^ andif aGirl can 
 but rally fmartly upon the fober admonition of a 
 Parent, fhe concludes the is the abler Perfon, takes 
 her felf for a Wit,and the other for a Fop 5 (a Bug- 
 bear word, devifed to fright all ferioufnefs and fo- 
 briety out of the World) and learns not only to 
 difobey, but to contemn. Indeed the great confi- 
 dence that Youth now feems to have of its felf,as it 
 is very indecent,fo it is extremely pernicious. Chil- 
 dren that will attemt to go alone before their time, 
 oft get dangerous falls : and when thofe who are 
 but little removed from Children, fliall caft off the 
 wifer conduit of others, they oft fadly mifcarry by 
 their own. 
 
 1 8. I Know this Age has fo great a contemt of 
 the former, that 'tis but matter of fcorn to alledg 
 any of their Cuftoms, elfel fhould fay that theli* 
 bertiesthat are taken now, would then have been 
 ftartled at. They that fhould then have feen a 
 yong Maid rambling abroad without her Mother, 
 or fom other prudent Perfon, would have look'd 
 on her asaftray, and thought it but a neighborly 
 office to have brought her home : whereas now 'm 
 a rarity to fee them in any company graver then 
 themfelves , and fhe that go's with her Parent 
 (unlefs it be fuch a Parent as is as wild as her felf) 
 thinks flie do's but walk abroad with her Jailor. 
 But fure there are no fmall mifchiefs that attend 
 
 this 
 
Sect. I' Of Virgins. \*f 
 
 this liberty ; tor it leaves them perfectly to the 
 choife of their company, a thing of too weighty an 
 importance for giddy heads to detenu in: who will 
 be fure to elect fuch as are of their own humor, with 
 whom they may keep up a traffick of little Imperti- 
 nencies and trifling Entertainments ; and lb by 
 confequence, condemn themfelves never to grow 
 wifer, which they might do by an Ingenious Con- 
 verfation. Nay 'tis well if that negative ill be the 
 worft, for it gives opportunity to any that have ill 
 defigns upon them.lt will beeafie getting into their 
 company, who have no guard to keep any body 
 out, and as eafie by little compliances and flatteries 
 to infinuate into their good Graces, who have not 
 the fagacity todifcernto what infidious purpofes 
 thofeblandifhments are directed: and when they 
 once begin to nibble at the Bait, to be pleafed with 
 the Courtlhip, 'tis great odds they do not efcape 
 the Hook. 
 
 1 8. Alas, how many poor innocent Creatures 
 have been thus indifcermbly enfnared ; have at firft 
 perhaps only liked the Wit and Raillery > perhaps 
 the Language and Addrefs, then the Freedom and 
 good Humor ^ 'till at laft they come to like the 
 Perfon. It is therefore a moft necefl'ary caution for 
 young Women, not to truft too much to their own 
 conduct, but to own their dependance on thole, to 
 whom God and Nature has fubjectedthem, and to 
 look on it not as their reftraint and burden, but as 
 their flielter and protection. For where once the 
 autorityof a Parent comes to be.defpiPdj thoin 
 
 C c the 
 
18 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 the lighted inftance, ic laies the foundation of ut- 
 moft Difobedience. She that will not be prefcrib'd 
 to in the choife of her ordinary diverting Compa- 
 ny, will lefs be fo in choofing the fixt Companion 
 of her Life: and we find it often eventually true, 
 That thofe who govern themfelves in the former, 
 will not be govem'd by their Friends in the latter, 
 but by pre-cngagements of their own, prevent their 
 elections for them. 
 
 20. And this is one of the higheft Injuries they 
 can do their Parents, who have fuch a native Right 
 in them, that 'tis no lefs an Injuftice then Difobe- 
 dience to difpofe of themfelves without them. This 
 right of the Parent is fo undoubted, that we find 
 God himfelf gives way to it, and will not fuffer the 
 moft Holy pretence, no not that of a Vow, to in- 
 vade it, as we may fee his own dating of the Cafe, 
 Numb.^o^ How will he then refent it, to have this 
 fo indifpenfible a Law violated upon the impulfe 
 of an impotent PalTion, an amorous Inclination < 
 Nor is the folly lefs then the fin : they injure and 
 afflift their Parents, but they generally ruin and 
 undo themfelves- and that upon a double account. 
 Firft,as to the fecular part : thofe that are foraih 
 as to make fuch Matches, cannot be imagined fo 
 provident as to examine how agreeable 'tis to their 
 •Intereft, or to contrive for any thing beyond the 
 Marriage. The thoughts of their future temporal 
 Conditions (like thofe of the Eternal) can find no 
 room amidit their foolifli Raptures, but as if Love 
 were indeed that Deity which the Poets feigned it, 
 
 they 
 
S e c t . I. Of Virgins. 1 9 
 
 they depend on it for all, and take no farther care. 
 And event do's commonly too foon inftruft them 
 in the decitfulnefsof that Truft-, Love being fo un- 
 able to fupporr them.that it cannot maintain its felf, 
 but quickly expires when it has brought the Lo- 
 vers into thofe (traits from whence it cannot refcu 
 them. So that indeed it do's but play the Decoy 
 with them, brings them into the noofe, and then 
 retires. For when fecular Wants begin to pinch 
 them, all the Tranfports of their Kindnefsdo ufu- 
 ally convert into mutual Accufations, tor having 
 made each other miferable. 
 
 21. And indeed there is no reafon toexpeft any 
 better event, becaufe in the fecond place they for- 
 feit their title to the Divine Blefling. Nay they put 
 themfelve-s out of the capacity to ask it, it being a 
 ridiculous Impudence to beg God toprofper the 
 tranfgreflionsof his Law. Such Weddings feem to 
 invoke only fome of the Poetic Romantic Deicies, 
 Venus and Hymen^ from whence they derive a hap- 
 pinefs as fictitious as are the Gods that are to fend 
 it. Let all Virgins therefore religioufly obferve 
 this part of Obedience to their Parents, that they 
 may not only have their Benediction but Gods. 
 And to that purpofe let this be laid as a Fundamen- 
 tal Rule, That they never hearken to any propo- 
 fal of Marriage made them from any other hand ; 
 but when any fuch Overture is made, divert the 
 addrefs from her felt and direct it to her Parents, 
 which will be the beft teft imaginable for any Pre- 
 tender. For if he know himfelf worthy of her, he 
 
 C c 2 will 
 
^o THE LADIES CALLING. Part IL 
 
 will not fear to avow his defign to them; and there- 
 fore if he decline that, 'tis a certain Symtom, he 
 is confcious of fomthing that he knows will not 
 give a valuable confideration : fo that this courfe 
 will repel no Suitor but fach as it is their Intereft 
 not to admit. Eefides, 'tis moft agreeable to the 
 Virgin Modefly, which fhouid make Marriage an 
 a<5t rather of their obedience then their choice $ and 
 they that think their Friends too flow paced in the 
 matter, and feek to out-run them, give caufe to 
 fufpeci they are fpurr'd on by fomwliat too warm 
 defires, 
 
 22. But as a Daughter is neither to anticipate, 
 nor contradict the will of her Parent, fo (to hang 
 the ballance even) Imuftfayfhe is not obliged to 
 force her own, by marrying where fhe cannot love 5 
 for a negative voice in the cafe is fure as much the 
 Childs right as the Parents. It is true, {he ought 
 well to examin the grounds of her averfion, and 
 if they prove only cnildifli and fanciful, fhouid en* 
 deavor to correft them by reafon and fober confi- 
 deration: but if after all lhc cannot leave to hate, 
 I think (lie fhould not proceed to Marry. I confefs 
 I fee not how fhe can, without a Sacrilegious Hy- 
 pocrifie, vow fo folemnly to love, where fhe at the 
 jnftant a&ually abhors: and where the married 
 ftate is begun with fuch a Perjury, 'tis no wonder 
 to find it continued on at the fame rate, thatorher 
 parts of the Vow be alfo violated, and that fhe ob- 
 serve the Negative part no more then the Pofi- 
 tive , and as little forfake others, as fhe do's 
 
 heartily 
 
S e c t .1. Of Virgins. 2 1 
 
 heartily cleave to her Husband. I fear this is a con- 
 fequence whereof there are too many fad Inftances 
 now extant. For tho doubtlefs there are fom Ver- 
 mes which will hold out againft all the temtations 
 their averfions can give, nay which do at laft even 
 conquer thofe averfions, and render their duty as 
 eafieasthey have kept it fafe: yet we find there 
 are but fom that do fo, that it is no infeparable 
 property of the Sex, and therefore it is fure too ha- 
 zardous an Experiment for any of them to venture 
 on. 
 
 23. And if they may not upon the more gene- 
 rous motive of Obedience, much lefs may they up- 
 on the worfe inducements of Avarice and Ambiti- 
 on. For a Woman to make a Vow to the Man, 
 and yet intend only to marry his Fortune, or his 
 Title., is the bafeft infincerity, and fuch as in any 
 other kind ot civil Contrads would not only have 
 the infamy but the puniihment of a Cheat. Nor 
 will it at all fecure them, that in this 'tis only lia- 
 ble to Gods Tribunal • for that is not like to make 
 the doom lefs but more heavy, it being, as the A- 
 poftle witneiTes,* /w/#/ thing to fall into the hands 
 of the living God, Heb. 10. 3 1 , In a word, Marriage 
 is Gods Ordinance 5 and fhould be confidered as fuch, 
 not made a ftale to any unworthy defign. And it 
 may well be prefum'd one caufe why fo few Match- 
 es are happy, that they are not built upon a right 
 Foundation. Som are grounded upon Wealth , 
 fom on Beauty, too fandy bottoms God knows to 
 raife any lading Felicity on : whilft in the interim, 
 
 Vertu 
 
22 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 Vertu and Piety, the only folid Bafis for that Super- 
 ftrudure, are (carce ever confider'd. Thus God is 
 commonly left out of the confutation, The Law- 
 yers are retorted to to fecure the Settlements, all 
 lbrtsof Artificers to make up the Equipage, but 
 he is neither advif'd with as to the Motives, nor 
 fcarce fupplicated as to the event of Wedding. In- 
 deed 'tis a deplorable fight to fee with what light- 
 nefs and uncohcernednefs young People go to that 
 weighticft a&ion of their Lives 5 that a Marriage- 
 day is but a kind of Bacchanal, a more licenfed a- 
 vowed Revel-, when if they duly confider'd it, 'tis 
 the hinge upon which their future Life moves,which 
 turns them over to a happy or miferable Being, and 
 therefore ought to be entcr'd upon with the great- 
 eft Seiioufnels and Devotion. Our Church advifes 
 excellently in the Preface to Matrimony-, and I wifh 
 they would not only give it the hearing at the time, 
 but make it their ftudy a good while before : yea 
 and the Marriage Vow too, which is to ftrift and 
 awful a Bond, that methinks they had need well 
 weigh every Branch of itereihey enter it, and by 
 the fcrventeft Praiers implore that God, who is the 
 Witnefs, to be their Affiftant too -in its perform- 
 ance. v 
 
 SECT. III. 
 
Sect. II. 25 
 
 SECT. II. 
 
 Of Ww. 
 
 1. \ ND now having condu&ed the Virgin to 
 J^\ the entrance of another State, I muft fhifc 
 the Scene, and attend her thither alfo. And here 
 fhe is lanched into a wide Sea, that one relation of 
 a Wife drawing after it many others* For as fhe 
 Efpoufes the Man, fo fhe do's his Obligations alio: 
 and whereeverhe by ties of Nature or Alliance 
 ow's a Reverence or Kindnefs,ilie is no lefs a Debt- 
 or. Her Marriage is an adoption into his Family ; 
 and therefore fhe is to pay to every Branch of it, 
 what their Stations there do refpedtively require : 
 to define which more particularly 3 wouldbea work 
 of more length then profit. I lhali therefore confine 
 the prefent Confideration to the relation ihe (lands 
 in to her Husband, and (what is ufually concomi- 
 tant with that) her Children, and her Servants $ and 
 fo fliall confider her in the three capacities, of a 
 Wife, a Mother, and a Miftrefs. 
 
 2. In that of a Wife, her^uty has feveral A- 
 fpefts, as it relates, firft to his Perfon, fecondly to 
 his Reputation, thirdly to his Fortune. The firft 
 debt to his Perfon is Love, which we find fet as the 
 prime Article in the Marriage- Vow. And inded that 
 is the mod EflTentiai requifite: without this, 'tis 
 only a Bargain and Compact, a Tyranny perhaps 
 
 on 
 
24 THE LADIES CALLING. Part li- 
 on the Mans part, and a Slavery on the Womans. 
 'Tis Love only that cements the Hearts, and where 
 that Union is wanting, 'tis but a fhadow, a Car- 
 cafs of Marriage. Therefore as it is very neceffary 
 to bring fom degree of that to this State ; fo 'tis no 
 lefs to maintain and improve it in it. This is it 
 which facilitates all other duties of Marriage; 
 makes the Yoke fie fo lightly, that it rather pleafes 
 then galls.lt fhould therefore be the ftudy of Wives 
 to preferve this Flame, that like theVtftal Fire it 
 may never go out •, and to that end carefully to 
 guard it from all thofe things which are naturally 
 apt to extinguifh it : of which kind are all froward- 
 nefs and little perverfnefs of humor, all fullen and 
 morofe behavior ; which betaking off from thede* 
 light and complacency of Converfation, will by 
 degrees wear off the kindnefs. 
 
 3. But of all, I know nothing more dangerous 
 then that unhappy Paifion of Jealoufie$ which tho 
 'tis faid to be the Child of Love,yet,like the Viper, 
 its Birth is the certain deftrudtion of the Parent. As 
 therefore they muft be nicely careful to give their 
 Husbands no color 5 no left umbrage for it; fo 
 fhould they be as refolute to refift all that occurs to 
 themfelves : be fo %r from that bufie Curiofity, 
 thatinduftry to find caufes of fufpicion ; that even 
 where they prefented themfelves they fhould a- 
 vert the consideration, put the moft candid con- 
 ftrudionupon any doubtful action. And indeed, 
 Charity in this inftance has not more of the Dove 
 then of the Serpent. It is infinitly the wifeft 
 
 courfe 
 
Sect. II. Of Wives. 25 
 
 courfe, both in relation to herprefent quiet, and 
 her future innocence. The entertaining a jealous 
 fancy, is the admitting the mcft trecherous the 
 mcft difturbing initiate in the world^and (he opens 
 her breaft to a Fury that letsitin. 'Tis certainly 
 one of the nioft enchanting frenzies imaginable, 
 keeps her alwaies in a mcft reftlefs importunate 
 fearch after that which flie dreads and abhors to 
 find, and makes her equally miferable when fhe is 
 injured, and when fheisnot. 
 
 4. And asfhe totally loofes her Eafe, fo 'tis 
 odds but fhe will part alio withfom degrees of 
 her Innocence. Jealouiy is commonly attended 
 with a black train 2 it muftersall the forces of our 
 irafcible part to abet its quarrel , Wrath and 
 Anger, Malice and Revenge : and by how much 
 the female impotence to govern thofe paftions is 
 the greater, fo much the more dangerous is it to 
 admit that which will fo furely fet them in an 
 uprore. For ifjea/oufy be,as the Wife Man fries, 
 thtrage of a man, Prov. 6.32. we may well think it 
 maybethe Fury, the Madnefsofa woman. And 
 indeed all ages have given tragical inftances of it, 
 not only in the nioft indecent fiercenefs& clamor, 
 but in thefolemn mifcheifsofaftualRevenges.Nay 
 'tis to be doubted there have bin fom vvhofe malice 
 has rebounded ; who have ruined themfelves in 
 fpight,have bin adulterous by way of retaliation, 
 & taken more fcandalous liberties then thofc they 
 complained of in their Husbands. And when fucn 
 enormous effefts as thefeare the iftlies dfjealoufy, 
 
 Dd u 
 
26 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 it ought to keep women on the ftri&eft guard 
 againft it. 
 
 5. But perhaps it maybefaid that fom are not 
 left to their Jealoufy and conjectures, but have 
 more demonftrative proofs. In this age 'tis indeed 
 no ftrange thing for men to publifh their fin as So- 
 dom, and the offender does fomtimes not difcover 
 but boaft his Crime. In this cafe I confefs 'twill be 
 fcarce poffible to disbeleive him : but even here a 
 wife has this advantage, that flit is cut of the pain 
 of Sufpence. She knows the utmoft, and therefore 
 is now at lefure to convert all that induftry which 
 (lie would have ufed for the difcovery, to fortify 
 her felf againft a known Calamity* which fure fhe 
 may as well do in this as in any other ; a patient 
 Submiflion being the one Catholicon in all di- 
 ftrefies ; and as theflighteft can overwhelm us if 
 we add cur own impitience towards our finking, 
 fo the greateft cannot if we deny it that aid. They 
 are therefore far in the wrong, who, in cafe of this 
 injury, purfu their husbands with virulenciesand 
 reproches* This is, as Solomon faies/Vo. 25. 20. 
 The pouring vineger up on niter, applying corrofives 
 when balfoms are mod needed-, whereby they not 
 only encreaie their own fmart, but render the 
 wound incurable. They are not thunders and 
 earthquakes, but foft gentle rains thatclofe the 
 fciftures of the ground 5 and the breaches of 
 Wedioc will never be cemented by ftorms and 
 loud outcries. Many men have bin made worfe, 
 but fcarce ever any better by it: for guilt covets 
 
 pothing 
 
Sect.IL Of Wives. 27 
 
 nothing more then an opportunity of recrimi- 
 nating 5 and where the husband can accufe the 
 wives Bitternefs, he thinks he needs no other apo- 
 logy for his own Luft. 
 
 6. A Wise Difilmulation, or very calm notice is 
 fure the likelieft means of reclaiming : for where 
 men have not wholly put off Humanity, there is a 
 native companion to a meek fufferer. We have na- 
 turally fome regret to fee a Lamb undertheknife^ 
 whereas the impatient roaring of a Swine diverts 
 ourpitty ; lb that Patience in this cafe is as much 
 the intereft as duty of a Wife. 
 
 7. But there is another infhnce wherein that 
 vertuhas a yet feverer trial, and that is when a 
 Wife lies under the caufelefs jealoufies of the 
 husband,(I faycaufelefs,for if they be juft 'tis not 
 fo much a feafon for Patience, as for Repentance 
 and reformation. ) Thisis fure one of thegreateft 
 Calamities that can befal a vertuous woman ; who 
 as fhe accounts nothing fo dear as her loialty and 
 honor, fo thinks no infelicity can equal the 
 afperfing of thofe, efpecially when it is from him, 
 to whom fhe has bin the moft folicitous to approve 
 her felf. Yet God, who permits nothing but what 
 he direcls to fome wife and gracious end, has an 
 overruling hand in this as well as in all other 
 events of life; and therefore it becomes every wo- 
 man in that condition, to examin ftri&ly what 
 fhe has don to provoke fo fevere a fcourge. For 
 tho her heart condemn her not of any Falfnefs to 
 her husband, yet probably it may of many DifloU 
 
 Dd 2 alties 
 
2 3 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 alties to her God;andthen fhe is humbly to accept 
 even of this traducing of her Irinocence,as thepu- 
 nifhment of her iniquity ,and bear it with the fame 
 temper wherewith David did the unjuft revilings 
 ofShimei, i.Iiingsid. 10. Leth t tn curfe, for the 
 Lordhdth bidden him. 
 
 8. And when fhe hath made this penitent re- 
 flexion on her real guilts,fhe may then with more 
 courage encounter thofe imaginary cnes which are 
 charged on her : wherein fhe is to ufe all prudent 
 and regular means for her juftification, that being 
 % debt fhe ows to truth, and her own fame. But 
 if after all the fufpicion remains ftill fixed (as 
 commonly thofe which are themoftunreafonable 
 are the moftobftinate;)fhemay ftill folace her felf 
 in her Integrity, and Gods approbation of it : nor 
 ought flae to think her felf defolate, that has her 
 appeal open to heaven. Therefore whilft fhe can 
 lc ok both inward and upward with comfort, why 
 fliouid fhe chofe to fix her eies only on the objeft 
 of her grief? and whilft her own Complaint is of 
 defamanon, why fhould fhe fo dishonor God and 
 a good Confidence, as to fhew any thing can be 
 more forcible to cpprefs, then they are to relieve 
 and fupport ( And if ihe may not indulge to Grief, 
 much lefs may ihe to Anger, and Bitternefs. 
 
 p. Indeed if flic confider how painful apafllon 
 Jeataufy is 5 her husband will more need her pitcy^ 
 who tho he be unjuft to her, is yet cruel to him- 
 felf. And as we*do not ufe to hate & malign thofe 
 Lunatics,vvho in their fits beat their friends, and 
 
 cut 
 
Shct. II. Of Wives. 19 
 
 cutandgafii themfelves, but rather make it our 
 care to put all harmful engines out of their way ; 
 fofliould the wife not defpitefully ruminate upon 
 the injury, but wifely contrive to avert his tem- 
 tations to more,by denying her felf even the moft 
 innocent liberties, if fhe fee they diffatisfy him. 
 I know there have bin fom of another opinion-,and 
 as if they thought Jealoufy were to be cured by 
 majoration 3 have in an angry contemt don things to 
 inflame k,put on an unwonted freedom and jollity, 
 to (hew their husbands how little they had fecurd 
 themfelves by their diftruft. But this as it is no 
 Chriftian,fo I conceive it is no prudent expedient: 
 itfervesto ftrengthen not only the husbands fuf- 
 picion^but his party too^and make many others of 
 hismindrand 'tis a little to be feared,that by ufing 
 fo to brave the Jealoufy, they may at laft come to 
 verify it. I have bin the longer on this theme, be- 
 caufe as Jealoufy is the moft fatal peft of a marri- 
 ed life,fo I think it more ordinarily occurs among 
 people of Quality, and with the worft and moft 
 durable effects. Yet what ever pretences people 
 may take hence, the marriage vow is too faft a 
 knot to be loofned by fancies and Chimeras : let a 
 woman therefore be the perfon fufoefling or fuf- 
 peded, neither will abfolveher from that Love 
 to her husband (he has fworn to pay. 
 
 jo. But alas what hope is there thatthefe 
 greater temtations (hall be refifted, when we fee 
 every the flighteft difguftis nowadaies too ftrong 
 for the n*atrimoniai Love, Nay indeed h do's of 
 
 couri> 
 
30 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 courfe fall off of it felf ; which is an event fo 
 much expected, that 'tis no wonder to fee it expire 
 with thefirft circuit of the moon $ but it is every 
 bodies admiration to fee it laft one of the fun. And 
 fomtiraes it vanishes fo cleerly, as not to leave fo 
 much as a ftadow behind it, not fo "much as the 
 formalities of Marriagerone bed,one houfe cannot 
 hold them, as if they had bin put together like 
 cafelhot in a gun, only that they might the more 
 forcibly fcatter feveral waies. Nay as if this were 
 defigned and intended in the firft addreffes unto 
 marriage,a feparate maintenance is of courfe a fore 
 handcontra&edfor,and becomes as folemnapart 
 of the fettlement, as a Jointure is. Tlutarch ob- 
 ferves ofthe ancient Romans, that for 230. years 
 after the founding of their State, there never was 
 one example of any married couple that fepara- 
 ted: it is not likely tHey could have a more bind- 
 ing form of marriage then G-irs is, the difference 
 muft lie between their Veracity & our Falfenefs. 
 11. But even amongft thofe who defert not 
 each other, too many do mutually fall from that 
 entirenefsandaffe&ion which is the foul of mar- 
 riage; and to help on the declination, there are 
 fafhionable Maxims taken up, to make men and 
 their wives the greateft ftrangers to each other. 
 Thus 'tis pronounced a piece of ill Breedings fign 
 of a country Gentleman, to fee a man go abroad 
 with his own wife ( I fuppofe thofe who brought 
 up thefe rules are not to feek what ufe too make of 
 them.) And were the timeofmoft of the modilh 
 
 couples 
 
Sect. II. Of Wives. 3* 
 
 couples computed, 'twould be found they are but 
 few of their waking hours ( I might fay minutes ) 
 together: fo that if nothing elfe, meer defuetude 
 and intermiffion of converfation muft needs allay, 
 if not quite extinguifh their kindnefs. But I hope 
 there are yet many who do not think the autority 
 of a fafhion greater then that of a vow : and fuch 
 will ftill think it their duty both to own and che- 
 rilh that kindnefs and affedlion they have fo fo* 
 lemnly promis'd. 
 
 12. Anot h er debt to the perfon of a husband 
 is Fidelity :for as fhe has efpoufed all his interefts, 
 fo fhe is oblig'd to be true to them, to keep all his 
 fecrets, to inform him of his dangers, yea and in a 
 mild and gentle manner to admonifh him of his 
 faults. This is the moft genuine a<ft of friendship ; 
 therefore fhe who is placed in the neereft and moft 
 intimate degree of that relation , muft not be 
 wanting in it. She that lies in his bofom fhould 
 be a kind of fecond Confcience to him 5 by putting 
 him in mind both of his duty and his aberration : 
 and as long as lhe can be but patiently heard 'tis 
 her fin to omit it ; 'tis the greateft trechery to his 
 nobleft, to his immortal part , and fuch as the 
 moft officious cares of his other intereft can never 
 expiate. Nay indeed fhe is unfaithful to her felf 
 in it, there being nothing that do's fo much fecure 
 the happinefs of a Wife as the Vertu and Piety of 
 the Husband. Yet, tho this is to have her chiefeft 
 care, as being his principal intereft, fhe is to 
 «negle& none of the inferior, but contribute her 
 
 utmeft 
 
THE LADIES CALLING. Part. II. 
 
 utmoft to his advantage in all his concerns. 
 
 1 3. Beyond all thefe the matrimonial fidelity has 
 a fpecial notion as it relates to the Bed; & in that 
 the wife is to be moft fcverely fcrupulous,& never 
 to admit fo much as a thought or imagination T much 
 lefsany parly or treaty Contrary to herloialty. 
 Tis true wantonnefe is one of the foulcft blots that 
 can ftain any of the fex;but 'tis infinitly more odi* 
 ous in the married, it being in them an accumula- 
 tion of crimes, perjury added to uncleannefs, the 
 infamy of their family fuperftru&ed upon their 
 own. And accordingly all laws have made a diffe- 
 rence in their punishments. Adultery was by Gods 
 own award puniiht with death among the Jews, 
 Lev .20. 1 o. And it feems it was fo agreeable to na- 
 tural Juftice,that divers other nations did the like} 
 and 1 know no reafon, but the difficulty of dete- 
 ction, that (houldany where give it a milder fen- 
 tence. The fon of Siracbhas excellently defcrib'd 
 the feveral gradations of the guilt; Eccluf. 23. 1. 
 which I fhall defire the Reader to confult : which 
 who fo do's muft certainly wonder at the Alchy- 
 my of this age, that from fuch arnafs offhame 
 and infamy can extraft matter of confidence : that 
 thofe who lie under fo many brands and ftigmas, 
 are fo far from hiding their faces, that none Ihew 
 them with fo much boldnefs, and the afTurance of 
 the guilty far exceeds that of the innocent. But 
 impudence is a flender flielter for guilt,and fenres 
 rather to betray then hide:fo that they are not able 
 to cutface -the opinions of men, much lefs can 
 
 they 
 
Sect. II. Of Wives. 33 
 
 they the judgments of God ; who as he was to- 
 lemnly invok'd as Witnefs to their Vow, fo by his 
 Omaiprefenceis againft their wills a Witnefs too of 
 its violations. 
 
 14. Another Duty to the perfon of the Hus- 
 band is Obedience, a word of a very harih found 
 in the ears of fom Wives, but is certainly the duty 
 of all : and that not only by their promife of it, tho 
 that w r ere fufficient-, but from an original of much 
 older date,it being the mulft that was laid upon the 
 firft Womans difobedience to God y that ihe (and 
 all derived from her) fliould be fubjecl: to the Hus- 
 band 5 fo that the contending for iuperionty, is an 
 attemt to reverfe that Fundamental Law, which is 
 almoft as ancient as the World. But furely God, 
 with whom there is no uiadow of change, will nut 
 make Acls of repeal to fatisfie the petulancy of a 
 few mafterlefs Women.That Statute will (till ftand 
 in force, and if it cannot awe them into an Obfcr- 
 vance, will not fail to confign them to Puniilnnent. 
 And indeed this fault is commonly its own liclor, 
 and do's anticipate (tho not avert) its final doom. 
 The imperioufnefs of a Woman do's often raife 
 thofe Storms, wherein her felf is Shipwrack ? d.How 
 pleafantly might many Women have lived , if they 
 had not affected Dominion? Nay, how much of 
 their Will might they have had, if they had noc 
 ftrugled for it? For let a Man be of never fo gentle a 
 Temper (unlefs his Head befofterthen his Heart} 
 fuch a Ufurpation will awake him to aflert his 
 Right. But if he be of afowrefevere Nature, if he 
 
 Ee have 
 
34 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 have as great a defire of Rule as (lie, back'd with a 
 much better Title, what Tempefts,what Hurricanes 
 mult two iuch oppofite Winds produce? And at laft 
 'tis commonly the Wives lot, atter an uncreditable 
 unjuft War, to make as difadvantageous a Peace $ 
 this (like all other ineffective Rebellions) ferving 
 toiiraiten her Yoke, to turn an ingenuous Subjecti- 
 on into a flavifh Servitude : (o that certainly it is 
 not only the Vittu, but the Wifdomof Wives to 
 do that upon Duty, which at laft they rauft (with 
 more unfupportabie Circumftances) do upon Ne- 
 telfity. 
 
 15. And as they ow thefe Severals to the perfon 
 of the Husband, fo there is alfo a debt to his Repu- 
 tation. This they are to be extremely tender of, to 
 advance it, by making all that is good in him as 
 confpicuous , as public as they can ; fetting his 
 Worth in the cleared light, but putting his infir- 
 mities in the Shade-, carting a Veil upon thofe to 
 skreen them from theeies of others, nay (as far as 
 is poilible) from their own two - 7 there being no- 
 thing acquir'd to the Wife by contemplating the 
 Husbands weaknefs, but a temtation of defpifing 
 him 5 which tho bad enough in it felf, is yet ren- 
 dred worfeby thattrainpf mifchievousconfequen- 
 ces which ufually attend it. In cafe therefore of any 
 notable Imperfections in him, her faieft way will 
 be to confider them no farther then The can be in- 
 ttrumentai to the curing them •, but to divert from 
 thofe, imd reflect upon her own, which perhaps if 
 impartially weighed, may ballance, if not overpoife 
 
 his, 
 
Sect. II. Of Hives. y> 
 
 his. And indeed thofe Wives who are apt to blaze 
 their Husbands Faults, do mew that they have ei- 
 ther little adverted to their own, or elfe find them 
 fogr at, that they are forced to that Art of diver- 
 fion, andfeekin his Infamy to drown theirs. Bu: 
 that project is a little unlucky, for nothing do's in 
 fobcr Judges.create greater prejudice to a Woman, 
 then to fee her forward in impeaching her Husband. 
 
 16. But befiJes this immediate tendernefs of 
 his Reputation, there is another by way of refle- 
 ction, which confifts in a care that flie her ftlf do 
 nothing which may redound to his dilhonor. There 
 is fo ftrid t Union between a Man and his Wife, 
 that the Law counts them one Perfon, and conse- 
 quently they can have no divided Intereft, fo that 
 the misbehavior of the Woman reflects ignomini- 
 oufly on the Man ; it therefore concerns them, as 
 well upon their Husbands as their own account, to 
 abftain even from all appearance of evil, and pro- 
 vide that themfelves be ( what Cefar is faid to 
 have required of bis Wife) not only without guilt, 
 but without fcandal alfo. 
 
 17. Another part of the Wives Duty relates 
 to her Husbands Fortune,the management whereof 
 is not ordinarily the Wives Province, but where 
 the Husband thinks fit to make it fo, ihe is oblig'd 
 to adminifter it with her belt Care and Induftry 5 
 not by any neglect of hers to give others opportuni- 
 ty of defrauding him: yet on the other fide, not 
 by an immoderate tenacity or griping h to bring 
 upon him and her ielf the reproach, and which is 
 
 Ee 2 Wife* 
 
36 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 worfe, the Curie that attends Exa&ion and Oppref- 
 fion. But this is not ufually the Wives field of 
 a£tion 5 tho he char fliall confider the defcription 
 which Solomon gives of a vertuous Wife, Prov.^i* 
 will be apt to tnink her Province is' not fo narrow 
 and confined, as the humor of the Age would re- 
 pi cfent it. He tells us. That fl)efeekj wool and flax, 
 and works diligently with her hands : that fhe is like 
 the merchants Jhips, and brings her food from far* 
 Thatyfte cohfiders afield, and buys it, and with the 
 fruit of her hands plants a vineyard, <&x\ And leaft 
 this fliould be irriagiri'd to be the Chara&erof a 
 meati Country Dame, he adds, That herhoufhold i* 
 clothed in fcdt let, and that her husband fits among 
 the elders of the land. It were eafie to give instan- 
 ces from Hiftory, of the advantageous menage and 
 adhveinduftry of Wives, not only in fingle Per- 
 ions, but whole Nations, But nothing can be 
 more pregnant, then that among the Romans : in 
 the very height and flourifli of the Empire, Augu- 
 stus himfelf fcarce wore an) thing but of the manu- 
 facture of hh wife, hhfifter^ daughters, andnieces, 
 as Suetonim aflui es us. Should the gay lilies of our 
 fields, which neither fow nor fpm, nor gather into- 
 barns, be exemted from furnilhing others, and left 
 to cloth themfelves, 'tis to be doubted they would 
 reverfeour Saviors Parallel of Solomons glories, and 
 no beggar in all his rags would be araied like one of 
 tbefi, Luke 1 2. 27. 
 
 j8. But we will be yet more kind, andimpofe 
 only negative thrift on the Wife, not to waft and 
 
 embezle 
 
Sect, II. Of Wives. 37 
 
 embezle her Husbands Eftate, but to confine her 
 Expences within fuch limits as that can eafily ad- 
 mit •, a Caution, which if all Women had obferv'd, 
 many noble Families had bin prefervd, of which 
 there now remains no other Memorial, but that 
 they fell a Sacrifice to the profufe Vanity of a Wo- 
 man 3 and I fear, this Age is like to provide many 
 more fuch Monuments for the next* Our Ladies,as 
 if they emulated the Roman Luxury (which Sene- 
 ca and Pliny defcribe with fo much indignation) 
 do fomtimes wear about them the Revenues of a 
 rich Family -, and thofe that cannot reach to that, 
 fliew how much 'tis againlt their wills they fall 
 lower, by the vaft variety and excefs of fuch things 
 as they can poffibly compafs •, fo much extrava- 
 gance not only in their own Drefs, but that of 
 their Houfes and Apartments, as if their vanity, 
 like the Leprofie we read of, Lev . 14. had infe&ed 
 the very Walls. And indeed, 'tis a very fpreading 
 fretting one, tor the Furniture oft confumes the 
 Houfe, and the Houfe confumes the Land : fothat 
 if fom Gentlemen were to calculate their Eftates, 
 they might reduce all to the Inventory of Scop/as 
 the The(Jalian y who profeft his All lay only in iuch 
 Toies as did him no good. Women are now skil- 
 ful Chymifts, and can quickly turn their Husbands 
 Earth into Gold: but they purfue the Experiment 
 too far, make that Gold too volatile, and let it 
 all vapor away in infignificant ( tho gaudy ) 
 Trifles. 
 
 19. Nor is it] ever like to be otherwile wirh 
 
 tfaofc 
 
38 THE LADIES CALLING. Part ll. 
 
 thoL that immoderatly affed the Town,that Forge 
 of Vanity, which fupphes a perpetual Spring of 
 new temtations. 'Tis true, there arefom Ladies 
 who are neceflarily engaged to be there : their Hus- 
 bands Emploiments or Fortunes have mark'd that 
 out as their proper ftation, and where the ground of 
 their (lay is their duty , there is more reafon to 
 hope it will not betray them to ill, for temtations 
 are mod ape to affault ftraglers , thofe that put 
 themfelves out of their proper road. And truly I 
 fee not who can be more properly be faid to be io, 
 then thofe Women whofe means of fubfiftence lies 
 in the'Country, and yet will ipend it no where but 
 at London^ which Teems to carry fomthing of oppo- 
 fitionto Gods Providence, who fureiy never caufed 
 their lot to fall, as the Tfalmift fpeaks, in a fair 
 ground^ in goodly her itages, Pfal, 1 5. with an intent 
 they fhould never inhabit them. The 12. Tribes of 
 Ifrael had their peculiar Portions in Canaan affign'd 
 them by lot, Jof. 14.2, and every one acquiefced 
 in his part, dwelt in his own Inheritance : had they 
 bin impatient of living any where but in the Metro- 
 polis, had they all crouded to Jerufalem^A the reft 
 of the Land would have bin as defolate before the 
 Captivity as it was afcer, none would have bin left 
 but fuch as Nabuz>aradan permitted to ftay, frr. 
 52. 16. (ome of the poor to drefsthe vines^ and to till 
 tht ground. And truly, the fame is like to be the 
 fate of this Nation, if this humor go's on as it has 
 begun ; which may in time prove as mifchievous 
 to the public, as it daily is to private Families. 
 
 20. But 
 
Sect. II. Of Wives. 39 
 
 20. But befides this 'tis yet farther tobecon- 
 fider'd , that where God gives an eftate, he as the 
 fupreme Landlord affixes fomething ofduty , laies 
 a kind of rent charge upon it, expecls it fhoukl 
 maintain both hofpitaliry and charity ,• and fure 
 both thefe are fitteft to be don upon the place 
 whence the ability c f them rifes. All public taxes 
 ufe to be levyed where the eftate lies , and I know 
 not why thefe which are Gods affefmenes upon it, 
 fliould not be paid there too. When a Gentlm ins 
 land becomes profitable unto him by the fweat 
 and labor of his poor neighbors and tenants, 
 twill be a kind oimuzling the ox 1 Cor.9.9. if they 
 never taft of the fruit of their pains, if they fhall 
 never have the refreshment of a good meal , or an 
 alms ; which they are not very like to meet with , 
 if all the profits befenc up to maintain an equi- 
 page , and keep up a parade in Town. But alas 'tis 
 often not only the annual profits that go that way, 
 not only the crop, but the foil too ; thofe luxuries 
 ufually prey upon the vitals 3 eatout the very heart 
 of an eftate, and many have ftay 'd in the Town 'til 
 they have nothing left in the Country to retire to # 
 
 21. Now where this proceeds from the Wife, 
 what account can (he give to her Husband, whofe 
 eafinefs and indulgence(for that muft be fuppos'd 
 in the cafe) (he has fo abus'd ? as alfo to her pofte- 
 rity and family who for her pride muft be brought 
 low, redue'd to a condition beneath their quality, 
 became (he affecled to live above it C But ihe will 
 yet worfe anfwer it to her fdf, on whom ffie has 
 
 brought 
 
40 THE LADIES CALLING. Part.II. 
 
 brought not only the inconvenience but the guilf 
 •Tisfurea lofty mind will feel fmart enough of a 
 fall, a diminution, much more an indigence will be 
 fufficiently grievous to a vain and Iavifh humor; 
 yet here it will farther have an additional fting 
 from the confcience , thatfheows it only to her 
 own pride and felly, a moft imbitering confedera- 
 tion , & fuch as advances the affliction beyond that 
 of a more innocent poverty, as much as the pain of 
 an envenom' d arrow exceeds that of another. 
 
 22, But the faddeft reckoning of all is that' 
 which fhe is to make to God, who has declar'd he 
 hates robbery tho for a burnt offering to himfelf* 
 How will he then deteft this robbery this impo- 
 verifhing of the husband, when 'tis only to make 
 an-oblation to vanity and excefs f It ihould there- 
 fore be the care of all Wives to keep themfelves 
 from a guilt for which God & man , yea and them- 
 felves alfo fliall equally accufe them , and to keep 
 their expences within fuch limits, that as bees fuck 
 but do not violate or deface the flowers, fo they as 
 joint proprietaries with the husbands, may enjoy 
 but notdevour and deft roy his fortune. 
 
 23. 1 have now run thro the duties to be per- 
 formed unto the Husband, wherein I have not ufed 
 theexaclnefs of a cafuift in curioufly anatomizing 
 every part, and (hewing all the moft minute parti- 
 culars reducible to each head. I have only drawn 
 out the greater lines, and infilled on thofe wherein . 
 Wives are moft frequently deficient. I fhall only 
 add this caution, that whatever is duty to the huf- 
 
 band 
 
Ssct. III. Of Widows. 41 
 
 band, is equally (o, be he good or ill. The Ado- 
 file commands iubje&ionand fidelity, even to Hea- 
 then Husbands, iFet. 3. 12. and 'us not now their 
 defed either in Piety or Morality, that can ab- 
 folve the Wife. For, befidesthe inconvenience 
 of making her duty precarious and liable to be fab- 
 ftrafted upon every pretence of demerit, lhe has by 
 folemn Contiad renounced that liberty, and in her 
 Marriage- vow taken him for better for worfe ; and 
 it is too late after Vows to make enquiry, Prov. 20* 
 25. tofeek to break loofe from that Bond of her 
 Soul; and how uneafie foever the perverfnels of 
 the Husband may render ir,he cannot thereby make 
 it lefs, but more rewardable by God. For wriat the 
 Apoftle fpeaks in the cafe of Servants, is no lefs ap* 
 pliable to this, 1 Pet. 2.19. for thn k thankpot thy^ 
 tf for confeitnee towards God ye endure grief. f*f+ 
 firing wrongfully. Whatever duty is ptrfoim'd 
 toManwithafpe&onGod, he owns as tohimlelfj 
 fo that how unworthy foever the Husband may be „ 
 the Wife cannot mifplace her obfervance, whilft 
 (lie finally terminates it on that infinit Goodntfs 
 and Majefty to whom no lpve or obedience can oe 
 enough. 
 
 24. From this relation of a Wife, there ordi- 
 narily fpnngs another, that of a Mother, to whnuh 
 there belongs a diftinft duty,which may be branch* 
 ed into many feverals: but 1 ihall at pre item only 
 reduce them to two Heads, Love and w i-rc A 
 Mother is a title of io much Tendernefs, tha6 
 we find it borrowed by our common Dialed to ex ; 
 
 f f grcfii 
 
42 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 prefs the moft exuberant Kindnefs ; nay, even in 
 Sacred Stile it has the fame ufe, and is often fet as 
 the higheft Example our weaknefscan comprehend 
 of the Divine Companions. So that Nature feems 
 fufficiently to have fecur'dthe love of Mothers to 
 their Children, without the aid of any pofitive 
 Law, Yet we find this, (as other Inftin&s of Na- 
 ture) is fomtimes violated, and oftner perverted 
 and applied to miftaken purpofes : the firft is by 
 a defect of Love $ the other, by an imprudent ex- 
 cefs of it : the defecft do's, I prefume, more rarely 
 occur then the other-, yet it doth fomtimes hap- 
 pen, and that either from a morofe fowrnefs of hu- 
 mor, or elfe from too vehement an intention on 
 fomthing elfe. 
 
 25. Som e Women have fuch a ruggednefs of Na- 
 ture, that they can love nothing ; the ugly Pailions 
 of Anger and Envy have, like Tbaraoh's lean Kine, 
 eat up the more amiable of Love and Joy. Plato 
 was wont to advife crabbed auftere Tempers, to Sa- 
 crifice to the Graces ; and fuch as thefe had need 
 have a great deal of Chriftian Philofophy, to allay 
 and fweeten their native Bitternefs. But there are 
 others that are not void of the affeftion of Love, 
 but 'tis foreftall'd by fome other Objeft, and fo di- 
 verted from their Children. And 'tis a little to be 
 doubted, thofe Obje&s which fo divert are none of 
 thebeft, for the Wifdom of God hasdifpofed all 
 duty into fuch a Harmony and Confent of Parts, 
 that one interferes not with another. If we love no 
 prohibited thing, all the regular Objects of our 
 
 kind- 
 
Sect. II. Of Wives. 43 
 
 kindnefs will agree well enough, and one need ne- 
 ver fupplant another. And indeed 'tis oft obfer- 
 vable, that thofe Women who immoderatly love 
 their own Plefures, do left regard their Children 5 
 theylookonthemas Clogs to keep them within 
 doors, and think their advei ting to them, will hin- 
 der their free range abroad ; thofe are turn d oflf to 
 the care of a Nurfe or Maid, whil'ft perhaps a Dog 
 or a Monkey is thought worthy their own attend- 
 ance. 
 
 26. Plutarch relates itasaSarcafmof Cefars to 
 fome Foreigners whom he faw (at Rome ) ftrangely 
 fond of fuch little Animals, that he asked them, 
 Whether the Women in their Country had no 
 Children-, thereby intimating, how unreafonable it 
 was for thofe that had, to beltow their CareiTes on 
 fuch Creatures. And furely he would not have gi- 
 ven a milder Reprimand to fome of our Ladies, who 
 not only pleafe, but pride themfelves in thofe little 
 Brutes, fliew them to all Comers, when perhaps 
 you may converfe with them divers daies, before 
 you (hall, by any mention of theirs, know that they 
 have a Child. 
 
 27. To this defecT: of Love, many are apt to 
 impute the Mothers transferring the Nurfing her 
 Child to another. I am not forward to pronounce 
 of it, being loth to involve fo many as Ithenmuft 
 in the imputation of unnaturalnefs •, I rather think 
 it is taken up as a piece of State and Greatnefs 5 for 
 no other motive, but what is founded in their Qua^ 
 lity, could fo univerfally prevail with all that are 
 
 Ffa ef 
 
44 THE LADIES CALLING. Pait II. 
 
 ot it. But fure this is one of the vain Punftillio'S 
 wherewith this Age abounds. For whatever rank 
 the Meatier is okthe Child carries proportion to it, 
 and thee is the fame equality between the greateft 
 Lady nd heroin Child, as is between the mean- 
 eft Beggar and hers : the indeed if there were 
 any condefcenfion in it, the averfions of that ought 
 not to outweigh the impulfes of Nature, and the 
 many advantages the Child may receive by taking 
 its Nourifhment whence it derived its Subftance. 
 And therefore, tho I will not be too pofitive in af- 
 fertingthe neceflity, yet I confefs,, I cannot but 
 look with reverence upon thole few Periods of 
 Honor, who have broke thro an unreasonable Gu- 
 ftom, and preferred the good of their Children be- 
 fore that farltaftic priviledgof Greatnefs. And iuch 
 muftinall Juftice be acknowledged to have given a 
 much better evidence of their love to their Chil- 
 dren, then the others. 
 
 28. There is in A. Gelllus, in his 14 th Book, 
 fofine aDifcourfe on this fubjeft, where Favori- 
 ft'ts the Philofopher is introduced, perfwading a 
 Noble Lady, notwithstanding the ufual Excufes, 
 to nurfe her Child •, that nothing befides the 
 length, could temt me to omit the tranfenbing it : 
 iinlefs happily the little fuccefs, which a Noble 
 Perfon of the fame Sex here concerned, I mean the 
 Countefsof Lincoln, in the Ingenious Book wrote 
 by her, and call'd her Nurfery, be a fufficient 
 ground of defpairing to convince by any thing that 
 'fan be faid, However, let thefe delicate ones con- 
 
 iider 
 
Sec t.I I. Of Wives. 4? 
 
 fider the fevere words of the Prophet, Lament.^. 
 3. The fed mongers draw out the breaft , they give 
 fitck. to their young ones : the daughter of my people 
 is become cruel like the oflrich in the Wil&ernzUy 
 whoishiirdned again?t her young ones^ as t ho they 
 were not her $\her labor is in vain without fe a r^becau/c 
 God hath deprived her of wifdom , neither hath he 
 imparted to her undemanding. Job. 39. 16. 
 
 29. Bur as there may be a fault in the defeft, 
 fo there may be alfo in the excefs of love. God is 
 the only unlimited object of our Love, towards all 
 others 'tis eafie to become inordinate, 3nd in no 
 inftance more then in this of children. The love of 
 a parent is defcending 5 and 'all things move moft 
 violently downwards : fo that whereas that of chil- 
 dren to their parents commonly needs a fpur , this 
 of the parent often needs a bndie , efpecially that 
 of rhe Mother , which ( by ftrength of feminine 
 paflion ) does ufually exceed the love of the Father. 
 Now to regulate this affe&ion , flie is to advert 
 to thefe two rules, firft that ihe hurt not her felf 
 by it, and fecondly that ihe hui t not her children. 
 Of the firft (lie is in danger if the fuffer that Human 
 affection to fwell beyond its banks , fo as to come 
 in any competition with the Divine. This is to 
 make an Idol of her child, tor every thing is fo 
 to us , which rivals the love of God in our hearts 5 
 and he who owns the title of a Jealous God, may 
 be provoked as well by the bowing our fouls to a 
 living image , as the prollration or our bodies to a 
 flead. Accordingly we oft fee the effe&s of his Jea- 
 
 louiy 
 
4* THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 loufie in this particular. The doting affection of the 
 Mother, is frequently puniflrd with the untimely 
 death of the Children ; or if not with that, 'tis ma- 
 ny times with a feverer fcourge : they live (but as it 
 was foretold to jg/i, r Sam. 2. 33.) to grieve her 
 eyes, and to con fume her hearty to be ruinous to 
 themfelves, and affli&ions to their friends, and to 
 force their unhappy mothers to that fad acclamation 
 Zuke 23. 2p Bleffedare the wombs which hare not. 
 
 30. And as this proves otten true, when the 
 dotageis general upon all the Children, fo do'sic 
 oftner when 'tis more partial and fix'd upon any 
 one: that Darling which fhe makes the only objeft 
 of her Joy, ufually becomes that of her Sorrow. It 
 is an ordinary infirmity in Parents, to heap all their 
 vtindnefs upon one to the defrauding of the reft, 
 and too many times upon very undue motives : a 
 iittle excelling in point of Beauty turns thefcales, 
 when psrhaps many more folid Excellencies are 
 the counterpoife. And furely this is not only unjuft 
 but irrational in the Parent : for all peculiarity of 
 favor in a Superior lhould be difpenc'd either by 
 way of Reward, or Encouragement $ and neither 
 of t hofe ends can take place,where 'tis only the out- 
 ward form that is confider'd. For that cannot be 
 rewardable, to which the party has contributed 
 nothing-and the Pjalmift will tell us,That 'tis God 
 that hath made us, and not we our felves, Tfdm 
 IO °. 2. And as little room is there for the other 
 end, that of encouragement. For as our Savior 
 tells us, Mat. 6. none can add a cubit to his ftature, 
 
 ttor 
 
Sect* II. Of Wives. 
 
 47 
 
 nor make one hair white or black: 'tis certain 
 themfelves cannot really do either, tho by the aid 
 of Artificial Hypccrifie they frequently appear to 
 do both. But thofe are Arts which neither deferve 
 nor want encouragement : the natural Beauty mud 
 have its increafe from the fame fource whence ic 
 derived its being. There is therefore no reafonable 
 account to be given 3 why a Child fhouldbe preferred 
 for any fuch exterior excellency. 
 
 31. The only juftifiable ground of partiality to 
 Children is their Vertu , for to that their own 
 choice concurs, and lb may intitle them to reward 5 
 and 'tis alfo in their power to advance 5 and fo en- 
 couragements are not caft away upon them. Nay, 
 the influences of thofe may extend farther, and 
 provoke a vertuous emulation in the reft. But then 
 the mother muft fo manage it, as to evidence thae 
 'tis no inequality in her own inclination, but meer- 
 ly the force of the others defert -, not the Perfon, 
 but theGoodnefs that biaffes her: and when Ver- 
 tu is known to be the only ingratiating Quali- 
 ty, they will at once learn the way to become hers 
 and Gods Favorites. And unlefs it be upon this 
 one defign, 'tis a very unfafe thing for a Parent to 
 make any partial dilcrimination among Children, 
 which is fure to temt the more neglected, both to 
 tepme at her, and envy her Darlings. And often- 
 times fijeh feeds of rancor have bin by that means 
 fowed in Children, as have bin hard to eradicate in 
 their riper Years. Ncr isthe mifchief lefs which fhe 
 do's. tQher Fondlings, who befides that they are 
 
 ex* 
 
4 S THE LADIES CALLING. Part IL 
 
 expof'd to the malice of the reft, are ufually fpoild 
 by it, madeinfolent and untraceable, perhaps their 
 whole lives after ; for where the Mothers affection 
 is unbridled, commonly the Childswill isfo too, 
 her fondnefs fuperfeding that difcipline and cor- 
 re<ftion, which fhould, as the Wife Man fpeaks* 
 bow down its ntck.fr om its youth* 
 
 32. And the like may be faid where the indul- 
 dence is more univerfal to all the Children 5 which 
 is in one refpeft worfe then the partial , becaufe it 
 fpoils more,not one or two, but all the brood. The 
 doting love of a Mother blinds Jier eies, that ihe 
 cannot fee their faults 5 manacles her hands, that 
 fhe cannot chaftife them, and fo their Vices are per- 
 mitted to grow up with thcmfelves. As their 
 Joints knit and gather ftrength, fo do their ill ha- 
 bits, till at laft they are confirm'd into an Obftina- 
 cy ; fofettmg them in aperfe&oppofitionto that 
 Pattern they ihould imitate: for as Chrifts child- 
 hood increasl in ivifdom, and the Divine Favor, 
 Luk, 2. fo do theirs in all thofe provoking follies, 
 which may avert both the love of God and Man. 
 And alas what recompence can the little blandifli- 
 ments andcarefles of a Mother make her Children, 
 forfuch important, fuch ineftimable mifchiefs? So 
 that Jhe that will be really kind, muft temper her 
 Indulgence with a prudent feverity, or elfe Ihe emi- 
 nently violates the fecond rule, by which Ihe fhould 
 regulate her love, and do's that to her Children, 
 which Jacob fear'd from his Father, Geni 27. Brings 
 * eurfe nfon tbem y md not a bUffing. 
 
 33. Indeed 
 
Sect. II. Of Wives. 4? 
 
 33. Indeed the bed way of approving their 
 Love, is by well difcharging the other Branch of 
 their duty, that of Care.Without this, all the moft 
 paffionate raptures of Kindnefs are but an aieiy Ap* 
 parition, a fantaftic Scene, and wilino moie ad- 
 vantage a Child) then the whole Shambles in Pi- 
 <fture can feed and nurifh it. Now this ca: e is noi 
 a temporary, momentary Duty, for fome one cri- 
 tical inftant •, but is to attend the Child tnro the fe- 
 veral ftages of its Minority, vit % Infancy, Child- 
 hood, and Youth. The very firil part of their In- 
 fancy, is a feafon only for thofe Cares which con- 
 cern their Bodies, providing for their caretul At- 
 tendance , and all other things conducing to the 
 ftrengthning their Conftitutions , and hyin^ a 
 foundation for future Health and Vigor. Wnich is 
 their intereft not only upon a Bodily, but upon an 
 Intelledual account, the good temperature of the 
 Body being a great aid towards the free operations 
 of the Mind, And therefore Socrates^ and other 
 Philofophers, much recommend to their Difclples 
 the care of -Health, as that which freed the Soul 
 from many incumbrances in its purfuit of Knowledge 
 and it was the cornprehenfive Praier of the Ioer, 
 That the Gods would grant a found Mind In * health" 
 fulBody. 
 
 34. But this Health is not alvvaies the confequwit 
 of a very nice and tender Breeding, but is ei y oft 
 overthrown by it ^ and if Ladies could but find in 
 their hearts to try it, they would, I doubt not find, 
 that the inuring them to moderate HarcUhips,would 
 
 Cg much 
 
jre THE LADIES CALLING. Part Ifc 
 
 much more conduce to the eftablifhing and iortify- 
 ing their Conftitutions. 
 
 35* Beyond all this, the care for their Exterior 
 is foon overtaken by a more important one, that of 
 their Interior, in the timing of -which there feems 
 to be a very common miftake in the World. We 
 look upon the feven Years of Infancy, as the life 
 meerlyof an Animal, to befpent 6nly mtheen~ 
 tcrtainments of Senfe : and as we uie not to yoak 
 Calves, or back yong Colts, fo we think our Chil- 
 dren are for a while to be left at the fame liberty, 
 to have no reftraintput on any of their Paflions. 
 Nay many times we excite and foment them teach 
 Children to be angry and envious, proud and ful- 
 len, as if we fearM their Natural Propenfions to 
 all thefe were too faint, and wanted the help of In- 
 ftitutions. Butfurely this is a great and pernicious 
 Error, and this fuppofing Children to be folong 
 Brutes, is the way to make them fo longer. The 
 Patrons of Atheifm make it a mod conftant To- 
 pic in the difparagement of Religion, that 'tis ow- 
 ed to the prejudices infufed in the firft Infancy : 
 'twere to be wifht, that this Objection might fo far 
 be complied with, that the fear of God, the love 
 of Virtu, and hatred of Vice, might have the 
 firft pofl'eflion of the Soul $ and they be made to 
 moderate their Paflions, as foon as they are in a 
 capacity to have them excited and engaged. 
 
 36. And truly, if we will obferve it, we may 
 fee very early dawnings of reafon in Infants, which 
 .would, fooner cow to a bri§htnefs, if we would 
 
 betimes 
 
Sect. II. Of Wives* 51 
 
 bf times fet to the fcattering of thofc Pafiions which 
 echpfeand darken it. A Child will quickly be 
 taught to know what pleafes or difplcafesa Parenr, 
 and by a very little taft of Reward or Funifhment 
 will learn to do the one, and avoid the other : and 
 when this is don, the Parent has gain d the funda- 
 mental Point, That of obedience, and may fuper- 
 ftrud on it what (lie pleafes, and then 'tis her fault 
 if the Child be not by eafic and infenfible degrees 
 moulded into a right torm. 'Tis at firft all one to 
 theClrld, wherhcr he name God in an Oath or in 
 his PraicrS; but a Mother by Puniihing the one, 
 and Rewarding the other, will quickly bring him 
 to know there is a difference, and fo proportionally 
 in other Inftances. As to the way of Difcipline, it 
 may not be amifs to obferve, That when there is oc- 
 cafion for Severity, 'tis better to aw by a&ual Pu- 
 niihment then Terror, and never to make ufc of In- 
 finit and InvifibleAffrightments, the beloved me- 
 thods of Nurfes and Servants, fuch as are the me- 
 nacing of Sprights and Mormo's, and leaving in the 
 dark, that frequently make daftardly and timerous 
 ImprefTions,which a long Age fcarcely wears off. 
 
 37. A fober fenfeof things, is to be impreffed 
 by treatable means, and this willbe don with moft 
 eafe, both to the Parent and Child, the fooner 'tis 
 fet upon. The will of a tender Infant, is like its 
 Limbs, fupple and pliant, but time confirms it, and 
 cuftom hardens it: fo 'tis a cruel Indulgence to the 
 poor Creature, to let it contract fuch Habits, which 
 nuft coft him fo de«r the breaking, or dearer if 
 
 Gg 2 never 
 
52 THE LADIES CALLING. Part H, 
 
 never broken. And if this early care be taken of 
 the Infancy, 'twill much cafe the next part, that of 
 the Childhood ; for where the Ironfinew in the 
 neck is broken, where the native Stubbornnefs is 
 fubJuedlb early, the Yoke will fiteaiie 5 allfucceed~ 
 ing parts of Ditc p jne will come with more facility 
 and profit. The care proper to this Age, is, the 
 inft uding in all parts of ufeful JCnowledg,of which 
 as the Divine, for the excellency both of its nature 
 and its end, muftbe firft ranked, fo fhould it be 
 firft and moft induftnoudy cultivated,and by all en- 
 dearing methods impreft, not only on the Under- 
 stand ing, but the Heart. Piety and Vertu fhould 
 be propof'd as the moft amiable, as well as neceflai y 
 things,and they fhould be invited not only to know, 
 but love them. 
 
 38 THispartof Learning is equally competent 
 to both Sexes, and therefore when the Sons are re- 
 moved from under the Mothers tuition, and feflt to 
 more public places of Erudition, her Province is 
 ftill the fame as to her Daughters, to whom flie 
 /hould not only Preach, but exemplify it in her o* n 
 Pra&ice, no Precepts penetrating fo much into 
 Youth, as thofe that are fo infore'd. And in order 
 to this, lihould commend to Mothers, the being 
 as much with them as they can, and taking the per- 
 fonal In r pe&ion of them 5 not to turn them off 
 wholly to Servants, no nor yet Governefles, but 
 frequently themfelves to examinhow they proceed 
 ifl the Speculative part of Knowledg, and no lefs 
 frequently exhort them to the Pra&ic. 
 
 39. Mar- 
 
Sect. II. of Wives. 53 
 
 39. Marcus Cato would not let his Son lear 11 
 of his Slave, as difdainmg a Child fhould ow ib 
 confiderable a benefit to fo fervik a Perfon •, and if 
 he thought the meer teaching of Grammar too 
 great a charge for fuchaone, furely the whole In- 
 stitution ot Youth isamuch greater, it beingthat 
 on which, not only a few outward Accomplish- 
 ments, but even their Eternity depends. The great 
 Cornelia, Mother of the Gracchi, and Aurdia the 
 Mother of A>guf\us, thought it worth their pains 
 to be Governefles. And the truth is, the Soul of a 
 Child is a little too precious a Truft to commit 
 wholly to the diligence and careiof a mercenary Ser- 
 vant. Or if they happen not to want thofe Quali- 
 fications, yet 'tis very poifible they may Prudence, 
 of which there is no imall degree requiilte to the 
 Inftruding of Youth, too great a remifnefs or fc- 
 verity being equally deftructive in that Affair. And 
 indeed, befides thefe immediat, there are fom other 
 collateral Benefits confequent to the Mothers per- 
 forming that Office : "'twill bring her and her Chil- 
 dren into an Intimacy and Convention, give her 
 an acquaintance with their feveral Capacities and 
 Humors ; for want of which, many Parents have 
 erred in their Conduit, one fort of Treatment be- 
 ing not fit for all Children, and the diftinguifliing 
 that depending wholly on their decerning their par- 
 ticular Tempers,which cannot well be don without 
 fom converfe with them. 
 
 40. Be s 1 d e s ,by this they will be witnefTes how~ 
 jhey difpofe their Time 3 that they neither loofe it 
 
 by 
 
54 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 by doing nothing, nor yet mifemploy it by doing 
 ill. And indeed there is fcarce any pare of the Pa- 
 rents care more important then this, Idlenefs being 
 no farther removed from Vice, then a Caufe is 
 from its immediat Effect. Therefore if Children be 
 permitted to trifle away their Time, they will foon 
 learn to trifle away their Innocence alfo. So that 'tis 
 highly neceflTary that they be provided of a fuccef- 
 lion of Emploiments, that by the variety they may 
 be infenfibly drawn on. Nay methinks, ic might 
 very well be contrived that their Recreations might 
 fomtimes confift of fuch ingenuous Exercifes, that 
 they may at once both play and learn. 
 
 41. Th ere is yet another good effed of the Mo- 
 thers prefence with the Children (which is perhaps 
 no lefs material then any of the former :) 'tis, that 
 by thisaffociating them with her felf, fhe prevents 
 the danger of worfe Society. Children, if the Pa- 
 rents allow them not their company, are necefla- 
 rily caft upon that of Servants, then which there is 
 fcarce a greater danger that attends Youth. Forbe- 
 fides that that low fort of converfe debafes their 
 Minds, makes them mean and fordid, it often 
 corrupts their Manners too • Children ufually not 
 receiving more peftiient Infufions from any then 
 fuch. Servants that defire to ingratiate themfelves, 
 snd have no laudable quality whereby to do it, 
 muft firft endeavor to ingratiate Vice to them, and 
 then by their officious miniftenesin that, have a 
 ready way of introducing themfelves into favor. 
 Perhaps this will be thought to concern only the 
 
 Mafcu- 
 
Sect. II. Of Wives. 55 
 
 Mafculin pare of Children, and that the Female, 
 who are commonly in a diftinfi: Apartment, and 
 converfe only with their. own Sex, are more fecure. 
 But I would not advife Mothers to depend too 
 much on that, for they are no furer that their 
 Daughters (hall not converfe with Men, nay Men 
 of the meaner fort too, then that their Maids and 
 attendants ihall not do fo. And when 'tis confider'd, 
 how apt thofe are to entertain, if not to invite A- 
 mours, 'tis not very probable the Rooms where 
 they quarter fhali be inacceffable to thofe they af- 
 fect. And it were much fafer for Children to be in 
 the mod: public concourfe of Men, then to be wit- 
 nefles and obfervers of the private Intrigues of fuch 
 Lovers.The memories of Youth are very tenacious, 
 and if they once be tainted with any indecent thing, 
 will be apt to recolleft it, 'till at laft perhaps they 
 come to tranfcrlbe it. Tis therefore in this refpecl: 
 a very ufeful part of the Mothers care, to make her 
 felf company to her Daughters^ to prevent the dan- 
 gers of a more unequal and infectious Converfe. 
 
 42. But if this be ufeful in Childhood, 'tis no 
 lefs then neceffary in the next Period of their time, 
 when they arrive near the growth and age of Wo* 
 men.Then indeed the Mother fliould not only make 
 them her Companions,but her Friends, allow them 
 fuch a kind, yet model!: Freedom, that they may 
 have a complacence in her Company, and not be 
 termed to feek it among their Inferiors. That the 
 belief of their kindnefsmay fupplant the pretentions 
 of thofe meaner Sycophants, who by little flatteries 
 
 endeaf 
 
56 THE LADIES CALLING. Pa-tII* 
 
 endeavor to fcrevv themfelves into their good opi- 
 nion, and become their Confidents: then which 
 there is nothing more mifchievous,thofe private Ca- 
 bals that are held with fuch, fcrving only to render 
 them mutinous againft their Parents ; theie Family 
 Incendiaries, like thofe in the State andChurcn, 
 ftill incubating the one grand Principle of Liberty, 
 a word fo charming to our depraved Nature, and 
 efpecially to Youth, that they fhould not be trufted 
 with fuch Lectures. Befides thofe intimacies are 
 often Introdudtions to worfe $ many fcandalous A- 
 mours and unequal Matches having had their rife 
 from them. It fhould therefore be the bufinefs of 
 Mothers to prevent all fuch pernicious Leagues, by 
 preingaging them in more fate Familiarities, either 
 with her felf, or fom other, of whofe Vertu fhe has 
 reafon to be confident. 
 
 43. But the moft infallible Security againft 
 this and all other Mifchiefs,is the bringing them in- 
 to an intimacy and converfation with their Maker, 
 by fixing a true fenfeof Religion in their Hearts 5 
 if that can be effe&ually don, 'twill fuperfede all 
 other Expedients, she that duly confiders (he is 
 always in Gods prefence, will want no other Infpe- 
 dor, nor will fhe much need Monitors, who at- 
 tends to the advices of her own Gonfcience. Nei* 
 ther will it only tend to the fecuring her Innocence, 
 but her Reputation too 5 it being one part of the 
 Chriftian Law, to ah/lain from all appearance ofe- 
 w/,t The0'.2. 2. to do things that are ofgOudreport, 
 Phil. 4. 8. fo that Piety is the one compleat armor 
 
SacT. III. Of Wives. 57 
 
 to defend both their Vertu and Fame. And 'tis ex- 
 tremely necefl'ary they fliould be furniflit with it, ac 
 this Ageefpecially, when they do at firft enter in- 
 to the World; which we may well look on as a 
 taking the Field, confidering how many Aflaults 
 they are there like to meet with-, and if they go 
 without this Armature, they may, none knows how 
 foon, be incurably wounded : of which there want 
 not many fad Inftances, fom whereof might proba- 
 bly have bin prevented , had the Parent taken 
 care to have better fortified them. 
 44. And indeed 'tis not a little fad to fee how much 
 this their mod important Concern is negle&ed. 
 Many Mothers, who are nicely curious in other 
 parts of their Daughters breeding^are utterly mcon- 
 fiderate in this. They muft have all civil Accom- 
 plifhments, but no Chriftian. Thofe are excluded 
 out of the fchemeof Education, and by that means 
 lie under the prejudice of being not only unnecessa- 
 ry, but ungentile, below the regard of Perfons of 
 Quality. Tismuchtobe fear'd, thatthis negle<ft 
 toward their Children, is founded in a previous 
 contemt of Piety in themfelves ; yet I fuppofe 'tis 
 often increaf'd by a little Vanity they have of fee- 
 ing them excel in fome of thofe exterior Qualities, 
 which may recommend them to the humor of the 
 World,upon the improving whereof they are fo in- 
 tent,that more niaterialthings are over-lookt. And 
 when thofe are acquired, the pride of ihewing them 
 betraies them to other Inconveniencies. The Mo- 
 ther oft not onlv permits, but incites the Daughter^ 
 
 Hh to 
 
58 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 to the opportunities of boafting her Excellencies, 
 fends her fo oft abroad on that Lefign, that at laft 
 perhaps ilie cannot, when (he would, keep her at 
 home,as I believe too many have found experimen- 
 tally true. In a word, this Interval between Child- 
 hood and Majority, is themoft critical Point of a 
 Wornans Life, and therefore fhould be the moft 
 nicely and warily attended ; and a Mother had need 
 fummon not only all her care and diligence,but her 
 prudence too, well to difcharge this part of her Ob- 
 ligation. 
 
 45.I Shall not infift more minutely upon Parti- 
 culars : I have in the former Se&ion fpoken fom- 
 what of what 'tis fit thefe young Virgins fhoulddo 
 and avoid •, and whatever by that, or by any more 
 exa&rule appears their intereft or duty, 'tis the 
 Mothers to fee it be not negle&ed by them : but 
 where Kindnefs alone will not prevail, to employ 
 their Autority too, and by a difcreet mixture of 
 each, fecure their obfervance by both the tenures 
 of Love and Reverence. Yet I (hall a little refled 
 upon one Particular I mention'd before, I mean that 
 of Marrying where they have averfion ; which tho 
 I there charg'd as the Crime of the Daughter, yet 
 I mull: here (ay the original and more inexcufable 
 guilt is ufually in the Parents, who are fomtimes 
 fuch Idolaters to Wealth and Honor, that they Sa- 
 crifice their Children to them -, a more barbarous 
 immolation then that to Moloch. For tho that were 
 very inhuman, yet it had this alleviation, that the 
 pain was ftiort : but a loathed Bed is at once an a- 
 
 cute 
 
SacT.II. 0/ Wives. 59 
 
 cute and a lingring Torment^nay, not only fo, but a 
 temtatioa too -, fo that 'tis a Tyranny of a moft un- 
 limited kind, extends its Effects even to Eteinity : 
 and fure that Mother mud have very petrified 
 Bowels, have loft all Natural Compaifion, that can 
 foimpofe on her Child. 
 
 46. Ifhall add no more concerning this relation 
 of a Mother, but only one fliort Advice, That 
 thofe who groan under the fruftration of their 
 hopes, whole Children by any fcandalous misbe- 
 havior become the Obje&s of their fhamc and grief, 
 would foberly confider, whether it have not bin 
 fom way owing to themfelves, either by negleft in 
 their Education, or by their own ill Example. 'Tis 
 ufually one, and fomtimesboth. They that upon re- 
 colledion can affure themfelves 'tis neither, may 
 bear the Affliftion with much the greater cheerful- 
 nefs ^ but they that cannot, I am fure ought to bear 
 it with much the more Patience and Submiffion, 
 take it as Gods Le&ure of Repentance, and look 
 on their Childrens faults as the produtt of their 
 own. Andbecaufe Satisfa&ion is an indifpenfible 
 part of Repentance, they are with their utmoft in- 
 duftry to endeavor the repairing thofe Ruins they 
 have made, by recalling thofe to Virtu, who by 
 their means have ftraied from it. Tis true, the er- 
 rors of Education, like a fubtil Poifon, do fornix 
 with the Blood,fo incorporate into the Humors and 
 Manners, that 'twill be very difficult to allay their 
 Effe&s s and therefore the lefs they are themfelves 
 able to do towards it, the more earncftly they muft 
 
 Hha im» 
 
60 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 importune a Higher Powq^. He who divided the 
 Light from the Darknefs, can feparate the Effeds 
 from the Caufes ; and as he reftrained the natural 
 property of Fire, in the cafe of the three Children, 
 Van. 3. fo He only can refcu their Children from 
 that deilru&ion to which their negligence hasex- 
 pofed them. But as to the influence their example 
 has had, they may do fomthing towards the redrefs 
 of that 5 by fetting them a new Copy, making their 
 own change fo vifible,fo remarkable,thac they may 
 have the very fame means of reclaiming, w ch there 
 was of feducing them. And this is a piece of Juftice 
 which feems to call aloud upon many Mothers. 1 he 
 irregularities of Youth could hardly have grown to 
 theprefent height, had they not received warmth 
 and fhelter from the practice of their Elders, which 
 do's at once give incouragement and take off re- 
 ftraints, the Mother loofingnot only her Autority, 
 but her confidence to admoniih or reprove. With 
 what face can lhe require that ftrid and fevere mo- 
 deftyof a young Girl, which fhe who fhould be a 
 Matron will not practice * or tie up the giddy w T an- 
 dring humor of Youth, within thofe bounds fhe 
 thinks too ftrait for her own < and how ready a re- 
 tortion will even Scripture it felt afford for fuch an 
 Impofer? Thou that teacheft another, teacheft thou 
 uot thyfelf? Rom. 2. 21. Let it therefore be the 
 care of all Mothers to live a perpetual Leiture to 
 their Children, fo toexemplifie to them all Virtu 
 and Piety, that they may contribute fomthing to 
 their Spiritual, as well as their Natural Life -, that 
 
 how 
 
Sect. II. Of Wives. 6 1 
 
 however they may at lead deliver their own Souls, 
 and not have their Children* guilt recoil upon 
 them as the unhappy originals of it. 
 
 27. The laft relation of a Married Woman is 
 thatof aMiftrefs, the infpe&ion of the Family be- 
 ing ufually her Province 5 and tho llie be not fu- 
 prcme there, yet (he isjto improve her delegated 
 Autority to the advantage of all under it. And 
 her more conftant reiidence gives her more oppor- 
 tunities of it, then the frequent avocations ot the 
 Husband will perhaps allow him. St. Pat/l kts it 
 as the Calling, and indifpcnfible duty of the Mar- 
 ried Woman, That they guide the houfe-y I Tim. 5. 
 18. not thinking it a point of Greatnefs to remit 
 the menage of allDomeftic Concerns to a merce- 
 nary Houfe-keeper. And indeed, fince it has bin a 
 fafhionable thing for the Matter to reiign up his 
 concerns to the Steward, and the Lady hers to the 
 Governante, it has gon ill with moft great Fami- 
 lies ; whilft thefe Officers ferve themielves inftead 
 of thofe who employ them, raife Fortunes on their 
 Patrons ruines, and divide the fpoil of the Family ; 
 the Houfe- keeper pilfering within doors, and the 
 Bailiff plundering without. 
 
 48. Now to the well-guiding of the Houfe by 
 the Miftrefs of it, I know no better or more com- 
 prehenfive rule, then for her to endeavor to make 
 all that are hers, to be Gods Servants alfo. This will 
 fecure her of all thofe intermedial Qualifications 
 in them, in which her fecular Intereft is concerned, 
 their own Confciences being the beft fpy lhe can 
 
 fee 
 
62 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 fee upon them as co their Truth and Fidelity, and 
 the befl: fpur alfo to Diligence and Induftry. But 
 to the making them fuch, there will needfirft In- 
 ftrudlion, and fecondly Difcipline. It is a neceflary 
 part of the Rulers care to provide that none in their 
 Family fhould want means of neceflary Inftruftion. 
 I do not fay that the Miftrefs fhould fet up for a 
 Catechift or Preacher 5 but that they take order 
 they fhould be taught by thofe that are qualified 
 for the Employment. And that their furniflnng them 
 with Knowledg, may not ferve only to help them 
 to a greater number of ftripes, Luk^ 12.47. they are 
 to give them the opportunities of confecrating it by 
 Praier and Devotion , to that end to have public 
 Divine Offices in the Family- and that not by ftarts 
 or accidents (when a devouter Gueft is to be enter- 
 tained, and laid by when a profane) but daily and 
 regularly, that the hours of Praiers may be fix'd 
 and conftant as thofe of Meals, and (if it may pof- 
 fibly be) as much frequented •, however that to- 
 wards it flie give both Precept and Example. 
 
 49. AChriftian Family ihouldbe the Epitome 
 of a Church : but alas how many among us lie^under 
 a perpetual Interdict, and yet not from the ufurpa- 
 tionof any Foreign Power, but from the irreligion 
 of the Domeftic. One may go into .divers great 
 Families, and after fome flay there, not be able to 
 fay that the name of God was mentioned to any 
 other purpofe then that of Blafphemy and Execra- 
 tion*, nor a Text of Scripture, unlets in Bur lefque 
 and profane Drollery. And fure we need not wonder 
 
 at 
 
Sect. II. Of Wives. 6} 
 
 at the univerfal complaint that is now made of ill 
 Servants,when we reflect upon this ill government 
 of Families. They that are fuffer'd wholly to forget 
 their duties toward God 3 will not alwaies remember 
 it towards Man. Servants are not fuchPhilofophers 
 that upon the bare ftrength oF a few Moral Inftincts 
 they will be vertuous .• and if by a cuftomaiy neg- 
 lect of all things Sacred, they are once taught to 
 look at nothing beyond this World,they will often 
 find temtation enough here to difcard their honefty, 
 as the moft unthriving Trade. And indeed when the 
 aw of Religion is quite taken off from the vulgar, 
 there will fcarce any thing elfe be found to keep 
 them within any tolerable bounds •, fo that 'tis no 
 lefs impolitic then profane to flacken that Rein. 
 
 50. But it is not only the Intereft, but the Duty 
 of all that have Families 5 to keep up the efteem and 
 practice of Religion in them. "Tvvas one of the 
 greateft Endearments of Abraham to God y Thathe 
 would command hh houfjjold to keep the way of the 
 Lord y Gen. 18. 19. And JoJhua undertakes no lefs 
 for the piety of his Houiliold then himfelf 5 As for 
 me and my houfe^we willjerve the Lord, Jof. 24. 1 5. 
 And fure 'tis but reafonable, that where we our 
 felves ow an Homage , we fhould make all our 
 dependants acknowledg the fame. Befides, it is 
 a juftice in refpect of them ; for where we entertain 
 a Servant, we take the whole Perfon into our care 
 and protection, and are falfe ro that undertaking, if 
 we fuffer his Soul, the moft precious part of him, to 
 perifli. And God, who keeps account even of his 
 
 meaneft 
 
64 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 meaneft Creatures, will not patiently refent fuch 
 anegledlof thofe who bear his own Image, and 
 were ranfomedwith as great a price as their Matters 
 were, for there is no refpett of pcrfons with God^ 
 Eph. 6> g. 
 
 5 1, But when Piety is planted in a Family ,'twill 
 foon wither, if it be not kept in vigor by Difci- 
 pline : nay, indeed to have Servants feemingly de- 
 vout in the Oratory, and yet really licentious out 
 of it, is but to convert ones Houfe into a Theater, 
 have a play of Religion, and keep afetof A&ors 
 only to perfonate and reprefent it. 'Tis therefore 
 necetfary to inquire how they behave themfelves 
 when they are off the Stage ; whether thofe hands 
 which they elevate in Praier, are at other times 
 induftrioufly appli'd to work ^ or thofe mouths 
 wherewith they there blefs God , are not elfe- 
 where filled with Oaths and Curfes,Scumlities and 
 Revilings: in a word, whether that Form of God- 
 linefs be not defign'd in commutation for Sobriety 
 andHonefty. Indeed the Governors of Families 
 ought to make a ftriit Infpedion into the manners 
 of their Servants, and w r here they find them good 
 to affix fome fpecial mark of Favor, by which they 
 may both be encouraged to perfevere, and others 
 to begin • but where they find them vicious, there 
 as eminently to difcountenance, feverely to admo- 
 nifli them, and ufe all fit means for their reclaim- 
 ing , and when that feems hopelefs , to difmifs 
 them that they may not infeft the reft, A little le* 
 ven> faith the Apoftle, leveneth the whole lump, Gal. 
 
 the 
 
Sect. III. of Wives. 6% 
 
 the 5.?. and one ill fervant (like a periflit tooth ) 
 wil be apt to corrupt his fellows. 'Tis therefore the 
 fame in families that it is in more public commu- 
 nities , where feverity to the ill is mercy and pro- 
 tection to the reft ; and were houfes thus early 
 weeded of all idle and vicious perfons , they would 
 not be fo overgrown , nor degenerate into fuch 
 rude wildernefles , as many (nay I fear raoft ) 
 great families now are. 
 
 52. But as fervants are not to be tolerated in 
 the negled of their duty , fo neither are they to be 
 defeated of any of their dues. Matters are to give 
 to their fervants that which is pfl and equal y Col. 
 4. 1. Andfure 'tis but juft and equall that they 
 who are rational creatures fliould not be treated 
 with the rigor or contemt of brutes : a fufficient and 
 decent provifion , both in ficknefs and in health is 
 a juft debt to them , befides an exa& performance of 
 thofe particular contracts upon which they were 
 entertained. Laban had fomuch of natural juftice, 
 that he would not take the advantage of Jacobs re- 
 lation to him to make him ferve him gratis , Because 
 thou art my brother Jbouldft theutherefore ferve mt 
 for nought ? tell me therefore what /hall thy voage^ 
 be ? Gen. 2^15. But alas now a daies where fer- 
 vants have bin told, nay exprefly articled for, their 
 wages , 'tis with many no eafy thing to get it : nay 
 'tis thought by fome Mafters an infQlence,a piece of 
 ill manners to demand it 3 and when they have 
 worn out a fervant 3 they either pay him not at all> 
 or with the fame prptra&ioa wi regret ? which 
 
 iif they 
 
66 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 they do their Tailors for the old Clothes they have 
 caft off. I fear there are many ifciftances of this , 
 efpecially among great Perfons, it being a received 
 Mode with too many of them to pay no Debts to 
 thofe who are too mean to conteft with them. Buc 
 however they may ruffle it out with Men, it will 
 one day arraign them before God as mod injurious 
 Oppreflbrs $ there being no Crime of that kind more 
 frequently or feverely branded in Scripture, then 
 this of the detention of the Wages of the Servant 
 and Hireling. Befides, this example of Injuftice, 
 wherein the Servant is paffive, is often tranfcrib'd 
 by him in acSs of fraud and deceit, and he is apt to 
 think it but an equal retaliation, to break his Truft 
 where the Mafter breaks his Covenant ; and when 
 heonceattemtstobehis own Pay-mafter, 'tis not 
 to be doubted but he will allow himfelf large life 
 for the forbearance of his Wages;fo that the courfe 
 is no lefs unprofitable to the Mafter, then unjuft 
 and difhonorable. 
 
 53. I am not fure *tis always in the Wives 
 power to prevent this or any of the former faults in 
 the menage of the Family. For her aurority being 
 but fubordinate, if the Husband who is fupreme 
 fufpendher Power, he do's by that vacating her 
 rule, take off the duty confequent to it 5 fo that 
 what I have faid, can be obligatory to none that 
 are fo impeded : but to thofe who can either do it 
 themfelves, or perfwade their Husbands to it, the 
 omiflion will be their fin : all the profanenefs and 
 diforder of the Family will be charg'd upon their 
 account, if it came by their default. S4-.Atfp> 
 
Seclt. III. Of Wives. j5j 
 
 54. And this, methinks, is a Confideration 
 that may much mortifie one ufual piece of vanity, 
 1 mean, that of a multitude of Servants. We fliall 
 all of us find burthen enough of our own perfonal 
 mifcarriages , and need not contrive to fetch in 
 more weight from Others. And in Families 'tis ge- 
 nerally obfervable, That the bigger they are, the 
 worfe j vice gains boldnefs by numbers, is hatch'd 
 up by the warmth of a full Society-, and we daily 
 fee People venture upon thofe Enormities in con- 
 fort and in a croud, which they would not dare, did 
 they think they flood fingle. Befides,the wider the 
 Province is,the more difficult it is well to adminifter 
 it 5 and in a heap of Servants many faults will fcape 
 undifcern'd , efpecially confidering the common 
 Confederacy there is ulually among them, for the 
 eluding of Difcipline : fo that what the Wife man 
 fpeaks of not defiling a multitude of unprofitable 
 Children, I think may be very well appli'd to Ser- 
 vants, whofe unprofitablenefs ufuajly increases tor 
 gether with their number. I have now run thro the 
 feveral Obligations confequent to the Married 
 State, wherein even upon this very curfory View, 
 there appears fo many Particulars, that if they were 
 all duly attended, Ladies need not be much at a 
 lofs how to entertain themfelves, nor run abroad in 
 a Romantic Quefl after Foreign Divertifements, 
 when they have fuch variety of Engagements at 
 Home. 
 
 Ii % SECT. 
 
£8 THE LADIES CALLING. Part lb 
 
 SECT. IIL 
 
 €f Widows. 
 
 1/ | ^HE nextftate which can fucceed to that 
 J^ of Marriage, is Widowhood, which tho 
 it fuperfedes thofe Duties which were terminated 
 meerly in the perfon of the Husband, yet it endears 
 thofe which may be paid to his Allies. Love is 
 Urong as death. Cant. 8, 6. and therefore when it 
 is pure and genuine, cannot be extinguifh'd by it, 
 but burns like the Funeral- Lamps of old even in 
 Vaults and Charnel-houfes. The conjugal Love 
 tranfplanted into the Grave, (as into a finer Mold) 
 improves into Piety, and laies a kind of facred Obli- 
 gation upon the Widow, to perform all offices of 
 refpeft apdkindnefs which his Reipainsare capable 
 of. 
 
 2. Now thofe Remains are of three forts, his 
 Body, his Memory, and his Children. The moft 
 proper expreflion of her love to the firft, is in giving 
 it an honorable Enterment* I mean not fuch as 
 may vie with the Poland Extravagance (of which 
 'tis obfer ved, that two or three near fucceeding Fu- 
 nerals ruin the Family) but prudently proportion'd 
 to his Quality and Fortune, fo that her Zeal to his 
 Corps may not injure a Nobler Relic of him, His 
 Children. And this decency is a much better in- 
 stance 
 
Sect. III. of Widows. 69 
 
 ftance of her kindnefs, then all thofe Tragical Fu* 
 ries wherewith fom Women feem tranfported to- 
 wards their dead Husbands, thofe frantic Embra- 
 ces and carefles of a Carcals, which betray a little 
 too much the fenfuality of then Love. And it is 
 fomthing obfervable, That thofe vehement Pafll- 
 ons quickly exhauft themfelves, and by a kind of 
 Sympathetic Efficacy, as the Body (on which their 
 affe&ion wasfixt) molders, fo does that alfo ; nay 
 qften it attends not thofe lefurely degrees of difib- 
 lution, but by a more precipitate motion, feems ra- 
 ther to vanifli then confume. 
 
 3. Th e more valuable Kindnefs therefore, is that 
 to his Memory, endevoring to embalm that, keep 
 it from periling •, and by this innocent Magic (as 
 the Egyptians were wont by a more guilty)fhe may 
 converfe with the Dead, reprefent him fo to her 
 own Thoughts, that his Life may ftill be repeated 
 to her: and as in a broken Mirror the refra&ion 
 multiplies the Images, fo by his diffolution every 
 hour prefents diftindl Idea's of him 5 fo that fhe fees 
 him the oftner, for his being hid from her Eics. But 
 as they ufe not to Embalm without Odors, fofhe 
 is not only to preferve but perfume his Memory, 
 render it as fragrant as fhe can,, not only to her felf, 
 but others 5 by reviving the remembrance of what- 
 ever was Praife-worthy in him, vindicating him 
 from all Calumnies and falfe Accufations, and fti- 
 fling (or allaying) even True Ones as much as fhe 
 can. And indeed, a Widow can no way better pro- 
 vide for her own Honor, then by this tendernefs of 
 her Husbands, 4. Yet 
 
70 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 4. Yet there is another Expreffion of it, infe- 
 rior to none of the former, and char is, the letting 
 fuchavaluuponher relation to him, as to do no- 
 thing unworthy of it. 'Twas the dying charge of 
 Auguftus to his .Wife Livia^ Behave thy felf well 9 
 and remember our Marriage. And /he who has bin 
 Wife to a Perfon of Honor, rnuft fo remember it, 
 as not to do any thing below her felf, or which he 
 (could he have forefeen it) /hould juftly have bin 
 a/hamed of. 
 
 ■ 5. The laft Tribute /lie can pay him, is in his 
 Children. Thefe he leaves as his Proxies to receive 
 the kindnefs of which himfelf is uncapable 5 fo that 
 the Children of a Widow may claim a double 
 portion of the Mothers love • one upon their Na- 
 tive right, as hers 5 the other, as a bequeft in right 
 of their dead Father. And indeed, fince /he is to 
 fupply the place of both Parents, 'tis but neceffary 
 flielhould put on the A/Fe&ions of both, and to thp 
 tendernefs of a Mother, add the care and condudl of 
 a Father. Firft, in a fedulous care of their Ed^ 
 cation. Andnext,in the piudent managery of their 
 fortunes ^ an order that is fbmtimes unhappily in- 
 verted, and Mothers are fo concerned to have the 
 Eftate profper in their tuition, that the Children 
 cannot 5 whilft(.by an unfea/onable Frugality) to 
 fave a little Expence, they deny them the advanr 
 tages of an Ingenious and Gentile Breecing, fweli 
 their Eftates perhaps to a vaft Bulk^ but fo contract 
 and narrow their Minds, that they know not how- 
 to difpofe them to any real benefit of themfelves 
 
 Qr 
 
Sect. III. Of Widows. 7 t 
 
 or others. And this is one of the mod pernicious 
 Parfimonies imaginable. A Mother by this feems to 
 adopt the Fortune, and abdicate the Child, who is 
 only made the Beaft to bear thofe loads of Wealth 
 fhe will lay on, and which fhe evidently owns as the 
 greateft Trefure, fince in tendernefs to that fheneg- 
 le<3s him. 
 
 6. Yet fomtimes the fame Effeft fprings from 
 another Caufe, and Children are ill bred, not be- 
 caufe the Mother grudges the charge, but out of z 
 Feminine fotidnefs, which permits her not to part 
 with them to the proper places for their education* 
 Like Jacob to Emjamin^ her Soul is fo bound up in 
 them, that fhe cannot lend them awhile even to 
 their own mod neceffary concerns. Ar.d^this, tho 
 riot fo ignoble a motive as the other> is of no lefs 
 ttiifchiet,atleaft to her Sons, who being by it con- 
 find to home, are confequently condemned to be 
 poyfon'd (if with nothing elfe, yet) with the flat- 
 teries of Servants and Tenants, who think thofe 
 the beft expedient to fecure their own ftation. And 
 with thefe the young Matter or Landlord is fo 
 blown up, that as if his Manors were the confines 
 of the World,he can look at nothing beyond them ; 
 fo that when at laft he breaks loofefrom his Mo- 
 thers amis, and comes abroad, he expefts fcarce to 
 findhisEquals, much lefs his Betters ^ thinks he is 
 ftill to receive the fame fawning Adorations which 
 he was ufed to at home : and being pofleft with this 
 infolent expectation, he will fcarce be undeceived, 
 butat the price of many Affronts, nay, perhaps he 
 
 m ay 
 
72 THE LADIES CALLING. PaRtIL 
 
 may buy his experience with the lofs of his life \ by 
 his ill maners draw on a Quarrel, wherein he finally 
 periihes. That this is no impoflible Suppoficion, 
 fom unhappy Mothers have found to their un- 
 speakable affh&ion. 
 
 7. 'T 1 s not to be denied, but there are alfo dan- 
 gers confequent to the breeding Children abroad, 
 Vice having infinuated it felf even into the places 
 of Erudition, and having not only as many, but 
 the very fame Academies with Vertu and Learning; 
 fbthat the extreme depravation of the times new 
 ftates the Queftion, and we are not to confider 
 which is beft, but which is the leaft ill difpofure of 
 Children. And in that competition fure the home 
 Education will be caft •, for there they may fuck in 
 all the Venom, and nothing of the Antidote -, they 
 will not only be taught bafe things, but (as I before 
 obfervd) by the bafeft Tutors, fuch as will add 
 all the moft fordid circumftances to the improving 
 of a Crime. Whereas abroad they are firft not 
 like to meet with any whofe intereft it fo much to 
 make them Vicious. And fecondly, they may (as 
 ill as the world is) meet with many who may give 
 them both Precepts and Examples of a better kind. 
 Befides the Difcipline ufed in thofe Communi- 
 ties makes them know themfelves $ and the va- 
 rious forts of Learning they may acquire, will not 
 only prove ufefuidivertifement (the want of which 
 is the great fpring of mifchief) but will, if rightly 
 apply d, furniih them with Ingenious and Vertuous 
 Principles, fuch as may fet them above all vile and; 
 
 ignoble 
 
Sect. III. Of Widows. 73 
 
 ignoble pra&ices. So that there feems a confpira- 
 jion ot motives to wrelt the child from the relucting 
 Mother , and to perfvvade her for a while to deny 
 her felf that defire of her eies , that fo he may ac 
 laft anfwer the more rational defire of her heart. 
 
 8. A s to the other part of her Obligation y the 
 managing of their Fortune, there is the fame rule 
 ior her as for all other perfons that have a Truft y 
 viz. to do as for themfelves •, that is, with the fame 
 care and diligence ( if not a greater ) as in her own 
 peculiar Concern. I do not (ay that ilie lball con- 
 tound the property, and make it indeed her own, 
 by applying it to her particular ufe : a thing I tear 
 which is too often don , efpecially by the gaier 
 fort of widows , who to keep up their own Equi- 
 page , do foihtimes incroach upon their fons pecu- 
 liar. And I wifli even that(tho bad enough)were the 
 only cafe wherein it were don: but 'tis fomtimes 
 to make her a better prize to a fecond husband. 
 She goes into another family , and as if (lie were a 
 Colony fent out by her fon , he muft pay for the 
 planting her there : indeed the oft repeating this 
 injury , has advanc't it now into a cuftom , and 
 the management of the Minors eftate is reckon'd on 
 as part of the widows fortune. But I confefs I fee 
 i>ot what there is in the title of a Mother 5 that can 
 legitimate her defrauding her child ; it rather enve- 
 noms the crime and adds Unnaturalnefs to Peceit. 
 BefidesYis a prepofterous fort of guilt. Orphans 
 ^ud Widows are in fcripture link'd together as 
 obje&s otGods and good jpens pitty , and of ill 
 
 Kk mens 
 
74 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II- 
 
 mens oppreflion^ and how ill alas do's civil war 
 look among fellow fufferers i The Widow to injure 
 the Oiphan is like that uncooth oppreffion Solomon 
 fpeaks of, Prov.zS.^. Apoor man thatoppreffeth the 
 foor^ is ike a /weeping rain which leaveth no food. 
 Such kind of rapines are asexceilive in their degree, 
 as prodigious in their kind : and I believe there are 
 many inftances of fons , who have fuffer'd more by 
 the Guardianfhip of their Mothers, then they could 
 probably have don by the outrage of ftrangers. 
 
 9. How well fuch Mothers anfwer their Obliga- 
 tions to their dead Husbands, I muft leave it to 
 their own Confciences todifcufs, I lhall only offer 
 them thefefteps of gradation by which to proceed, 
 Fiift that Injuftice of any fort is a great fin , fe- 
 condly that when 'tis in a matter of truft tis com- 
 plicated with Treachery alfo ] thirdly that of all 
 trufts thofe to the dead have allwaies bin efteem'd 
 the moft facred : if they can find any allay to thefe 
 by the two remaining circumftances , that 'tis the 
 truft of a husband 5 and the intereft of a child , I 
 ihall confefs them very fubtil Cafuifts. 
 
 10. I have hitherto fpoke of what the widow 
 ows to her dead husband •, but there is alfo fom- 
 what of peculiar Obligation in relation to her felf # 
 God who has plac'd us in this World to puifue the 
 interefts of a better , diredts all the fignal ads of 
 his Providence to that end 5 and intends we fiiould 
 fo interpret them. So that every great change that 
 occurs 1 is defign'd either to recal us from a wrong 
 way ,or to quicken our pace in the right ; and* 
 v i ' i * "" ■ \vidow 
 
S e c t . II I. of Widows. 7 > 
 
 widow may more then conjedure i that when God 
 takes away the mate of her bofom , reduces her 
 to afolitude 3 he do's by it found a retreat from 
 the lighter jollities and gaieties of the world. And 
 as in compliance with civil cuftom the immures 
 her felf , fits in darknefs for a while ; fo (lie ihould 
 put on a more retir'd temper of mind , a more 
 itri<3 and fevere behavior , and that not to be caft 
 off with her veil, but to be the conitant drefsof 
 her widowhood. Indeed that State as it requires 
 a great fobriety and piety, fo it affords many ad- 
 vantages towards it. The Apoftle tell us, that/he 
 who i* married caret h for the thingsoftheUorld^ 
 howf/jemayfleafe her husband^ i. Cor. 7. 34. There 
 are many things which are but the due compli- 
 ances of a Wife^which yet are great avocations,and 
 interrupters of a ftrift Devotion 5 when fhe is ma- 
 numitted from that fubjetfion, when ihe has lefs 
 of Martha's care of Ye/ving, ihe is then at liberty to 
 chofe Mary % fart , Luk/10. 42. She has her time 
 and her fortune at her own command , and confe- 
 quently may much more abound in the works both 
 oi Piety and Charity. We find God him felf re- 
 trench the wives power of binding her own foul 
 Num. 30. Her vows were totally lniignificant with- 
 out her husbands confirmation ; but the widow 
 might devote her felf to what degree flic pleas'd, 
 her piety has no refti aint from any other incon- 
 fiftent obligation 5 but may fwell as high as it can, 
 Thofe hours which were before her husbands right, 
 feem now to devolve on God the grand proprietor 
 
 Kk % of 
 
7 6 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 of our time: that difcourfe and free converie v here- 
 with (lie entertain'd him, (lie may now convert into 
 colloquies and fpiritual entercourfe with her 
 maker 5 and that love which was only human 
 before, by the change of its objed acquires a iub- 
 limity , is exalted into divine , from loial duty 
 and conjugal affe&ion becomes the eternal work 
 and happinefs of Angels, the ardor of a Cheiubim. 
 Thus may (lie in a higher fenfe verify Samffons 
 riddle Jud. 14. 14. fetch hony out of a carcafle , 
 make her husbands Allies ( like thofe of the heifer 
 underthe law Heb. 9. 13. ) her Purification : his 
 corruption may help to put on incorruption , and 
 her lofle of a temporary confort may inflate her in 
 an eternal. 
 
 11. And as her felf, fo her fortune may 
 alfo be confecrated : And indeed if (he be , that 
 will alfo: If (lie have made an efcape out of 
 JEgypt^ there (hall not a hoof be left behind her, 
 Exod. 10. 26. no part of her poffeflions will be 
 afiign'd to vanity and excefs. She who hath really 
 devoted her felf to Piety ^fafted and f rated v ithi 
 Anna Luk. 2. 3 7. will alfo be full of good works ayd 
 alms-deeds with Tabitha, A<ft. 9. 36. Thus (lie may 
 be a mother when (lie ceafes to bear $ and tho 
 ilie no more increafe one family ? (he may fuppoie 
 many: And certainly the fertility of the womb, is 
 not (b valuable as this of the bowels : Fruitiulnefs 
 can be but a happinefs, Compaflion is a yerttlf 
 Nay indeed 'tisagreater and more certain happi- 
 nefs: a child is not brought forth but with pangs & 
 
 angmiia 
 
Sect. III. Of Widows • ff 
 
 anguifh , but a work of Mercy is produc'd not only 
 wuheafe, but delight. Beiides, fhe that bears a 
 Child, knows not whether it may prove a Blefling 
 or a Curfe $ but Charity gives certain title to a 
 Eleffing, and engages the moft folvent Paymafter, 
 even God himfelf, who owns allfuch disburfments 
 as a loan to bim.He thathath pity upon the poor Jend- 
 eth unto the Lord: and that which he hath given y 
 will he fay h'm again^Vxov* ip. 17. 
 
 12. There was in the Primitive Times an Ec- 
 clefiaftical Order of Widows, which St. Paul men- 
 tions, 1 Tim. 5. whofe whole Miniftry was devo- 
 ted to Charity. They were indeed of the poorer 
 fort, fit rather to receive then give Alms *, yet the 
 lefs they could do with their Purfes, the more was 
 required of their Peifons, the humbler offices of 
 waging the Satntsfeet^ the careful task of bring* 
 ing up children 1 and a diligent attendance on every 
 good work* And fare' there, is parity of Reafon, 
 that thofe who upon f he fcore of their Wealth, 
 exemt themfelves from thofe Laborious Services, 
 fhould commute for it by more Liberal Alms. lit 
 the warmth and zeal of Chuftianity, Women of 
 the higheft Quality performed both forts of Cha- 
 rity, forgot their Greatnefs in their conJefcenfions, 
 yetafium'd it again in their Bounty 5 founded Ho- 
 fpitals, and yet with a labor cfhve, as the Apo- 
 ftlcftiles it, Hcb. 6. 10. difdain'd not fonuimes 
 to ferve in them. But thefe are Examples not like 
 to be tranfcrib'd in ourdaies, Greatnefs is now 
 grown to fuch an unweildinefs that it cannot ftoop 
 
 tho 
 
78 THE LADIES CALLING. PaRtII* 
 
 thoto the moft Chnftian Offices, and yet can as 
 little (bar up in any Munificent Charities: it ftands 
 like Nebuchadnezzar* Golden Image, a vaft Bulk 
 only tobeador'd. 
 
 i ;.. Now certainly, if any Women be qualifi- 
 ed to avert this reproch, it mult be the Dowagers 
 of great Families and Fortunes : they have none to 
 controul their Vifits to the fick and affiifted, or to 
 refent a difparagement from their Humility, neither 
 have they an account to give of their Pofleffions 
 to any but God and themielves 5 to him lure they 
 can bring none fo like to procure them the Eulogy 
 of well don thou good and faithful fervant^ Matth* 
 25. 21. as a Catalogue of their Alms. Nor m- 
 fibly can they any other waydifpofe their Fortune 
 fo much to their own contentment 5 they may pof- 
 dcQd cloy and fatiate their fenfes, make provifion 
 for the flelh -, but that no way fatisfies their reafon, 
 much lefs their Confcience. The Soul, which is 
 the fuperior part, is quite left out in that diftribu- 
 tion 5 nothing is communicated to it but the guilt of 
 thofe dear bought Exceffes. The only way it has 
 to be a (barer in their Wealth, is by a charitable 
 difpenfing. The Poor are its Proxies as well as 
 Gods, and tho in all other refpe&s we may fay 
 to theSouljastheF/i/^/iifdo'stoGod,?/^/. 16.2. 
 my goods extend not to thee: yet by this way, it 
 becomes not only a partaker, but the chief proprie- 
 tor, and all is laid out for its ufe. The harboring 
 an out-caft, builds it an everlafting habitation, Luk. 
 \6i 9. the clothing the naked, arrays it inpuxt 
 
 whitt 
 
Sect. III. of Widom. 79 
 
 white /i»e» 5 Rev. 19.8. and the feeding the hungry"* 
 makes it a gueft at tie [upper of the Z,*w£,v.8.Naj"» 
 it gains not only an indefeifible title to thefe happy 
 Reverfions , but it has a great deal in prefent pof- 
 feflion, a huge rational Complacence in the right 
 applying ot Wealth, & doing that with it tor which 
 'twas defign'd 5 yet more,it gives a Tentative delight; 
 nothing being more agreeable to human ftftnre, then 
 the doing good to its own kind. -A ieafonable 
 Alms leaves a greater exultation and tranfport in 
 the Giver, then it can ordinary raife in the Recei- 
 ver-^ exemplifying the Maxim of our Biefled Lord, 
 that it is a more blejfed thing to give then to receir \ 
 Ad.20.35. This indeed is a way to elude the fevtie 
 denunciation of the Apoftle, 1 Tim. 5. 6. A widow 
 thjit liveth in this flcfitre, Knot dead while ft flic In 
 veth \ but on the contrary, ftaH live when the dies; 
 when flie refigns her Breath , (half improve her 
 being : the Praiersof the Poor, like a benign gale, 
 fhall affift her flight to the Region of Blifs ; and flic 
 who has here chenihd the affiifted Members, (hall 
 there be indiffolubly united to their Glorious Head. 
 14. And now methinks Widow-hood, under 
 thisafped, is quite transform *d, is not fo forlorn, 
 fo defolate an eftate as 'tis ufually efteem'd. And 
 would all Widows ufe but this expedient, thus de- 
 vote themfelves to Piety and Charity, it would, 
 like the healing Tree, Exed. 15. 25. fweetcn thefe 
 Waters of Marah^ render the condition not only 
 fupportable, but plefant •, and they would not need 
 tQ make fuch affrighted , fuch disadvantageous 
 
 efcapesi 
 
So THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 cfcapes, as many do, from it. 'Tis true, the Apo- 
 ftles affirmation is unqueftionable, that the wife, 
 when her husband is d'ad, is at liberty to be married 
 to whom jhe willi i Cor. 7. 39. But the advice he 
 fubjoinsis authentic too, /be U hopper if /he fo a- 
 hide. She that may folace her felt in the Society, 
 in the Love of her God, makes an ignoble defcent 
 to Human Embraces 5 ilie that may purchafe Hea- 
 ven with her Wealth, buys a very dear Bargain of 
 the bed Husband on Earth. Nay indeed, upon a 
 meerfecular account, itfeems not very prudent to 
 relinquifh both Liberty and Property , to efpoufc 
 at the beft a Subjedion,but perhaps a Slavery : it a 
 little refembles the mad Frolicks of freed Gaily* 
 Haves, who play away their Liberty as foon as they 
 regain it. 
 
 15. Marriage is fo great an adventure, thac 
 once feems enough for the whole life : for whether 
 they have bin profperous or adverfe in the firft 5 ic 
 do's almoft difcouragea fecond attemt. She that 
 has had a good Husband, may be fuppof'd to have 
 his Idea fo fixt in her Heart, that it will be hard 
 to introduce any new Form: nay farther, fhe may 
 very reafonably doubt, that in this common dearth 
 of Vertu, two good Husbands will (carce fall to 
 one Womans (hare , and an ill one will become 
 more intolerable to her, by the refle&ions /he will 
 be apt to make on the better.- On the other fide, 
 if fhe have had a bad, the fmart fure cannot but re- 
 main after the rod is taken off-, the memory of what 
 fiie has fufferd lhould, methinks, be a competent 
 
 caution 
 
Sect. III. Of Widows. 8t 
 
 caution againft new adventures. Yet experience 
 fhews us that women ( tho the weaker fex ) have 
 commonly fortitude enough to encounter and 
 baffle all thefe confederations. It is not therefore 
 to be expecled that many will by any thing that 
 hath or can be faid be diverted from remarrying; 
 and indeed flic that does not preferve her widow* 
 hood upon the accounts forementioned , may 
 perhaps better relinquifhit. St /Wwefeeadvifes 
 that thofe Widows who found no better emploi- 
 ment then going from houfe to houfe , that grew 
 by their vacancy to be tatlers and bit fy bodies i. 
 Tim. j. 13. fhould marry again ; it being the beft 
 way to fix thefe wandring planets , to find them 
 bufinefs of their own at home, that fo they may 
 not ramble abroad to intermedle with that of 
 others. And the truth is they that cannot brook 
 the retirednefs and gravity which beccmes a 
 Widow, had better put themfelves in a ftate that 
 lefs requires it ; and if they refolve not to con- 
 form their minds to their condition % to bring 
 their condition to their minds ; but in the doing 
 that there will be fom cautions very neceffary 
 to be obferv'd. I ihall reduce them to two , the 
 one relating to the time > the other to the equa- 
 lity of the match. 
 
 16. First in refpecl of time, common de« 
 cency requires that there be a confiderable in- 
 tervall between the parting with one husband and 
 the choofing another. This h t \s bin fo much ob* 
 fcrved by nations that were at all civiliz'd , that 
 
 L 1 we 
 
82 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 we find Numa made it a law, that no widow (hould 
 marry under 10. months, and if any did (he was 
 to facrifice as for the expiation cfa crime. And 
 this continued in force many ages after, infomuch 
 that when upon reafons of State Auguflm found it 
 ufefull to marry his fifter Oftavia xoAntomus, no- 
 thing lefs then a decree of the Senate could li- 
 cenfe the anticipating the time ; fo jealous obfer- 
 vers were they of this point of Civility , that they 
 thought the whole State was concerned in the vio- 
 lation. 'Tis true we have no law in the cafe, 
 but we have fomwhat of cuftom, I know not how 
 long we fnall have , fmce the frequent breaches 
 of it threaten quite to cancel it : yet a woman 
 that is tender of her honor will fcarcegive her 
 example towards the refcinding it. The wounds 
 of grief are feldomheal'd by any hand but that of 
 time , and therefore too fudden a cure (hews the 
 hurt pierc'd not deep $ and (he that can make her 
 mourning veil an optic to draw a new lover neerer 
 to her fight , gives caufe to fufpect the fables were 
 all without. 
 
 17. The next thing confiderable is the equa- 
 lity of the match. Marriage is fo clofe a link , that 
 to have it eafy 'tis good to have the parties as 
 even proportion'd as may be. And rirft in refpeft 
 of quality and fortune, 'tis to be wifht there 
 fiionld be no eminent difproportion. Thofe that 
 meet molt upon a level, are leaftfubjeft to thofe 
 upbraidings that often attend a great defcentof 
 either party, h is therefore no prudent motive, 
 1 by 
 
Sect. III. Of Widows. 85 
 
 by which fome Widows are fwai'd,who marry 
 only for a great Title; vvho often do not meet with 
 fo much of obeifance from ftrangers , as they do 
 with contemt from their husbands and his relati- 
 ons. There have bin many examples of Lords, who 
 have ufed rich, but inferior, widows like fpunges, 
 fqueez'd them to fill themfelves with their wealth, 
 and them only with the air of a big name. On the 
 other fide for a woman to marry very meanly <;nd 
 too much below her felf,is rather worfe;thofe kind 
 of matches are ordinarily made in a tranfport of 
 paflion 5 and when that abates and leaves her to 
 fober reflections , fhe will probably be fo angry 
 with her felf , that fhe will fcarce be well pleas'd 
 with her husband. A irate of fubjeftion is a little 
 fweetned by the worth and dignity of the rulenfor 
 as it is more honorable, fo 'tis alfo moreeafy , 
 the ferviler fpirits being of all ethers the meft 
 imperious in command. And fure 'twill not a little 
 grate a woman of honor, to think ihe has made 
 fuch a one her Mailer , who perhaps would before 
 have thought it a preferment to have bin her fer- 
 vant. Nay farther, fuch marriages have commonly 
 an ill reflexion on themodefty of the Woman , it 
 being ufually prefum'd that where the diftance 
 was fo great 3 as to difcouragefuchan attemton 
 his part, there was fome invitation on hers. So 
 that upon all accounts fhe is very forlorn who 
 thus difpofesofher felf. Yet 'tis too well known 
 fuch matches have oft bin made, and the fame 
 levhy and inconfideration may betray others to 
 
 LI 2 it} 
 
8 4 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 it 5 and therefore 'tis their concern well toballaft 
 their minds and to provide that their Paffion 
 never get the afcendant over their Reafon. 
 
 18. Another very neceflary equality is that 
 of their judgement as to Religion. I do not mean 
 that they are to catechize each other as to every 
 minute fpeculative point ; but that they be of the 
 fame profeflion , fo as to join together in the wor- 
 ship of God. It is fure very uncomfortable that 
 thofe who have fo clofely combin'd all their other 
 intvrrefts , fhould be difunited in the greateft ; that 
 one Church cannot hold them , whom one houfe, 
 one bed doss ; and that religion which is in it felf 
 the raoft uniting thing, fhould be the only difagree- 
 ment between them. I know 'tis oft made a com^ 
 pad in fuch matches, that neither fhall impofe 
 their opinion upon the other :yet I doubt 'tis 
 feldom kept, unlefs it be by thofe whofecare- 
 lefnefs of ali religion abates their zeal to any one. 
 But where they have any earneftnefs in their way, 
 efpecially where one party thinks the other in a 
 damnable error > twill fcarce be poflible to refrain 
 endeavoring to reduce them ; and that endeavor 
 begets difputes , thofe difputes heats , thofe heats 
 difgufts, and thofe difgufts perhaps end in aver- 
 fion *, fo that at laft their affeclions grow as unre- 
 concilable as their opinions , and their religious 
 jars draw on domeftic. Ikfides if none of thefe 
 perfonal debates happen, yet the education of the 
 children will be matter of difpute 5 the one parent 
 Will ftp be countermining the other ^ach feeking 
 
 to 
 
Sect. III. Of Widows. 85 
 
 to recover the others profelytes.Nay it introduces 
 faction into the inferior parts of the family too : 
 the fervans according to their different perfwa- 
 fions bandy into leagues and parties ; fo that it 
 endangers , if not utterly deftroies all concord 
 in families: and all this train of mifchiefs fliould 
 methinksbe a competent prejudice againft fuch 
 matches. 
 
 19. There is yet a third particular wherin 
 any great difproportion is much to be avoided, 
 and that is in Years. The humors of youth and age 
 differ fo widely, that there had need be a great 
 deal of fKill to compofe the difcord into a harmo- 
 ny. When a young Woman marries an old man , 
 there are commonly iealoufies on the one part and 
 loathings on the orher, and if there be not an 
 eminent degree ofdifcretion in one or both , there 
 will be perpetual difagreements. But this is a 
 cafe that does not often happen among thofe I now 
 fpeak to: fortho the avarice of Parents fomtimes 
 forces maids upon fuch matches , yet Widows who 
 are their own choofers feldom make fuch ele- 
 ctions. The inequality among them commonly 
 foils on the other fide, and old women marry 
 young men. Indeed any marriage is in fuch a 
 folly and dotage. They who muft fuddenly make 
 their beds in the duft , whatihould they think of 
 a nuptial! couch t And to fuch the anfwer of the 
 Philofopher is appofite , who being demanded 
 what was the fitteft time for marrying, replied, 
 for the young not yet , for the old not at all. 1 
 
 20. But 
 
86 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 20. But this dotage becomes perfect frenzy 
 and madnefs when they choofe young husbands : 
 this is an accumulation of abfurdities and contra- 
 dictions. The husband and the Wife are but one 
 perfon ; and yet at once young and old, frefli and 
 wither'd. 'Tis a reverfing the decrees of nature: 
 and therefore 'twas no ill anfwer which Dionyfim 
 the Tyrant gave his mother, who in her agede- 
 fignd fuch a match , That tho by his regal power 
 he could difpence with pofitive laws, yet he could 
 not abrogate thofe of nature, or make it fit for 
 her an old woman to marry a young man. 'Tis 
 indeed an inverfion of feafons , a confounding the 
 Kalendar , making a mungrel month oiMn) and 
 December : and the conjun&ion proves as fatal as 
 it is prodigious ; it being fcarce ever feen that 
 fuch a match proves tolerably happy. And indeed 
 'tis not imaginable how it fhould ; for firfr. tis to 
 be prefum'd Ihe that marries fo muft marry 
 meanly, no young man who does not need her for- 
 tune will take her perfon. For tho fom have the 
 humor to give great rates for inanimate antiqui- 
 ties , yet none will take the living gratis. Next ihe 
 never miffes to be hated by him (lie marries : he 
 looks on her as his rack and torment,thinks himfelf 
 under the lingring torture devis'd by Mex^ntius^ 
 a living body tied to a dead. Nor mufr (lie think to 
 cure this by any the little adulteries of art: ftar 
 may buy beauty , and yet can never make it her 
 own ; may paint , yet never be fair. Tis like ena- 
 meling a mud wall , the courfnefs of the ground 
 
 will 
 
SfiCT.III. Of Widows. 87 
 
 will fpoil the varnifh; and the greateft exquifitnefs 
 ofdrefs ferves but toilluftrate her native blemi- 
 fhes. So that all flie gains by this is to make him 
 fcorn as well as abhor her. 
 
 •21. Indeed there is nothing can be more ri- 
 diculous , then an old Woman gaily fet out ; and 
 it was not unaptly faid of Diogenes tofuchaone, 
 If this decking be for the living,you are deceived; 
 if for the dead , make haft to them : and I doubt 
 many young husbands will be ready to fay as 
 much. Nay becaufe death comes not quick 
 enough to part them, there is few have patience 
 to attend its loitering pace : the man bids adieu 
 to the Wife tho not to her fortune , takes that to 
 maintain his luxuries elfe where, allows her fome 
 little annuity , and makes her a penfioner to her 
 own eftate. So that he has his defign, butfhe 
 non£ of hers : he married for her fortune, and he 
 has it 5 fhe for his perfon , and has it not : and 
 which is worfe buies her defeat with the lofs of 
 all, hecemmonly leaving her as emty of mony as 
 he found her of wit. 
 
 22. And truly this is a condition deplorable 
 enough, and yet ufually fails even of that comfort 
 which is the laft referve of the miferable, I mean 
 Pitty. "Tis the Wife man s queftion, Lcckf. 1 2. 
 13. Who willfittj a charmer that is bitten with a 
 Serpent ? He might have prefum'd lefs on his skill, 
 and kept himfelf at a fafer diftance : and fure the 
 like may be faid of her. Alas what are her feeble 
 charms, that fheftouldexped by them to fix the 
 
 giddy 
 
 
88 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 giddy appetites of youth ? And iince lhe could 
 foprefume without fenfe, none will regret that 
 fhe fliould be convinc'd by fmart. Befides, this is 
 a cafe wherein there have bin a multitude of un- 
 happy Prefidents which might have caution'd her. 
 He that accidentally falls down an undifcoverd 
 precipice is compaffionated for his difafter$ but 
 he that ftands a great while on the brink of it, 
 looks down and fees the bottom ftrew'd with the 
 mangled carcafTes of many that have thence fallen; 
 if he fhall deliberately caft himfelf into their com- 
 pany , the blame quite extinguishes the pitty % he 
 may aftonifli , but not melt the beholders. And 
 truly fhe who cafts her felf aw r ay in fuch a match , 
 betraies not lefs, but more wilfullnefs. How many 
 ruins of unhappy women prefent themfelves to 
 her, like the wracks of old veffels, all fplit upon 
 this rock ? And if fhe will needs fleer her courfe 
 purpofely to do the fame, none ought to grudg 
 her the fhipwrack fhe fo courts. 
 
 23. Nor has fhe only this negative difcomfort 
 to be depriv'd of pitty, but fhe is loaded with 
 cenfures and reproch. The World is apt enough 
 to malicious errors, to fix blame where there is 
 none, but 'tis feldom guilty of the charitative , 
 does not overlook the fmalleft appearance of evill, 
 but generally puts the worft conftrudion on any 
 a<$, that it will with any probability bear ; and 
 according to that mefure women in this condi- 
 tion can exped no very mild defcants on them. 
 Indeed fuch matches arefo deftiuite of any ra- 
 tional 
 
Sict. III. bf Widows. 8j> 
 
 tional Plea, that • tis hard to derive them from any 
 other motive theri the fenfitive. What the com- 
 mon conje&ures are in that cafe, is as needlefs as it 
 is unhandfom to declare; I will not fay how true 
 they are, but if they be, it adds another reafon to 
 the former, why fuch Marriages are fo improfper- 
 ous. All diftortions iri Nature are ufual'.y omi- 
 nous 5 and fure fuch preternatural heats in Age* 
 may verywellbereckon'd as difmal Prefages, and 
 very certain ones too 5 fince they create the ruine 
 they foretell. And truly 'tis not only juft, but con- 
 venient, that fuch Motives Ihould be attended with 
 fuch Cortfequences - 7 that the Bitternefs of the one, 
 may occafion fome reflexion on the Sordidrtefs of 
 the other. *Tis but kindly* that fuch an Alhal 5 
 lontide Spring fhouldmeet with Frofts, and the un- 
 plefantnefs of the Event chaftife the uglinefs of the 
 Defign •, and therefore I think thofe that are coil- 
 fcious of the one, ihould be fo far from murmuring* 
 that they fhould be very thankful for the ochei : 
 think it Gods difcipline to bring them again toi 
 their Wits,arid not repineat that fmart which them- 
 felvcs have made rteceffary. 
 
 24. And now I wifh all the Ancienter Widows^ 
 would ferioufly weigh how much tis their Intereit 
 not to fever thofe two Epithets; that of Ancieni 
 they cannot put off, it daily grows upon them* 
 and that of Widow is fure a more propo t . haole 
 adjunct to it, then that of Wife 5 eipecially whert 
 it is to one to whom her Age might have m de her 
 Mother* There :s a Yeneration due to Age$ i* it 
 
 Mm hi 
 
90 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 be fuch as diibwns not it felf : The hoary hedd> fays 
 Solomon, ps a crown of glory, if it he found in the way 
 °f righteoufmfs, Prov. 16. 32. but when it will 
 mix ic felf with Youth, it is difclaim'd by both, be- 
 comes the fhame of the Old, and the fcom of the 
 Young. What a ftrange fury is it then which pof- 
 fefles fuch Women, that when they may difpofe 
 their Fortunes to thofe Advantageous Defign* be* 
 fore mention' d, they (hould only buy with them, fo 
 undecent, fo ridiculous a flavery.^ that when they 
 may keep up the reputation ot Modefty and Pru- 
 dence, they (hould expofe themfelves to an Uni- 
 verfal Contemt for the want of both •, and that 
 they who might have had a Reverence, put them- 
 felves even out of the capacity of bare Companion, 
 25. This is fo high a Frenzy, as fure cannot 
 happen in an inftant $ it muft have fome preparato- 
 ry degrees, fome rooting in the conftitution ani 
 habit of the mind: Such Widows have fure fome 
 lightnefsof humor, before they can befo giddy 
 in their Brains, and therefore thefe that will fecurc 
 themfelves from the Effe#, muft fubftraft the 
 Caufe 5 if they will ftill be wifhin°; thtmfeives 
 young, 'tis odds but within a while they will per- 
 iuade themfelves they are fo. Let them therefore 
 content themfelves to be old, and as Faihions are 
 varied with Times, fo let them put on the Orna- 
 ments proper to their Seafon ; which are Piety, 
 Gravity, and Prudence. Thefewill be not only 
 their Ornament, but their Armor too ; this will 
 gain them fuch a Remeace, that will make it as 
 
 im- 
 
Se c f . II. Of Widows. 9 1 
 
 improbable they fhould be aflaulted, as impoflible 
 they fliould aflault. Fori think one may fafely fay, 
 It is the want of one or all of thofe, which betraies 
 Women to fuch Marriages. 
 
 26. And indeed it may be a matter of Caution, 
 *ven to the younger Widows, not to let themfelves 
 too much loofe to a light frolic Humor, which per- 
 haps they will not be able to put off, when it is 
 moft neceflary they ihould. It will not much in- 
 vite a fober Man to marry them while they are 
 young •, and if it continue with them till they are 
 old, it may (as Natural Motions ufe) grow more 
 violent toward its end : precipitate them into that 
 ruinous Follv we have before confidefd. Yet* 
 Ihould they happen to fcapc that, Ihould it not 
 force them from their Widow-hood, it will fure 
 very ill agree with it: for how prepofterous is i: 
 fo/an Old Woman to delight in Gauds and Trifles, 
 fuch as were fitter to entertain her Grand-children * 
 to read Romances with fpe&acles, and be at Masks 
 and Dancings, when flic is fit only to ad the An- 
 tics t Thefe are contradi^ions to Nature , the 
 tearing off her Marks, and where (he has writ fifty 
 or fixty, to leflen (beyond the proportion of the un- 
 juft Steward) and write fixteen. And thofe who 
 thus manage their Widow-hoo J, have more reafon 
 to bewail it at laft then at firft, as having more ex- 
 perimentally found the mifchief of being left td 
 their own Guidance. It will therefore concern them 
 all to put themfelves under* a fofer Conduct, by an 
 afliduQUS Devotion tp render themfelves up to the 
 
 Mm 2 lcaU- 
 
92 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 leading ot the one intaliible Guide, who, if he b c 
 pot a covering of the eyes, Gen. 29.16. to pre- 
 clude al: fecond Choices, may yet be a light to them 
 for dilttrning who are fit to be cholen \ that if th$y 
 fee he to uie their liberty and Man y, they may yen 
 take the Apotti.es reftn&ion with it, 1 Ccr., 7. 40, 
 that it be only in the Lord. Upon fuch fober Mo- 
 tives, and with fuch dueCircurnftancesasrnay ap= 
 prove it to Him, and render it capable of his Bene- 
 jhftiofl. 
 
 55 ; ; 1 — 1 _ _ : ■ 4 
 
 . 
 
 The Clcfe* 
 
 *. TT HAVE now gone thro both Parts of 
 1 | the propof d Method. The former has pre- 
 TO? fented thofe Qualifications which are e? 
 qually necefl'ary to every Woman: Thefe, as a 
 llopr, fend fap and vigour to the diftinft Branches, 
 animate and impregnate the (Several fucceffive States 
 thro which fh'e is to paf$. He; that hath pure 
 fore or Bullion, may call it into what Form beft fits 
 hisufe, nay may tranfhte it from one to another; 
 and {he who has that Mine of Virtues, may fyrnifh 
 put any Condition ; her being good in an abfolute 
 consideration, will certainly ipal^e her fo in a rcla- 
 jtive. On the other fide, fhe whq has not fuch ^ 
 Stock, cannot keep up the Honor of any State 3 
 like corrupted Liquor, enityit-frorp oneVeffeltp 
 
 another 
 
 
SbctJII. The Clofe. 93 
 
 another, it ftllinfefts and contaminates all. And 
 this is the caufe that Women arealike complain'd 
 of under all Fo/ms, becaufe fo many want this 
 Fundamental Ve, tu : were there more good Wo- 
 men, there would be more modeft Virgins, loyal 
 and obedient Wives, and fober Widows. 
 
 2. I Must therefore intreat thofe who will 
 look on this Traft, not only to fingle out that pare 
 Which bears their own Infciiption, but that they 
 think themfelves no lefs ctyicern'd in that which 
 relates indefinitely to their- &ex 5 endeavor to pol- 
 fefs themfelves ok thofe Excellencies,which fliould 
 be as univerfal as their Kind : and when they aie fo 
 ftor'd with Matter, they may leave Providence to 
 diverfifie the Shape, and to aifign them their Sc^ne 
 of A&ion. 
 
 j. ANpnow, would God it were aseafirtoper- 
 fuade, asitistopropofe; and that this Difcourfe 
 may not be taken only as a Gazet for its newnefs, 
 arjddifcarded as foon as read •, but that it may at left 
 advance to the honor of an Almanac, be allowed 
 one Year ere it be out of date: and in that time, 
 if frequently and fenoufly confulted, it may perhaps 
 awaken fom Ladies from their ftupid Dreams , 
 convince them that they were fent into the Wo: Id 
 for nobler purpofes, then only to imke a little 
 Glittering in it ; like a Comet, to give ablaze, and 
 then difappear. And truly, if it may Operate but 
 fo far as to give them aneffe&ive fenie of that, I 
 fliall think it has don them a confiderable Service. 
 Jheymay, Iamiuie 3 fropathat Principle, deduce 
 
 ail 
 
54 THE LADIES CALLING. Part II. 
 
 all necefiary Confequences, and I wifh they would 
 but take the pains to draw the Corollaries; for 
 ihofe Indu&ions they make to themfelves, would 
 be much more efficacious then thofe which arc 
 drawn to their hands. Propriety is a great endear- 
 ment, we love to be Profelytes to our fclves ; and 
 People oft refift others Reafons, who would upon 
 meer partiality pay reverence to their own. 
 
 4. But beiides this, there would be another Ad- 
 vantage, if they could be but got to a cuftom of 
 confidering , by it they might infenfibly ander- 
 mine the grand Inftrument of their mine. That 
 carelefs incogitancy, fo remarkably frequent among 
 all, and not lead among Perfons of Quality, is the 
 fourceof innumerable Mifchiefs 5 'tis the Delilah, 
 that at once lulls and betrays them ; it keeps them 
 in a perpetual Sleep, binds up their Faculties, fo 
 that, tho they are not extindt, yet they become 
 ufelefs* Plato ufed to fay, That a man a fleep was 
 good for 'nothing: and 'tis certainly no lefs true of 
 this Moral droufinefs then the Natural. And as 
 in Sleep the fancy only is in motion, fo thefe incon- 
 fiderate Perfons, do rather dream then difcourfe, 
 entertain little trifling Images of things, which are 
 prefented by their Senfes, but know not how to 
 converfe with their Reafon. So that in this droufy 
 ftate, all temtations come on them with the fame 
 advantage, with that of a thief in the nighty a 
 Phrafe by which the Scripture expreffes the mod in- 
 evitable unforefeen danger, 1 Thejf.$. 2. We read 
 in Judges Jc\ovf eafily L*ijh became a prey to a hand- 
 ful 
 
Sect. III. TheClofe. 95 
 
 ful of Men, meerly becaufe of this fupine negli- 
 gent humor of the Inhabitants , which had cut 
 them off from all intercourfe with any who might 
 have fuccor'd thero, Jud. 18. 27, 28. and certainly 
 it gives nolefs opportunity to our Spiritual Aflail- 
 ants, leaves us naked and unguarded to receive all 
 their Impreffions. How prodigious a thing is ic 
 then, that this ftate of dulnefs and danger ihould 
 be affe&edly chofen i yet we fee it too often is,even 
 by thofe whofe Qualities & Education fit them for 
 more Ingenious Elections- nay, which is yet more 
 riddle, that very aptnefs difenables, fets them a- 
 bove what it prepares them for. Labor is lookt on 
 as utterly incompatible with Greatnefs, andCon- 
 fideration is lookt on as a labor of the mind ; and 
 there are fome Ladies, whofeem to reckon it a* 
 their Prerogative, to be exemted from both -, will 
 no more apply their Underftandings to any ferious 
 Difcuffion, then their Hands to the Spindle and 
 DiftafF-, the one they think pedantic, as the other 
 is mean. In the mean time, by what ftrange mea- 
 fures do they proceed i they look on Idiots as the 
 mod deplorable of Creatures, becaufe they want 
 reafon, and yet make it their own excellence and 
 preheminence, to want the ufe of it 5 which is in- 
 deed fo much worfe then to want the thing 5 as floth 
 is wo; fe then poverty, a moral defafi then a natural. 
 "Rut we may fee by this, how much civil andfacred 
 Eltunates differ : for we find thzBercans commend- 
 ed, nocony as more diligent, but as more noble 
 *$$, Atis 17.U. becaufe they attentively confi* 
 
 dcrd 
 
<?6 THE LADIES CALLING. Part IL 
 
 drd^ and ftrivSlly examin'd the Doff vine freacfrd 
 to ilum. By which they may difcein, that in Gods 
 Court of Honor, aftupid Ofcitancy is no enno- 
 bling Quality, however it comes to be thought 
 fo in theirs. 
 
 5. And if this one point might be gain'd, if they 
 would but (o far aduate their Rcafon, as dehberac- 
 ly and duly to weigh their Intereft, they would 
 find that foftri&ly engaging them to all that is Ver* 
 tuous -, that they mart have a very invincible refo- 
 lution for ruine, if that cannot perfwade thems 
 and I hope all women are net Medea's , whom the 
 Poet brings in avowing the horridnefs of that 
 faft , which yet flie refolv'd to execute. They 
 are generally rather timorous 5 and apt to ftart 
 at the apprehenfion of danger $ let thetn but fee a 
 ferpent tho at a great diftance , they will need no 
 homilies or lectures to be perfwaded to fly it^ 
 And fure did they butcleerly difcern what a fting 
 there is in thofe vicious follies they embrace , 
 their fear would make them quit their hold 5 put 
 them in fuch a trembling, as would lik£ that of 
 Belfhazzars , flacken their joints , and make thofe 
 things drop from them , which before they moft 
 tenaciouily grafped. For indeed in fin there is a 
 confpirationofallthatcan be dreadful to a ratio- 
 nal being, fothat one may give its compendium 
 by the very reverie of that which the Apoftle 
 gives of Godlinefs. 1* Tim. 4. 8. for as the one 
 ha* the fromtjes , fo the other has the curfes of 
 this life > and of that to corns* 6 . l|t 
 
Sect. III. The Clofe. 8 9 
 
 6. Ik this life every deprav'd acl ( much more 
 habit) has a black Ihadow attending it; it cafts 
 one inward upon the conference in uncomfortable 
 upbraidings and regrets. 'Tis true indeed fome 
 have the art to difguife that to themfelves by 
 calling a yet darker over it ; fupprefllng all thofe 
 reluclings by an induftrious ftupefafiion ^ making 
 their fouls fo perfect night , that they cannot fee 
 thofe black images their Confciences reprefent. 
 But as this renders their condition but the more 
 wretched ; fo neither can they blind others 
 tho they do themfelves. Vice calls a dark fhadow 
 outwards too , not fuch as may conceal but betray 
 its felf: and as the evening lhadows incre:fe in 
 dimenfion , grow to a monftrofity and difpro- 
 portion ; fo the longer any ill habit is continued, 
 the more vifible y the more deform'd it appears » 
 draws more obfervation and more cenfure. 
 
 7. Tvverb indeed endlefs to reckon up the 
 temporal evils to which it expofes its votaries^ 
 Immodefry deftrois their fame, a vain Prodiga- 
 lity their fortune, Anger makes them mad, Pride 
 hateful, Levity renders them defpis'd , Obftinacy 
 defperate , andlrreligioqis a complication of all 
 thefe 5 fills up their mefure both of guilt and 
 wretchednefs. So that had vertu no orher advo- 
 cate, her very Anugonift would plead for her: 
 the miferable confequences of vice > wo-.'dlike 
 the flames of Sodom fend all confidering perfons 
 to that little Zoar , which how defpicabJe foever 
 jt may have appear'd before 5 cannot but look 
 
 it 9 invitingly 
 
?o THE LADIES CALLING. Pari II, 
 
 invitingly when iafety is infcribd on its gates. 
 
 8. But it muft infinitly more do fo if they 
 pleafe to open a vifto into the other World y make 
 ufe of divine perfpediives to difcern thofe diftant 
 obje&s which their groffer fenfes do here inter- 
 cept. There they may fee the difmalCataftrophe 
 of their Comedies 3 the miferable inverfion of 
 all unlawful or unbounded plefures : there that 
 Prophetic menace concerning Babylon which we 
 find Rev. iS. 7. will be literally verified upon 
 every unhappy foul, According at fl)e exalted her 
 felf and lived delicately ,fo much the more tribula- 
 tion give her •, the torment of that life will bear 
 proportion to the pride and luxuries of this. It 
 will therefore be neceflary for thofe who here 
 wallow in plefures D to confront to them the re- 
 membrance of thofe rivers of Brimftone 5 and 
 afk themfelves the prophets queftion 5 who can 
 dwell with everlasting barningslWe find Efay, when 
 he denounces but temporal judgments againft 
 the daughters of Zion , he exaftly purfues the 
 Antithefis , and to every part of their effeminate 
 delicacy he oppofes the direft contrary hardship, 
 inftead of fweet fmels there jhall be a Slinky inftead 
 of a girdle a rent y inftead of well fet hair baldnefs^ 
 inftead of aftomacher a girding with fackcloth , 
 and burning iniiead of beauty Efay3.24. 
 
 g. It were well the daughters of our Zion would 
 copy out this ledure 5 and prudently forfee how 
 every particular fin or vanity of theirs will have 
 its adapted punifliment in another World. And 
 
 furc 
 
Sect. III. j The Clofe. 9! 
 
 fure this confideration well digefted , muft needs 
 be a forcible expedient to cleanfe them from all 
 fiilthinefs of flejh andfpirit> as the Apoftle fp?aks 
 2 Cor. 7.1. For is it poffibleforher tocherift and 
 blow up her libidinous flames here , who con- 
 fiders them but as the firfr kindlings of thofe in- 
 extinguifhable ones hereafter ? Can (he make it 
 her ftudy to pleafe her appetite , that remembers 
 that Dives's unintermitted feaft ends in as unal- 
 laied a thirft ? Or can fhe deny the crumbs of her 
 table to that Laxarui, to whom flhe forfees fte 
 fhall then fupplicate for a drop of water ? In fine 
 can flie lay out her whole induftry, her fortune, 
 nay her ingenuity too 3 in making provifion for 
 theflefli, who considers that that flefli will more 
 corrupt by pampering , and breed the worm that 
 never dies ? Certainly no woman can be fo defpe- 
 rately daring , as thus to attaque damnation , re- 
 fill her reafon and her fenfe , only that flie may 
 ruin her foul ; and unlefs (he can do all this , her 
 forefight will prove her efcape , and her viewing 
 the bottomlefs pit in Landskip and picture will 
 fecure her from a reall defcentinto it. 
 
 10. But now that this Tracl: may not make its 
 exit in the ftape of a Fury, bring [the meditations 
 to hell and there leave them , it muft now at laft 
 fhift the Scene , and as it has fhew'd the blacknefs 
 of vice by that outer darknefs to which it leads , 
 wealfo will let in a beam of the Celeftial light 
 to difcover the beauty of Vertu - 7 remind the 
 Reader that there is a region of joy as well as a 
 
 Nn 2 place 
 
?2 THE LADIES CALLING. Part if- 
 
 place of torment, and Piety and Vertu is that 
 milky way that leads to it 5 a ftate , compar'd to 
 which the Elyfiumof the heathen is as inconside- 
 rable as it is fictitious , the Mahometan Paradife 
 as flat end infipid as it is grofs and brutiffr; 
 wher :he undertaking of the Pftlmift fliall be 
 compleatiy anfwer'd, thofe that fear the Lord 
 /hall want no manner of thing that /V^^Pfalm.34. 
 10. And this happy ftate is as acceffible as excel- 
 lent. God is not unlincere in his propofals , offers 
 not thefe g'ories only to Tantalize and abufe us , 
 but to animate and incourage mankind. He fets 
 up an inviting prize , and he not oftSy marks out, 
 but levels the way to it; makes that our duty 
 which is alfo our plefure, yea and our honor roo. 
 ■So has he contriv'd for our eafe, that knowing 
 ho v hardly we can diveft our voluptuoufnefs and 
 ambition , he puts us not to it ; all he demands 
 is but that he may choofe the objects , and in 
 that he is yet more obliging, for by that at once 
 he refines and fatisfies the deiires. He takes us off 
 indeed from the fulfom plefures of fenfe, which 
 by their groffhefs may cloy, yet by reafon of their 
 emrinefs can never fill us 5 and brings us to tafr. 
 the more pure fpiritual delights which are the 
 true elixir of Plefures, in comparifon whereof 
 all the fenfual are but as the dregs or feces in an 
 extraction, after ^the fpirits are drawn off. In 
 like manner he calls us from our afpiring to thpfe 
 pinnacles of honor , where we alwaies lit tctte- 
 ringly and often fall down 3 but yet invites us 
 
 to 
 
Sect. III. The Clofe. 9 § 
 
 t© foar higher , where we fliall have the moon 
 with all hervichTitudes and changes under our feet 
 Rev. 12. i. and enjoy a grandeur as irreverfible 
 as fplendid. 
 
 jr. T H u s do's he fliew us a way to hallow 
 cur moft unfan<ftified affeclions ; thus, according 
 to the Prophefic of Zechariah^ may holinefs be 
 writ even upon the bells of the horfes. Zee 14. 20* 
 upon our mofr brutal inclinations 5 and thus may 
 all thofe feminine Paffions which now feduce wo- 
 men from Vertu, advance them in it. Let her 
 that is amorous, place her love upon him who is 
 (as the Spoufe tells us, Cmt % 5. 10.) the chiefeft 
 among ten thoufand\ the that is angry, turn her 
 edgagainfr her fins; fhethat is haughty, difdain 
 the Devils drudgery ; (he that is fearful, dread 
 him who can deflroy both Body end Soul m Hell, 
 Matt* 5. 2S. andfhe that is fad, referve her tears 
 for her penitential offices. Thus may they confe- 
 crate even their infirmities 5 and tho they cannot 
 Deifie, or ereel: Temples to them, as the Romans 
 did to their Paffions,nay their Difeafes •, yet after 
 they are thus cleanfed, they may facrifice them as 
 the Jews did the clean Beafts in the Tabernacle. 
 Only Irreligion and Profanenefs is exemt from 
 this Friviledg, no water cf Purification can 
 cleanfe it, or make itferviceable in the Temple ; 
 that,like the fpoils of J>ericho, is fo execrable,that 
 it mull be devoted to deltruclion, as en accurfed 
 things Jof. 6. 17. For tho God do not defpife the 
 work of his own hands, have fo much kindnefs to 
 
 his 
 
94 THE LADIES CALLING Part II 
 
 • ■ ■————■ i ■ . i ■ ■ i i , ___ 
 
 his Creatures, that he endeavors to reduce all our 
 native inclinations to their primitive reftitude, 
 and therefore does not abolifh, but purifie them ; 
 yet Atheifm is ncne of thofe, 'tis a counterblaft 
 ftom hell, in oppofition to that mighty wind in 
 which the holy fpirit defcended. Tho the fubjed 
 in which it fubfifts may be refornrd , the perfon 
 may turn Chriftian,and the wit that main tain'd its 
 blafphemcus paradoxes may be converted td holi- 
 er ufes: yet the quality it felf is capable cf no fuch 
 happy Metamorphofis 5 that muft be extirpated , 
 for it cannot be made tributary. Which (hews how 
 tranfcendent an ill. that is which cannot be con- 
 certed to good , even that Omnipotence which 
 can out of the very ftones raife children to Abra- 
 ham , attemts not any tranfinutation of this 5 
 which ought therefore to poffefs all hearts with 
 a deteftation of it, and to advance them in an 
 carneft purfuit of all the parts of Piety. 
 
 12. And that is it which I would now once 
 more ( as a farwell exhortation ) commend to my 
 female Readers , as that which vertually' contains 
 all other acccmplifhments ; 'tis that pearl in. the 
 Gofpel for which they may part with all and 
 make a good bargain too. The fear of the Lord i* 
 the beginning of wifdom> faiesthe wifeftof men, 
 Prov. 1. 7. and by his experience he fhcws that 
 it is the compleating end of it too 5 for he no, 
 fconer declin'd from that , but he grew to dotage 
 and difhonor. Let a*ll thofe therefore to whom 
 God has difpenft an outward affluence , given 
 
 them 
 
95 
 
 Sect. III. The Clofe. 
 
 them a vifible fplendcr in the eies of the World 
 be careful to fecure to themfelves that honor 
 which comes from God only , Joh. 5. 44. un i te t h eir 
 fouis to that iupreme Majefty who is the fountain 
 of true honor: who in his beftowingthe Crown 
 of righteoufnefs proceeds by the fame mefures 
 by which he difpofed the Crown oUfrael, when 
 he avow'd to Samuel that he lookt not en the outward 
 Abearance but beheld the heart y Sam. 16. 7 If 
 God fee not his own Image there , all'the beauty 
 and gaiety cf the outward form is defpicablc in 
 his eies , like the apples of Sodom only a Kind of 
 painted duft. But if Piety be firmly rcoted there 
 they then become like the Kings daughter al!>/*I 
 rious within too; a much more valrable bravery 
 then the garment of needle work and vt (lure of Gold 
 Pfalni. 45. H- And this is it that muft enter thent 
 into the Kings Palace, into that new Jerufalem 
 where they fhall not wear, but inhabit fearh 
 and Gems Rev. 21. 19. be beautiful without the 
 help of art or nature, by the meer reflexion of 
 the Divine bnghtnefs 5 be a JJ that their then 
 enlarg'd comprthenfions can wjffc^ anc j i n fi n i t i y 
 more then they can here imagine. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
THE CONTENTS, 
 Part. L 
 
 Sett. I. Of Mode fly. J>. tl 
 
 Sect. 2. Of Meeknefs*" f. 29. 
 
 Sect. $. Of Companion. />• ^8- 
 
 Set?- 4. Of Affability* f* 73. 
 
 Sett. 5. Of Piety. &19\ 
 
 »' ' • • * ■ I ■ ■ I .! ■ I I ■ II H I I IH 
 
 Part II. 
 
 $att. I. Of Virgins* p. t) 
 
 Sett. 2. of Wives. p* 2 3* 
 
 Sett. 3. Of Widows. f. 68« 
 


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