SIX Familiar Essays UPON Marriage, Crosses in Love, Sickness, Death, Loyalty, and Friendship,  
Written by a Lady.  
LONDON: Printed for Tho. Bennet, at the Half-Moon in St. Paul's Churchyard. 1696.   

AN EPISTLE TO THE BOOKSELLER.  
SIR,  
I Am very sensible that when a woman appears in Print, she must certainly run the Gauntlet, and therefore aught to be well armed; but if Mrs. Philips' sense, and Mrs. Behn's wit (Joined with her assurance) was not sufficient to protect them from the Critics strokes, it may very well discourage me from venturing my name in the front of this small trifle, knowing it to fall infinitely short of what has been performed by others of my Sex, and that the Censurers of our age are much more refined than they were formerly; but I perceive Novelty generally takes, bow deformed soever it is, and the Bantam Ambassadors had as many followers, as King Solomon could have had upon his arrival; therefore I hope this book may sell, if it be but for the rarity of its dress; and if it does, it may turn to your advantage, whether they can say any thing to mine or not.  
But, perhaps, Sir, you will desire me, to find some Patron under whose shadow I may shelter my failings from too strict a scrutiny; in that case I must flatter them first, that they may excuse me, after which it might trouble both our consciences, and for that reason, if you please, I will let it alone, though at the same time, I confess no paper ever came out that had more need of a Second, but I suffer it to be made public at the request of some few friends, who must blush for me, since I live in such a retirement that no reflections can reach my ears. However, because I would not be thought high minded, I will humbly address myself to the Reader.  
You Gentlemen, that are tolerably young and good natured, will kindly overlook a woman's Errors (though I have not expressed myself by the Rules of Grammar) false English being particularly entailed upon the Sex. I hope my Essay of Marriage will plead for me, and I assure you, I am one that never promotes Rebellion against your Arbitrary sway, (whensoever any of you make use of it towards your wives, though I own I think the mildest way is best) therefore as I am for condescension, without making them uneasy, whom we permit to be our Lords and Masters, in gratitude you must not be satirical upon your advocate, lest after that you find never another woman, that will advise her friends to so great obedience in the bonds of wedlock.  
But for the old surly Sages, who will scarce allow a wife to write or read, or understand any thing further than spreading Plasters, dressing Issues, etc. I expect they will condemn me unheard, as a public Neusance and a breaker of Evil customs in writing this book. I have only one thing to offer to them in my excuse, which is, to entreat them to consider that when I am writing, I am neither dressing, nor going abroad, and they esteem both to be as unlawful employments, as scribbling (unless I made a Journal of their Lives); besides, I hope I have obliged them, by giving them an opportunity of railing, that being the chief thing they delight in.  
And now for the Ladies, into whose hands I shall fall: I beseech them to be merciful for their own sakes, as well as mine, and all womankinds; to clear us from the aspersion of being always the quickest sighted into one another's infirmities, and to prevent the suspicion of their being piqued at (Patience I recomcommend) in the Essay of Marriage, which would perhaps obstruct the preferment of the Maids and Widows, if they owned it.  
Some sort of Wives, I know will make open War with me, I mean those who pretend to an Imperious management of their Husbands, but they are such Monsters in nature they deserve no Apology, nor do I value their opinion.  
This treatise was the product of a Meditation designed for the good of myself and others; if my expressions has not fully explained my sense of the matter, it is in vain to enlarge now, therefore I will conclude with the ingenious Hudibras' Rule, that 
Brevity is very good,  
When we are, or are not understood.    

ERRATA.  
P. 21. l. last, r. How little then p. 24. l. 3 f. then. r. the, p. 37. l. 2. f. mistake r. not take, p. 58. l. 17. r. without touching Pitch, p. 60. l. 6. r. his Grace, lb. l. 17. f. disease r. decease, p. 68 l. 16. f. proportion r. promotion, p. 69. l. 15. deal Never continueth in one stay, p. 74. l. 6. f. now swearing r. Non-swearing, Ib. l. 12. f. and after his r. in hopes to, p. 83. l. 19 after, Were not, add, As often, etc. p. 86. l. 15. r. in me, p. 100 l. 18. r. condescension. p. 102. l. 20. r. is an.   

AN ESSAY OF Marriage, &c,  
MArriage is Despised by some and by others too much Coveted; the first sin against the Laws of Nature, and Divine Ordination; the last against their own Quiet; for those, that are in extraordinary haste for a Settlement, (as they call it) do commonly Advance their Expectation of Happiness, much beyond what they have Possessed in a Single Life, and many times the imaginary Heaven proves a Hell.  
And though your changing your Condition, Dear Madam, had an extraordinary Prospect; yet I hear my last Letter, which was to wish you joy, found you in Sorrow; but I know you are too well Principled not to remember the time will come when the wicked cease from Troubling; the Weary will be at Rest; and if your Husband continues so Industrious to Torment you, as the World represents him, I believe you can expect little Rest till that time is come; unless it is by the inward Peace of a good Conscience, which no one can take from you, a Consolation which clamorous, gainsaying Wives, always lose; and which, I am sure, cannot be recompensed by any Point they gain; and since the Laws of God and Nations have given Man the Supreme Authority in Marriage, we ought not first to accept them upon those Terms, and then Mutiny upon all Occasions, as often as the Terms are uneasy to us; for though some Men are so kind as to make our Yoke sit light upon us; yet we take them for better or worse; and experience shows us, that the Odds are on the Worse side.  
All this we should consider before we engage ourselves in those strict Ties, which obliges us to deny our own Inclinations, if They require it; and to make it our Study to comply with Theirs. This Lesson even Human Policy will Teach us, for if we make a Man's Home less agreeable to him, than any other place, we furnish him with a good Excuse to go abroad; which can never be to the advantage of the Family, for those men whom business does not call out to get money, are sure to spend it; and he that is driven from home by a wife's ill humour, is generally more Extravagant, and thinks, he has a better pretence to be so, nay, sometimes the Provocation runs so high, as to make him Sacrifice his Body and Soul too, as well as Estate to his revenge.  
Some women indeed will divert themselves, and not seem to value it, and instead of endeavouring to win their husbands by Complaisency, turn as Extravagant as they, and strive to light the Candle at both Ends; though they know it must at last burn their fingers, and if they can neither Jump in affection nor wit, will yet Sympathize with them in their folly and excursions; but they seldom fail of suffering by their rashness, and the farther they run out, the sooner they find a check upon their expenses, besides, if they should preserve their honesty, yet they undergo the certain loss of their reputation, which is, to be valued infinitely more than their Recreations; and if they hope at last that this careless way will Reclaim the men; I fear they find themselves mistaken, however, we ought not to do Evil, that good may come of it.  
But, I, most of all, wonder at some of our Acquaintance, who seem to be sober women, and to have good sense, and yet recommend it, as the best way to deal with a passionate husband, to be more unreasonable and passionate than Herald Such bawling may perhaps silence some few men, and would be more pardonable if God as well as man were to be silenced by it, but our Religion tells us, we must not be overcome of Evil, but overcome Evil with Good, which name I presume the greatest Patroness of equal power dares not bestow upon contention, contention sets all the world in a Flame, and is indeed good for nothing in the world, and King Solomon (who is pretty often in the right) says it only comes from Pride. God grant us, so true a sense of our unworthiness, as may abate that high conceit which makes us unable to bear a contradiction; you will wonder perhaps to hear me preach, and yet I cannot forbear to tell you that our Blessed Saviour Commands us, not to do, as we are done by, but as we would have others do to us; and if they are sometimes wanting in the return, I doubt we are much oftener remiss in setting the Example, not at all regarding the strict precepts and pattetns he left us, of Love and Gentleness to each other, which himself exercised to his most barbarous Enemies, during his stay upon the Earth, and does still exercise in his intercession for us in Heaven; he bids us learn of him, For he is meek and lowly, and our Souls shall find rest; And if meekness is the way to be at rest, why should any Argument prevail with us to leave it, or what can we hope to get by our perverseness, but the discomposing of both our Bodies and Souls? St. James says, The tongue is an unruly Member, and set on fire of Hell, which flame never appears so black, as when a woman takes the liberty to speak, against her husband, all the picquant things which the Devil, or her Resentment, which is a kind of Devil inspires her with. We commonly say, that a madman is possessed, and every one, that is not in a rage himself, will allow passion to be a temporary madness, that makes men act as irrationally as Lunatics, though not as excusably as they; because they have not the same miserable resistless distemper, to plead for the involuntary wrongs they do. Now these their furious Representatives will perhaps tell you, that theirs also is a natural Infirmity, a violent Distemper which they strive against, what force they offer to their Inclinations themselves know best, for very little effects of it are visible to others; however, these imperious men imagine, that pretence will sweeten the matter, and make us swallow the bitter draught, but what can justify women whom God has made of a milder temper, if they should take pains to change their Dispositions, only in hopes of a little better treatment for the present, (which they may fail of too) and at the same time set aside that patiented abiding of the meek, which God has promised with an Oath that it shall not perish for ever? It must therefore necessarily be a distrust of his promises to recompense our Patience, or preferring a little Momentary satisfaction before any reward he designs us, that (after such encouragement) can carry us to wrath and peevishness, which though it may gratify our passion to let it out, yet our reason will quickly wish it in a gain; if a husband is unkind and difficult, it is a great affliction, and the holy Scripture tells us, all things of that nature are grievous, but as contrary as they are to flesh and blood, we are sensible they arise not from the dust, and that it is not for us to contend with our Maker. He that can with a word control the Fury of the Winds and Seas, can, with as little trouble, avert any storm that threatens us, when he sees us fit for the mercy of a Deliverance; and if we should attempt by any invention of our own to shake off the Yoke, or think by struggling to make the Chain sit loser upon us; we should perceive ourselves much in the wrong, like birds taken in a net, who, by beating their feathers off, increase their Misery, and at the same time disable themselves from making their escape, those amongst us that have been so obliging, never to deserve an ill word from our Persecutors, must acknowledge we every day merit God's Chastisements, and know that wicked and unreasonable Men are a Sword of his, and this Sword does indeed wound us the deeper, the more we love the hand which he employs to correct us; but how sharp soever it is we should not repine, considering the first cause is to humble us, in order to draw us nearer to himself. He has said those, that have suffered, have ceased to sin, and when we arrive to that degree of perfection, we shall doubtless be free from all our sufferings, but as long as we continue to offend, we shall be punished either in this world, or, what is infinitely worse, in the world to come; where the Worm never dies, and where the Fire is never quenched.  
But setting all religious Motives to quietness a part, it is a very silly thing for people to quarrel, who must be friends again, unless they are indifferent in the point, choosing rather to live asunder than submit silently to many things that they cannot approve; I will not pretend to Determine what provocation is sufficient to justify such a breach, nor to say that such a breach cannot be justified, since much better Women than myself have parted from their husbands; but they seem sincerely to lament the separation, nor does their carriage accuse them to have done it lightly, or upon the account of taking their pleasures, which would soon be discovered, for, in such Circumstances, many eyes are upon them, and they must live more reserved than the rest of the world, or else they would quickly be liable to such a censure, as must vindicate their husbands for leaving them.  
And though in all quarrels betwixt a man and his wife, if it come to a hot dispute, there is faults in both Parties, yet the weaker vessel is so little considered for being weak, that they are blamed sometimes much more than they deserve; which censure they can no ways prevent so well as by a strict observance of their duties, and endeavouring, in all their Actions to have a Conscience void of offence, towards God and towards Men. Nothing upon Earth can be said to afford a real satisfaction, only as our Imagination makes it appear so at a distance, and this prospect of happiness is dressed by fancy in such various shapes, that what would be a delight to one, would be a penance to another; and age or possession does sometimes give the same persons such different gustoes, that they grow sick of the very thing they languished for before; this is probably the reason why old people are so much for denying young ones, the Innocent Diversions they are grown weary of themselves; though perhaps at the same time they gratify their own foible in some other kind, at least as ridiculous, but if there were any intrinsic worth in whatever worldly thing, we are importunately Solicitous about, would any Parent be so inhuman to abridge their Children of it, more than they do of the common mercies God allows, of eating, drinking, and sleeping, which every body acknowledges to be good; and so they must our other Enjoyments too, had not experience evinced an imperfection in them enough to balk our Appetites?  
It is this contrariety in wills that makes Matrimony so uneasy, for when each sets up a several Diana to worship, their hearts cannot be full of affection to one another, and if both are bigoted to their own ways, it too often ruins not only themselves, but their innocent children, a sad effect of their Divisions which they are not ware of, and yet must dearly answer for hereafter.  
But you, Madam, are not in danger of this error being of too complying a nature, to bring yourself and others into any inconveniency upon that score, and I rejoice extremely to hear how unmoved you appear under so great a Provocation; for I confess, I think a husband's keeping another before one's eyes, is the unkindest thing he can do, yet even in that case, it is most prudent to show no frowardness; for the mistress will be sure to entertain him with mirth and caressing, which will make the wife's frowns seem more intolerable, and such women never fail to magnify all Domestic Accidents. These are indeed the chiefest estrangers of Conjugal Love, for Them the Gentlemen put on their best Countenances, and with them they pass their most pleasant hours, the indignation is reserved for the wife of the Bosom, who must have a share in nothing but the Grievances, till at last they are partners in their wants; which commonly attend such courses; some few instances we have had of husbands who have been reclaimed by a wife's tenderness, before the intrigue has gone too far, but I think, none was ever hectored out of it; but I suppose the hen-pecked Sparks, that are under such Correction, dare not presume to give such offence. However, I am sure, you are very much in the right only to tell him, with all imaginable Gentleness, your sentiments of the matter, and to pray to God to convert him: Some Gentlemen, are so kind to their wives, as to endeavour to conceal their falsehood, which if they do, it is very indiscreet for the Ladies to be so curious to inquire into it, and they are none of their friends that give them the information; he, that goes about to hid his Amour, shows either a sense of shame, or regard to his Spouse, and that may in time wean them from such Company; it is a sign at least he does not desire to grieve her, which most men esteem their great Prerogative, and would lose half their satisfaction in their intrigues, if the wife were not tormented by it, though there are those that have stretched the string till it has broke, and with such treatment it can only be an extraordinary Principle, that keeps any woman from returning the Compliment, to which Pride and Revenge will both incline her, for a Gallant's Admiration repairs the affront which a husband puts upon her Charms, by giving her place to another that is perhaps less handsome than herself. This has been thought a plausible excuse by several women, that, upon their husbands running astray, have diverted their Melancholy hours to the loss of their honour; and the continual discord of their house, unless they agree (like a couple I have heard of) to assist, rather than interrupt one another's harlotery, which is an agreement more scandalous and more dangerous than any quarrel. But whatever I have said of mutual failings, I do not make any Comparison in favour of my own Sex; for I know the wrong is infinitely greater in the wife, as she may bring another Man's child to inherit an Estate, and the crime more detestable, Modesty being the highest Ornament of Womankind, which makes their casting it off a sin both against God and Nature, and though it gratifies some of their passions, yet is sure to lead them into many strange Inconveniencies here; (besides what they must expect hereafter) I should not have mentioned any thing upon this subject, but that you know more already of your husband's taking liberty in that way, than I have spoke of; and I wish with all my heart that it had been in my power, to have spared you the trouble of being sensible that he is guilty, but he depends so much upon your goodness, as to make your own eyes your informers, which I would ne'er have been, having felt too much of the plague of Jealousy to infect my friend, though my case (and yours I believe too) is not properly to be called Jealousy but Assurance; for Jealousy is Suspicion, and I did not mistrust any thing of my husband's falsehood, till it was too plain to deserve that name, and therefore did not owe my torment to any inquisitiveness of my own, no more than I perceive you do, I always thought it very foolish, to search into what would be so unwelcome if it were discovered.  
But now, since it has pleased the alwise disposer of our fates, to make our misfortunes visible to us, and all that knows us, let us in the first place humbly beseech him, to grant that these afflictions may turn to the good of the Souls, and in the next place, try, by all the engaging means we can, to supplant the invaders of our rights, and recover our alienated Masters, in which attempt, though our kindness has hitherto proved ineffectual, yet if we continue in spite of all their slights, to take care never to offend them, it will certainly either before our Deaths, or after, give them a sense that we merited a faithfuller return, and may be useful to them in making this, and all their other vices more odious to their remembrance at last, though mistresses and wine may for a time divert these reflections for the present, but wine is a small transgression when named after the other, unless it be in some ill natured, ill tempered Man, whom drink always puts upon the fret and makes them apt to quarrel with every thing they see, if it be true (as I hear by common report) that your Spouse is often in that humour; I am sure, it is safest for you at that time to avoid him, if he will permit it; but if he is resolved, Drunk and Sober, to persecute you, there is no remedy but patience.  
This sort of Debauchery is a very Slovenly Qualification; but is a virtue compared to Gaming, for when that bewitches a Man, either with, or without the Bottle, it makes his wife and children too (if he have any) much more unhappy; He that Drinks and Plays both, aught to be confined as a Prisoner to his Chamber, or else in a short time he may lie in the streets; not that I think, it is a wife's office to secure him there, but, if he has a grain of understanding left, he ought to secure himself, though it were only in kindness to his Family, and not be so shamefully and blindly led, by the rooks and setters of the Town, who live plentifully out of their Cullies pockets, in the mean time the poor wife is like to get but little rest, that has her husband fallen into their Clutches, whether they send him home with his head full, or only with his pocket empty, her disturbance is much the same, for though they perhaps may manage him so well as to make him pleasant in company, yet when they have bit him, he gins to smart, as soon as he gins to cool and generally returns in fury to his own bed; however, the person, that is sensible of her husband's being in this hazard, must needs be disturbed all night by the apprehensions, that before morning they may have nothing left, and towards day she hears him cursing and damning his ill luck, when chance had nothing to do in the matter; the Plot being laid too deep for the Dice to help him. Now having no money left, one would think he should sleep the quieter (since he is not in fear of thiefs) but instead of that, he lies studying where to get a little more cash to fetch the rest back, as he thinks, though in reality it is to fling after that which is never to be retrieved; if his wife has any Gold or Jewels, perhaps he may condescend to give her good words that she may part with them, with the more privacy (being out of Countenance at first to have his faults known) but when she can no longer be serviceable to supply him, he grumbles at her most necessary expenses, because he has so much the less to throw away.  
This must be a cutting thing to those who have bred their children like people of fashion; having the prospect of an Estate suitable to it; and when they grow up, to see them reduced to beggary, by their father's obstinate vanity of shaking his Elbows.  
Yet in this, and all occasions there is a place where we may find comfort, if we apply ourselves rightly to it, and lay up our treasure where neither moth nor rust can deprive us, nor any cruel husband squander it a way; He that provides for the young ravens will not be less merciful to us and ours, when we cry to him and depend upon him for succour, and to make us less Solicitous about the time to come, he has told us that sufficient to the day is evil thereof, and really I believe very few married women, find any one day without evil enough, to exercise their patience with, for as soon as honey moon is over the blades begin to show us, that though they have Deified us hitherto, yet they thought us no better than poor silly Mortals all the while, whom they flatter only in order to oppress, and instead of the Airy promises they have elevated us withal, when we think to take home our slaves, we perceive we have caught a Tartar; perhaps some women that know my opinion will say, the worst of husbands is good enough for me; because I am so much for an entire submission to their wills in every thing that is not sinful, and I know this maxim is an abomination to all high Spirited Ladies, and most odious to the unmarried; whom the Gentlemen are so sweet upon, as make them believe they will be Governed by them to all Eternity, which Imagination is too pleasing to be removed, by any body's Experience but their own.  
For my part, if I commit a fault against my Sex in being for so much Resignation, they must pardon me, for all my acquaintance would answer for me, if I appealed to them, that I cannot advise others to more obedience than I practise myself; and I entreat them that despise me, as being a tame fool for doing so, that they would banish all anger out of their breasts for one year, and then tell me if they have not more content in forgiving than returning a reproach: I do not pretend to be so free from gall, but that I could sometimes express a resentment, if such thoughts were not suppressed by duty more than fear, I mean the fear of anger, from those that are the first aggressors, but being sudden heats distract the mind, and take it from the service of God; we cannot watch too strictly against an inbred Enemy that will destroy us, if we do not keep it under, whose Dictates we have less excuse to follow that are of a colder, than they of a more fiery Constitution; yet without the assistance of our Heavenly Father, the Devil would suggest Malice enough into any of us, to make us like himself, whom let us carefully avoid in all temptations; and then we shall be sure to meet once more to our Everlasting joy, then will all these tribulations appear, if we can hear that happy sound, Blessed are ye that mourn, for you shall be comforted, not that I take it to be meant for Mourning after the goods of this Life, (though I hope we shall be pardoned for natural sorrow) but I trust in his mercy that in the midst of all tempestuous thoughts within us, his comforts shall refresh our Souls. I fear I have already exceeded the bounds of a Letter, for which I ought to make an Apology, but more words would give you more trouble, therefore I will only beg you to excuse and Love. Yours, etc.   

AN ESSAY UPON Crosses in Love, IN A Letter to a Friend, whose Lover Married another and left her Basely.  
OUR Expectation of happiness is (generally) so ill placed from all things in this Life, that it is no wonder we find perpetual Disappointments in them; but when passion makes our choice, we have so very blind a guide as will inevitably lead us to Destruction, and though Love appears then gentlest and best natured of all those Troops, which daily rises in Rebellion against Religion and Reason; yet our affections are so much the right of our Almighty Creator, that as often as we fix them immoderately upon any of the fading objects here below (how tempting soever they seem to us) we are certainly guilty of Sacrilege towards the Divine Goodness, which fault is commonly punished by the very thing we dote upon.  
This (my dear Friend,) I doubt has been your Case, and not yours alone; for soon or late, few escape that mischief, especially amongst our weaker Sex, whose tender Nature leaves them most exposed to Ruin, and tho' they see other Shipwrecked before their Eyes, will venture out to Sea on the same bottom, insensible of danger till themselves perish and sometimes fall unpitied.  
Men have a thousand advantages over us, but in the affair of Courtship they add cunning to all their other Accomplishments, and are as truly Zealous to deceive us, as if their Lives (and Souls too) would be made happy by the cheat; a sad mistake I doubt they will find it at the Last (if perjury is to be accounted for) though your false Traitor like many others, looks upon that time of reckoning at a great distance. Yet since he is not sure it is so, I wish for his own sake at least he would reflect how he could receive that sentence, Thou fool, this night thy perjured Soul shall be required of thee, but I suppose he thinks himself excused as being more knave than fool, which Title indeed is so highly due to him, that I believe none (that knows him) will do him such manifest wrong as to dispute it; and I am sure, the blacker he appears, the greater cause you have to bless that Providence, which permitted him to break the Contract (since you were not in the least accessary to the parting) for without doubt, he, that proved so ill a Lover to the best of Mistresses, would have made an intolerable husband to the best of wives, and his ill usage would have cost you more tears than his Infidelity (I hope) will do; though I am sensible a heart, so generous and constant as yours, cannot easily efface the deep impression he has made in it; that must be the work of time with God's assistance, which I hope will never fail you, but my weak Arguments can avail little; yet I beg you to accept them kindly as they are meant, and pardon this Freedom, since it proceeds from a Friendship as sincere as your own thoughts; For I do assure you, I am deeply touched with every thing that concern you, nor is it without great regret, that I submit to my unhappy Circumstances detaining me from being the Companion of your saddest hours, which I should endeavour with all my power, to divert from so ill a subject; you say it is a daily aggravation to your trouble, to think you suffered yourself to be so blindly imposed on, but that as I told you before is but our common, alas, too common fate, though all Impostors are not so industriously wicked, and you ought not to condemn your own Judgement, for want of discovering a cheat, that blinded all the witnesses of his pretensions to you; they must be well versed in Villainy that could imagine a Man should take such extraordinary pains to gain your kindness, for no other end but only to make you miserable in this world, and himself so in the next; 'tis true, when a Man of no fortune Courts a woman that is very Rich, prudence obliges her to stand upon her Guard, and to be well informed of her Lover's Principles, before she gives Credit to his Vows; for she that is content to lessen herself in Gratitude to a Man's affections, and neglect her own Advancement, aught to take particular care she does not sell her Estate and person for nothing; yet after all the caution she can possibly use, she may (too late) find herself deceived, for he that seeks his own Establishment seldom wants Hypocrisy to act what part he pleases.  
I have lately seen a deplorable instance of this in poor old Delia, who at fourscore married young Strephon in pity to his sufferings, being convinced by a thousand proofs that he could not live without her (though she has since had abundant cause to repent of her Charity) but he was at the trouble of Counterfeiting a good while, and had the art to look pale, sigh and languish violently for her, her money I mean (the only charm she was mistress of) which so dazzled his Eyes, that he had been married to her three days before he perceived she wanted an Eye; however, his apprehension is grown much quicker since, and now he discovers so many Imperfections in her, as he fancies will justify all his ill usage, which is indeed sufficient to need a greater excuse.  
When she reproaches him with his perfidiousness, he tells her, if her understanding had not been as blind as her left Eye, she must have discerned what he aimed at; when she scolds he laughs, and says, she had better forbear barking now she has no teeth to by't; those that are near her tells me, he has made her distracted; but I believe he found her so, or else she would never have entertained him upon that account; he is just going to send her into the Country to meditate upon her good Conduct, (thinking salads and pudding a very convenient diet for her gums) which will give him an opportunity to enjoy his own pleasures, and her Estate with the greater freedom.  
When a woman is Courted by a Man whose Circumstances are much above hers, she should be very reserved, for it is ten to one his design is not honourable, or if it be a modest denial will make him the more eager, as love was always observed to increase by opposition; nor can we be too tender in the point which concerns our reputation; these Sparks are generally more dangerous Enemies than the last I mentioned, both as our Souls are of infinite consequence, more than our well beings in this world and our own ambition, joining with their flattery, helps to undo us; this bait perhaps did first ensnare half the lewd women about the Town, amongst the rest Cloe, our Neighbour, is now a sufferer by it.  
When Philander began to visit her, all her friends gave her warning not to trust any fair promises, nor permit her virtue so much as to be once attempted; since as a learned pious Man says, he advances too far that comes to be denied, for those inclinations may be checked in the beginning by a look, that upon small encouragement will appear in the highest impudence; (as she found by sad experience) but she was so besotted by the gaudy prospect, that she soon forgot to keep her due distance and (consequently) he as soon lost his respect; she feared Coyness would obstruct her Grandeur which she valued beyond all things, and had that confidence in his vows to love her Eternally, that she believed herself the mistress of his life and fortune; but he took so much advantage of her security as to compass his own ends, and has since got an opportunity (by the way of wheadle) to tore those papers he had given her as a proof of his good intentions; which, if she had preserved till now, might have obliged him to make her some small reparation for the wrong he had done her, though he was too cunning to write any thing that would absolutely have bound him to marriage (however she did falsely understand it) but she was not so nice in keeping this writing as she ought to have been, thinking she had a stricter tye upon him, by the mighty passion he pretended; which she now finds, is, vanished into Air.  
When he first avoided her Conversation she raved, and was almost ready to destroy herself, she found all the ways she tried to recall him were ineffectual, till at last quite tired with her importunities to return, he plainly sent her word he was going to marry a Lady that was Rich and Virtuous, that since she could pretend to neither of those Qualifications, she ought not to complain; this message struck her with a sense of her own weakness, and the good advice she had neglected; Oh, how happy such a bauk in her first amour, might have proved, if she had grace enough to consider her Eternal good, and to make a right use of her afflictions, but instead of imploring the mercy of that God, whom she had so highly offended, she railed and cursed, accusing even th' Almighty Powers of Injustice, for not being more propitious to her folly and wickedness, when she had passed a month in fruitless grief, upon examining her own heart, she discovered that in spite of her Satyrs against mankind, she could not live without them, nor leave that wretched course of life she was entered into; therefore her looking-glass informing her, that tears had been a very great enemy to her beauty, she immediately resolved to use all her Art to repair that fault, and soon after appeared in the Box at the Playhouse, with as much assurance as if she had no crime to blush for; it was there Pamphilus saw her, Pamphilus, who was never insensible to the advances a Coquet made him, became her humble admirer, and his pretensions agreeing extremely with her designs, they quickly contracted a close Correspondence; she expecting nothing beyond the present Enjoyment, made the most of her Diversions and his purse, and they seemed as fond of one another as if their Souls had been united, but alas, Love, which is built upon such a Foundation, can never continue long, and accordingly theirs is already at an end, without much disturbance on either side, their parting was so easy no body can tell which was weary first, they both pretend to the Glory of Inconstancy, and to their comforts, are both engaged in fresh intrigues.  
Pardon me Dear Madam, for this Digression, in giving you an account of those you have some knowledge of, though their Actions show how little they improved by good Acquaintance; a Letter from London ought to have some News, and I shall think myself happy, if mine can amuse your thoughts for a small time, all the world knows their cases are not in the least parallel to yours, yet if fewer greater errors can justify our failings, their want of foresight, to so high a Degree, should make you esteem it a less weakness in yourself, to be deluded by a person, that seemed to every one (as well as you) to be so very good, so very faithful; it was those well Counterfeited Accomplishments that made him master of your Affections, but since you find him, that you took for an Angel of light, was in reality a Devil, as the cause is removed, the effect should cease; and nothing now appearing of what you valued, you should never more remember him but with abhorrence, nor can you envy her who has the misfortune to be his Wife; for besides his ill Temper which is unmasked (and has been plentifully shown in his Carriage to you of late) all these terrible Imprecations which he used to remove your suspicions of his Integrity, hang heavy o'er his head, and will, I fear, involve his Family in Ruin; especially since she knew, before she received him, what deep Engagements he must break through to marry her: and I can scarce believe she could be so conceited of her own Merits, to think he preferred her before you, upon any other account but having a little more Money (though yours was equal to his Estate, if it had been what he represented it when he first treated with your Relations): Had she made use of her Reason, she would have hated so Mercenary a Lover; and had she consulted either that or her Conscience, both would have joined in warning her to fly a Serpent who had so barbarously bit another only for cherishing him, in pity to his pretended pain: but hereafter she may see her Error, and smart for the Wound she has helped to give you; yet as none of these things come by Chance, and you know by whose permission they are transacted; I doubt not you will look up to the (first) hand by whom the Blow was directed, and yield quietly to it; I wish you could so far overcome your passion as to do it thankfully; for all your Friends look upon it as a great Deliverance, and time may convince you that it is so; but this I am confident you are sensible of already, that it is designed for your good, and are so much a Christian, that you will endeavour to make a right use of it; for whatever Idea, you have entertained of Felicity in being his, will be abundantly greater as well as surer, in your Contemplation of the Love and Goodness of God, who suffers us to meet with Disappointments in this Life to make us seek our Happiness in another. He only can give us true content, whom we seldom regard but when we are driven to it by necessity: how remiss then should we be in doing our Duties, if all our Undertake were attended with success, which makes us so eager in the pursuit of pleasure, that we can think of nothing else; though almost every day's Experience informs us, that it is impossible to find any delight without a mixture of bitterness and sorrow, which one would imagine were sufficient to drive us from placing our satisfactions in those things that perish in the using; and the truer perfection we fancy to be in them, the more sensible shock, each change, each deprivation gives us, what sordid poor wretches must we then be, who, after the paying so dear for our knowledge, are still ignorant, that what we covet incessantly is but vanity and vexation of Spirit; this we are told by him, who had tried all the alluring Charms of Love and Beauty, whose Quality and Riches gave him the opportunity to gratify every Inclination, and set no bounds to his wishes; if he found such emptiness in possession of them, it is no wonder every one of us, must discover the same truth to our own cost, if we will mistake it upon his experience, let us therefore resolve upon all occasions, to submit our wills as much as we can to the will of our Heavenly Father; and then we need not fear but he will repair all our Losses, and Redress all our wrongs, and in lieu of a deceitful Lover whom you have lost, You will find a most Gracious God who is constant to all those that are true to him, and severe upon all those that are false to others.  
Your Humble Servant.   

AN ESSAY OF SICKNESS A Letter to a Friend, who had been dangerously III.  
AFter so long, so strict a Friendship, as has been Inviolably preserved betwixt us; I hope it is not necessary for me to assure you, how eagerly I wished to pass this Summer with you; but wherever I am my heart is firmly yours, (that heart which by a thousand obligations is tied for ever to you). I know your Husband's and Mother's tenderness would render my care of you very needless as to the Nursing part, and my great impatience to see you, now you are ill, is (chief) because I could better trust my own Eyes, than any other's account how you are, (lest they flatter me in pity to my trembling Expectations) I must own my concern for you would make me unserviceable (if not troublesome) had I been with you; though none has a truer desire to assist you at all times, but our Heavenly Father's will must be submitted to in this, as well as every other occurrence that we meet with, and it will be no small trial of my patience to go so much further from you. I, who think every Post an Age in coming, shall now to my grief be infinitely more uncertain, how it may please the great Physician of our Souls and Bodies, to deal with you since my Husband's Affairs obliges us to cross the Seas.  
Whilst we continue in this World, we are subject to variety of Afflictions, and whensoever God sees fit to lay severe pain or sickness either upon ourselves, or those that are dear to us, we must be forced to acknowledge that we are but miserable comforters, not being able to afford each other a moment's ease or satisfaction; want of health vitiates the palate and takes off our taste from all things valuable in this Life, embittering every Enjoyment; as for the noise and bussles which at another time divert, they do then become Insupportable Disturbers of our Rest; and if formerly we have been never so much entertained by them, yet we find not the least remains of Inclinations left, but are willing if we can to lie still and forget 'em.  
Riches and Honours, as tempting as they appear to the greatest votaries when well, yet in sickness, if they are accompanied with their usual train of Visitants and Courtship, instead of doing us good by gratifying our Ambition, they help to foment the Distemper but are far from curing it.  
And as Crowned heads are no more exempt from the sword of the destroying Angel, than the poorest Beggars, we may learn from their Anguish how little we ought to value Grandeur, which can give us no assistance in our Extremities; a downe-bed is not a better insurer of sleep in such a case, than a heap of straw (to those that were always used to it) and a King that groans under a hopeless sharp Disease (though he has been never so absolute) is made quickly sensible, it takes its Commission from a higher power than his, and must without Resistance yield to its Assaults in spite of all the Doctors, who, 'tis ten to one to show their Zeal, increase his Torments by their fruitless Operations; and distinguish him from the Vulgar, by making him smart more; it is then, he esteems himself wretched beyond any of his Servants, in their full strength, and would (were it possible) change places with them; health, Alas! is a mercy which is not regarded till it is lost.  
Sickness, multiplies all our other Grievances, as well as renders us incapable of pleasures, and the weakness of the body has such effect upon the mind, that it sinks under those troubles that would not move it at another time, but our Judgement decaying with us (which should fill the breast with well digested thoughts) we shall too soon find its place supplied by wild Chimeras of our own; and startle every moment at Giants of our own raising up, than every hasty word affrights, and every whisper gives us an Alarm, and a show of the least unkindness strikes us lower than it found us; nay, sometimes we are so unjust to charge our best friends for failing in their Love or Diligence, when they have toiled about us, to a degree that we cannot mention without thanks and blushing after our recovery; and when the want of ability to help ourselves, forces us to become burdensome to others, instead of excusing the trouble; we are apt to increase their uneasiness by continual fretting; this is the common method through which the sick afflict their own Brains, and their Attendant's cares, but God's name be blessed, who, as he always endued you with an Extraordinary patience, does not suffer it to leave you in this Trial; for though Complaining may satisfy the fancy at the present, it must needs disorder the whole frame of the Body, much more than lying quiet till he that made us, is pleased to restore us to health and ease, but it is not in our power to do this without his help.  
Tumbling and Moaning, our misery is indeed so very natural that of ourselves we cannot forbear it, though we know it racks the head, endangers cold, and what is worst of all, raiseth the Vapours, an Enemy we seldom have the skill to lay again, Vapours that are alone, a Distemper which fills the Imagination with a thousand terrifying whimsies; and not only Altars, but totally deprives us of our senses, and appears like a forerunner of Death to them that see, as well as they who feel, it's most amazing symptoms, this sort of illness varies very often and baffles both them that prescribe, and them that apply the Remedies; and much less can they, who are overcome by the apprehensions of its fatal Consequences, give a just account of themselves; for it seizes so deeply upon their Intellects, that they read their doom in every sad look, and are ready to grasp at the least Discouragement, to feed the conceit of their own being past all hopes of Recovery: and this opinion when it is fixed, not only obstructs the cure, but makes them resent it, if their friends do not altogether credit the dismal Relation they give of their own Condition; which however they find to their comforts, that they often represent more dangerous than it proves, they think you do them a great deal of wrong, if you question their understanding in the case; but the learned have been convinced by many years' experience, that vapours mimic all other Diseases, and deceive none so much as those that have 'em; Melancholy will raise the Spleen in Sickness (and sometimes in Health) to such a height that they almost die daily in their belief, not in the Apostle's meaning, for though the best of Christians are as liable to this misfortune as any other, (it being a defect in Nature not in Grace) I doubt it is a certain hindrance in all their Duties, which we hope, however, that God will mercifully accept, if their desires are bend sincerely towards him, according to their strength; for at his Throne the intentions are more considered than a studied Speech, for he knows our necessities before we ask, but oh! how happy are they whose minds living and dying are Composed in his Service, whom no care nor pain Distracts, and are able, in all the Providences of the Almighty, to say his will be done; not that the best amongst us are capable of this Resignation, without a particular support from above, we must only beseech him if he sees it consistent with our Soul's good, that these houses of clay where he has placed them may molder away so gently, as to give our better part as little emotion as is possible in such a separation, and that he would in mercy translate them from Praising him on Earth, to sing Eternal Hallelujahs to his Name in Heaven; which scene of Bliss exceeds our Comprehensions, let us therefore humbly adore without pretending to search into these sacred mysteries, and by a steady faith in our Redeemer's merits, expect to receive what he has purchased, for as many as believe in him, and do his will, if we have this Glorious Prospect before our Eyes, it will prove the Richest Cordial to our drooping Spirits, and make up for all we suffer in our passage, though it is rugged and contrary to flesh and blood, whose dictates we are subject to follow, as long as they are about us, which occasions repining at our sufferings, till we lose that thought in remembering the price of our high calling; not that I think a guess is to be made at any person's future Estate by their Patience, or Impatience on a sick bed, much allowance is to be given to their Dispositions and the nature of their illness; which if it affects the head, it is no longer themselves that Act, and Consequently they ought not to be accountable for it: at least not to us who are liable to the same infirmities, and know not how soon the mildest of us may grow peevish under an acute, or Languishing Distemper; but in this and all other Trials, it is God alone that is a sure Rock, in the needful time of trouble, when humane frailty stifles our reasoning, if he pleases to lay his hand under us, and let his right hand sustain us, though we walk in the valley of the shadow of Death, yet shall we fear no Evil, for his Rod and and his Staff is sufficient to comfort us.  
Now when he lays his Rod without his Staff, who can abide it in such a day of distress, there is no shelter; should we lean upon any other for help, they would prove as spears to pierce our hearts, or as weak Reeds that will quickly bend under us, leaving us destitute and exposed to Temptations and Sorrows; particularly when we find a Deprivation of Health, which the Devil who knows our blind sides very well, believed to be so unguarded a fort that he thought himself assured Job's integrity would fall a victim to him by it, if he had God's permission to attack him there; skin for skin says he, and all that a Man has will he give for his Life; but though neither the force nor cunning of this Enemy, joined with the cruel reproofs of his friends, had the power to make him charge God foolishly (how severely soever he was Tormented by them yet it did compel him to break out in bitter Exclamations, against the day of his Birth, and in the midst of his Resignation, he expressed a deep sense of his Calamities; it is no wonder then if we Complain since that was done by so great an Example of patience, of whom our Cteator declared, that there was at that time none like him upon the Earth: and in this degenerate Age I fear there are still fewer Imitators of his virtues, but as God has not given us the same strength as he had, neither has he suffered us to fall into such Afflictions in Body and Estate; for if he did, I doubt we should speak unadvisedly with our Lips.  
But too many, amongst us, seldom need his miseries to carry them to a fault; that is now daily practised without any excuse but mere Diversion, or an Idle Custom, by men of all ranks, whose common Discourses are so stuffed with Oaths, and horrid Imprecations, that one would conclude Job's wife were there Spiritual guide, they show such readiness to curse God, and call not only for Temporal but Eternal Death, invoking him at every word to damn and sink 'em, little reflecting how dreadful a sentence they would bring upon their own heads, if he should say, Amen: I doubt it would signify nothing, when they come into another Region, to pretend they were not in earnest in what they spoke so devoutly; yet after all, I am far from imagining they mean what they say; but since some have been snatched out of the world, with those words in their mouth, I think the danger considerable enough to be avoided, and I fancy these Martyrs in the cause, making so horrible an Exit, could be no Encouragement to their followers, who dare scarce vindicate the crime they Commit; I wish it had more force to deter them from showing such irreverance to the most high God, and mentioning the Blood of the Covenant as an unholy thing, by mixing it in all their filthy jests, or sometimes using the wounds of the Meek, the Blessed Jesus, to express their rage and lust, endeavouring one way or other, to draw him in as a Confederate to Debauchery and Oppression, who knew no sin, neither was any guile found in his Lips; and, as if this were not sufficient to make them in danger of Hell fire, they add (the lesser weight) of not only despising their Brother, but breathing continual Execrations against him, upon every frivolous occasion; and sometimes in good fellowship, as if they only cursed him to the Devil that they might not be parted.  
This is strange daring in the strongest Constitutions, but to hear those who are scarce able to creep about, that look like Lazarus fetched from the Grave, and are rotten enough to be worms meat before they come there; to hear these poor Mortals venture to provoke and (seem sometimes to) defy the hand which has almost crushed them to pieces already, is surely the height of Impudence, and must cost them many sad thoughts, if they have but sense enough to think of that place whither they are going, and to which their own curses have condemned them; but I am afraid, whoever indulged themselves in this, or any other sin, upon the hopes of a Deathbed Repentance, found it a very improper Season, and would not advise their Friends to delay it so long; it must be very difficult when the body and mind are wearied with their Distemper, to call the Conscience to an account for what was so customary to them, that they were hardly sensible when they did it, and could not in perfect health endure the Fatigue of slightly recollecting their Souls.  
But besides the more than ordinary pains, besides the hazard of not having opportunity given for this dilatory way of making our Peace, and our great unfitness to begin this work, when we can have so little assistance from within; some have been split upon another Rock, and fallen into a dreadful despair of God's mercy, which is the most insufferable torment that flesh and blood can feel, and is as much beyond Description, as the Heaven they think they are excluded from; It may then truly be said, the whole Head is heavy, the whole Heart is sick, and renders them incapable of one minutes ease; for the Spirit of a Man may bear his infirmities, but a wounded Spirit, oh! Lord, who can bear.  
Nothing transcends their misery, except that Everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels, which is so lively represented to their Imaginations, that it gives them a taste of the flame and brimstone into which they fancy they are Dropping; how prudent are they who consider and avoid this precipice; for early or late, we shall all find what fruits we shall have of those things whereof we are, or should be ashamed, but though cursing and swearing is grown a bold faced transgression, and people are not much given to be ashamed of it at present, they will find in the end it must be accounted for, and they cannot deny but it is the most unprofitable of all sins; for it damns a Man for a little Air, or extorts a dear Repentance from them, without being enticed by any pleasure into their fault.  
A disturbed Conscience is certainly the saddest Circumstance of a sick friend, and I hearty beseech God to keep me and all I am concerned in, from falling into it, that we may never have a distrust of our Salvation through Jesus Christ, nor presume groundlessly upon his Merits, without lamenting and forsaking our sins.  
But your Life hitherto has been so strictly pious, that I do not in the least apprehend you want a summons from me to look up to him, who is the Author and the Finisher of your Faith, and to call upon him in all distresses: no, to my Joy, I hear how constant you are to your Devotion in the midst of your pains, and that you retain your ever quiet temper, under those variety of tortures, that might discompose the strongest brains, that you show no repining at the will of our Heavenly Father.  
All this sedate frame of yours, being considered, it may appear very impertinent in me, to mention several things that my pen slipped into; but I was forcibly led into it by some unhappy instances, that I have lately seen of those who in their health could talk irreverently enough of a leap in the Dark, but in their sickness had a glimpse of fire, though not of light, only so much as served to convince them, that they were altogether out of their way; but God who opened their Eyes, I hope did at the last forgive their offences.  
We have the Example of the repenting Thief upon the Cross, which must prevent our passing Judgement upon one another, and yet those that are the witnesses of their sufferings, who lie under the torment of a troubled Conscience, will find little Encouragement to undertake their courses, though there is a possibility of pardon, but let us make our calling and Election more sure, and work before the night comes, the night of Affliction either in body or mind, for when we are declining in our healths, or clouded in our thoughts, how unfit are we to Judge of, or to improve our Soul's Condition; what a sad turn shall we make, if instead of remembering our Creator in the days of our Youth, we resolve to have as little as we can to do with him, till wearied in the Devil's Employments, and assaulted by him for doing no more; We should cry, Lord have mercy upon us, and betake ourselves to Heaven, when we can stay no longer here, never looking for Oil in our Lamps, till the Bridegrooms coming, from whose presence, God grant, we may never be shut out. But I forget, much reading may incommode you, who wish you all Health, and am Yours.   

AN ESSAY UPON DEATH IN A Letter to a Friend, Who had Buried her Husband.  
IMpute not my silence, Dear Madam, to any want, but the excess of kindness, which makes me too much a Partner in your sorrow, to find words at all suitable to the share I have with you in it; if therefore I am the last in Condoling your great Loss, I do most faithfully assure you, it is no insensibility, but the highest Degree of Love and Tenderness towards you, that occasioned it; the grief that is least, is soon expressed, and perhaps the more noise it makes, the less mischief is sustained by it: had I been unconcerned, my pen and thoughts had been freer; and (though I could have said nothing sufficient, to stem so fierce a Tide as your just Lamentations) I might have offered some poor reasons against other women's afflicting themselves so much, which I should be ashamed to mention to you, having been a witness, how far your Husband's Love and Merits, excelled the best of Mankind I have ever met with, and I am so sensible of your Reciprocal affection, that I know the power of God only can support you under such a separation, which I believe, was much more terrible to you then Death itself, that so lately seemed to look you in the face with its severe Attendants of pain and sickness; and without doubt, if we may be permitted to bewail any misfortune in this world, you will be excused for duly resenting yours, but take heed, Dear Friend, your sorrow is not as one without hope, and use your utmost endeavour to submit to the hand of the Almighty, with as much resignation in this, as you did in your own Distemper, (though that assaulted but your Body, and this has pierced your Heart) but you ought to remember, it was the same merciful God that gave you him, who has now taken him to himself, and in the midst of your Afflictions, you have reason to bless the Name of the Lord, for sparing you so long, and especially for preserving him unsullied in this black Age, where he could scarce converse abroad without it, nor consequently without danger of being defiled, since it is the constant practice of our Modern Hero's, either to seduce others from, or ridicule them in the way of Virtue: but, oh! how vain are their attempts, when they meet such awful goodness as your Husband was master of, whose looks and Character discouraged all appearances of vice, too much to admit a second attack, from those Vultures that are indeed fit for no places but Charnel houses, where all things are as corrupted and rotten as their Principles, and yet these Monsters are too too often received into the noblest Palaces, where that their deformities may not be observed; they take care to render their Proselytes, as odious and infectious as themselves, and so join together to spread the dreadful Contagion, as far as their acquaintance reaches; had your dear Husband fallen a prey to them, he had been lost for ever to you, and to himself; but now, though his change must of necessity give you a very great trouble, for being deprived of the best Companion, and the truest Friend that ever any woman was made happy by, yet after a due debt paid to his memory, which I know can be diverted by nothing upon Earth, I hope that trouble will find the most comfortable allay in the consideration, that this parting is to his unexpressable advantage, and has removed him from a transitory and imperfect, to an Everlasting happiness, whither I doubt not you are daily preparing to follow him; and since it has pleased God to deny you the further assistance of such an Example and Counsellor, to strengthen you in your Travel, he will abundantly recompense that loss, by allowing you a greater measure of his, to carry you through the trials and temptations to which you are exposed by the way, unless you neglect to implore his help by giving up yourself to a Melancholy, that must needs discompose all your faculties at the same time, weakening your body, and unhinging your mind; which fruitless grief, if the Saints in Heaven have a sense of what passes here below, would be more disapproved by him, whose disease is the occasion of it, then by any of your surviving friends; and were it possible by your tears to recall him for one minute, from that Scene of Glory, which he is now (as we reasonably imagine) translated into, he must regard you as his bitterest Enemy, to interrupt him in that state of Joy, which tongue cannot express, nor can it enter into the heart of Man to conceive; but if he is capable of making any wishes concerning you, we may conclude from his last words, that they all tend only to your attaining a firmer Title, to the Love and Knowledge of our Creator, that you may enjoy a settled peace in your mind, and so resign up yourself to the will of God, in this Gloomy providence, that your dear Spouse and you may hereafter dwell together, in that state of pleasures that has no end nor interruption; and though the time of the afflicted seems most tedious, yet they have the consolation to know that the miseries of this world must have an end, and so must our Mourning too, and this I have learned even from the Heathens, that all violent pains are short, and all lasting pains, are lightsome; and from hence concluded that any sort of pain might easily be endured, whether it were this argument, or self-love that made them bear the loss of friends with such indifference, I will not presume to determine; but I have met with some such heathenish people, whose excessive tenderness to their own persons has prevented their grieving for any others; now when ● easiness in this case proceeds from that Principle, I fear it will hardly come under the name of virtue, but ill nature; for we are commanded to love our Neighbours as ourselves, and none can lose the thing they love without regret, which regret when it is for a friend, or those that are nearly allied to us, I hope is inoffensive, and God who in mercy overlooks many of our infirmities, will (I trust) pity and pardon this, which is the most natural of them all, at least if it does not transport us beyond moderation, but for those Christian Stoics I last mentioned, their tranquillity is not more assured for a less share of humane gratitude, or natural affection, since I never observed any of them without a darling passion, which affects them as tenderly, though not so commendably as the other; in some Covetousness and in others Pride, supplies the place of Friendship, which as it cheers them when they find success, so every disappointment torments and grieves their Spirits, as much as the Death of our dearest friends does ours; and as mankind is the most excellent of all created beings upon Earth, I think it is undisputable that the degree of Love, which the supreme Lord of all things is pleased to spare from himself, is much nobler employed in kindness to one another, then in doting upon the unnecessary treasures, or the vain Ornaments of this Life, that take up most of the time and wishes of them, whose humour cannot be moved by any other spring. I grant that we ought not to expect any solid comfort from any of the Enjoyments which we meet with here below, that the dearest friends must unavoidably part, and we know not whose turn it will be to be left behind; for as we came not into this world together, so we must not think to go together to the next, and though we are permitted to Love, and commanded according to our Ability to assist each other, in this wearisome Pilgrimage, yet when it pleases God to part us, we must yield to this common fate, notwithstanding the hardship it seems to put upon us; and whilst we do enjoy the Conversation of our friends, we should prise the Goodness more than the outward Qualifications of those with whom we converse, still remembering they came not hither to do ours, but our Master's business; who making no further use of their service, in infinite Compassion, releases them from all the toils and restless cares, with which flesh and blood is hourly encompassed; accordingly in paying our last offices to the dead, the Church teaches us to say, For as much as it hath pleased Almighty God, in his great mercy to take to himself the Soul of our dear Brother here departed, etc. By that acknowledging that Death is an effect of God's great mercy, to all such to whom the following Text may be applied, Blessed are the Dead which die in the Lord, even so saith the Spirit, for they rest from their Labours; And if the Dissolution of the Righteous, is to exempt them from Labours, though our own interest makes us eager to detain them longer with us; yet the sense of what they enjoy in Heaven, and the Inconveniences that attends them, whilst they are upon the Earth, must be a great means to silence our repine; and to abate our grief: some indeed have so little peace and satisfaction, during their stay amongst us, that themselves are ready to say with Job, Wherefore is light given to him that is in Misery, and Life unto the bitter in Soul, which long for Death, but it cometh not, and dig for it, more than for hid treasures, which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad when they can find the Grave. In such extremities, surely those that love them best, can bid them most cheerfully adieu, hoping that all their sufferings are ended with their lives, and having patiently endured their Heavenly Father's Correction, shall now be received into his Joy; were it not for this blessed Expectation, the Servants of God would commonly be most wretched, since their Cup is often empty, and as often filled with an unpleasant Potion; whilst their ungodly Neighbours have plentiousness of Rivers to drink, but though we grieve the less for the Death of an unfortunate Friend, yet his misfortunes make us grieve the more for him, whilst he lives; a certain Demonstration that the days of man are evil, as well as few, since Friendship, the most substantial pleasure in the world, only gives us the trouble of lamenting the unhappy Life, or bewailing the untimely Death of those we love: if our life then is constantly attended with such perplexity, why should we be so apprehensive of our Death; and yet, except those few that are extraordinarily harras'd, the rest of us are as zealous to hug our chains; as if we dissembled when we complained of bondage, like the old man in the Fable, though groaning under the burden, yet we desire to bear it longer, rather than have the fatal sisters cut the thread. 'Tis true, we are told, that this aversion to Death is natural, since all Animals that have sense enough to foresee their danger, endeavour to avoid it; whether it is an instinct in nature which teaches them to fly from pain and oppression, or the fear of Annihilation, is beyond my reach, but we know when their breath is gone, they have no further being, and if we were Animals like them, we might have the like Apprehensions too, but now the sting of Death is taken away from us, by the blood of our Redeemer, who graciously opens the Door of Life, to all such as patiently wait till their change shall come; and piously strive in the mean time to make their change happy; for which reason we ought neither to be discontented to live, nor unwillling to die; and though we must feel pain, sickness, and whatsoever else we term misfortunes, with the same senses that others do (for Religion humbles, but does not stupify) yet the knowledge that we have deserved much more stripes from our great Judge, must make us resolve to lay our hands upon our mouths, and our mouths in the dust; not being able to offer one word in our own justification, but must say with the Publican God be merciful to me a sinner; and when we have according to our Duties prostrated our Souls before him, resigning ourselves, and all that is dear to us, to his most wise disposal; let us in God's Name rise up cheerfully and make our own way to Heaven, looking up to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, and to the Examples of those blessed Saints that have gone before us, in which number you have reason to think, your dear husband deserves a place; and therefore give me leave to tell you, you are very much in the wrong, in permitting your tears to flow upon the reflection of his Accomplishments, which he is now, (and not till now) receiving the reward of; and since he has been faithful in improving those gifts, that God endued him with, and as far as Man could do, has answered the Character, which David in the fifteenth Psalm gives of him that shall rest upon the Holy hill, as you cannot envy, so I hope, you will not lament his proportion, nor grieve so excessively for his Death, which exalts him to such a pitch of honour; and as you always thought it your happiness to have him easy whilst he was with you endeavour at least) to show for his sake, you can submit to have him so without you; Your most flattering hopes could promise you the enjoyment of him but a very little longer, and if it were in your choice, whether you would live five years with so good an husband, or ten years with a worse, I know you would choose the former; and now since God has been so gracious, not only to give you a Man that exceeded your wishes▪ but let you pass thrice that number of years, in mutual Love without the least disgust; you must not spend all the remainder of your time, in thinking upon what you have lost; but consider how very few women are so blest at all, and of those few how seldom their happiness lasts so long as yours has done; so it pleaseth our heavenly father to order it, that he may draw us by afflictions nearer to himself, and never continueth in one stay; being therefore we are so fully convinced of the vicissitudes of this Life, let us receive every alteration with such a steddiness of mind, as becomes the Servants of God, who has promised to lay no more upon us, than he will enable us to bear, as I hope you will experience that mercy, to assist you in this trial of your faith and patience; and that you may find no decay, no want of either, is the hearty prayer of Yours.   

AN ESSAY OF LOYALTY IN A Letter to a Friend.  
IT is very natural for the most curious Travellers, after having spent some time abroad to return with joy to their native Country; but much more pleasant to me who did not go out of it by my own choice, nor any hope of improvement; and to add to the great satisfaction of seeing my Friends (in which number you give me leave to place you), I fancied I should find a general content in the Nation, which I left so highly disgusted in the last Reign; that being still fresh in my thoughts, I am strangely amazed at my return to England, to see the same Spirit of murmuring as busy as before; yet my surprise would be less, if I heard none rail at this Government, but those that were preferred in the other, if Treason were confined to Red Letter Men or Rags, such whose consciences or necessities made them so zealous for a change in Religion, as to lead an unfortunate bigoted Prince to design our ruin, and effect his own by their dull Politics; or if they only were angry, who had a Goal-delivery by his Indulgence, and now for want of it are returned to their proper habitations; but to see the same people that dreaded these Armed Rake-hells, when they were first listed for Soldiers, upon their enlargement, forget their own apprehensions of the matter, and all the rest of those miscarriages which so alarmed them, and wish to live again in the same terror, is unaccountable; can they dislike the change because it came so easily, I am sure, they would have embraced it once, though it had been bought at the expense of blood; every day expecting the loss of their Liberties and Religion; and who did imagine this settlement could have been made without one stroke? was there ever such an alteration known in any Kingdom, which was carried so gently as this has been; and must we that are Protestants be ready to cut one another's throats, because the Roman Catholics did not attempt to do it, but lost that ground quietly that they had been many years in gaining? without doubt it must be a great disappointment to them, when they had raised their hopes so high, and saw that King peaceably seated upon the Throne, who was almost looked upon by them as their Messiah, to have him so quickly stopped in his achievements; and none can condemn their hearty desires for his restoration, since they believe it the only way to promote the Christian Faith; for, as for us Heretics (as they please to call us) 'tis plain, they esteem us no better than Tartars, and so indeed they found us, when they thought they had caught us not long ago; but after all, they really are the modestest, or at least the cunningest in their discourses of State affairs, of any I have met with amongst their party, thinking I suppose to reap the advantage of all the others talking, without running any hazard themselves. Now, if you ask these several sorts of Gentlemen, what it is they wish for, you shall find they have several ends, some of them are men that have by their extravagence spent their fortunes, and almost their credit too, and therefore are in violent haste for a Civil War, in hopes by plunder to supply their pockets, like Vultures that live upon the Carcase, and are always watching for a battle, and therefore they speak aloud as they would have it, that all things are running into confusion; others like Crows love the fruits of the Earth, but hate the smell of Gunpowder, and these affirm as positively, though not so loudly, that we shall be inevitably ruined, unless things return into the same Channel they were in before, and would fain insinuate that the only way to preserve the Nation, is with all possible speed to recall K. J. (concluding he would reward them plentifully, for that piece of secret service, besides what is due to them, for cursing and now swearing).  
A third sort of this disaffected party, are the Commonwealth-men, a sort of men like Moles that are always working under ground, and no kind of soil can scape them; this made them undermine K. J. and after His, ruin the Monarchy, and these vermin are now at the same work again, and think their game sure after this King is dead, but have not patience to stay so long without heaving at him, whilst he is alive, in which they join with the other party; though as I said before, they propose a very different end, the one intending to make divisions in order to have K. J. and the other to have no King at all; both wisely supposing we may alter this Government, as easily as we did the last, when that was carried by the discontent of all the Nation; and if they pretend the Nation now is under the same discontent, only for being loaded with Taxes, as if King William should have kept out the French, by the virtue of hocus pocus, and conjured an Army upon occasion without our paying of the charge, I believe they will find themselves much mistaken, as to the number of their Confederates, and consequently to the nature of their undertaking, and am sorry so many of my Countrymen should fall under the censure of the Poet, 
A pampered People, and debauched with ease,  
No King can Govern, nor no God can please.   
And if they complain so mightily now, I fear they will never be at rest, till the War is brought home to their own doors, for though some things may be done now that one would wish otherwise, yet their remedy would be infinitely worse than the disease; and were it possible for these whimsical people, to have a new King as often as a Lord Mayor (and let him signify as little) they could not pitch upon a Man that would content any one of them till the year were out; unless he were to Reign himself, who would be much further from pleasing (even) their own Club than they by whom our affairs now are managed; and how can we expect a Magistracy free from faults, when every particular person must acknowledge himself to have so many; if those without sin were to throw the first stone, or go out of England, the King would have fewer subjects than Duke Trincalo.  
Besides all these I have named, there is a party whose design is extremely foreign from any of the rest, and yet they and their appurtenances are as much mutineers, as any of their Neighbours, and make a greater noise too (which is very considerable towards carrying on the work) that is several select Companies of Drunkards, who never fail to meet (according to appointment) over a bottle, or a bowl of Punch to unravel the State; they think fit to have King James come back again, to bring Champagne Wine with him: for this horrible Stuff they sell now, does not sharpen their Wits at all, and yet 'tis very dear; Therefore, as Losers should have leave to speak, it were a thousand pities to disturb them; for they pay triple Taxes that way, and do King William more good in helping the Excise, than they can do any body Injury in drinking to their Confusion▪  
They are resolved to stick to their Principle, for Loyalty and the Butt: The Chief Grievance they suffer is the Scarcity of French Wine and Brandy, which is a National Calamity; and the Country Gentlemen that can dispense with Ale and Beer, have not Understanding enough to feel the Want of Right Claret and Ragoustes.  
I know not whether I should have Reckoned the Good Fellows as a distinct part, being included in the Noble Family of the Rakes; Of the which, both Males and Females, are (generally speaking) disaffected at present; a Warlike Prince not suiting their Humours half so well as a Sham-Camp at Hounslow-Heath; For now, by that time an Intrigue that is begun in the Winter, comes to perfection, and they should take the Air together in the Spring, they must be hurried from their Phillis' Arms, to drop in pieces in Flanders, where they are fit for the Hospital than the Field; and who can blame their dear Mistresses that have no other Consolation left, for cursing the cause that parted them; some of the remaining Beau's are in as languishing a condition, for new invented diversions, as their Madams are for Variety of Lovers, both passionately wishing for a return of Peace upon no other account, but that the agreeable Monsieur may again refine the Nation; since of late we have not been blest with so much as a Dancing Masters Apprentice from France, to bring a Bon Mien amongst us; how should any Spark Edify in Point of Gallantry, by a few Melancholy Hugonots that come hither for shelter, and have not these many Years Conversed with the Beau Monde; nor can they learn any better Air from King James' Disbanded Servants, who have not brought so considerable a thing as a new Minuet over with them (notwithstanding they may have Commissions, Declarations, etc.) Their business not lying toward Amours, makes them not so welcome to people whose Souls are made of Commodes and Feathers▪ yet they Caress them because their clothes were made in France, (though perhaps they were out of Fashion before they came from thence) hoping also, that they will give their Master Intelligence, that (next to their Looking-glasses) they are devoted to his Service; but more especially to their Young Master's, for Two Special Reasons; One is, his wearing his Hat better, and the promising Expectations of his doing every thing Ala Francoise; for sure such an Education will make him in perfection: The other is, That in likelihood his Title will not be set up a great while (if ever); and they are willing to put the Evil Day (of discomposing their Wigs) as far as they can from them: but if Whispering, and dispersing Treason will be of use to him, they and their Doxies do their part; for several that do not care for fight, will hazard being fined, or the Fatigue of Pillorying; Tho it is no very decent posture for persons who pretend to make so considerable a Figure in other places; Yet they talk, and read Pamphlets, in hopes they shall have the good Fortune to escape still; And if a Revolution happens to their Minds, they shall be paid a great deal more than their Speeches, or Persecution for them is worth: That is, supposing they should be taken Notice of at all, which I humbly conceive would be a question, Some sorts indeed of their Ladies would be better gratified by changing of the Scene at Court, where they could not be admitted in this Reign: But for the Civil part of them, who would not come to Court because they did not love our Queen, I am apt to believe their pre-possession made them keep this Distance; for sure it was impossible to know Her, and wish Her Ill, who was, certainly, the Greatest Blessing that ever England was favoured with? And perhaps, if our Sins in general, and their Ingratitude towards Her, had not provoked Almighty God to take Her so quickly from us, She might, by Her Sweet Temper, have won Her greatest Enemies; and by Her Admirable Example, new modelled all Womankind; at least those that had the happiness to be often in her presence: For my part, I shall not be so bold to make an Encomium of her Virtues; Her own Works praise her in the Gates; and her High Character, which has scarce been hit by the greatest Artist, must not be touched by my Unworthy Pen: Yet I must for ever (in private) deplore Albion's Loss, and lament my own hard Fate to be so long, and so far distant from the best Queen that ever adorned our Throne, and that I could enjoy no greater share of the Sunshine which Enlivened all about her: I coming home so near the sad Eclipse, as only to be made sensible of that Goodness, and immediately to see it snatched from us.  
This dismal Day influenced many of them, who living, could not give her a Civil Word, and made them, by their Concern for her Death, show the secret Notion they had of her Worth, though they had before industriously strove to stifle it; but none could be so blind not to see such apparent merit, except the most inveterate Wretches upon the Earth.  
But my Zeal for the Memory of the Queen, and Loyalty to the King, has transported me beyond my own Interest; For I ought not to have turned out so unfledged a Bird, as this small Essay, into the Critics Hands, who are some of them provoked by the Subject, to handle it severely (though others, I hope, in Justice to my Subject, and in pity to my Sex, will appear in its Vindication) and if Submission will mollify the offended Wits, I will confess any Fault they can charge this Paper with, that does not Reflect upon the Right of my Cause; in which I must remain positive, and they cannot force me to do otherwise as long as the Hangman is on my side: I do own that State-Affairs are altogether out of my Element; and that a Woman is much more properly employed in Housewifry than News; but our Weakness is known to every body, that we love to be in the Fashion, and one may as decently pretend to wear a Farthingale, as to be ignorant in Politics; For, during my stay in London, I never saw a Visit made without Canvasing one King or other, which set my Brains on working; and now I am retired into a Corner of the World, I am willing to show I have same little Remains of Breeding left, whilst the Generality of my Sex made it their business to draw Men from their Allegiance that were Loyally inclined; and to animate those that were not.  
I did, as often as I met these Viragoes, profess myself King William's Champion; and in this Essay I have showed you some of my Reasons for it; And if any object, That the Poorness of my Expressions has wronged his Cause, I dare not contradict it; But I hope his Enemies may find, in time, that he is as much above their Malice as my Commendation; who shall always pray for his Safety, and the good Success of the English Nation: And in this wish I know you will hearty join with,  
Yours, etc.   

AN ESSAY OF Friendship. BEING A Letter to a Friend, who was in Distress.  
I Am extremely concerned to see you have so ill an opinion of me, as to hid yourself from me in your misfortune, and let me hear it by another hand; I know not how to interpret this shyness in you, it makes me fear you never esteemed me worthy of your friendship, if you could imagine the change of your Circumstances should alter my Love; I had a different notion of our mutual obligations, and should have thought it a wrong to your generous temper, to have concealed any thing of consequence that had happened to me, though it had been to lessen me never so much in the world (which respects people according to the port they live in); I hoped till now you had put the same confidence me, who had nothing to recommend me to your favour, but the plain sincerity of Soul; if you should not be welcome to me in the meanest habit, I could not deserve your company at all; but far be such mercenary base inclinations from my breast, who have more pleasure in dividing a small fortune with my friends, then in hoarding up, or enjoying the greatest treasures without them; and since I never valued any person for having a splendid equipage, I am extremely confounded to find I have appeared so unlike myself to you, (for what else can make you avoid me, when it is in my power to be serviceable to you, unless you question my will to do it) I dare not quarrel with you now, lest it confirms your design of breaking our correspondence, which is as dear to me as ever, yet give me leave to complain of a greater loss than yours, the loss of my Friend; for now I perceive it is in the power of adverse fortune, to draw you from me; and let me tell you, those apprehensions that made you estrange yourself, must at the same time accuse me of Pride and Covetousness, as well as ingratitude, the first of which sins would be more unpardonable in me, than the rest of my Sex; but I always knew my own defects well enough to stifle any such suggestions; nor could I ever boast of any advantage so much, as being made happy by your kindness; and since every Soul is not capable of faithfulness, the Character you gave of me for being so, together with your distinguishing me in your confidence, above the rest of your friends, did indeed elevate me with joy (though not to ostentation) but you have sufficiently mortified me now, by showing me your trust was not absolute; and that you believed I loved you only as long as you were in humour for Diversions, or else I had some sinister ends, which are disappointed by this turn in your affairs; I think I can scarce be charged with crimes I have a much greater antipathy to then these I have mentioned, as Covetousness is the root of all Evil, it is an Enemy to all good, (which I must ever account Friendship to be) that person that delights only in money can have no lasting satisfaction, for as it is the nature of riches to make themselves wings, and fly away, the miser that locks them never so fast in his trunk, is so sensible of their fleeting qualities, that he has as many racking meditations about them, as if they were already out of his reach, his sleep is interrupted and all ties of nature are broke; he regards a poor relation with as much aversion and caution as he can do a thief; as for Fendship he has not the impudence (or as he thinks weakness) to pretend to it, lest he bring in a partner to his wealth; for many of those sordid wretches, will acknowledge such an intimacy does oblige us to the utmost of our powers, to help each other, and therefore they not being desirous to give a title to any part of their Estate, will keep out of the temptation; by which means, they want the chiefest comfort of humane life; a Covetous Man after many years denying himself all Conveniencies (as well as duties) if he gets the reputation of being rich, may be courted by them who have an expectation from him, but he receives their addresses very warily, being conscious to himself, that he deserves nothing of civility, and jealous still of a design upon his Coffers, where he knows his only attraction lies; if he gets any presents upon trust of a double return at his Death, this Janus may look with smiles upon his Benefactors, but his affectionate face is always fixed towards his Gold; which yet he knows not how soon he must leave, if it does not leave him first; but sometimes the miserable wretch meets a disappointment in his darling hopes; and by an unforeseen fate is reduced to the real want, which his greedy desire of money imposed upon him, even in the midst of plenty; he may then too late wish he had made himself friends, with the Mammon of unrighteousness, for he finds no body willing to receive him, and does in vain groan for that blessing which he declined in his prosperity, and would have proved of more advantage than all his ill got treasure; I mean a true friend, for they will not be wanting to help and to assist one another, in all exigencies, with their purse and advise; but they that will know no body when it is in their power to oblige, will find no body know them in their extremity; as a late French Author well observes, out of whose ingenious writings I have collected some choice remarks, which I hope may be not only an entertainment, but an assistance to you in your present circumstances. The world is grown so very bad, that there is little faith left amongst us; nor gratitude for any kindness, the best services are too often the worst requited; we should therefore observe people's behaviour, in their Correspondencies with others, not to imitate their treachery, but to stand so much upon our guard that we may not be sufferers by it; Those that are too easy to believe, do many times when it is too late find themselves mistaken, yet we ought to be cautious in showing a distrust of the truth of another, that being an unnecessary rudeness unto them, and if it amounts to the degree of suspecting every body, it is an indication of falsehood in ourselves, for a liar can neither believe nor be believed; but upon the first report of any thing, it is most prudent to suspend our Judgement, unless we know the integrity of him that speaks it; yet the safest way of all to avoid being partial, is not to make any conclusion till we hear both sides; how unjust are they, whose understandings are so engaged towards one party, that truth can make no impression on them; but continue wedded to their opinion, beyond the power of reason to separate them from it; the best interpretation that can possibly be put upon such pernicious practices, is a defect in their capacity; tho 'tis ten to one their honesty is chief suspected and most in fault: The greatest part of our life is spent in information, and that which is visible to us is least essential; we take most things on the words of others, and that makes us generally imposed upon; we commonly know the truth of what we see, but seldom of what we hear, especially if it come from far (which should make us more circumspect in what we give credit to) for when a relation of a thing has passed through several hands, it has so many glosses put upon it by the passions, or interest of them that recount it, as makes it never arrive pure and unmixed to our ears; Let us therefore consider, whether they which speak of any person, or thing are unbyass'd; and if they are not, we must give grains of allowance for their praises, and much more for their dispraises, since the depraved temper of most men is stronglier inclined to be spiteful, then good natured; it is those slanders that are spoken behind our backs (to undiscerning men) that does us mischief, for a wise person will gain a greater advantage from the censure of their enemies, for what they do amiss, if they hear it, than a fool will take from the advice of his friends, which seldom prevails with him; the envious holds a glass to show us our faults, and we ought to correct them in ourselves, and not retaliate their rail.  
We should endeavour to live peaceable with every body, and disoblige none willingly; for any person is capable of being an enemy, but not all of doing friendships; nor is it prudent to be over forward in engaging ourselves in any ties, either in Love or Friendship (more than what Christianity commands us to have for all men) yet when we have made a Protestation of Amity, no generous Soul will broke the correspondence, though they meet some inconveniencies in it; but if the division is inevitable, will be sure it shall be justifyable on their sides; however, both parties will be condemned, where there is a rapture betwixt friends, either for want of consideration in the beginning, or of constancy in the end; the spectators of their differences do every one represent it as they please, (or at least as they think), and they Judge according as they Love; it is better to decline making a promise then to repent of it afterwards; a disobliged friend often proves the worst of enemies, and where you find a disappointment in them, a coldness is better than a quarrel; for contention generally ruins our reputation, emulation causing people to discover those failings, that our civility had made them overlook; the heat of dispute Animates the Spirits, and raises up that infamy which was dead before; our Antagonists thinking to confound if they cannot confute us, begin with a manifesto of invectives, (that is supposing them as ill as they set us forth to be) for those are Arms unworthy a virtuous person to make use of; Let us therefore strive to have a concern with none that are not so, their goodness being a defence against ill language as well as falsehood; for they would always act like themselves; but there is no security, when we treat with those that are not guided by Reason nor Justice▪ with such we should not have a difference, and much less contract a friendship, for whatsoever affection we must express, we must remember all is not Gold that glisters, and theirs is subject to a base alloy, which is apparent enough to make us fly them, that have no Principles of honour, for honour is the truest pledge of faithfulness, and we can be safe with none without it.  
The greatest benefit we can receive from riches, is their enabling us to do more good than those that have less; a good estate is a charge that we must give an account of, and leads us into many inconveniencies, if we have no friend to regulate our unruly Appetites. A person that is rich is certainly flattered, and they must love us very well, that will venture their own interests to represent us truly to ourselves; which is the most requisite of any knowledge, though it is unwillingly received by most people; a proud Man is hurried into many other vices, because none dares show him the odiousness of his carriage; for he that keeps all his acquaintance at a distance, if he is falling down a precipice has no body near enough to stop him; but a friend will kindly advertise us of those evils, for the which an enemy would expose us, and perhaps the very people who have betrayed us into it, shall be the first to trumpet our disgrace; such treatment is absolutely against the Laws of Friendship, since that enjoins us to conceal, as well as strive to rectify each others errors; and is a chain that proves of greater security to us, the more firmly it is linked; he that stands alone, cannot be so strong as he that is supported, nor is any help (from this world) so ready and substantial, as that which proceeds from a true affection; tho alas, there is but little of that to be found in the age we live in, and it is this decay of kindness, which occasions the ruin of so many families, for if there are several branches, it is not likely they should all be prosperous, but where they are united they seldom fall; we were born, next to serving God, to serve our Neighbours, and especially those of our own blood, which may be Policy as well as Duty, since we all want assistance in our turns, and a rich person has as much need of Counsel as one in a meaner Station has of relief; but whatsoever our Circumstances are, we should omit no opportunity of being serviceable to the rest of mankind; those that have a considerable fortune to dispose of, should let their friends enjoy a necessary share of it so easily, that it may not appear like a gift, but as if they had an equal Title to it; and in all conditions we should aid the distressed to the utmost of our power, never following their examples, who are morose to all about them, not only to avoid the trouble of obliging, but from an Antipathy they have to all good nature; directly opposite to the Divine goodness, who is incessantly communicating his benefits to us; we ought in prudence to manage our Conversation with such an agreeable pleasantness (bounded by discretion) that people may delight in our companies; for all the goods of this life would be worth nothing, if we were to possess them alone, but we are sure to have either friends or enemies about us; and almost every day engages the world to be more or less kind to us; let us therefore carry ourselves so, that though we do not desire to make many confidents, we may at least gain the esteem of all that know us; for with friends all things are well accepted that are meant so; they put no ill constructions upon each others words; kindness sweetens all our cares, and takes away the constraint we are in before them, that are indifferent or spiteful to us; as in Summer we must provide against Winter, we should make ourselves so well beloved in prosperity, as to reap the fruit of it in adversity; if we have an alteration in our affairs, which are subject to mutation as long as we continue upon Earth, and some have been forced to crouch to those they once disdained to smile on; Humility and Complacensy have this reward, that they never fail to bring glory to those that exercise them, they add a lustre to the brightest ornaments, and if a change of fortune happens, their beauty is not sullied by Poverty; for the honour of an humble person remains, though all their other circumstances are altered, and an obliging word or look costs us nothing; therefore we may afford that; when we are reduced never so low, it will not only procure us esteem whilst we live, but make us be lamented when we die; a mild and charitable person imprints such Love, such Reverence in all that know him, as will not end with his life, but his memory will be respected; and when he goes from this world, it will be to his own comfort and other people's grief; whilst a severe haughty man, though he hugs himself with the conceit of keeping others in awe, will not only fall unpitied, but being considered for nothing besides his power to do mischief, if his Station altars, will find that fear turned into hatred; nor can his death be regretted, it being for the public good to have so ill an example removed.  
If incivility proceeds from Pride, it is a base effect from a worse cause, which never proves of advantage to those that nourish it; if it is from ignorance, we shall be despised for not informing ourselves better, since those who have not had an opportunity of fine breeding, may learn a civil candescention; and that we own to every body, even our very enemies, for we must pity and assist them in their necessities, and neither affront them nor proclaim their failings; it is a sign of our leading an ill life, if we carry a register of the wicked actions of others, and it is the consolation of fools only to be satisfied with their own sins, because another's are of something a deeper dye; yet too many are as violent in decrying those debaucheries they imitate, as if they were provoked by the steps they made in Vice beyond themselves, and whilst they rail, still run to overtake them.  
Let us on the contrary, be strict in observing our own ways, and easy in the interpretation we put upon others.  
A generous person will speak well of those that are not his friends, as far as truth permits, and where he cannot, will be silent; since it is much better to be so, then to say that which will prostitute our Neighbour's reputation; but to magnify his faults with all the severity we can invent, is to make our tongues like the poison of a Serpent, whose bite is mortal, and will render us as detestable as they are.  
A wise man will be moderate to all his discourses, and particularly in giving the Character of others, not being transported into a heat, whether they are friends or enemies he mentions; nor hyperbolising in the commendation of people that are deserving, for excessive praise awakens curiosity, and provokes envy to look into their failings; and every one appears the worse that has been too much extolled before hand; but besides the disadvantage we bring upon our friends, in having so mighty expectations to satisfy, if they fall short of what we have represented them, we must bring our own sincerity or Judgement in question; but we should least of all describe ourselves, since we are so unable to Judge rightly in that point, to commend ourselves in an abominable vanity; and to discommend ourselves, is to beg a compliment, and both ways we put the company in pain, either to forbear laughing at our conceitedness, or to find something to say, which they think will answer our expectations, though they do not believe one word of it themselves, but they who delight to hear no bodies tongue in motion, but their own, are liable to these and many other errors; and the most watchful may sometimes need a friend to reprimand them; for though Conversation is the ordinary exercise of life, we must consider how small a slip in it may ruin our reputation, which is of inestimable price, and is never in more danger than when we keep company with those that have none of their own to lose; whatsoever charms they possess, if virtue is wanting, our fame will quickly be like theirs, and friendship will then divide the ill, as well as the good of this world betwixt us; why should we for any diversions encourage a reprobate person, and run the risk of being esteemed so ourselves.  
It is every body's happiness to have wise friends, if they have wit enough to be advised by them; they which love truly are firm as a Diamond, and as hard to break; but some capricious people are like glass, so brittle and dangerous to touch, that it is impossible to have a correspondence with them, without being in constraint; the least punctilio that you omit, makes a flaw in the acquaintance, they are continual discontents to themselves and others; they who would keep their favour must study their humours, and dares scarce stir before them, lest they should be offended at their motions; they are fond of nothing but themselves, and being slaves to their own wills, expect their friends should be so too; we should be careful whom we receive into that intimacy; if they are well principled, the correspondency will be mingled with pleasure and profit; but amongst the generality of people, freedom in discourse is of ill consequence, lest we furnish them with Arms to destroy us, if they become our Enemies; and we often see those that express kindness to us to day, are most ready to do us an injury to morrow, and they are capable of making the more cruel war upon us, if they know our weakness: Tho we may be sensible when we are treated ill, and show a reasonable resentment, yet in all quarrels, we should leave a door open for reconciliation, and put a curb to all thoughts of revenge; for if we give liberty to such inclinations, we may do that in our passion that may out-ballance the delight of punishing another; and a religious person finds a greater satisfaction in pardoning, then in returning an affront, rejoicing when they have an opportunity to overcome evil with good.  
But some are very far from this temper, who will take part with those that are in the wrong, if their enemies have a dispute with him, only to oppose the man they hate, not reflecting that they hurt themselves most, if he has the sense to espouse the right side; they show great folly that are against him, only for contradiction sake, which would be more inexcusable than if they did it, through a defect in their understandings; but those who are guided by virtue and goodness, will act quite otherways, knowing a positive spightfulness makes all conversation uneasy, and many times those that think to show their wit by disputing, proclaim their ill nature only, and give their adversary cause to triumph; we should rather imitate the Bee then the Spider, as the Bee industriously sucks the sweets from every flower, so let us make the best of all cross accidents, and then the counsels of our friends will prove as honey to us; but they whose envious disposition observe the worst they can in every discourse, are like the Spider that swells with the Venom, he extracts wherever he goes: they that cannot bear a private, friendly reproof, are as big with conceitedness, as any of those infects I mentioned, can be with the most Poisonous Exhalation: It is a misfortune to be allied to such a Person, but when we fall into his Hands, we must not spend our Time in Fruitless Lamentations; For Complaints do often cause Disdain, and the World is so Inhuman, that instead of moving Compassion, the Injuries we Receive from one, encourages another (of as ill a principle) to accumulate our wrongs; it is best to conceal the rudenesses we suffer, and cannot remedy, and acknowledge the favours that are conferred upon us; which is Policy, as well as Gratitude, since it many times excites those that hear us to be as kind; but that proud heart who will not own his obligations to his friends, does justly deserve to be contemned by every body; and when he finds himself slighted upon that score, it must be an aggravation to his misery, to consider how much his own insensibility contributed to his ruin.  
They who do their duties, are the best prepared to undergo what we call the frowns of fortune, and making a good use of their afflictions, will find a happy end of them; and enable us to be serene in those hurricanes of life, that are apt to shock the steadiest brain, where we can meet no haven of safety, but in the hand of Divine Providence; let us therefore wait patiently upon him, till he pleases to make a turn in our affairs, knowing that we can as much calm the raging of the Seas as alter his will.  
Fretting at our Circumstances renders our Judgement less able to Act, and decays our health, a troubled water may grow clear without, but never with stirring in it; yet sorrow is scarce supportable alone, therefore they are doubly wretched that have none to ease their mind in trouble; and though other people may be so barbarous to neglect, or use them worse for what they suffer already, if they have made a good choice in placing their friendship, they need not apprehend such a treatment; though indeed there is so much baseness in this age, that they ought to know them very well in whom they confide.  
Some are incapable of keeping a secret, their minds being like an unsealed letter, it is not prudence to commit any thing of Consequence to them; these are quickly to be found out, and are as certainly despised; a cunning person, is yet more dangerous, for they pretend to design our interests, whilst they promote their own, though it be to our destruction.  
But religious persons will preserve their Faith inviolable to their friend, and never disclose what they are entrusted with, which gains them the esteem of all that knows it; but if they had nothing paid them, in return they will not fail to discharge a good conscience, and not only conceal their friends concerns, but account it a great felicity to be serviceable to them (as without all doubt it is a much more substantial pleasure to give, then to receive a favour) a compassionate temper never sees another in discontent, without bearing a part with him; but friendship should carry us yet further, and divide the care and grief equally betwixt us.  
Nor shall you ever find me wanting in demonstrating the truth of what I have so often professed; for I did not instance these maxims as things of course; but because many of the rules suited with my own thoughts, and I shall omit no opportunity to convince you, that according to the strictest rules of Friendship,  
I am Yours.  
FINIS.   

Books Printed for, and Sold by Tho. Bennet, at the Half-Moon in St. Paul's Churchyard.  

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THucydides, Greek and Latin, Collated with five entire MSS. Copies, and all the Editions extant; also illustrated with Maps, large Annotations and Indices, by the Editor, J. Hudson, M. A. and Fellow of Vniversity-Colledge in Oxford. To which is added an exact Chronology of the said History by the Learned Henry Dodwel. Printed at the Theatre in Oxford.  
Athenae Oxonienses: Or an exact History of all the Writers and Bishops, who have had their Education in the University of Oxford, from about 1480 to the end of 1690, giving an Account of the Birth, Fortune, Preferment, and Death of all those Authors and Prelates; the great Accidents of their Lives, with the Fate and Character of their Writings. The Work is so complete, that no Writer of Note of this Nation, for 200 Years is omitted; in 2 Volumes.  
A New Historical Relation of the Kingdom of Siam; by Monsieur de la Loubere, Envoy Extraordinary from the French King, to the King of Siam; in 1687, and 1688. wherein a full and curious account is given of their Natural History, as also of their Music, Arithmetic, and other Mathematic Learning; in 2 Tomes, illustrated with Sculptures. Done out of French by A. P. Fellow of the Royal S●ciety.  
Malebranch's Treatise concerning the Search after Truth; the whole Work complete: To which is added his Treatise of Nature and Grace, being a Consequence of the Author's Principles contained in the Search; together with F. Malebranch's Defences against Mr. de la Ville; and several other Adversaries. All Englished by T. Taylor, M. A. of Magdalen-Colledge in Oxford, and Printed there.   

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A Critical History of the Texts and Versions of the New Testament, in two parts, by F. Simon of the Oratory.  
Certain Considerations for the better Establishment of the Ghurch of England, by the Lord Bacon; with a new Preface, by James Harrington, Esq   

Octavos and Twelves.  
TWenty Four Sermons upon several occasions, in two Volumes, by Dr. R. South.  
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