The virgin in Eden: or, The state of innocency. Deliver'd by way of image and description. Presenting a nobleman, a student, and heiress, on their progress from Sodom to Canaan. With the parable of the shepherd, Zachariah, and Mary ... To which are added, Pamela's letters proved to be immodest roman online

Beauty that would other wife appear conlpicuous in us.

Nothinor graces a Man more, than to turn his Eye on the
Divine Eflence. Beyond that we cannot form a Wifh.
Our Notions of the Deity at beft are dim, and too often
fuUied with vain Thoughts. Men of weak Capacities are
apt to difpute future Exiftence, and prefer prefent Enjoy-
ments before thofe that are unfeen. But when thcfe Atheift^
as I call them, (land upon the Borders of Eternity, thc]^
tremble in their laft Moments: then all their impious SbheAii
are overturned, and they are loft in the utmoft G)nfufiori. I
fear there are too many in this Age that wear Masks, and
a6i their Parts in Difguife. Happy if they had never beeit
created, or could they at Death be e?<cludcd from rifing to
a Refurre<5tion. I will here give an Example of a Fa\^ou-
rite of all wife and good Men that convers*d with him. Hii
Parts were fingular, his Carriage and Demeanor exemplary,
his Faith in Jefus appeared to be ftrong and nervous ; ht
conftantly attended the Church, and made Refponfes t^
every Article of the Creed : yet thb Gentleman,, when btf
came to die, declared he never bcliev'd in the Blood of
Chxift till that very Ditf, He always ^ucftion'd With him-

- fclf.



1-1 n Mif fruiiT nS >iti» ■ iift-iif i» -i .i tn



[64]

"felf, whether there was a God that rul'd in (he Creation ;
but now, fays he, in my lafl Moments, I am no Infidel
in the Sacred Trinity. Thus it is when wc can Jive no lon-
ger, and are in View of endlefs Miferies, wc then look
back with Horror at our paft Principles, and take a Prof-
pc£t of that infernal State of Mifery wc are entering up-
on.

Wife and thinking Men have other Thoughts in their
Youth and Profperity : l^hey furnifli their Minds with the
Certainty of Futurity, and difpcrfc thofe Clouds and Mifts
that others cannot fee till Death opens their Eyes. What
can I fay of the latter but this, that in their Life-time they
were only in a fort of Dream or Sleep, a mere Trance and
Delufion ?

Vain, learned Men, and pretended Virtuofo*s, may ccn-
furc my Conduct, and charge me with Weaknefs of
Thought, in prefcnting 'Jojhua^ Zachariah^ and Mary^
indigent Pcrfons, meanly defcended, and deftitutc of acqui-
red Parts, asking and anfwering fuch Queftions as if they
were polite and ingenious Authors.

I reply, I have converfcd with both Sexes, poflels'd only
of natural Parts, their Birth mean, and Circumftanccs lit-
tle above Want, yet their Ideas of Things have been very
inftrudive to mej they have taught me how to a£l and
perform my Duty to my God and to my Neighbour.

After I have learnt tlieir Divine Leflbns, 1 have gone to
the Wits Coffee- houfes, and other Places, the Refort of
felf- conceited Wits, in expeftation to be further improved ;
there I fat filent, as my general Way is in ftrangc Com-
pany, and liftned to their Difcourfe in Variety of Points
and Matters: And what was the Refult? Their Conferences
made me wifer than ever; I then came to the Knowledge
of their vain Air and haughty Looks, their frequent Turns
to view themfelves in the Glaffes, and the many Vifits they
made to their SnufF-boxes ; the Formality ufed in almoft
every Word they fpoke, and even in all their Motions and
Behaviour gave me no Delight but Pain.

This I affirm for Truth ; 1 have known fomc of thcfe
extolled Wits, that their principal Genius has confifted in
little more than a round Set of Words and Difcourfes, for
when you have heard them twice or thrice you come to the
Knowledge of all tlie Stock of Wifdom they are in Pof-
feffion of J fuch Virtuofo*s I compare to Parrots that are
pleafed to fee themfejves admired and liftned to, tho* they
never repeat above one or two odd impertinent Stories learnt
them by Heart. It



p «p . i .u mm'}\m mmmfmm9m



[ 65 I

It is not thus lit the Schools of Divine Wifdom, in
which Jcjhuay Zachariah and Mary receiv'd their Educati-
on and Difcipline. The Original of their College was
founded by the Deity in the Embryo of the World. Who
can be better vcrs*d in the Science of Knowledge than an
Heir of Heaven ? What Mind can outreach the Chriftian
Heroe, whofe Thoughts arc center*d in holy Oracles?
What Man can be ftiled wife, that ails the Revcrfe ? Im-
perious Perfons in Purfuit of Plcafurc and Vanity, arc but
iike a Kite in the Air, that wanders for a while near the
Clouds, and is gazed at by Children and idle Spedators,
and on a fudden drops down to the Earth, and leaves no
Traces behind it to be remember'd.

The Mind that is adorn*d with excellent Graces is daily
in Converfe with his God : His Virtue and Example, the*
not recorded in profane Hiftory, yet they are all regifter'd
in the Volumes of Duration, and will fpring up and bloom
in the Regions where infinite Wifdom reigns, and where
Praifes are continually the Anthems and Songs, without
any Sound of one jarring String in all the heavenly Voices
and Inftmments of Mufick.



F J N j[ s.



[ 66 ]

A COPY of the Manufcript taken
out o( Marys Clofet after her De-
ceafe.



TH E Hour, fays {hc^ I awake in the Morning, I lay
my natural Failings before God with Sighs and Tears,
and pour out my Soul in Prayers, that no reigning Crimes
inhabit within my Breaft, In the FJower of Youth I ne-
ver conversed with Men of lewd Converfation. That Rc-
flralnt cxtinguifli'd vain Thoughts; otherwifc I might
have given up my Honour to Strangers, and facrific*d my
Innoccncy. The Retreat from Sodom conqucr*d unruly
PafllorL^, and kept my Virtues undefird.

What Words can be more excellent than thefe of Mary
for Virgins in our Age to copy after. It puts me in mind
of Scipioj who at four and twenty Years of Age obtain'd a
great Vi^ory, and a multitude of Prifoners of both Sexes,
and all Conditions, fell into his Pofleffion j among othep,
an agreeable Virgin in her early Bloom and Beauty. He
had too fcnfible a Spirit, to fee the moft lovely of all Ob-
je£b, without being moved with Paffion ; bcfides which,
there was no Obligation of Honour or Virtue to retrain
his Dcfires towards one, who was his by the Fortune of
War: Biit a noble Indignation, and a fudden Sorrow
which appear'd in her Countenance, when the Conqueror
call his Eyes upon her, raifed his Curiofity to know her
Story. He was informed that (he was a Lady of the high-
lit Condition, and contra<Stcd to Indibilisy a Man of Me-
rit and Qualit}'. The generous Roman foon placed himfelf
in the Condition of tliat unhappy Man, who was to lofe
fo charming a Bride ; and thoi^ a Youth, a Batchelor, a
Lrover, and a Conqueror, immediately refolv'd to refign
all the Incitements of his Paflion, and the Rights of his
Power, and to reftore her to her deftin'd Hus^nd. For
this Purpofe he commanded her Parents and Relations, as
well as her Husband, to attend him at an appointed Time,
Accordingly they met, and waiting for the General (my
Author frsmcs to himfelf the different Concern of an un-
happy Father, a defpairing Lover, and a tender Motber,
in the fcveral Perfons who were fo related to the Captive ;
but for fear of injuring the delicate Circumftanccs with an
t old



itmmSMammiiiaHmtHmmmhiii m»ui. » t^' mr tiwmmm»mmmmiitmtum



f 67 ]

old Tranflation) I fhall proceed to tell jrou, that SdpU ap^
pears to them, and leads his PriToner into their PirfcnGC.
The Romans (as noble as they were) Teemed to allow tbcm-
felves a little too much Triumph over the Conquer*d ; thero*
fore, as Scipio approach'd, they all threw thehifelves on
their Knees except the Lover of the Lady. But Sdfi§ ob-
ferving in him a manly Sullennefs was tke more indm'd ta
favour him, and fpoke to him in thefe Words:

* It is not the manner of the Ramans to ufc all the Power

* they juftly may. We fight not to ravage Countries, or

* break through the Ties of Humanity. I am acquainted

* with your Worth, and your Intereft in thb Lady. For-

* tune has made me your Mafter ; but I dedre to be your

* Friend. This is your Wife; take her, and may the

* Gods blefs you with her. But far be it from Sc^Io to

* purchafe a loofe and momentary Pleafure, at the latc of

* making an honeft Man unhappy/

IndibUis*f> Heart was too full to make him any Anfwer j
but he threv7 himfclf at the Feet of the General, and wept
aloud. The captive Lady followed his Example; and they
both remain'd fo, till the Father burft into the following
Words : * O divine Scipio ! the Gods have given you more

* than human Virtue. O glorious Leader ! O wondrous.

* Youth ! Does not that obliged Virgin give you, whilft flie

* prays to the Gods for your Profperity, and thinks you

* arc fent down from them. Raptures above allTraiXf

* fports which you could have reaped from the PofleiHon

* of her Perfon.* The temperate Scipio anfwerVI him.
without much Emotion, and faying. Father, be a Friend
to Romcy retir'd. An immenfe Sum was ofier*d for her
Kanfom ; but he fent it to her Husband, and fmiling faid.
This is a Trifle, after what I have given him already : but
kt Indibilis know, that Chaftity at my Age is a much mxx^
dii!;cult Virtue to pra6life than Generofity,



Vtriiiu



ttiiTiIltllH



tttumttiim



[69]



Tirgins pure in
bought retrtat
upon the fir/}
'Temptation ; at
the fecond flee as
an Arrow from
the Snare \ ne-
ver return more
to that Man,
tbo* they Jiarve
and die.




Chajitty imfhn"
ted in the Mini
either Sex,
^uch Images (f
the Deity will
not cmverfe two
Days in Compa^
ny of any y who
offer to crucify
their Virtue by a
lewd Wordy or
animmodeflEm'
brace.



4



Pa M E L AS Letters

Immodeft Romances painted in Images
of Virtue.



Mafquerades in DifguijCy that received Birth now Pice reigns
in Triumph y and fwcUs in Streams even to a Deluge,

BOOKS are Schools that beautify or ftain the Soul.
Authors may be compar*d to Painters, who draw Re-
prefentations according to their Fancy, or what they think
tend moft to their Gain.

A Lady of ftridi Piety fcnt two Volumes to mc for my
Perufal. I furvcy'd the Work. It is entitrd, Pamela^ or
Virtue rewarded. There arc prefented two different Scenes,
a chafle and beautiful Maid, and a lewd Rake. The Pre-
face, and the Epiftles directed to the Editor in Commenda-
tion of thofe Volumes, at firft Sight gave me pleafmg Ideas
of finding Leflbns of Education for Youth. I had not
gone through two Sheets, before I perceiv'd myfelf, as it
were, convcy'd within the Circles of Lewdnels ; nay, even
in Bed-chambers frequented by Women as charming as
Nuns, in Company with wild Rakes. This is a true Re-
Yemblance of modeft Pamela^ and her wanton. Mafler.
What can thefe Repreientations be called, but Romances to
corrupt the Morals of the Agci Pamela is drefs*d in Airs,
that cannot but raife vain Defires even in Men as chafle as
Jojeph when tempted by his Miftrefs, All the Imagp are

fo



ilitfiiiiiiaiiiiiittliiiMifittii



[69)



fo very natural that way, that were they to he aSed in t
Play, there would not want a crowded Audience of vicioui
Men and Women to excite their Paifions to wicked
Actions.

As I am a Chriftian, and believe that I muft account for
every A£k of Life, 1 dare not repeat fome ExprciHoiis
often mention*d in Pamila*s Letters. To read them, Vir-
tue cannot but blu(b. What is more indecent than the
Paflagcs in the Summcr-houfe, in Mrs. Jarvis^s Apart^
ment, and at Night in Pamela's Chamber when (he was
undrefs*d, and her Mafter in the Room with the Servant-
Maid's Cloaths on, and her Apron over his Face ; as alio
tliat immodeft Pafl'age of their being both in the naked Bed
together ? Thefe Scenes are Paradoxes to me, to be print*
cd and called Virtue rewarded. Good God I Can amorous
Embraces delineated in thefe Images, tend to inculcate Re-
ligion in the Minds of Youth, when the Blood is hot, and
runs quick in every Vein ? Arc thefe Lights to dire^ the
Soul to a crucify*d Jefus? Are they Pi^ures to cxtinguiih
Vice, and reftrain the Wickednefs of the Times ? \i\\l
fuch Reprefentations divert Men of Pleafurc from looking
on beautiful Women ? Can immodeft Intrigues divert lewd
Thoughts, and bring off with Honour vicious Minds ? Caa
a Man, cxprefling licentious Speeches in Convcrfc with ^
Maid not yet dcflowcr'd, reform the Age, or infpire Ideas
in the Mind worthy of Example ? VVill not tlic Sight of
fiich Inftances rather increafc Emulation, than any ways
allay it, either in modeft Virgins, chafte Brides, or obliging
Wives f

Had I a Train of Sons and Daughters, and as nume-
rous a Company of Servants as King Solomon^ not one of
them, by my Confent, fhould read fuch Romances of tin<'
chafte Love. What tho* fome of Pamela^ Letters give
Hints that may be imitated, does not the Poifon contain*d
in others deftroy all, and give Birth to loofe and wandering
Imaginations ? There arc in thofe Epiftles fo many Salutes
and Embraces, both in publick and private, as Pamela her*
felf tells the Story, which are not to be vindicated by Tiutii
Of Reafon.

The Editor tells you, the Original of thofe Epiftles ara
founded upon Truth : If fo, they are no EmbeliOiment to
be recorded or read either by Youth, or Pcrfons of ripet
Years. Can the Editor, with all his Eloquence, prevail
with wife vd faious Men, to fufier thtii Sons and DaugiK

SOI



[76]

tcrs to learn thofc Lcflbns, as Guides to dirc£i them in the
Practice of what is commendable in Life.

My Anfwer to the Editor is this, I here lay it down as
a Maxim to the prefcnt and after Generations, That fcdatc
Rcfledions, fccluded from every Temptation, dirc^ the
running Springs of unruly Youths, and brings home their
wandring Thoughts to God. Pure Virgins keep their In-
nocency undefil'd ; they never converfc with lewd Rakes.
At the firft Aflault upon their Virtue they retreat, by which
means they gain a Conqueft-, and put the Tempter into
Confufion ; their Flight allays the Heat in the Breaft of
the guilty Purfuer, as Water quenches the Flame.

That Maid who holds a Parley with a vicious Man a fc-
cond time, and fuffers herfelf to be immodcftly embrac*d, I
cenfure her Chaftity : She may be compared to one of the
fair Apples of Sodomy beautiful for the Eye to behold, but
Stains and Rottennefs within.

True Virtue fets a Guard over all Attempts, whcrc-evcr
there is any Fear of Danger. Virgins pure in Mind and
Thought, when they retire to Reft at Night, and have the
leaft Apprehcnflon of a Defign againft them, never undrefs
till every Avenue in the Room is fearched, and the Doors
lafely fecur*d. Admit that an innocent Virgin is for once
betray'd by a treacherous jfudasy (he will never fleep ano-
ther Night in that Habitation, hut be gone, and hide herfelf
in any hollow Cave, and there perifti with Nakednefs and
Hunger, rather than run the risk of lofmg any one of her
Virtues. This is Innocency in the Abftradt ; the Reverfe is
Cheat and Delufion7~ahd^deferves no other Title but /w-
fuity rewarded.

To keep Innocency, Virgins fhould conceal themfelves,
and not fpeak to Men of evil Converfation. I will give
an Inftance of one who facrific*d her Honour in Thought,
tho' not in A^. This Virgin always maintain'd in her
Difcourfes, that a Mind truly virtuous was incapable of en-
tertaining an unlawful Pailion : But in a few Days (he fell ;
for coming into a mix'd Company, (he got acquainted with
a Gentleman, and made Offers of an unchaftc Love. A
Complaint being made to her Parents, that ihc acSed the
Part of Jofeph's Miftrefs, her Intrigues had no Effcft. Then
ihc thought of making ufe of other Means to accomplifh
her Defires. Upon this her Father, with a Divine, fent
for her, aiKi in a gentle Manner reprefented her Faults^
and put her in mind of her, former Speeches upon the Sub*
jc£| of Chaftity, She (bll upon her Knees^ and burft out

ioto



^M.-J.HJjS^I



into Tears. O Jefus, my Shame, my Difhonour is now
difcover'd: I have betray 'd my Virtues: It fills my Soul
with Agonies of Defpair. Then a freih Flood diftUl'd
from her Eyes, and ihe expreis'd herfelf in the Language
of a Perfon, whofe Cafe was much the fame with hers.
Says {he, I am convinc'd that I have two Souls : Love has
taught me this Piece of Pliilofophy. If I bad but one
Soul, it could not at the fame time pant after Virtue and
Vice, wifh and abhor the fame thing. It is certain there-
fore we have two Souls ; when the good Soul rules, I un-
dertake roble and virtuous A<5^ions j but when the bad Soul
predominates, I am forc*d to do evil. All I can fay of mjr
ielf at prefent is, that I find my good Soul encouraged by
your Prefencc and Advice.

I know not whether Divines will agree with thefe Ex-
preffions of the Virgin of having two Souls ; but though it
doth not fquare with Divim'ty, yet I am fure the Expreffi-
ens are beautiful : there is fomething uncommon contained
in the Words, and what muft make an Imprefiion upon
the Mind, when we reflect a little upon this excellent
Strain of Philofophy, or ever enter upon any A6i cither of
Virtue or Vice.



The Copy of a Letter fent by. a
Divine of the Church of England to
the Author of the Sheets, entitrd,
The Firgin in Eden* . \

SIR,

I Have taken Delight in penifing your State of Innoccncy
fent me in Manufcript, in order to know my Opinion
of it before you put the Copy to the Prcfs. As you did
not reftrain me, I entrufted feveral of my Acquaintance
with the faid Manufcript to read over in their Studies, that
you might have tlieir Sentiments alfo upon your Labouri.
Your Pilgrim's Progrefs from ScJom to Canaariy I call di-
.vine Leflbns. Wearifome Days and awakening Nights
were your Repaft for Weeks and Months, in compiling
that Journey through a Vale of Tears to the promifcd Hz-
vcnof |lcft. . ^ ,Had



[72]

Had a Body of learned Men met lA G)uncll, and draWA
up fiich a Piece, the Work could not well exceed yours in
lively Ideas, nor in a Language more plcafing to read, and
agreeable to facred Record. Your Arguments cannot but
infcnlibly inflil virtuous Principles in the Minds even of
Deifts and Atheifts.

The Emblems of /V//jir the Student and the Virgin are
fiich natural Inftanccs, that I cannot in my Thoughts but
wilh to be travelling with that Train, and converfing with
them in Gardens, WildernefTes, and ftiady Groves. The
Conferences and Speeches in thofe folitary Retreats, on
their way to Jbraharns Houfe, cannot but fubdue unruly
Paflions, and gain Profely tes to the Pradice of our holy and
pure Religion : Rules and Precepts to guide the Sons and
Daughters of crown*d Heads in their Duty to God, and
their royal Parents Examples, which I fhall ever retain in
my View.

The Parable of the Shepherd^ Jojhua and Mary are In-
ilruc^ions for all that move in low Spheres, to a£l and Iteer
by in their Way to the Grave. Even Jews^ Turks and
Pagans may be prevail'd upon to travel with thofe righteous
Lots, If Images of Humility, Meekncfs and Chaftity are
Embelilhments, thofe Parables prefent them in fuch Lights,
as are Examples for Emperors and Queens to let their Dia-
dems and Sceptres fall to the Earth, and live in Contempt
of Pomp and Grandeur.

Pamda's Letters tend more to corrupt the Morals, than
refine the Mind with virtuous Ideas. Your Emblems arc
Streams of Purity to fwim in,diftant from the ragingWaves
of Iniquity, that now fweil in Eddies even to drown the
Race of Man in Licentioufnefs.

The prefent Generation now facrifices their Ambition to
Vanity and Pleafure. And how (hould it be otherwifc,
when Volumes are publifli'd, cntitl'd. Virtue rewarded^
that have little more in them than Arts to inflame tlic Paf-
fionstoVicc?

The Virgin in Eden reflrains Extravagancy, and lets a
Guard over her Virtues. She is not feen once in kwd
Convcrfation, She retreats from Sodom ; and in her whole
Journey to Canaan gives Examples diverted of every Ap-
pearance of Evil : Her Practice never fails to put Wickcd-
fiefs under Difgrace,

Tour tiffe^lcnatt Frltnd in Chrifi,
Child*s Coffcc-Houfc, .

St. P^ur^ Church- '

yard,ijrx/^ij/?3.i74ig ^ ^ .- - V



' vy. • ^w^ • - ' < f )^!^m,.-.mw'.''*"^ ' V^milm>*l. um ii iuw^ ' ^'u - , ii ' ut !.'< .n p . .■" ■ -^ ^ .ny u y^.., . ,- , . ,, , ,, ,fri n;m.^



The Copy of a L e tt e r lent to the
Author from a Diffenting Minifter. ^

AQergyman fevour'd me with your Manufcript. There
are beautiful Thoughts of God, and Contempt of
tlieWorld. The Ideas run out of the common way of think-
ing, and cannot but be of JJfe to this and After-ages, The
Virgin in E^ien is reprefented as a Lamp to light our Youth
into the Paths of Virtue, to annihilate vicious Habits, and
to bring Lewdnefs into Difgn^cc. The State of Innocen-
cy is fo folemn, and the Journey to Abraharrfs Houfe fo
extremely pleafant, that it may even perfuadc Mifers to
throw away their Bags of Drois, and turn Strangen to th?
World. Divines may learn from the Virgin's Leflbns,
Lc£lures of Mortification, to allay their Ambition after
Church-Preferments, in order to fit in Peter's Chair of
State. What Inftances may not be abftra£lcd from thi«
Chriftian's Progrefs ? They ferve to take ofF waodring
Thoughts from momentary Shadows. You may plead
from thefe your Studies, a Bleffing to attend the Work in
both Worlds. Every Hour fpent in compofing thefc
Scenes will meet with a Reward. Tho* you cannot bear
with Approbation this publick Praife of your Works, yet I
had rather you fhoujd blufli, than the Lines fhould efcape
the publick View. What I fay may reftrain wild Ofiend*
CIS, and bring home their wandring Thoughts.



Hamlir^s Coflee-houfey
Reyal Exchange,
Augujld, 174U



/ am yourjincere Frimd,



l^r^U



K ' •



trill' iiinVi-ft<-iriB"iiiff itr . 1 1 i i TTiffcffWiir iij- r'rt"-'" tm ' uMmtivimmiitiTtiHitmmtmslk.

A Copy of the Letter dire£Ved to
the Author from a Speaker amongft
the People calFd fakers.

- Friend,

I Am the Father of ten Sons and Daughters. Thy Ma-
nufcript wherein thou fctteft forth Pamela's Letters im-
modeft Romances, thou fayeft well : they are profane Lcf-
fons, and (hall not dwell in my Houfe. My Daughters

' Education I leave to their Mother's Management. Laft
Week, amongft an Aflembly of our People, (he gave In-
llrudions to the EJdeft, a Maid of fifteen. She told her
there was nothing corrupted the Morals fo much, as read-
ing the Intrigues of Rakes, or admitting for Suitors the
pretended Wits of the Times : their Converfation ferved

. only to fill the Mind with ftrange Amufcments, to infpirc
it with what is vain and trifling. She went on a great
way further in this Counfel, but broke off feveral times in
giving notable Examples of her Difpleafure. She order'd
a Colleilion of her Daughter's Epiftles to be publickly read ;
and faid, every Fop that had the leaft Reafon, could jumble
together well enough an amorons Set of Words to heighten
the Paflions into Flames of Impurity ; but there is fcarce
one in a thoufand, who can compofe a Letter about a chaftc
Love anfwering the right Ends of Marriage. Then (be
ftopp'd, and with the graved Air imaginable committed
the whole Bundle to the Fire ; and went on, faying, fhc
thought thofe wanton Copies were more fit to be burnt,
than kept as Relicks in her Childrens Clofets. Upon this
fome of the young Company fell into a little DIforder, and
would have turn'd Reformers, had they not been timely
fupprefs'd by the grave Dons and Matrons then prefent,
who faw the Deftrudion of thofe vile Manufcripts. But
fhc continued to go forward with her Work : For, as at
Plays, between the A6t$ (he added to the Pile fome Frag-
ments of Verfes borrow^ from licentious Authon, and
proceeded again in her Inflrudions before thofe Relicks
were all reduc'd to Afhes. She crown'd the few Remains
with feveral fmall Tra£b taken out of her Daughter's
Chamber, which fhc call'd the Intrigues of Night-Meet-
ings, Mafqucradcs, and Dancings. Her Sons, who had

ilood



t 75 Ji

flood neuter all the time, feem'd to be furpnz'd at this new
way of chaftifmg Children : But I found it fcnt the Parents
away full of plcafing Images ; nay, fome of the Youth*
then prefent faid, they recciv'd from this an Idea and Pro-
fpcQ. of what they had learnt in the Schools of Knowledge
in which they were educated. By this I faw, that good
Examples keep the Spirits from languifhing, and fill the
Imagination with the beautiful Scenes of Heaven, of Feli-
city and Pleafurc. All which gives a perfe£t Defcription
of every thing that is commendable.

DircSfed to thee from our MeHlng*
4^1' 9. I74X# Houfe^ Dcvonfhire-fquaic. ••



The reading this Letter brought to my Remembrance
what I once faw in Gray*s-Inn Walks : As a Gentleman
was walking there, he efpy'd his pretty Daughter,* as he
caird her, in Company which he did not very well like.