MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 381
your admirers, even I, wizened and worn out by labour, age, nay worfe by difappointments, in the courfe of a few funs and moons, will be as much refpeded, heeded, lillen- ed to. Pity indeed it is! but it muil be fo. What are you then to do? why briefly this, look as well into yourfelf as at yourfelf, and thence learn how to preferve and improve the authority which beau- ty gives, to make it indefeftible, and, as I maintain it may, inter- minable.
[from the Sermon itfelf.'\ The humour of ridiculing this rite [of marriage] was introduced, and became fafliionable, under the example of a diffolute prince ; which encouraged fuch licentiouf- nefs in the ftage, as Toon corrupted the general tafte, to the degree, that hardly any thing entertained, or was received there withapplaufe, that was not falted with fome ob- fcene raillery. In confequence of which, not only the thing, but even the perfons who made it their choice were laughed at. They were objedls of pity, the butts of fneer, whom neceffity had forced into it. A humour fo inconfiflent with common fenfe, and every fo- cial dear regard, could not hold long. The pulpit, which in that univerfal degeneracy of men and manners, was not fiient, got, in this inlJance, the better of the ftage, and, at lall, happily reformed it. To the honour of the prefent age, the few patrons it hath are as def- picable, as they are dilToIute; but it may be obferved, that the pains taken to correal it, had polTibly met with quicker fuccefs, had not the fair fex, by a lewd and wanton be- haviour, contributed to keep it up : without encouragement from them it could never have run to the ex-
travagance it did ; for how little foever fome of them may fufpeii or believe it, they are the only fure guardians of men's virtue, and have more power to reform than either prielt or magiftrate can pretend to. If therefore the manners of the age Ihould ever take the fame dif^gree- ble turn, though they may be the principal fufrerers, they mull bear the blame of it, and the infamy too ; for this reafon, that it was always in their power to fupport the ho- nour and dignity due to the mar- ried ftate, from theinfluence, which, few of them want to be told, they have over the affeftions and incli- nations of mankind. I will offer no apology therefore for telling them, that if their difcretion was equal to their charms; if they were at equal pains to embellifli their minds, as they are to adorn their bodies, they might go near to re- \Qxit the cuiloms of the world, and the maxims of nature ; might fway the fcepters of kingdoms, and be the law-givers and governors both of Ilates and families, without either wearing of arms, or changing ap- parel. — If modeily, good fenle, and the general praclice of virtue, met with proper diui.iJlion in fe- male regard, men would certainly take more pains, than they ufually do, to cultivate thofe graces ; for where we court, we wifh to be ap- proved, and naturally purfue fuch courfes, as we judge will beft re- commend us; But whillt women are fo infenfible, and blind to their own intereft and happinefs, as to encourage thofe mod, who ufe this holy inftitute to bafe and diliio- nourabie purpofes ; whi'll they pre- fer empty and profligate rakes, to virtuous and honourable lovers, they may thank thepifelves for a great fiiare of that mifcy to which the/
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