ties of Business in the Day, muft needs not a little disturb either her Mind, her Sleep, or her Reft: how to answer the Exigencies of her Husband and Children, on the one Hand; and to fatisfy the Neceflities of her Servants, on the other. But the induftrious Wife in thefe facred Proverbs, will eafily conquer all fuch Difficulties, and make them only her Paftime or Diverfion. The greatest Cares and Troubles of Matrimony do no more break her Reft, difcompofe her Mind, or ruffle her good" Humour, than her Children's Play-Things or pacifying Rattles.

I. AS for her Husband and Children, fhe thinks it not only a Duty incumbent, but natural Reason, to take the most diligent Care of her own Flesh and Blood. Can any Thing be dearer than he that is wonderfully made one with her by a mystical Union in Marriage? Their Hearts are the fame; and they differ only in Perfon. Their Affections are mutual, and no other perfonal Differences or Paffions ever happen between this happy Couple. They are no more Two in any other Refpect, but only in Number. They are ftill the very felf fame Lovers and Promoters of each other's Felicity. In the next Place, her Bowels always earn for her Children's Good. The Bleffing of her Womb, and the Fruit of her Body, is as dear. to her as her own Life. Their Welfare muft be her continual Study, as well as Prayer and. Devotion. She will never let them want for any Thing that is convenient and neceffary, either for their Well-Being or Well-Doing; their good Education and Inftruction; or their Health, Food and Raiment. The Hen couching her Chickens under her Wings for Fear

of the Kite; or the Hawk, is but a faint Em bleme of her greater Care, Tenderness and Protection of her little Ones in her fafe Bofom: by keeping them conftantly out of Harm's Way, and preferying them from all Misfortunes, or the very Shadow of a Mifchief; and fometimes by rifquing her own Life too for their Deliverance (as it may happen) from a fudden Fire, a threat'ning Sword, an impending Fall, a furprizing Accident of drowning, or any other imminent Danger of Death,

HER Vigilancy and Forecast in the Management of her Domestick Affairs, are eminent Tokens and fignal Proofs of her Excellency. She is ever upon the Watch in the Night, and her Guard in the Day; how to please her Husband or oblige her Children; and to make a fuitable Provifion betimes in the Morning, at Noon, or at Night, for their ufual Sufte nance. She knows they must be fed as well as taught, and have good Bread, Butter, Cheese, Nourishment, &c. at Home, as well as good Education, commendable Learning, and neceffary Discipline at School. And the neglects no proper Time neither, of giving them their Meat in due Seafon, as alfo of doing it with the greatest Dexterity and Difpatch; to the beft Advantage of their Healths, the Strengthning of their Bodies, and the Improvement of their Minds'; fo that her indearing Spouse cannot but be well-pleas'd' with her vigilant Behaviour, and the reciprocally as well fatisfy'd with his Approbation for her Pains. Thus they conftantly breakfaft, dine and fup together every Day of their Lives, and have a continual Feaft of Love, Comfort and Con

tentment;

tentment. Happy Pair! What a mutual Joy muft this be in a loving Family fo well govern'd!

II. AS to her Servants, fhe thinks it an Obligation of Confcience, as well as common Refpect, that they fhould be particularly taken Care of both by their Mafters and Mistresses, according to their refpective Sexes or Provinces. But by her vigilant and watchful Eye, fhe will eafe her Husband of that Burden in a great Meafure among her Domesticks. He may Lie a-Bed, ftudy his Philofophy, or take his Pleafure Abroad; fhe will manage those familiar Matters her felf at Home, with his Leave, and make it her whole Bufinefs to look after their Work; to fee that it be done carefully, with that Decency, Exactnefs and Fidelity, as it ought to be perform'd, or the Nature of the Thing requires in the Performance. She never fails of feeding them well, and giving them a fufficient Portion of Meat at their proper Meals; and may therefore reasonably expect a grateful, agreeable, or equal Return for it, by their laborious Handy-Works. She rightly thinks, that a good Portion of Victuals may very well require a fuitable Proportion of Work well done for her Favours. Her Goodness towards their Perfons, commonly puts them upon welldeferving their Wages, and calling her the beft of Miftreffes. But, and if fhe cloaths their Backs too, as well as fills their Bellies, which fhe often does, by her bountiful Hand; why then they are still the more oblig'd to do her the most faithful and fingular Services. Infomuch that in both Refpects of the relative Duties, the owes either to her Husband and Children, or to her domeftick Servants; ber

ela

elaborate Performances in the End appear extraordinary, her Vigilancy wonderful, and her Oeconomy incomparable. Her Houfhold is happy. The Men rival her Carefulness, and the Maids rejoyce in her Commands.

VERSE XVI.

SHE confidereth a Field, and buyeth it: with the Fruit of her Hands, fhe planteth a Vineyard.

S

PARAPHRASE.

EE the wonderful Bleffing of her induftrious Indeavours! What great Effects and Advantages her aconomical Carefulness produces! It immediately makes her not only a juft Gainer, but a moft confiderable Purchafer. Every Thing profpers that she takes in Hand, and hugely contributes to the Augmentation of her good Fortune, as well as Felicity. She is in the fairest Way of getting a moft plentiful Eftate, by her frugal Affiduity. By this Means, fhe will be always increasing her growing Stock, and multiplying her numerous Acquifitions. Whatever he has by Virtue of her confiderate Diligence, is wellgot; and will either laft the longer, or thrive the better. She weighs the Matter well in her Mind, how to lay-out her fuperfluous Money wifely, which fhe has fav'd by the Sweat of her

Brow,

Brow, and the diligent Gains of her own laborious Hands. She knows, it is Labour and Money only that buys Land. Upon this Confideration, fhe cafts her curious Eye upon a Piece of Ground, a Field or an Eftate to be fold; ponders the Nature of the Soil, the Situation and other Conveniencies of it with mature Deliberation and then purchases it out of Hand, to make a fuitable Addition to her own extenfive Improvements. Her prudent Oeconomy, fedate Temper, and critical Watchfulness, intitle her to make the best Bargain, and accomplish the most beneficial Purchafe upon Earth. After that, when he finds her felf in full Poffeffion, as fafe and fure as the Law can confirm or fecure it; then by the Fruit and Fru- · gality of her own Hands, the plants a fine noble Vineyard there; which produces the richest Grapes, and affords the moft generous Wines for her private Table, or a more publick Benefit. She likewife adorns it with fruitful Orchards and pleasant Gardens; ftocks it with feveral Kinds of Fish and Fowl, wild as well as tame, fit for Food; and replenishes it with Poultry, Cattle, and Corn of all forts; proper for the Ufe of her Family, the Service of her Houfhold, or the better Entertainment of her Neighbours and Friends: through an honest Ambition of maintaining the Honour of her great Hofpitality, and fupporting the Generofity of her good Houfe-keeping.

REMARKS. I