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of the Age. And do not all these Studies now require the best Inftruction, Direction and Government of the wifeft School-Masters, faithful to their Truft, and careful in their Tuition ; who were formerly honour'd as the worthieft Companions, Confidents or Privy Councellors of Kings themselves in their Glory? Indeed fome manly Studies are only fit for Males; but why ingenious Females fhould be abridg'd of any fort of Learning, Languages or Philosophy, there appears no great Reafon to be alledg'd for it, fave only an ill Cuftom, or a worfe Perverfion of Manners. For why? Because they have the fame rational Souls, as good natural Parts, and as quick Understandings as moft Men can boast of: And peradventure they might make better Women, more agreeable Companions,or difcreeter Wives, by a more liberal Education. However, no unprejudic'd Perfon can ever be of that Emperor's Opinion, who would not allow a Woman to have any more Wit or Inftruction, than was neceflary for difcerning her Husband's Shirt from his Doublet. O ridiculous Banter! An unkingly, unmanly, and malicious Invective, if we rightly confider: Witnefs the learned Aretia, who taught Ariftippus his Philofophy; the famous Zenobia, who taught her Sons the Latin, Greek and Egyptian Tongues; and the celebrated Cornelia, who taught the Gracchi's their extraordinary Eloquence.

BEHOLD what faithful School-Mistresses thefe Ladies of Old were to their beloved Offfpring! How curious and careful then ought every one of our modern Mothers to be of their Childrens good Education, according to thofe laudable Examples; with fuch a passionate and pious Soliloquy or Dialogue with her Son, as

Queen

Queen Bathsheba's above-mention'd, often in their Mouths! Shall not I give my dear Child good Advice, and the best Instruction in my Power, towards planting and promoting the difcreet Conduct of his future Life? How can I pretend to have any motherly Affection or Concern for his Well-fare, if I should neglect to discharge so great a Duty of Love, and natural Inclination towards my own Flesh and Blood? How should I think my felf advanc'd above the Rank and Irrationality of Brutes, if I should let him wander into Dangers, Misfortunes and Mifchiefs, for want of good Lookingafter; and live no better than they do upon the wild Common, for want of instilling nobler Notions into his Head, and cultivating his Mind with loftier Idea's of humane Prudence and refin'd ReaSon?

THIS is the good and gracious Mother, that deferves to be had in the highest Esteem and Veneration. This is fhe that powerfully diffufes her excellent Virtues through the whole Family, and influences the Hearts of her dutiful Children with Gladness and Reverence, as well as Health, Honour and Happiness. 'Tis fhe that captivates her admiring Husband with her Charms of Love and indearing Actions, by bringing up both her Sons and her Daughters to exemplary Virtue, as well as good Breeding. Who would not wifh himself bleft with fuch a Wife; whose Goodness, Integrity and Affection, inliven the Spirits of her inamour'd Spouse, like the cherishing Beams of the Sun, and felicitate his Life like a Heaven upon Earth? From hence he rejoices in his greater Bliss to come, by Way of Anticipation. His Marriage proves all Mirth and inceffant Joy, without any Mixture of Melancholy or After-Sorrow. She fills the

C 3

Place

Place, where he lives, whether Court or Country, full of good Humour, Grace and Gaiety; full of Pleafantry, Affability and Courtesy. Infomuch that, pardon the Digreffion! fuch a Matrimony as this happy One, is either worthy of a crown'd Head, or the Honour of a Kingdom. BUT then, on the other Hand, how miferably must all thefe Joys be pall'd in a Family, after the greatest Transports of Marriage; when a Mother begins to flight her Children, and proves to have no more Regard for her poor Babies, than if they were fo many base Brats, fome fpurious Iflue or other, or as if they were not born of her own Body: Having. no Leffon of a good Life, Manners or Example fet before them, for their conftant Practice and Imitation; and being left at laft to live at Sixes and Sevens, or at Hap-hazzard, as their careless Mamma perhaps fhakes her Elbow at Dice, or games away her Time at Cards! Such a prepofterous Parent, I mean, as is too much diverted with thofe delightful Amufements, to fpare any Time, or to take any Pains in Teaching them to fay their Prayers, their Belief, or their Catechifm, either for the Church or the Affembly; and who never thinks of giving them any Inftruction of Reading or Writing; of Book, Pen or Needle; thofe neceflary Qualifications and commendable Endowments of Mind, for getting an honest Livelihood, or making their Fortunes in the World. This notorious Carelesness muft inevitably draw upon her the Imputation and Odium of that black Character among the Vulgar; like Parents, like Children; like Mother, like Daughter; for they will always learn by Example, be it good or bad in the Practice. They'll plead Authority and Privilege for't. Info

much

much that the grand Negligence in Course will inevitably be attended with this execrable Epanados and Inquifition, according to the Latin Poet, in plain English thus:

"Whether the worst, the Child accurft,
"Or else the cruel Mother?
"The Mother worst, the Child accurft,
"As bad the one as t'other!

Smith's Rhet.

HERE Nature it felf must needs ftand agaft to see the very Propagation of Sin, Ignorance and Folly, through the reciprocal Corruptions of a whole Family, and the Curse of a long Train of contagious Vices or Punishments rather, intail'd upon their Posterity; a Tail, not to be cut off in any lower Court than that of Heaven! And all this Misfortune often happens merely for want of a more virtuous Inftruction among their unregarded Children, and a timely Prevention of the Growth of their Ill-manners, or unreftrain'd Liberties to profefs'd Wickednefs and downright Irreligion. In short, thofe barbarous Parents, be who they will, whether Men or Women, however dignify'd among the Great, or distinguish'd among the Vulgar, who take no Care of their little Childrens due Education, are the greatest Heteroclites of Nature, and the most defective or irregular Creatures in the Chriftian World.

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VERSE III.

GIVE not thy Strength unto Women, nor thy Ways to that which deftroyeth Kings.

W

me Leave to

PARAPHRASE.

ELL then, Dear Sir, the Son of my Love! As you are born to good Fortune, Honour and Glory, to be a King and a Governour of great Nations; give engage you to have a ftrict Guard over all your Lufts and Paffions, to ennoble your Humanity. And if you have any Regard for my Perfon, my Advice, or your own Profperity, act the chafteft Part of Life, in moderating the Defires of your Mind, and the Pleafures of your Body, with an abfolute Sway. Supprefs all the Rifings and Rebellions of humane Nature. Conquer your own Heart, and bring down the obftinate Confpiracies, proud Contentions, or the tempting Frailties of the Flesh, into a due Subjection, Obedience and Conformity with the Spirit. Turn the Weakness of the Former into the Willingness, abfolute Dominion, and entire Victory of the Latter. Banish every luftful Inclination after loofe Women, nor debase your excellent Self fo low, by the Efforts of Lewdnefs, as to become familiar with alluring Harlots by any effeminate Condefcentions. 'Tis below your Dignity and Noblenefs of Birth, to give your felf up to fuch vile Purfuits, or difhonourably fubmit to the corrupt Embraces, and unlawful Dalliances of any unequal

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