AN ADVERTISEMENT.  
REprinted the last Michaelmas Term, The Works of Francis Osborn Esq Divine, Moral, Historical and Political, in 4 several Tracts, Viz. 

1. Advice to a Son, In two parts.  
2. Political Reflections on the Government of the Turks, etc.  
3. Memoirs on Q. Elizabeth and K. James.  
4. A Miscellany of Essays, Paradoxes, Problematical Discourses, Letters, Characters etc. The seventh Edition in Octavo, price bound six shillings.     

REFLECTIONS ON Marriage, AND THE Poetic Discipline.  
A Letter, By the AUTHOR of the remarks on the TOWN.  
LONDON, Printed for Allen Banks, at the Sign of St. Peter, at the West end of St. Paul's, 1673.   

To the READER.  
IT has not only been the Fashion, but esteemed a Justice in every Age, to assist those Themes that have been run down by a Popular practice and contempt: Marriage appeared so to the Author of the following Paper; which suffers too much in the loss of its Veneration and Esteem; had any more Dexterous, found that Generosity about them, as to have performed an act of so much Justice, they had prevented this attempt of the Author, who writes not out of affectation nor a busy humour. But it seems the wits are revolted, and have taken employment under a Tyrannic, and prosperous vice: whilst those who are best able to appear for so excellent a Subject, have deserted it, the assistances of meaner Persons, though they may want the applauses of Success, yet they lose not the Character of Kindness. And when others are strangely employed in heaping Reproaches upon Marriage, and in ascribing disadvantages to it, whilst they affront it with their new Wit, and their modish Vices, nothing can appear more Just, then to vindicate it, by Recapitulateing those benefits that it has produced in the world: it is a witness great enough of its misfortunes, that it needs to be Harangued; since its practical Esteem and Veneration, had till now preserved it from the want of Eulogies: but when it is reduced to that condition it is high time to erect it Monuments, whilst the world is so fast forgetting its Reputation and its Grandeur. But whilst the Author has attempted this, he must say in his own Justification, that he has only interessed himself in the Subject, without reflecting upon any that have procured it injuries: and indeed every Writer, should proclaim like the Roman, Pacem cum Hominibus, Bellum cum vitiis. 'Tis far from his humour to show a disrespect of that nature to any Person, and as far from his belief, that the way to reclaim others, were to expose them by severe Reflections. they will do him an injustice who think so of him; and equally traduce him, who should take his taxing the Crimes of some, for a Censure on the whole Community: he only designs to show the vanity and the fault of those who becoming enamoured on a fatal humour, must yet make their addresses to it in so strange a manner, as to impose it on the belief and practices of others; and in ascribing the concurrence of the whole Town to the efforts of a private Humour. We are well assured, that those vices have found impregnable more Persons than they can pretend to have Conquered. Though at the same time, since all Vice is progressive, and especially when it is pushed on, by so strange a confidence and affectation, it is but necessary to fix some Accusations on that Practice, whose noise and daring temper, may in time, make more considerable devastations in the possessions of that Virtue, which yet is left secure and uncorrupted. And the Author designs this Declaration not only as an excuse for the following Paper, but also as a Justification of what he has formerly written, in which he finds himself censured as taxing the whole Town with those blemishes, which he only affixed to the affected and imposing humour; though he can esteem that reproach as no other than an Evasion and an Artifice in the faulty, since those whose innocence is assured, never concern themselves in any Reflections which belong not to them.  
— Thus far I had written, when I received an Answer to my remarks; but it was neither with Trouble nor Surprise; since I very well know, that it is impossible for the most modest Adversary to defend himself from the present briskness of the Town wit: which spares neither a Friend nor an Enemy: the trade of Poetry and Raillery [must] go on, or else all the Town wit [must] be starved. I received no disorder in the least from any thing in his Book; only his Preface put me into a little heat, in which I [must] tell him, that amongst all the bad Company he believes I have kept, I yet never met with any thing so disingenuous and illbred as his odious Epistle: and I can assure him, that I have given the World greater proofs than himself of contrary Impressions: but the anger is over, and I am his most Humble Servant; and though he believes me to be a Pedant, a Tutor, a Secretary, and Squire Clodpate. I will yet imagine him to be a great Wit, a Gentleman, and if he pleases a Person of Quality: for I always find it more easy, as well as more civil, to give Eulogies, rather than reviling: as for his design, it was brave, and not at all Dangerous; for what could he do less, when he was perpetually egged on by a fair Lady who was resolved not to admit of his Courtships, except he appeared prodigiously Ingenious, as he is otherwise sweetly accomplished: she appearing of a Capricio, like that Princess, who would have refused for her Gallant, the handsomest man in Europe, if he had not been also at the same time, the greatest wit of the Conclave. I congratulate you Madam, in the choice you have made, of a Servant; he has acquitted himself well of your Ladyship's Commands; and I hope, when you have any others, you will not bestow them else where: but yet if at any time, you should request him to write your Life, let me beseech you, to forbid him to put an Epistle before it, for he has the worst faculty that way, of any Gentleman I know All that I shall say to his Book; is, that it is throughout one great mistake; and that first, in taking those Reflections to be intended for all the Town, which were only directed to a very few Persons. And then to affirm that the words of Age, Nation, Town, Societies, etc. were General, since it is so plainly to be seen, by the Censure, and the Character, that none but a fool would have treated them in that manner: an Age, a Nation, a Town, in which are so much Learning, Bravery, and Virtue; and particularly, those Societies that are by all the world honoured and revered, for those endowments the Gentleman has mentioned in them. All that I prosecuted was a vain and enterprizing humour, which having (upon occasions apparent) found amongst some of the Wits; I after followed where it had took refuge in graver Communities, the former received the research, like those who are justly esteemed the greatest Wits of our Nation: but amongst the latter, it met with the Haloo, and the 〈◊〉 for the Country: this it is to have any thing to do with those Gentlemen, for my part I disclaim them, and shall hereafter be as unwilling to Note their Imperfections, as I have ever been to admire their sort of Virtue. Another great mistake is, that I designed Sir, T. L. for a Hero: what was intended in him, was only to show that a Gentleman who had arrived at all the perfections of a good Education, might live more prudently on his Estate in the Country, then to spend it in the Town, only on women, Plays, Garniture, and Fricacies: and this Gentleman knows (who must be a man of the Law by his frequent Quotations.) That his Majesty's Father of Glorious Memory, Commanded by Proclamation, all Country Gentlemen to reside on their Estates, and not to come to the Town, to Hero-fie in eating of Ragoo's, and Fricacies: and in short, next to those whose affairs lie in it, it is properly a place for younger Brothers, who may raise their Fortunes, by Arms, Letters, or Conversations. I think I have in these few lines, answered all that the Gentleman has Objected. There is only a great deal of Divertisement, Reviling, hard Words if not Pedantry too, behind: for which I shall say in the Gentleman's behalf, that as for the former, he endeavoured to imitate the present mode of Writing, and he does excellently well for a beginner, and he may easily be excused if he has reached but few of those perfections required in that critical Style: and as for the latter, having to do with a Pedant, and a Tutor, he could not but forget that Civility and Respect, which without doubt, is (otherwise) natural to him: and he thought it needless, to use any of the Laws (which he found not in his study) of Writeing-Mascarade; since he thought himself not at all obliged to show any respect to one in a Vizard. But I resolve, for my own part, to be more careful, and wish heartily his friendship and reconcilement; and if the Gentleman, who has succeeded so well in Letters, should also make his applycations to Arms, if Sir, T. L. and his Tutor, meet him in the spring, on board his Majesty's Fleet. I know that Person, will endeavour a friendship betwixt this worthy Gentleman, and his Mother's Secretary: but I would not willingly defer it so long; but rather perfect now so Important an affair. Come Sir, you are out of humour; I wish we might enjoy you a little in our Country; where you should have good entertainment, though you might not meet Astraea there, (whose allusion you so unkindly mistake) my Lady will treat you with extraordinary Magnificence, and her Secretary shall serve you with great officiousness: you shall Drink, Hunt, Hawke, Course, nay you shall stay on Sunday, and hear our Parson, who is an honest Gentleman, though possible he cannot Preach so Divinly as Maximin. I have now done with the Gentleman. I have only a word to say to the Town, and particularly the vindictive Ladies; as for any thing in the remarks, I do affirm on the reputation (with my Answerers good leave I would say it) of a Gentleman, that I never intended it in the least, to impair the reputation of excellent Persons; or the Conversations of the Town: and I hope no other will be guilty of so unkind a mistake, as to think I meant Age, Nation, and Town, any otherwise, then as they are frequently applied to particular humours: Nay I will say further to prevent any other Essays; that the remarks was in a manner Printed against my desire, (though I will not accuse a Gentleman who had eat, and drank, and slept in an Inns of Court.) And besides, that there are some things in it which were not my own. I know there is no Person of Justice and good Nature, but will be satisfied with this Apology: and as for others, I am wholly careless of their Censure.   

To Antonia.  
NOthing is more just than the Dedicating this following Paper to you: neither could any consideration oblige me to forbear it: and even whilst it seeks a shade, it yet desires so illustrious a patronage. What ever censure it receives in the world, will soon be forgot in the kindness you will show it; and the favour of so excellent a Person, will sufficiently reinforce it against all the assaults of custom and prejudice. And in the privacies where we now are, I may assume the liberty to say, we are the votaries of the neglected Theme; and acknowledge the Divinity of that Altar which the Irreligion of the Age has abandoned: all our regret is the difficulty we have found in making that sacrifice, which is now esteemed the degenerate Devotion of the World. Though Virtue has lost its Train, yet it receives the most obsequious respect from us; and it has not been our hearts but our conditions, that have refused its conduct in the tract of Ages. We are not yet become Atheists to a Hymen, nor deserters of a fidelity which is loaden with reproaches: Neither do we recount these things in a shade, because we blush to avow them in the Sun beams. No Antonia, we have deposited those resolutions in faithful assurances, which we would at any time be willing to lay out for so fair a purchase: in which also we have preserved our Virtue, like snow, that's in cold houses saved from the Estive seasons of a raging vice: the age has no propitious sentiments from us, nor do we value the reproach of being singular in our virtue, the ancient Ideas, though the world may pretend they are faded, are yet more charming to us, than the gayness of their present Images: All their Paint and embellishments cannot enamour us on these; nor has the dirt they have flung upon the former, prevented us from admiring an unequalled beauty in them. We have given them the Ascendant of our souls; and they have fashioned there that fidelity and justice, which will be for ever the ornament of our breasts: neither do those qualities appear less fair and agreeable to us, whilst their habilements are out of mode. Now the popular fury and practice has proscribed a virtuous love, it receives a protection in our hearts; and we can boast, that it shall never be refined but with our lives: we are sorry to give it no larger a Territory; and we would gladly lead it farther into the affairs of our lives: we are not stopped in these designs by the Platonic precaution, nor a fear to try our Ideas by action: we have took other measures of a just and happy life: and prefer the example of generous Ages, before the fictions of Romance: 'tis not because we love their beautiful wander, that we are kept in a perplexing Labyrinth, and know not how to come at what we love; Since it is not our humours, but our affairs, conceal the Clue. In the mean time, our inclinations and our wishes will appear a justice to that design; and a respect to the memory of our Fathers: Nay, we rather see ourselves deprived of some of the felicities, then cut off from the generuos interests of that State: we have erected votive Altars to Hymen; and pay the more disinterested part of the Devotion: our Piety has nothing in it of Mercenary, whilst the mind is the only Devote. We have surpassed the Poetic Chimaera 's, by a truth that has out done their Fables; and yet that passion which has equalled their flights, shall ever keep itself above those loathsome places where they rest their Geninius: it is not grown giddy by the height; nor will its flight ever become the Paecipice of its ruin. No Antonia, we have always maintained the limits of Fidelity, and justice; nor can we ever allow our love that fatal Sovereignty, as to be above the Laws of our Virtue. We have seen too much of their misfortune, who assist a Tyrannic Passion; whilst they unhappily help it to acquire, a Felicity and Grandeur, to which it mounts on the ruins of their Repose and Honour: in our united hearts our Love has room enough to reign; and the management of those just affairs will allow it no leisure for Ambition. I have entertained you Antonia, in a manner unusual: but it cannot appear unhandsome to the Age, since it is but to imitate their divertisments in Mascarade. And to the rest, it will only show a covetousness like to theirs, who hoarded under ground their Treasures; esteeming that to be yet their Wealth, which they did not dare to own. And we have moreover, exceeded their felicity; who have on wounded Trees, or Marble, saught an immortality for their Love: since we have now committed ours to more perpetual abiding Letters; and though we have set it in a shade, and a Character unknown, yet we will expect that propitious time, that shall both reveal, and interpret it.   

REFLECTIONS ON Marriage, etc.  
I Did not think▪ that when we entertained ourselves with the little Modern Philosopher, you would after have demanded those things from me in earnest, which were then our divertisement: but since you have been so inclined, I obey you readily, both, as I should blush to refuse any satisfaction to a Person who has so grandly obliged me; and also, as I have a repugnance to quit my declared opinions. But, I hope you consider, that you desire these things from a young man, who is uncapable of doing right to so great, and so important a Subject; and one, who besides, can furnish the discourse with no experiences of his own; and moreover, the distresses of that Theme, require the assistances of the most dexterous and generous Pen, whilst it lies bleeding in the arms of a barbarous Age; who perfectly forgetting the respect it has received from all Generations; and the brave assistances it gives to humane nature; together with the particular obligations it has laid on themselves, are upon the point of finnishing its being in the world, without the least ceremony or show of regret. Such a Prospect, requires the assistances of the noblest Pen, which can do no less than purchase to the owner the immortal fame of a Hero; since Marriage is not now assaulted from the Ambushes of Cloisters; nor from a lustful Friar; But by the fairest pretenders to generosity and nobleness, whose Protection have in all Ages been sought by those distressed Interests, which have fled from the fury of Pedants. Whilst I thus represent to you the importance of this Action, I show you my inability to do it. But, since it is for the satisfaction of a Friend, I think your Ingenuity and candour are too great, to expect a sufficiency from a man he has not about him. Neither, can I believe, that you want any Motives to assist you in your just resolutions; that condition appearing too lovely in itself, to want the embellishments of Eloquence: besides the glories of the object you caress, whose perfections and accomplishments are so great, as hardly to be equalled within the compass of our Isle. And were there not as much of pride as inclination in the present humours, we might very well question whether the most hardy of our Gallants, did they every day converss with those beautiful endowments which She possesses would not willingly despise the glory of contemning Marriage for such an enjoyment, and even be contented to be virtuous, rather than not be happy: this we have reason to believe would be their resolution, were they not strictly tied up to the high Rules of their Ambition and Glory; starving their judgements, whilst they feed their pride and affectation. Your design wants none of the following Arguments to justify it, nor to keep your reason from submitting to the fantastical definitions of the selfconceited Malmsbury Philosopher. And I must remind you of one thing more; which is, that as in Pictures, so in such considerable draughts of humane Interests and Affairs, there must still be wanting those graces and that lovelyness, which no Description nor Account can reach; it being impossible for the glorious life to be rivalled by the sweetest Paint; and we can only lay the colours, and a symmetry of parts, whilst the beauty and the charm are above the reach of Pens. It will yet be necessary, to keep your thoughts together, to pursue a Method, and to decline the hunting-mode of writing now in use, of running remarks here and there, as the fancy of the Author leads him: Marriage is our Theme; and the justness, necessity, and advantages of it, the Subjects to be inquired into. It is now the opinion of those which will pretend to understand most, That the world has been fooled in nothing more, then in an idle and a tame submitting to the fetters of Marriage, that some one, unknown to them, did most injuriously enslave so many Generations with this dull institution; which did upon that account, lose the freedom and the vigour of generous actions, and miscarried in those Essays, that would have showed a greater bravery and glory of Mind. All Ages being left such imperfect draughts of Haeroick virtue, because the Genius was captived that drew them, which if it had known a just liberty, former Generations would have been as perfect as the present is like to appear. They think that if such a company of Hero's, had been born into these parts of the world, who had been free of this Clog, Europe had never sat so long slumbering with its Arms a cross, whilst the Turk plundered it of its beautiful Provinces; but that its Moons had been Eclipsed by those, who with the quickness of Caesar, had ranged the numerous Regions of the East; carrying their victories so far upon the Traverse till they had found no day light to conquor by: but the World has wanted these Heroic flights, whilst it has been the impediments of Wedlock, that made it sit so long ingloriously still▪ and to paint the Scenes of its adventures with so much imperfection and dulness. But when we shall find that the world has received not greater benefits by the Idolaters of Liberty, then from the votaries of Wedlock; and when it will appear that nothing is more just to mankind then that condition, we shall be able to return so criminable a Charge. Those Ages defined more prudently, and with greater moderation, who made not bravery of mind a Knight errand humour, submitting to all the risks of Fancy and Appetite; the world has suffered by nothing more than in this useless noise, nor could there have been an act of greater prudence, then to put the shackles on this mad and wild Liberty, which would more than any other thing, have disordered humane Affairs. True nobleness and glory, is regular and managed; and not like that Goddess born on the brain: an infinite number of benefits and public kindnesses, sat long in Counsel how to define it; nor have they passed its Character without many correctings and emendations; they have drawn together different perfections; and then tried them all (like Emmas Purgation) by the vigour of humane affairs, our Ancestors conferred not their favours so readily, nor did they admit those into the family of Hero's, who were considerable only, for a peculiar wildness and frenzy of mind: the present managers of Genius's, may try their offspring by their Poetic fire, but they ought not to do that injustice to their Fathers, as to affirm they adored no other light. They have introduced Chimaeras then, and have exploded excellent Realities, who have dislodged braveries of Mind from the circles of Marriage; and with them they have robbed the world of great advantages; of which I shall give you a prospect in this following Paper. To oblige mankind, by an obligation sacred, and unalter'd, to the affairs and interests of one Love, was an act of that prudence and wisdom against which none can justly dispute: They could with no equity, have raised a Title to more; since the Law of nature proclaims that [Loving of one should be for one enough] and that Sex must have been left in a condition wholly base and mercenary, to have took the pay of every Amour; they would have set up a Tyranny in Love, which must have been the most cruel and insupportable of all others, because exercised on the best interests of Life. Marriage puts the world into Discipline, and a happy government; incloseing the common enjoyment, that none might lay claim to the portion of an other: had beauty, and the possession of that Sex, been left a prey to the Conqueror, and subject to be borne away by the most forceible courtships, mankind must have ever dwelled jealous of each other, proclaiming an enmity against all the World; and have judged their power alone, a sufficient defence: but by the fore of matrimonial Laws, and the allotments made us from above, we live in quiet and security with each other, who must else have stood perpetually on our guard, and secured what we had loved from the wandering Lusts of others, the world must have been perpetually involved in Quarrels; since Love is more restless, and more impatient than Ambition: and whilst a charming object had many claimers, she must at last have yielded to the Conqueror; and not have gratified the passion of the most deserving, but the most happy, being without the exercise of that Empire which Haltion Laws had gave her, that must have been wholly lost amidst the animosities of Rivals. Or if mankind had been wearied into a more Friendly way of living, and yielded that to indifference, which they pretend would have been the effect of Satiety: yet still the world must have lost its Glory to preserve its Peace: and like those despised Regions, who are therefore quiet because they banish all things that would invite a Conquest. The use of excellent things must have been laid aside, and the World must have practised the wisdom of a prudent Consort, who disbands her beauties to cure the jealousies of a Husband. And as the great Cato urged the preserving of Carthage, to keep up the vigour of the Roman virtue which would languish when it had nothing to emulate; so such an indifference, must have yielded up all things of a generous concernment. Most actions of bravery and glory, receive a motive and original from without; and as we have seen, that all Ages have applied themselves to those things that procured the esteem and the reward, Virtue presently fading, when it wants the Sunshine of applause and emulation, and the showers of recompense: so no consideration of particular concernments in Love, and the study of appearing grateful and accepted, had brought a greater dulness on the world, than a present reflection can readily discover, neither shall we affirm a thing at all unjust, to say, that the world owes not inconsiderable benefits to a virtuous Love; and that, not so much as it has brought upon its bosom so many Hero's, but also, as it made vigorous and strong the beginning of that virtue, which had possible sat down wearied with small acquirements, had it not been supported by a generous passion: a truth that has found more excellent experiments, then what are met with in foolish Romances. And whilst thus the excesses, and the indifference had done the world equal prejudices, what could be more propitious to it, than the moderation and the middle way of Marriage? it removeth on one hand what is violent, furious and Rapacious, and overcomes on the other a degenerate indifference and sloth: and as it is not our inclinations but their irregularity that makes our Crime, so every thing is happy in its moderation: thus the assistances of fire to the occasions of life are very happy and necessary, it is only dreadful when it grows unruly; we sail with pleasure on that Ocean, and trace its yielding bosom with remotest wealth, from which yet we fear an inundation. So Love preserved in happy bounds by the institutions of Marriage; its excellencies and advantages remain to the world, its childish and troublesome qualities are cut off by Laws: hits made tame and gentle, which would else have devoured the fairest concernments of the Universe: should the world be without the society of this governed Passion, it might want a heat to vigourate, and render serviceable all its parts, which must else have submitted to dull languishments, nothing then appears more just than Marriage, since the love it cuts off and regulates, the world could not have borne; and the love it manages it cannot spare, without parting with the foundation of its best Affairs: neither have any appeared dissatisfied with this conduct, but only the Bravoes, and Furioso's of Ages, who think that the satisfying of an ungoverned appetite, is more important, than the being kind and obliging to common nature; whilst only such politics as their own, can make it be thought expedient to destroy the good of the whole, for the unreasonable satisfaction of some in particular. The highest wisdom took the prospect of all the Species, and established what was the benefit and the good of all; and not what might please the humour of some individuals, who starting up in particular Generations, and making a noise amongst those with whom they lived, could yet with no Justice, reproach the prudence that governed their Fathers; with which they are displeased, through the capriciousness of their own folly, and not the defect of the precept; which like Beds and Couches, are not to be accused, because they are uneasy to the Sick and distempered. We have found how prejudicial the small experiment they have made of their new way, has been to the world; they have practised on it but a little while, but yet, like bold Empirics, they have so altered and spoiled its constitution, that a long course of better experiments will hardly recover it; they have boasted of their Skill and Dexterity, but those inconveniencies that they pretended suddenly to remove, they have opened into an impetuous torrent of peccant Humours; and had not former times who submitted to the interests of Marriage, done more than they for the prosperity and good of the world, it had possible known scantier Allowances of health and tranquillity: had the Genius of the Universs been fashioned by them, we might hardly have seen produced all those monuments of Virtue, Glory and Nobleness, which now are extant in those who are like to do nothing but satisfy their humour and appetite, and quarrel with those things they cannot mind: and the world ought to look upon them as no other, but such who in Country's lying low, let in the Sea upon them, to drown all the possessions of greatest Value; thinking such an extravagancy sufficiently recompensed, by having thereby an opportunity, to row the small Pinnaces of their fancies, trimmed with the Flag and Sail of their Poetry, over the buried magnificencies and honours of their Fathers.  
Marriage laid the foundation, and first principle of civil Society; it was a Yoke for which the neck of innocence was not too soft and delicate; and a condition governed by unerring virtue, had yet need of these allotments, as to the advantages and improvements of Society. And that which Marriage appropriated, was the first proclaiming of Mine and Thine; the Earth was common▪ and the enjoyments of it had an undistinguished right, whilst the concernments of the Bed were sacred and separate: and even in those natures, the most ruined and decayed, there are yet the remains of this old inclination, which show themselves in jealousies, and a desire to possess alone the fancied objects; and in all things else we can allow a sharer, but in the interests of our Love: conquest, repine, and violence divided the portions of the Earth, but nature separated Marriage; against which it is the highest crime to complain of so just an institution, and of such equal allowances. That condition through the Ages it has traveled▪ has often met with those rudenesses and unkindnesses, as have made it suffer, and lost its respect, but if mankind would reassume that obsequiousness and observance which it ought to receive, we should find it again restored to all its former renown and veneration: that Institution, like Power, owes its glory to the respect is paid it, whilst every thing that is neglected, is by that scorn rendered cheap and contemptible; and any disesteem which Marriage lies under, is not from the inconveniencies that are found in it, but only arises from the incivility of those times that forbear to respect it: if some Persons would study to do it Justice, we should find it again with the same votaries about it, and not like dethroned Monarches, without its state and unattended. Some not generous as they ought, have put affronts upon Marriage, and a desire of their reputations, have produced in others the fellowship of their crime; scrupling not at all to share in their Vices, so they might but participate of their glory: these are the Factions bandying against Marriage, who loseth the memory of their Fathers, that minded nobler things, can think of nothing better than the most disingenuous and dishonourable divertisments. But I believe, I have said enough to vindicate the justness of Marriage; and there is that in every man's mind that will assist the endeavour.  
As the principle which continues nature, is of all things the most excellent and generous, so that which makes the continuance happy and advantageous, must not be contemptible: the seeds of being in other Creatures are as powerful, as Lions and Tigers, who leave their young to inherit their quitted beings, and the Deserts where they governed: The Stag communicates to his Offspring, his swiftness, and a long life, but the Rational beings, are not only continued in their kind, but in their use and glory by the discipline of Marriage: and it has not only perpetuated Generations, and the variety of Ages, but conveyed along with succession the pleasures and the interests of it; it has not only laid the foundations of vast and puissant Empires, of lesser Signories and States; but rendered them useful, civil, and excellent, it has given births to successful and flourishing Arts; and not only fixed their constellations, but also pointed the circles where they shed their Influence, it has managed the high-Mettle, and feirceness of Wit, and made that easy to be governed, which might else have proved too unruly for them that used it. To this we owe the original and excellency of Learning, which has taught wisdom and civility to barbarous Nations; whose wilder influence, like that of Comet, had pointed nothing but ruin and disorders to the world, had it not rose in the circles of Marriage. He was once rocked in the Cradle, whose Philosophy and Science, after travelled to the confines of night and day; who rising in the sphere of Marriage, shed a quiet influence, over all that Land and Water knew. An indulgent Mother in her lap, first bound the tender head of a famous Conqueror, who after wore the Laurels of so▪ many victories, conveying with her milk and her caresses, a sweetness that charmed the fury of his blood. Whilst Ambition, War, and Distempers still emptied the world, Marriage supplied it with other inhabitants, who took up, through the tract of the same Education, the affairs and interests of their Fathers. When by the death of some excellent Person, mankind have been deprived of great advantages and blessings, some others have rose up, and equalled if not excelled the virtue of their Fathers. When Countries have been widowed and drooped over the loss of anindulgent Prince, they have had restored in a successor, the freshness of their withered joys: and the designs of a vast Empire, left in an imperfect draught, has been finnished by the succeeding hand with all the beauties and embellishments of Power. An increasing Nation, living too strait in narrow Regions, have under the conduct of some Hero, sought more commodious places, whoes generous designs have been so far perfected by his successors, as to become one of the fairest Empires of the world: and it has been found, that mingling Nations, whose Lines have been perplexed with other communions, have never done any thing whereby to be renowned: those places that have suffered incursions, where they have not bravely distinguished and united their own blood, have presently lost the sense and name of glory; which sacred title of blood, has been the great motive to the most Heroic achievements; how did the world behold and admire an invincible obstinacy in the resolutions of the Capuan, because he could not betray the glory of a Roman: the respect and dignity of blood, is preserved no where but in the Channels of Marriage; and the Child only reveres the virtue of a just Parent. The sense of glory, not bounded in those sacred Spheres, had wandered till it had spent its influence, and fallen shot upon the Earth. Marriage holds the Idea nearer, and inbellisht with that sense which makes it sacred; Emulation sees it a far off, and views it only with indifference, to which the inclination is but fortuitous and uncertain; but we carry it in our bosom, when we have received it from our Fathers.  
He that looks upon the four great Empires of the World, will find that they flourished then with greatest bravery, when they were most virtuous, and that their greatuess declined with their Morals: the Assyrian Empire was succeeded by the Persian; which by its strange Luxuries and Effeminacies, became so easy, a Prey to the arms of Alexander, and by effeminate Ages, are no where meant the Uxorious, for they were ever manly and gallant, but those that gave themselves up to the dishonours of that Sex, when the Persian Empire was destroyed, he that put out its light, was too careless of preserving his own; whose successes and a bold spirit, being all that was remarkable in him, found not in his Riot and his Wantonness, the leisure to think of continuing what he had acquired; by which means that Power, being left without an Heir, but what was suspicious, and not respected by himself, the violence of its after Administrators, soon laid it low; who shareing of their Master's temper, as they did of his Successes, were only the pursuers of a mad glory; few of them leaving a name in Power, who had yet the possibility to have done so much to acquire it. After this rose the Roman, the best built, and supported, and of the largest extent: spreading the wings of its dreadful Eagles over the face of the whole Earth, being the noblest and most exact draught of Power, that the memory of Man has known: its virtue was the most useful and generous; its Arts the most pleasing and excellent, and its Spirit the most persevering and great, that any times have shown, that were barely Virtuous, with its religious Respect amongst other things, to Marriage, and by the gravity of its Morals, it stood in a long succession, at once the terror and the delight of the world: all Nations, either courting its friendship, or trembling at its Arms, but when it was governed by such Princes as Nero, and Caligula, it yielded to those Vices from which it could never recover itself; but by little and little declined, till that greatness on which the world had waited, and which it had served, laid itself down ingloriously in the languishing arms of Austria; where it remains, with none of its mighty Qualities about it; and though in the times of Silla, and Caesar, it suffered much by Ambition, yet it had then still a remedy to equal the disease; and whilst its peace was boldly assaulted by one Hero, it was as bravely defended by another: by which is easily raised a confutation of their vain opinion, who maintain softness and effeminacy to be the great security of a Nations Peace, since nothing can more discourage the attempts of the most skilful virtue, against the peace of Kingdoms, than the Reflections which it makes upon the vigour of those rhych qualities. So Alexander despaired of Persia, whilst the Rhodian lived, neither has any Nation assisted an Heroic perfection to its own loss, since though some of it may be employed ungratefully against it, yet it always at the same time receives the effects of the others acknowledgement.  
If we should quit this great Ocean, we have traced, and take a view of all the lesser Currents of dominion, that have run through every Age, we shall find that Marriage was the Fountain from whence flowed that Virtue, which was assisting and propitious to them. But we will leave that stream, and open a prospect into the affairs of Learning, which as it has rose in times serious and modest, so it did only receive respect and encouragement from those ages: Philosophers governed Republics in Greece, but they lost not only their raputation, but their blood in the effeminate days of Nero. Sciences never took birth but in grave and prudent times, whilst the scurrilous and wanton wit, was ever esteemed in idle Ages. In those days, Poetry and the looseness of the Theatre, the debauches, and the excrements of Wit, were only valued and admired; and they received Eulogies and Laurels, who invented new ways of Debauchment, or that could express themselves with the greatest smartness on Lechery and Extravagance: Wit and Beauty, have ever shared one Fare in the world; when they are happily espoused to noble and illustrious Subjects; or else given up to prostitution and dishonour; neither have the lustful Ages of the world dealt more barbarously with that blushing Sex, then with this virgin quality: and in how many productions transmitted from several times, shall we see the most excellent and vigorous fancies, prostituted to the most base and detested Subjects, which infelicity they received from those times in which they lived, and they might have been more happy, had they conversed with nobler Themes. Thus the reputation of Learning, and excellent Arts have fell and declined for want of Estimation; whilst all applied themselves to those things that procured the fame and applause, nothing is since the corruption of nature so pernicious and extravagant as Wit; neither has any thing done the world greater mischief than that quality: it has put Nations into flames, filled with wounds the bosom of the Church; whether it has presided in Camps, managed designs in Courts; or hatched errors in low-rooft- Cloisters: in all which places, the world has felt the smart of its cruelty: it has sometimes ruined by boisterous and bloody actions; at others by softness and flatteries: it has wound itself into all Interests and Affairs; and when it is not permitted to insult, to brave it, and to manage important concernments; it conceals itself, by a peculiar subtlety and bashfulness, from whence unsuspected it ruins and devours: but this quality, thus pernicious and unruly, becomes much more sober and useful in the temperaments of Marriage. And that which they call the dulling of the fancy, and the checking of the happy vigour, is but a casheiring of that madness, which all Ages have been bound to curse. When the world was busied in matrimonial Concernments, Learning opened itself in all the flourishes of a happy Knowledge; spreading to Heaven its Branches, and through Earth its Roots: the easy and effeminate Wit, was put out of countenance by the gravity of that appearance, and submitted willingly to more excellent affairs, to gain esteem and reputation. Some men might have the fame of greater Learning, but the Oracle pronounced Socrates the wisest Man of Greece. And to come nearer our too times, where shall we find in any ages, so much sottishness and a dark ignorance, as in those, that first allowed the solitary lives of Priests, in which they gave a Proof not of their continence, but their vices. Those daring men, who with their inhuman Decrees, controlled the influences of Nature; and could at their pleasure stem the Rapid Humidity: which dull Subjects of their bold experiments, they deposited in Cloisters, those Stoves (too many of them) of wretched Lusts; which by the practices of beastly Crimes, appeared no other than the Jaques of the world. In those Ages the Sun of Learning suddenly clapped in, and that duller day oppeared little better than a night of knowing nothing; whilst the world seemed led by idle Phantasms and foolish Illusions; preferring dreams full of unprofitable Aenigmas, before the sentiments of waking ages. Those who were not serious were mad and unruly, those whose interests it was to appear solemn, were dull and blockish; as if with the opinion, they had lost the learning of their Ancestors; and justly were those times infatuated, that gave so great a wound to the noblest affairs of Nature: neither could so bold an injunction have dared to appear in times less dark and sooty. So that Learning seems only to have loved the society of Uxorious and modest ages, and to have received increase and favour from them.  
Marriage was moreover a model of the after governments of the World: the dominion of a Parent in his Family, is a true representation of the government of a just Prince, who is the father of his Country: men in this mirror might have seen the agreeableness of Power and Empire; and with better inclinations might become obedient to an universal head, whilst they plainly could perceive the advantages of order and subjection in particular Families: had there been no distinction in Societies, in which by the respect and obedience paid to some Persons, the advantages of Rule might be approved, men would never have been willing to have parted with the most extravagant parts of their Liberty, but all desires of Sovereignty would have been opposed as Injustice and Tyranny; but by Marriage, and the issue of the Bed, men had within themselves a Lordship and Dominion, and the advantages of that evidently appearing, the intention of some excellent Person, and his desires to protect Countries and Provinces, and to be their universal Head and Parent, was not received with that aversion, as they must have been, had they wanted those advantageous Precedents: and I know not how to believe, that all the Dominions of the Earth were founded in absolute Tyranny: and that they had at first no design of the good of Nations, which was accidental, and found necessary for the security and quiet of Power; since it is impossible for any Country to enjoy Peace, Riches, or Profit, without the superiority of some or other. Marriage drew the Idea of Power, and embellished it with those advantages that made it more pleasant to mankind, than had it been the rough draught of command, laid only in black and bloody Colours: with what abhorrance had they took the prospect of Dominion, if they had only seen it designed by ambition, with all the furies of Death and Battles; with a sullen and imperious look, having nothing about it propitious and affable, but ravenous and injurious: but in the frame of Wedlock, it appears friendly and obliging, reconcileing the thoughts of subjection, whilst it flourishes in all the sweetness of security and profit. It represents to us, that the thoughtfulness and the cares of Rule, are not in themselves so excellent as the repose and pleasures of obedience, and he which enjoys his benefits secured to him, has rather what he should acknowledge with gratitude, then emulate in the industry and cares of his Governor; who though he wears more splendid Titles, yet his watchings and his thoughtfulness, cover with paleness the tempting beauties of the other; none would desire to rule, that see the Luxuries of Power cut off by Laws, and presidid over by the waking designs for the common good: and like the Children of a Family, they willingly allow the Parent his command, whilst they receive a maintenance and protection. In short, it affords to mankind a convincing Proof, that command and subjection are dispositions that may dwell together with great friendlyness and advantage; and that the world could not tell how to be without their mingling Interests; except not only all respect and decorum was thrown out of it, but also, every thing of profit and repose, and the thirst of all command took place.  
Neither has Marriage been less propitious to Kingdoms in particular, then to the whole world in General. Whilst it brought in the grant foundation of their peace and quiet. For this (yet with no injury) fixes a man to a settlement, and a contented condition of living, who if he should obey the force of no other arguments, yet the just consideration of his Family and Relations. would dispose him to peace and subjection: many men are sometimes tempted to be the instruments of fatal disorders to a Nation; whilst they have nothing to suffer but themselves in the calamities of ill success: few are so brutish, as to have no regard to the welfare of those they love; who would by Treason cut from his Children a brave Estate, and leave them nothing but Poverty and the reproaches of his Crime to inherit: and we find that those who have yet been misled to these actions, did die with no thoughts more tender about them, than what were took from the calamities of their Children; and though some have broke through all these considerations and have neglected their dearest interests, yet that does not disprove the force they usually have upon our minds: 'tis providing for those that come after us, which makes us industrious, and sometimes peaceable and virtuous too; what man would not be shaken, and feel some remorse in his defignes and projects of Ruin, that has a loving Wife leaning on his bosom, and innocent Children hanging about his knees; but he that lives alone, what design soever he drives at, he receives none of these Regrets and Remorses, but setting all things in himself, cries, let the world stand and fall with me, and we have good reason to believe, that the unmarried lives of the Romish Priests, have been the causes of great calamities and disorders in Kingdoms, who are entertained in all Cabals of that nature, like the Jews in the Turkish Counsels, for the peculiar aversion which they bear to the tranquillity of Nations. Men who have too much leisure, and too little dependence on a common interest, will freely play away their own share in any Kingdom, by its ruin, whilst there are so many Cloisters in other places to protect and receive them: which appear the black Treasuries of fatal Events their Guardians and Superiors flinging about those kindled firebrands, to inflame the world, who if they had a Family, and an interest settled to mind, would with less facility be disposed to act the Papal designs; and would take a great deal less pleasure in the disorders of Christendom. Marriage makes men look upon the peace and prosperity of the world with more concernment and delight▪ then those do who care only for themselves and their present satisfaction: Nay, there is a peculiar wandering humour, and a disposition of unrest in the single life; and whilst the thoughts have no certain aim to which to direct them, they are ever feeting and unconstant: and the wo●ld from shaded Cloisters, has seen emitted the most unquiet and restless Principles, whilst men dwelling in a perpetual tranquillity themselves, knew not how else to employ their leisure, cursed from above, as lazy and unworthy, but by entangling and perplexing the affairs of the Earth: from these disguized men, have Empires felt Convulsions and doleful Changes, which like fire disguized in Snow, insensible destroyed their peace; whilst the veneration of their dissembled Sanctity protected them from the suspicion of such devouring Principles. Marriage made men intent on the business of a Family, and endeavour to themselves that tranquillity and repose which a just Government affords them; because they may by those advantages enjoy the contentments and the interests of their families. But the single life, is usually inclined to innovations and shift of Power; because that variety whilst it pleases, it also injures none of those concernments bound up in a single Person: they may defend themselves from the wound aimed at a solitary breast, who could not so well protect the bosom of many; which under the conduct of a just care, and affection, would partake of an equal tenderness. Whilst War desplayes its bloody Enfignes to trembling Regions, whilst it covers with the Menaces of many deaths the bosom of a Nation, what tragic Scenes are presented to the tender and affectionate, who whilst they are immortal in their own resolutions, yet die often for their relations in cruel apprehensions; and dread the rolling Torrent, as bringing so unusual & so unkind a fate, in the losing of more lives than one; whilst they endure a death, must be survived by sense. And for the other advantages of Power, which are union of minds the Uxorious man opposes errors with the greatest force, & extravagancies (those blandishing and soft destroyers of Nations) with a passionate industry, because though he may himself withstand the assault, yet he fears their prevalency on those he loves; those cruel opinions, that have set Nations on flames, and those Cyrcean vices that have charmed and devoured, have been by none so resolutely opposed, as by him who protects a Family from all their assaults.  
It afforded moreover to mankind, the honour and delight of a hopeful Issue: nothing was esteemed of old, more an honour then many Children, the issue of a lawful Bed: the promising youth of a Child, returns a reputation to the Father; and many men had been forgotten in the Histories of Ages, had they not been the Parents of Children, who were famous; every Parent receives an honour from the Virtues, and the celebrated qualities of his offspring; 'tis a reputation to have been the root that bore those Flowers, whose fairness and sweetness were pleasant to the whole World: and if one Age like an unkind spring has but weakly assisted the births of a Family, possible the next, has recompensed the defect by a double propitiousness; causing that Race to be renowned in the following Generations, that was not valued in the former, whilst all those Honours and Applauses, are not bestowed without a just Reflection on the Parent that bore them: neither is the delight any thing inferior, if the excellent endowments of a Stranger are pleasing to us, (as they doubtless are to every ingenious mind) what must be the accomplishments of them, whom we have brought into the world ourselves? to be the Parents of those that may prove successful instruments for the good of Mankind, are blessings and contentments, not to be equalled by little things: and the actions of many men that have lived in the world, would have none of the Reputation they have yet acquired, if it had not been for the consideration of their Families: next to those interests which we owe above, nothing is so noble, so good, and so commendable, as to prosecute in ways of Justice and Honour, the interests of our Family: in the pursuit of which has also been raised, all or most of the glorious Triumphs of virtue, Courage and Industry that the world has known; at least they have on that account received a more excellent and valued name then any other Interests could have given them; and who only for the flashes of a short fame, would with the hazard of his own life, have altered the government of Kingdoms, have added remote as well as neighbouring Provinces to the tribute of his Throne; who would have exposed himself to the various accidents of the Deep, and have sought unknown Treasures in Countries barbarous unconquered and untraversed, if he had not hoped to have left them as the Patrimony of his Family? and thus on Deathbeds, have great, as well as serious men, left such excellent instructions to their Children of keeping up the honour and reputation of their Names, as if the interest they should take in it remained beyond the Grave: Agrippina doted so much on the Imperial dignity of her Son Nero, as to cry out, Occidat modo imperet: let Me Die so He may Reign. Neither have those who by rashness and ambition, fell into calamity, received more mournful apprehensions, than what they took from a reflection on their Families. And nothing is more remarkable, than that Tragedy, which the wretched Gamester acted on himself; to which he was transported by the torment of such Reflections. Who sees not with an agreeable pleasure, his name spread and flourish in a virtuous offspring, errected there by living Monuments to serve the immortality of Ages, whilst others have vainly contrived it, in actions of their valour; or in magnificent Graves: the first slumbering in the embellishments of History, where it is only admired; the other is sometimes resorted to by the curious Wanderer, who observes the workmanship without appearing concerned for the shaded Ashes: the noble Greek, who wanting Issue, was forced to adopt his Victories, to perpetuate his Name, knew well enough, that they were a barren and distressed offspring, and which must be forced to live on the benevolence of Pedants, and the charity of Ages: whilst a Son might have maintained through succession, that glory in the Sunshine of generous actions, which was forced to retire to a shade. Neither do they urge any thing important, who object the miscarriage of some men's Issue, since that is a precaution not at all allowed in the concernments of the world: and never to attempt for fear of a miscarriage, is a distrust only prevalent with the ignoble: if at any time the glory of a Race may be under a cloud for one Generation, it may yet in the next shine out with a charming lustre and brightness. That Parent is just and wise, who leaves the Principle, and Providence to fashion the increase; and he takes the conduct from a better hand, who is unreasonably fearful of the Events to come: neither would any truly studious of the interests of Nature, and the advantages of an offspring, impede both, by such vain fears. Who neglects the rich Voyages of the India's, because some have suffered Shipwracks? neither do any decline to reap Laurels in the Field, because they grow with Cypress. To be guided by the present just and pleasing inclination, and to leave the success to the conduct above us, is the only management can give contentment & pleasure to mortal men. Children are the most excellent way of pertuateing our memory, and to afford us the delight of seeing ourselves preserved from a sudden forgetful, and we may well submit to the satisfaction of such thoughts, without troubling ourselves with future miscarriages.  
Marriage does also perpetuate the memory and dignity of virtue. It is true it sometimes happens that a Son is not only unlike his Father, but so different, as to be a shame and reproach to his memory; but yet usually, the great qualities of the Parent live in the Children, having the advantages of their examples and instructions; and at least, if their virtue is much the weaker, yet supported by the Father's memory, it becomes strangely useful beloved and respected in the world: the Children of some Men, who have been the Authors of great benefits and good offices to Kingdoms, have served many happy occasions in the world, who yet have had no great Merit of their own to boast off: nothing is so much idolised, nor respected by the generality of People as a mighty Name; and a virtue possible in itself much the greater, found in a Person not famous, cannot yet do those things which the bare reputation of some others is able to perform: In the Civil Wars of France, the authority of a Prince of the Blood, could easily hush those commotions, & produce that obedience to Discipline, which all the courage, arts and persuasions of inferior Captains could never do. He that erects triumphs of Glory and Honour, does not only enshrine himself where he is adored, but sets his Posterity in a sacred place: and with his only Name, appeases the mutinies of Armies, presides in Courts, and keeps the affairs of the world in order. How had the world suffered, if a Person, who by many generous actions became the darling of Mankind, neglecting to transmit a Copy, from so beloved & glorious an Original, had set at once, in his Being, & his Race. In ancient Wars, Infants have been carried to encourage Battles, thereby, with their unactive blood strangely animateing the veins of others. And it has moreover, been found to work much upon the disposition of humane nature, a kind of gallant affection, for the memory of some glorious Person, left to the guidance of a tender hand: such Efforts served the Race of the African, and the Gothick Hero: procuring to the world this, believe and benefit together, that he which leaves his virtue an Orphan, may have erected for it, the Hospitals of stately Tombs, and the Panegyrics of History; but he that would have it lasting and useful, as well as admired must leave it to his Issue, where in the active Torrent of generous performances, it may accumulate, the same glory and esteem it found in the days of an Ancestor, to be only admired is a barren advantage, to be useful and to be beloved, is what the truly noble rather covet: which is found in the virtues and good offices of our Race.  
Marriage did also enlarge the Sphere, and establish occasions of practical Virtue. He that is married has more campass, and a larger field of Action: he usually procures more benefits to the world, at least more substantial and better grounded; he that is alone lives to this age, but he that is married (by the force of embraces causes) lives to those Generations which stand next, the world's last Calenture and burning fit. Pompey did not only fight himself for the Liberty of Rome, till he was its greatest and mighty Sacrifice, but left also those gallant Sons, who bravely endeavoured to revive it when faint and dying. The practical virtues that belong to this life, as they are more, so they are more considerable in the married State; Speculation how ever pleasing to some tempers, yet if it be not altogether Divine, is a thing of little advantage; especially to the world, and that is the measure of every excellent quality, the benefit of the general world: infinite thinking, that designs no other advantage but the private satisfaction of him that is busied in it, is but an ingenious sort of idleness; and moreover, the mischief the world has received by those strange opinions, invented by men who enjoyed a perpetual Vacation from affairs, remain too great a reproach of idle Speculation: the thoughts of men are perpetually working, and wanting the entertainments of good and useful objects, pursue pleasant and agreeable Ideas, that were never yet altered by action; and which are equally unprofitable to themselves and others. But he that has the interests of a Family, to mind, and more substantial concernments than a name, which like the Chameleon, lives on Air, bounds with those happy limits the extravagancies of his fancy. And the things he has to manage, consist in most particulars of the best virtue, & the most practical advantages that are found in humane Society. How many glorious actions, and instances of bravery of mind, have took their Original from the calamities of a Parent, or the distresses of a Child; & without doubt, the world had wanted the greatest part of its illustrious Precedents of virtue, had not the affections and tendernesses of these Relations, been the Motives and powerful Inducements to them: many indeed, (but unjustly) cry out of Marriage, as a condition of care and perplexities, and celebrate single living, for its freedom and repose: but first, let us ask them, who ever found in a mortal State, that tranquillity they have pretended to admire: perplexities and troubles have as well invaded the shades of the most quiet Recesses as the affairs and activities of Families: and who can show us that condition of life under the Sun, that is even and undisturbed? If Marriage has caresit has no more than other conditions; Nay possibly they are more supportable in the gravity and charm of those concernments, then where they assault mad and wild humour, weary of every thing. But then let us tell them, moreover, that it has advantages, blessings, and societies that they have not attained: if they can show us the life of some rude Philosopher, who in his retirements from the World, boasted of quiet and repose, (though that has appeared not Gallantry, but Sullenness in him) we can show them many examples of glorious men, living not only contentedly, but admired and beloved in the ties of Matrimony, spreading their useful qualities over the Universe; whilst the Stoic has permitted his virtue to droop and wither, in the shade of his own humour: besides difficult and hard acquirements are the triumphs of virtue, that mind shines with no Lustreat all, which has not been brightened with difficult affairs, owing (as the Body) its vigour and strength to motion and labour. Moreover, the triumph is the sweetest that is purchased with the most industry; the ambitious looks on those acquirments with contempt which are easily got, and loves the highest steps, because it is the hardest coming there. And such Motives have we received from above, to procure advantages to the world, that nothing relishes better to the mind; nor is received with greater esteem and applause, then difficult Services: the Romans ever loaded those with Triumphs, at their return home, and erected them Statues, who had served the Commonwealth in the greatest dangers and toils: so that to speak ill of Marriage, only out of a humour of repose and sluggishness, is to own the greatest reproach and scandal in the world. When they passed by the house of that great Senator, who retired from the gallant affairs of the Republic, and spent his time in a dreaming idleness, they use to say, here Vatia lies buried▪ whom have all Ages allowed for Heros? whom have they Deified and served with Altars? not the lazy and the speculative, not the boisterous and injurious, but those who applied themselves to court humane Race with kindnesses and benefits: and they have met with the most lavish Eulogies and Praises, who were the most lavish of their Blood and Abilities to oblige the world. Now he that acts with the multiplicity of Instruments, is capable of effecting more, than he that contrives one end; how great soever the sufficiency of one man may be, yet he shines but with a solitary Virtue, without the erradiations of an offspring: Neither has the Coat of Nobleness been perfectly blazoned, but with our Issue.  
An excellent person may do much for the world with his own sufficiency, but he doubly obliges it, who in a Seminary of Heroes, is continually propitious to it; & then as for the particular Exercises of virtue in that condition, we shall find them no where to have such powerful Motives: For whom was reserved the Conquest of Latium, and the foundations of an Empire, which Phoenix like, rose richer from the Ashes of Ilium, but for that Aeneas, who with so exemplary a Piety, bore his Father through the Flames; by which he became more Renowned, than Hector that defended, and Achilles that assented Troy. Rome once owed its being and its safety, to the authority and persuasions of a Mother, and that Hero received from his duty a temperament of mind, hard to be found in successes, and at the head of Armies: Neither could the present Conquest and Revenge, have so much served the glory of Coriolanus, as that famous Act of his duty; nothing is so noble as the pity which presides on the power to ruin, and Rome had doubtless wanted its effects, had it not been inspired by a revered Eloquence. The Barbarian though no death unwelcome, but accompanied with the assassination of his Brother, and he could support without regret the company of his own fate, who would willingly have fled from that of his Relation. If the Poets have not framed artificially the Scene of the generous Corinthian, she owed all those charming Actions they have celebrated, to the Ideas of her duty; neither was her Rival defective in the beauty and life of those performances, but only by the want of the ascendant: And there are infinite other Instances in the occurrencies of Ages that acknowledge particular Obligations to the Matrimonial Relations.  
It did moreover assist Mankind with a mind vigorous, and constant in its Circles. Virtue loses its lustre and strength, when it is obliged to wander in various entertainments; Marriage gives the thoughts a Home, and an Employment, that would else be traversing the ends of the Earth. Neither shall we find any men of a more manly Gallantry, nor a nobleness all of a piece, as amongst those who have been happy in this Relation, and great Lovers of the Interests of it: Some men may have exceeded in politic Arts, and in the Stratagems of Conquest; but I very much question, whether ever any Age (in the Heathen world) brought forth any thing more excellent or more beloved, than the virtue of Pompey, and Brutus; men not only Religiously prising the Married state, but such as were blessed with the Society of those women, that for the returns of love and kindness were famous in every Generation. We choose Friendship, as a Field for virtue to reap advantages, in, and none but retired and treacherous Natures will be without the blessings of that; but beyond all question, that Friendship is the noblest, bound in the surest Ligaments, and penetrates more the recesses of the Heart, that is commenced in Marriage, than any took up on other Scores: Some are pleased to cry down that Sex, as foolish and unfit for the conversation of men; but they seem in that too much to overvalue themselves, and to set strange prizes on their own worth: what if there are not sound women, whose heads are filled with the crabbed notions of Philosophy, who have no great insight into insignificant and unsociable Arts, the knowledge of these things could constitute nothing but barren and ridiculous friendships; that which is more generous, more pleasant and useful, is as well to be found in that Sex, as in our own; who that is wise, expects in this Relation, a jumping of Knowledge and Capacities, or an agreement with all our Chimeras and Punctilios, is she unfit for that society, who cannot chop Logic with the Scholar? that cannot please the Historian with giving him an account of the Original of Empires where the Sun rises, no● the affairs of Kingdoms, where the Sun goes down, or that cannot name him the Fields where have been fought famousest Battles, nor tell those Conquerors, that there swept into their Lap, the mighty stakes of the world's Monarchy; or that though she can love as well as Portia and Cornelia; yet they cannot recount him the particular Gallantries of those Roman Ladies, they must surely make a very fantastic Standard, who measure the fitness of that Relation by such an odd agree ableness: Humane Race is to be supported and rendered happy by a substantial virtue, and not by little Punctilios and affectations; It has been such Whimsies that have lost the excellent affairs of the world, and men placing their contentments in such idle likenesses, have neglected, to pursue what were the most, useful concernements of humane Life. Nature has set out the measure by which that Sex is found fit for our Society, which consists of something more important than the pleasing of our vain humours: the Interests of the world were at first common, and men intended the good of the whole; but the envy, the capriciousness and sullenness of aftertimes, made infinite enclosures, and men laid out all that stock on the little portions of their sa●y, which should have been employed in the public Bank of the Universe: And whilst they have pretended to refine humane Society; They have made its profitable Affairs evaporate into nothing; neither have they left any thing of those grave and prudent Interests; but some wild and thin Ideas, which they have in sport, hunted through the barren Regions of Philosophy, and along the fairy Traverses of Poetry.  
Marriage has also appeared excellent for the education of Mankind, which was the next thing important to his being; without that, as his Affairs now stand, he had come into the world an Extravagant, abhorring Laws, and the Regularities of Society, and his Reason rising at an Age after his mind had been rude and barbarous for want of discipline, it would not easily have been able to subdue the wildness of his youth: Nay, all its performances, had been but ill and imperfect Draughts, whilst it wanted completed Images and Ideas to draw by, its natural propensities would have designed something, but the world could never have known what to have called it; but Marriage has been in all Ages the Repository of discipline, and excellent Ideas: in its School, they are not only taught but revered; heat is learned modesty, respect and subjection, affectation and stubbornness are betimes cashiered, the fleeting and inconstant fancy directed to an aim, and kept steady by a peculiar authority; Marriage is the Garden where the Flowers of Youth are preserved in their freshness and vigour, whereas the open discipline of the world is like the rudeness of a desert, where they grow wild, and neglected, the sense of shame, and the fear of vice are preserved under this management, and influenced from this lower Sphere, whilst the general defection had made them difficult to be seen above; but besides, this condition has laid an Obligation on the Parent, to look after the Education of his Children; and if there had not been such an instition, in which, it was both our duty and our reputation too to look after our Issue, the Children of many had been neglected, and perished without a name, or any considerable acquirements; but now, those persons who have strangely overcome, and worn out the impression of what they owe to God, and their own affections are yet so careful of their reputation, and the esteem of their Race, as to Educate their Children in those ways by which they may be capable of serving the Commonwealth, and live with credit; had not Marriage been instituted, when the lustful youth had satisfied his appetite, 'tis likely he would have abandoned the wretched Mother with her Infant, to the incoumers of various sorrows, and the Children of the great and the Noble, had been Rocked in Cottages, and all their days followed the Plough; but now there are sacred Channels cut, in which one stream of peculiar and distinguished Blood, perpetually runs from one Generation to another; and we find, that even the most extravagant and voluptuous, are yet careful of that current; using all the industry imaginable to make it noble and imbelished; thinking it not enough to continue their greatness, but their virtues also; They endeavour to fashion and to sweeten youth, that it may be grateful and accomplished, when it comes to be opened in the Affairs of the world, to this purpose are the severity of Chastisements, the variety of Instructions, and the representing of differing Examples; not only those that have rendered virtue fair and agreeable; but such also that show a loathsomeness, a degeneracy and abhorrency in vice, by such variety of Ways, fashioning them into the habit of excellent qualities; which performances have set so many accomplished Persons into the world, who if they had met with Parents less careful, they might have miss that esteem and veneration which Ages have paid them: It is true, that the force of a Genius sometimes supplies the defect of a Parent; but where they both assist, are the most excellent pieces of humane perfection; and though Nature often does much, yet we many times find, that those persons are to seek in the turns of Humane Affairs, and in the artful Traverses of Glory, who have not been very well furnished with great variety of Images: and from hence has rose the defect that spoiled the whole frame of an Heroic virtue, designed by some persons. In some Men we have observed a strange assiduity in the quest of glorious Achievements, whilst yet a diligent Reminder, will see more of affection and earnestness, than a handsome dexterity in that pursuit. There is a sleight in all Humane Affairs; which though Nature may sometimes happen on it, yet can never hit it with so much certainty and success as Art; and hence it is, that a great draught of an Heroic virtue is fain to be taken from so many, because no one person appears furnished with all those various Colours. Some men have excelled for the number and Art of their Conquests; but the world has seen them subdued by a power from the Rostra. Achilles' Shield was after won by a virtue, different from that in which its owner excelled: the crafty Italian, with his single Conduct, wound about the bravery and vigour of the French Affairs, which perfection in any endowment, has arose from a happy Education, meeting with a good Genius, and where it willingly declines an accomplishment, it yet submits to the force of the discipline. So that to Marriage the world owes the Education of Mankind, and by consequence their fitness and usefulness to Humane Affairs, which is a great advantage, because the security of having our Issue well educated, is thereby established, and that care taken for the coming Generation, which our fathers had of ours; which is so important a reflection in the Series of succession. Marriage did moreover prevent the inconveniencies and extravagancies of a rambling Love; for what disorder and distraction had there been in the world, if an impetuous and lawless appetite had been subject to no Conduct; but that the fancy placing itself upon any Object, had presently transported the owner to all manner of violent actions; To serve its mad desires; Cities had been consumed to Ashes, Houses left desolate, or filled with groans, only for the ravishment of a beauteous Prey: The Affairs of the State had been neglected, or readily wounded for the acquirements of an idle Love, for such is the violence of that Passion, and such its extravagancies, when it is taught no moderation by Religion, and excellent Laws: The power of Conquest had been a sufficient Title to the Objects we had coveted, and we had felt no remorse, to have taken them from between the Arms where they had spent many years in endearments of Love: No Nation could have flourished, nor have been successful in its Affairs, if a wanton Flame had thus consumed the manly temper and vigour of the Youth; or if their passions had not transported them to such violent Actions, yet the gentlest concernments of those Flames, had made them uncapable of serving the Commonwealth, and the Interests of Humane Society, and what with running to public Houses of Lust, the contriving secret Cabals, and private assignations, the Animosities and Jealousies of Rivalship, the prodigality of amorous addresses, had took up all that time, and baffled all those advantages with which they should have served their Generations: Whilst they had followed these designs, ill humour, restlessness of the thoughts, and inconsiderate Actions had been the necessary Companions to them; therefore there was great wisdom in that Law amongst the Jews, that none should live unmarried after such an Age: All wise and prudent Governments knew they should have little Order and less Industry, where the affairs of an idle passion possessed the Hearts and Heads of their Subjects. Marriage more inclines the mind to serious and necessary business, than the wand'ring Lusts of Stews and Concubines; and even in those Countries, where Polygamy and many Loves have been allowed, the serious and the wise are grown weary of their liberty, as producing those distractions, which unfit the mind for other things; Neither would the disorders of that passion have only been injurious to the present times, but have extremely wronged posterity; which we may perceive by the Extravagants of this Age, who live in a strange neglect of those that come after them: They care not what becomes of the next Generation▪ so they may Riot and live voluptuously in this; they have received by succession a travelling Interest; which they are to transmit downward, it being to journey through all the Ages of the world, but by their Extravagancies and excesses by their new wit, and their modish vices, they forget its affairs, they affront its gravity, they stop its progress, and it is like to be known by after years with less esteem and veneration; and this is that Age which is like to be branded amongst all the Lustres of succession, as the most disingenuous that ever was, who have answered the Remonstrances of the world's important Interests with Rialdry, and a lasciviou Song; they have affronted them by the most unworthy practices, & gave them to understand, that the divertisements of Drolls and Buffoons were more valued by them, than the gravity and prudence of their Fathers: and these sottish encounters appear the consequences of the neglect of Marriage, by which the bosom of civil Affairs has received those wounds, which the dexterity and skill of coming Ages will not easily Cure: that neglect and lightness, that preposterousness and inadvertency in our concernments, as have brought upon the world so much disorder and inconveniece: No man makes it his business to be serious in any thing, but to railly with diversion and mockery, even his poverty and want, which are all deplorable effects, of that injustice that the present times have done to Marriage. In fine, that condition has applied the minds of men to that industry and care, which as they have contributed to the peace and the repose of the universe; so they have produced those excellent things, that became pleasant and dear to humane Race; the productions that have been besides it, were rather for splendour then use, and a gay show, without the company of real profit: The world has been diverted with pleasant Ideas, with a fair arrangment of amiable things; but the performances of this condition, have exhibited what was useful and necessary. The wanton humour, and the airy fancy may be pleased by the solitary Hero's, but the uxorious have intended the good of mankind; and if we diligently survey the Interest of the world, we shall find them fitted for the Society of the married life, and that they must receive a stop and a prejudice by the introducing of other concernments; the constitution of them must be changed, and a new habit introduced, before the world can look well under the practice of different opinions: How happily it has succeeded with these Experiments, what it has come to under the Discipline of such a practice, will sufficiently appear, by looking backward; the Powers it has established; the mingling Interest it has confirmed; the mutual stock of benefits it has settled; and the great tranquillity of all things; sufficiently prove, that nothing could have been more propitious to the world than that condition: Neither does it serve less effectually our particular Affairs; if we look beyond the contentments of a present and a fading appetite to those which arise from a long succession, stretched with esteem and reputation: to live when we are dead and gone, in a happy issue, is much better, then only for some Moment's to be renowned, to set in the Circle of Marriage, agreeable Objects always to entertain our affection and our thoughts, is much happier, then by the little Artifices of time, to be ever subject to delusions; who does not, that pretends to reason, take more pleasure in managing the Interests of a Family, and a lasting name, then in humouring a short lived inclination: and such Affairs have happily assisted the virtue of many persons, who thus diverted an injurious leisure; and as the Poet ascribed, the effeminacy of the Greek to his idleness; so the want of a just Interest to manage, has brought in most of those inconveniences that are found in the world; and that pleasantness and gayness, which is childishly called good humour, so much idolised in the single life, what is it but a trifling and strange impertinence! a thing without all conduct and prudence, and after the follies of youth are over, even insupportable to those who have the most admired it: All excesses in nature usually produce the other extremes; so the most aspiring Monarches have often turned Friars, shrouding the glories and lustres of Regal Majesty in the Sables of a Cloister, and men excessively voluptuous, grow strangely neglectful and solitary when they are old: What judgement can we pass on this, any otherwise then that they lavishly spend the prudent stock of Nature, which becoming bankrupt by excessive practices, they are after forced to yield to those humours, which speak the wants and poverties of Nature. Marriage is suited to the just temperament of things; whilst the other practices consist in those excesses that exhaust and debelitate nature; which like ground too much used, grows languid and unfruitful, the mediocrity is that which was designed in the Affairs of the universe: And he who takes them out of that Channel, makes them overflow all things of prudence and advantage, neither will they be any longer useful and excellent when they grow irregular: It is enough, that by the allotments and discipline transmitted to us, we may live with solace and advantage; but if we neglect those Rules, we can expect nothing but disorder and confusion. Marriage has hitherto defended the Interests and the repose of the world from an extravagancy that in all Ages has endeavoured to assault them: And whilst Mankind grow weary of so brave and successful a defence: It is well if they find out another equal to it, though it is very much to be feared, that those little Arts on which they rely, will soon let them see the error of that fancy, when they must call to their assistance a greater force, than what their Poets, or their new Philosophers can bring them, and the sad effects of this gayness, and those Chimaeras, will easily be resigned for the other useful and practical seriousness, than their modish humours, their refined and elevated fancies, their careless and unaffected fashioning of things, together with their courageous and profound searches into Nature, will appear the sleights of those Empirics that have undone the world, and if we shall not be capable of so much repentance as to curse ourselves, our posterity will do it for us, for sending them into the world, rather fit for Hospitals, or for Bedlam, than the Affairs of a just and happy life: To whom the good nature of their fathers, for being so easily abused, will appear a horrid crime to their Issue, whilst they take to themselves what they called a wild pleasure, but left to these a serious smart, and they must apply themselves to that Marriage, that was injured and affronted by their Fathers, which can only free them from the Tyranny of those practices, to whom they had given the Dominion, whose novelty and great liberty so far prevailed upon them, as to forget their Obligations, and their own Affairs, and without any remorse to see Sacrificed the being of many Families, and the prosperity and contentment of others, whose wastes and ruins declare by whom they have been plundered▪ Neither will that fantastic Discipline, under which they foolishly endeavour to put their extravagant practices, bring any security and benefit to the world, which besides its standing on an unjust foundation, can reach to nothing but a security from Bravoes. Marriage knows all the Traverses and Turns of Humane Affairs, and stands on a foundation of Nature's laying: Neither will that be transmitted down for right, that has been wrong and injustice in every Age: But we may imagine, they endeavour not to bring their designs to perfection, lest they should too near resemble the abhorred Wedlock: they can hardly invent any thing wild enough, and debauched enough for their own practices, their appetites call upon them for new extravagancies; and those who furnish them with variety, are at a loss to contrive fast enough to please them. Whilst we have thus Sir, drawn the Portrait of Marriage, and reckoned up its advanages, if we reflect upon it, we shall find the injustice that some men have done it: As for those who admire unsociable and solitary tempers, they can have but slender Pleas to an excellent mind: Nature designed no man to that vanity, as to be taken up with the contemplation of his own endowments, like the fantastic youth, who made love to, and died for himself: The only way to take a right view of our own good qualities, is to see them in less flattering Mirrors, and to have them drawn by those advantages and benefits we communicate to others: He that gathers all, his great endowments into his own Breast, and keeps them there, like Roses that grow in Deserts, he dies uncommended and uninjoyed▪ all virtue is diffusive, and loves occasions to exercise its vivacy and vigour; and what we carry about us, sufficiently declares that we were not designed to be happy alone, whilst both the solace of the mind, and an endeared life, consist in an union with something different; the brightest Colours owe their vivacy to the shade, and Nature has set Virtue like Diamonds in Jet, within the Circle of difficult services: And I cannot remember, that ever the Cloister, that great Receptacle of the drowsy life, did ever oblige the world by many excellent performances; we know very well what poisoned Arrows have been shot from those Coverts, that have pained and enraged the bosom of many Ages; but they are yet to give a proof their kindness to Humane Nature, and their present carelessness and vices, have put us beyond all hope of expecting it. But yet, it is another sort of speculation, which we are to accuse in these reflections. Some there are, who with great folly and injustice, make Marriage the subject of their reproaches; we do not accuse any for embracing the single life, whose Virtue is strong enough to bear them through all the hazards of youth and inclination, but yet, those who do this, aught to let it be with less pride and affectation: But that is the strange rudeness of the present sentiments, to mock at all practices that are different from their own; and though such light discourses will weigh very little with wise and prudent Persons, yet unexperienced youth is apt to be affected with things confidently delivered, though there be sometimes little sense in them, but this is not only the matter of conversation, but the admired Theme of some writings, and being a subject capable of keenness, and something of novelty, men endeavour to raise the reputation of wit on that foundation: But I wish they would consider with how much disingenuity and unworthiness they do it: Never did any Age so thirst after the same of being Wits, yet no Age has acquired so ingloriously that Title; It is not sure impossible for men of such great abilities as they give themselves out to be, to please and instruct the world at once, and not to build the Triumphs of their Eloquence, on the ruins of their Morals? How little reason has Mankind to admire them, who furnish it with wit at so dear a rate: They may tell us, that affected Pedants, capable of no generosity, have for a silly fame wounded the bosom of sacred and civil things, but we are astonished to see those who pretend to be Gentlemen of great breeding and nobleness to exceed their crime, and how unhappy ought they to esteem themselves, that the first proof which they give of their injustice to humane Affairs, and their ingratitude to their Fathers, should be on the most important, and most excellent concernments of the universe: They have introduced infinite Punctilios of respect, and observance, they pretend to correct the bluntness, and in obsequiousness of past Ages; but they wound the substance, whilst they adore the shadow, and we expect from them to show that respect, which is so powerful a part of their Genius, to the most important concernments which have been so revered in the world, and so beneficial to Humane Race▪ If they must exercise that doted on wit of theirs, let them choose a subject more agreeable to the Interest and complexion of Mankind, and let them think it to be a little rude, to reproach the practice of their Fathers, and the greatest part of the world, which they do in speaking against Marriage: But never any Age had more trifling Gallantries, and yet none was evermore in love with them; great capacities use to be serious, modest and unaffected; but now he that owns a little wit, makes such a noise with it, as to disturb the quiet and the serious Affairs of the world; If they would have us admire their great abilities, let them give us a more excellent proof of them; let them again rescue those Interests which they have betrayed, or else pretend to merit nothing, but the reproaches and curses of the world. But that which is yet a more important injury to Marriage, is a certain humour and opinion taken up by some people, that it is a piece of Gallantry and good Breeding, to divert ourselves with sacred Wedlock, as an extraordinory proof that we have overcome the Phlegm of a degenerate complexion; if we spend all our life in frolic Amours. There is another accusation, that belongs to these reflections; and that is, of those who are of this Condition, whose affection to it ought to be commended; but their follies and indiscretions ought to be accused: It is not always found, that a good intention can free itself from the blemishes of an ill conduct, and the follies of many Persons, have rendered some things ridiculous, that would have supported their gravity in a better management in this enquiry, the subject is extreme nice and critical, and so ought to be made with great wariness and circumspection; besides, to pry into the miscarrages of others in so close an union is a little imprudent; but yet our ordinary conversation and notice will furnish us with this belief, that many commit those follies in Wedlock, that become matter of divertisement to some Persons, and and an extreme scandal to others. One great cause to be ascribed of this, is, that men live narrowly, and to their particular inclinations, and humours, forgetting that they are to support a common concernment; and we may very well believe, that men may find as much ease, and a great deal more generous contentment, if they tied up their inclinations to a severe discretion, then in permitting them to wanton in all the liberties of their little freedoms; How few live with a careful respect to their reputation, and fewer consider the importance of a public aim; which neglects giving birth to perpetual follies and affectations, amongst other things that they prejudice, Marriage suffers in the opinion of the indifferent or prepossessed; Any thing that is uneasy in Wedlock should be concealed, and supported with a gravity, that might cover it from the spectators; No man should gad abroad with his complaints, which as they render his condition nothing the more easy, so they either importune, or divert those to whom they are communicated; it is tiresome to the serious man to be entertained with the follies of another; and it is Comical to the Frolic; So that we receive no advantage by such sallies of great weakness and indiscretion, and yet, though the satisfaction be so momentary, as only the easing of a present fullness, yet the revelation of such Matters spread in conversation, and remains long enough as a blemish on that Condition; this open temper, has in some made an injurious progress; reproaching with the worst treachery the intimacies of Marriage; the first Espousals proclaimed that two were one, thereby to unite all their concernments: The gallant Portia, tried her secrisy on her wounded Arm, to make an experiment of her Sex's sufficiency; which whilst she bravely rescued from the reproaches it had suffered, she retorted the blushing scandal upon ours: Friendship is of all other blessings the greatest solace to humane Life, and it is not only intimate, but sacred in the Circle of Marriage: To communicate our troubles, is to lessen them; and the Philosopher advised us, not to eat the Heart, which he meant of secret and concealed griefs: The great distrust of some men has appeared in hiding under ground their wealth, and this Age has in part reason to have the same care of their thoughts, which those had of their Treasure: Mankind were at first distinguished into particular dwellings, that they should have separated Interests; and enjoy their contentments in an undiscovered shade; we call it good humour to use all manner of freedom in our conversation; but how seldom is it found, that others will well interpret, what we well design, It were easy Sir, to lead this Current further, but it would be no discretion to do it, and many times we decline a safe Conduct, because we fantastically love our own management. 'Tis moreover certain, they best see their errors, who discover them by their own light, And that not only, because we find ourselves in some disorder to have them revealed; but also, from a certain pride that puts us upon justifying all we do; and besides, all the dexterity of another, can never fit the Perspective to our own sight: But yet, there are somethings so remarkable, that there is no need of these Glasses to discover them, and there are some crimes committed against that Relation, which none will attempt to extenuate, that respect would be very injurious, that should forbear the censure of the great scandals that are flung upon Marriage: The incontinence of the Espoused, is that Crime whose Bowels are filled with many others: Neither can we readily say, the influence it has had in the world; since it is evident that the sacredness of this Institution, has kept the Power above us with respect upon our minds: Other things have (though unjustly) been accused of Art, but the great Antiquity of Marriage declares its divine original: And it has received the same respect in diversities of Nations, and Religions, its Honour is so tender, that the least blot reproaches it; and besides, incourages the hardyness of after attempts, which take them for a Precedent, who were the first Invaders of this separated state; by whose attempts not only that condition, which appeared the principal foundation of the most excellent advantages, became shaken and infirm, but a way was opened to that liberty, which after made its incursions into all revered concernments. The sacredness of an Oath, and Protestations uttered where Heaven and Earth were the Witnesses, became the trifles of Custom and design; which being made so by a wandering appetite, that crime became the encouragement to a freedom in other things: What assaulted the first innocence we very well know; and we have reason to believe, that this Crime was one of the first that attempted the concernments of the world! And it is like to be that, which will give one of the last wounds it must feel before its ruin; this impiety awaiting it with a strange desire, that it might owe the fate of its noblest affairs to its inhumanity alone, and no reproaches are keen enough for those, who have made these attempts, either from the solitary life, or within the sociable: The latter is the more prodigious instance of treachery and baseness, because he strikes at the Heart and the Vitals; he breaks that faith on which Marriage is built, and destroys that fidelity which is so much of its Essence, he leaves it none of its reputation, but lays it under the reproaches of Artifices and a Juggle, he withholds others from applying themselves to it, whilst his practices persuade them, that it cures no appetites, nor practices any sincerity: He unworthily suffers them to think, that it is the Trap of youth, and a Gin in which Policy has caught our forward Inclinations: He Incourages in them a fancy, that it is better to practise those Liberties before we vow, and assure then to lose an Innocence in our restraint: He that draws the Adulterer with these Colours, will soon find his amazement at so horrid a spectacle; and justly believe that nothing is known so odious in Africa, is this Monster of Society; since he that devours the sincerity and the candour of any thing, shows a worse cruelty than the sucking of its Blood, and the generous at any time, lose their reputation with more regret than their lives: He has made Marriage to survive its Honour, and to remain a scandalized Institution: He has put the affront on the first founder; and mocked at the Limits of Nature; he has endeavoured to persuade the world by his experience, that Marriage is uncapable of its designs, and that the Ranges of lust were to no purpose enclosed, whilst the appetite is as ungoverned even in that Condition, which was designed to cure it, as in a common enjoyment. We will only say further to these Persons, that they stand in the first Rank of Criminals, and that it had been better they had never come into the world, then only to have lived to have done so much mischief in it; and that they must one day be called from their Graves, to be confronted with the injured Affairs of the universe, and not expect ever to sleep without the Spectres of those wounded Interests. And now Sir, after we have been serious so long, it is agreeable to our youth, to divert ourselves a little, with the pleasant and the beautiful Scenes of Love, it would be but just something to loosen a mind bound up to grave and serious considerations, by celebrating that Passion, which is as well the Vigour as the Imbelishment of Marriage; But we are to remember, that the Theory which has been exhibited to Ages of this Inclination, is very much different from that Practic that has assisted the Affairs of the world; and we must go another course than what we have already took, if we will follow the Current, where the Poetic fancy has led it: for those are the men who have pretended all along to extol and refine it: Though the Discipline under which it was put by the Ancients, was very unlike to the modern Regulations. They made it seek the society of Shepherds, and confined it to the Woods and the Mountains, it spent its time in weaving Corollas, and was busied in fashioning the address that merited the Garland: It appeared bashful and unsociable, shunning the guilt of ambition, with the noise and Artifices of Cities: It could divert itself with telling the murmurs of a Fountain, with reposing under the Myrtle, or in weaving about the Pine with aamorous Characters: It only signalised itself in the victories of May: and preserved no greater marks of its State, than the Tabor, and the Oat-pipe: It valued itself upon its sincerity, and knew no other bravery then to accompany in Death the valued Object: It affected a mind as free from Artifice, as that beauty to which it vowed, and opened its Soul, as well as spent its Caresses in the Sunbeams, but this affected life, was yet judged too inglorious and solitary for it, by the briskness of after Poets, who believed that it should value less its innocence then its glory; which made them lead it to those places where it might signalise itself in braver exploits, their Predecessors had fashioned it too rude and simple, and had armed it with a Power that could purchase it no Renown, whilst it was busied in a sorry Chase, on the Lawns and the Mountains. They therefore took it from so trifling a Discipline, they led it to Courts, and gave it the command of Armies: They disrobed it of the Habiliments of a Shepherd, and changed the Oat-pipe for a Trumpet; they made it feel its vigour, and experiment the force of its Nature: A distrust of its strength had made it live ingloriously, and they taught it what great things it was able to do; They made it not only to despise the Sheephook, but to make a trifle of Crowns: but it was necessary that it should accommodate itself to a disposition suitable to its erterprises, which made them exchange its sincerity and plainness, for dissimulation and hollow Caresses: Neither did it ill manage these endowments, if we may credit their Records. It brought in the faithless Greek the fire that burned Ilium to Ashes; and destroyed what was then the fairest Dominion of the Earth: but yet it was not altogether intent upon one design; whilst it stopped the Glory and Victories of Achilles, and sent him invisible Chains, from a captived▪ Town. It triumphed over Regal Authority, Duty, and the care of a Patrimony in the violent Scylla Eliza left not only her Tire, but a glorious life imperfect, whilst she became a Sacrifice to the Love of spruce Aeneas. It has gone through the Blood of the Innocent to reach a Throne, where it might appear in Royal embellishments to its Object. It has managed Intelligence in Glances, and communicated Plots by the Character of Looks: It has been a spy in Armies, and fashioned the Intrigues of Court. These their Poetic fury reckoned brave, but they have not at the same time withheld it from odd performances: They have made it leap Precipices, swallow Daggers, made Brothers burn for Sisters, and invaded the Father's right of Love by the ardour of the Son. The inhuman Greek Bedded his Sestian Maid, in the cold Sheets of Water, and left them to consummate in the Hellespont, those loves he had so painfully extolled, The fantastic Roman, made Narcissus burn for the shadow of himself, with so fierce a Flame, as could only be quenched in that Fountain where he viewed his Image. It has turned the Issue of Kings to Pilgrims, and transported the Daughter of a Caesar, to despise a brighter Immortality, whilst she affected the shade of a Corinna. Nay, under these managers, Love has sought an Empire beyond the confines of Nature, and carried the remains of Rational beings, to Vegetables, and inanimate: It has turned Mortals to Fountains, to Trees, to Echoes, and to Wall-flowers, preserving only in the note, the murmur, or the fragrant Character, the remembrances of a former state, the wantonness of the Poetic fancy, have in these instances appeared very extravagant; though they designed in all, to show the invincible Power of Love, whilst changing Natures could not change Desire: Neither could all the cruelties of a Metamorphosis disoblige a faithful Passion; Echo though grief has worn her to a shadow, preserves yet strength enough to answer to an amorous Call, the Heliotrope yet links the presence of the cruel Sun, and appears Melancholy, when he forsakes its Company. But yet, after all these cruelties and strange Experiments, the Poetic fancy could not otherwise atone for so much barbarousness, but by obliging Love to shave, and retire to the Cloister: The reflection on so much Blood as it had spilt, could not but naturally produce in it so great a Melancholy; But yet here, whilst it pretended to be a Devote, it proved a Monster; and could not forget the exercise of its former Tyranny; It is true, it grew more Circumspect, but not less guilty; it ruined equally though in a different way: It formerly invaded the life and the felicity, and now the Innocence and the Honour: It was more open and plain in the former attempts, but now it affected privacy and Arts: The world had felt enough of its force and it therefore applied itself to Stratagems, and dissimulation, so long a War as it had he'd with humanity, had taught them to reinforce and fortify themselves, and therefore undermined what it could not assault; It took the habit of a Recluse, and it made many of their orders appear but Fratricelles; It showed to the world a mortified look, and an Innocent Habit; But its Altars burnt with as brisk a Flame, and were thronged with lascivious Votaries; it grew weary of open cruelties, but strangely enamoured of those private sleights: Here with a show of great humility it devoured the portions of an excellent Virtue, and consumed the Innocence of the world, with Fire disguized in Snowballs: It whispered Intrigues through the Monastic Grate, and made assignations at the foot of an Altar: it comaed amorous sentences with Beads; and vigourated a lascivious Song with the Airs of an Anthem: It bore itself disguized into the Palaces of Magnificos, and practised dishonour, whilst it proclaimed a Shrist: It resorted to the Chair of confession only to ease an amorous bosom, and demanded from the Father, not absolution but assistance: It kept Leigers in Republics of Virgins, and held Intelligence with fidelity and Honour: It was adored wherever it came, and prevented jealousy by the reputation of sanctity. But though the successes of Love were great in this shade; yet it participated so much of a natural inconstancy, as to grow weary of so easy a prosperity, and left its recesses for more public encounters: Its Eulogies here blunted the Poetic fancy, whose flights whilst they were happy were yet regular and confined; they resolved to make it a mad Cap, that it might better serve the Rhyming reach, that has been so much the Idol of present Ages, here it acknowledged a Divinity, and showed a respect to Piety and Altars: But they better affected its old Ethnic profaneness; they liked it only when it was too vigorous for Earth, and too extravagant for Heaven: They gave it a power above Immortality, and fashioned it a quality that should Paramount the Universe. And no sooner had they thus took it from the Cell, but they furnished it out a Knight Errand, and made it traverse Deserts, they enured it to hardship, and often forced it to take up its Lodgings at the foot of an Oak, or the Bank of a Rivulct, whilst it was fed, Cameleon like, on the Air of sighs and reproaches, it exercised its courage in hunting of Ravishers, in rescuing distressed Damsels; in obtaining the freedom of captived Knights, and in putting an end to enchantments; whilst sometimes again it affected the kill of Dragons, the incountering of horrid Visions; and in appointing assignations in the dark apartments and Residence of Spirits. But succeeding Poets declined these Melancholy fancies; whilst they took Love from that Discipline, and applied it to the Affairs of Grandeur and Society: They adopted it into the Family of Atoms, and made it the Captain of those Numerous Legions: They gave it an extravagant and unlimited Commission, and made it equal with that appetite which they believe to be the Genius of the Universe; and the Trace they have led it, has been agreeable to their Ideas, they have brought it on Theatres, to inspire those Bravoes whom they call their Hero's: They have thought fit that it should signalise itself only in prodigies of valour, and miracles of Council: It has bestowed a sufficiency on a single Person to rout Armies, to look Kings out of their Thrones, and to make Conquests more facile than Ruin, and more easy than Traverses: It has baffled all the Stratagems of an Adversary, and wound about at pleasure the fidelity and courage of numerous Armies; all which are found but mean Exploits in the Records of their Dryads. But yet it does not always keep constant to the point of this elevation; neither does it ever affect to be so Heroic; it is often pleased to diucrt itself with meaner Actionfs: And to fashion the fooleries of Comedy: It can make Experiments on the Groom, and is not averse from an Intrigue with the Landress; It is pleased with the small encounters, and the fallacies of Mascarade, and delights in being Cajoled, and in committing Errors: Its Principles speak it an Epicure, and declare its abhorrance to be bound up to the high Rules of its Glory, whilst it finds the sweetest Pleasures in the most extravagant Liberties; though it can sometimes despise Crowns, and toss them from one head to another, yet it is not always pleased with so hardy an exercise: It can with as much pleasure, manage the designs of the Chambermaid, and receive Propositions from the brawny Clown, that greatness is uneasy to it, which stands above the divertisments of ordinary men, and it now less affects Glory then good Humour. But though this passion appears active and vigorous, yet it seems but the effects of its Age; whilst it pleases itself in odd and fruitless performances: It studies infinite researches, and the Punctilios of a Genius weak and defective, it grows hard to humour, and is pleased with niceties and Criticisms, before things brave and substantial: The Poetic Lawgivers have form it a State, and designed its observance; but it is weary of that troublesome greatness, and they are forced to indulge it in little Frolicks, and childish divertisements. It has reached its Climaterical Year, and forgets its Grandeur so fast, that all the lofty nonsense of its ablest Ministers, cannot preserve it from a sottish Lethargy, they have carried it to the Magnificent Palaces of Command, they have showed it the state it should preserve, and remonstrated it with an Eloquence, more charming and refined then their Fathers ever knew; But it see's not the force of these splendid Harangues; and its glorious managers must lament their misfortune, that they were born in an Age, when Love was so unable to comply with those precepts, which they are so capable of giving; So Rich and Magnificent a sense in the days of its Youth, had found it an abode in Stars, (from which some of its Directors pretend it to have come) and it had used no more these mortal divertisements: But unhappy Poets, they practice in a time, when its Nature is unfit to comply with the Excellencies of their Art; and yet they are resolved not to be altogether unsuccessful, they will accompany it to another world; Nay, they have sent their Poetic▪ fancies before it, to prepare an Elysium, to furnish it with Grottoes, with shady Groves, and Rivers; They have designed it an Eternal business, to repeat a past fidelity, and the Triumphs of mortal encounters; They have put it into the Arms of a perpetual Spring of Beauty, leaned it on a fragrant bosom, and under the influence of bright and shining Eyes; wherein so sweet a recess, it must entertain itself for ever with repeating its humane Achievements; yet if it find these Pleasures too luscious, they will permit it that variety in Heaven, which they allowed on Earth; They have form it assignations in withered hollow Trees, and weary Traverses in Sooty Regions, They can imagine a perfect tranquillity in nothing, and have framed their Elysium according to the Colour and Figure of its Atoms; which they esteem a happy thought, since it would dull so vigorous a Passion to be confined to one enjoyment: It would be tired with sitting for ever still; and therefore they resolve it shall be perplexed in innumerable Labyrinths, that it shall grow Melancholy, and delight to behold the purple Current of a Wound, that it shall encounter the Spectres of jealousy, and fright itself with its own shadow, that it shall Tilt in Tournaments of fancy, overthrow Rivals, and win Garlands: Thus have the Poets plotted an Immortal business to themselves in the managements of Love, But yet they will not leave its languishing Affairs upon Earth, though they accompany its lofty Genius to Elysium; yet they will not quit its Earthly part, whilst it rots in dirty Actions, they will force a freshness from that withered Trunk, and persuade the world, that it is still as lovely, and as charming; as in all the vivacity and sweetness of its Life: But it is high time to leave them, when they grow so Extravagant. Thus Sir, have I given you a Prospect of the Poetic Image, which you will find very unlike to that which has the ascendant of Marriage: The busy world has all along lain below this Romantic Passion, and would have nothing to do with its Chimeras: Sometimes it received a wound from those Phantasms; But it endeavoured to cure it as fast as it could: They have often made it propositions for a Commerce, but they were always strange and extravagant: Sometimes they were too rude and simple, and of a Melancholy below its active Affairs: Otherwhile they were too Heroic, and flew above their humility. It's reality was too sordid, and its embellishments altogether useless and Romantic; It therefore with great justice, excluded them all from its conversation, and took those Ideas that were the product of Actions, and not of the Brain; It entertained nothing above its Affairs, and preserved those benefits in vigorous Actions, whilst it refused to refine them by idle Harangues; It saw too plainly, in other concernments, that their imbelished Theories had ruined their plactice, and therefore would not admit of the leisure to be flourished and extolled; It despised Artful and fine Records, whilst it only valued an active and vigorous tradition; which it has conveyed to this Age, in spite of all the attempts have been made upon it; and if it must be its Doom to suffer now, it will not only fall a Victim to the injustice and sottishness of barbarous men, but stand a mighty instance of the approaching Catastrophe of the world; which will even before its dissolution, grow too like that Chaos it must be at last; whilst all its virtue and glory will be darkened, and grow a place frequented only by a savage appetite, in all its horrid shapes, a youthful Virtue must Traverse it with abhorrency, whilst it encounters so many frightful representations of vice, and the Ghosts of murdered Honours, and it must at the same time preserve itself from the Cyrcean Poetic Note, whose harmonious blandishments will lead it upon the Precipices of ruin and dishonour, and are the great procures of the Prey for monstrous vices. And thus that frame which began with innocence and Marriage, will end with Crimes, and with the contempt of it, it rose with peaceful and amicable virtue; but must fall with cruel and warring vices, and those Flames in which it shall suffer, will like burning Glasses, be a mirror to show the monstrous attempts of this Age; The Atheist must behold with horror a confutation of his bold Philosophy, in the Period of that world, to which he had given so fantastic a beginning, and the Poet, will with the same surprise, see it the Stage of that Tragedy, that will outdo all the dolours of his Dramatic fancy.  
FINIS.   

ERRATA.  
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