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the Kings of that Country, was attended only with Two of his Friends, and Seven Slaves in his Train. But now our Equipages about the Streets at Home, are more immoderately fplendid, to maintain our Grandeur. Our gaudy Trains are extraordinary, and our proudy Followers innumerable: more Foot-Men, Waiting-women, or Servant-Maids in our Families, than faithful Friends, to fhew our Greatnefs, and expofe our Ambition Abroad. I would not be thought too cynical, or fingular in cenfuring our New Fafbions; but these were the Vanities which the Ancient Authors of Morality complain'd of, with the greatest Severity. We affect all the Glories of the Peacock's Tail, and Colours of the RainBow, fometimes, in our modern Dresses among young People. But as there is no Reafon for People's going naked, or living like the fancy'd Pra- Adamites, on the one Hand; fo there is no Neceflity, on the other, for dreffing-up with fo much fashionable Splendour, nor Room left for fuch vain Gaudineffes of Affectation.

DISCRETION over-rules all a good provident motherly Woman's Actions; either in Drefs, Habit, or Diftin&tion of Modefty, which deferves the greateft Panegyrick. Thus fhe is not afraid of the Snow, or wetting her Feet, and fouling her Hands, in the Service of cloathing her Houshold well: fo that we may justly repeat the Commendation of her officious Conduct, Courage and Carefulness, in this Point of good Houfewif'ry. She fears no Colours of the Rain-Bow, or the lowring Heavens, let them look never fo gloomy or threat'ning; neither difcourag'd from her domeftick Concerns, by the Heat in the Height of Summer, nor by the Cold in the Depth of Winter; but goes-on boldly ftill, chearful

in the Performance of her Duty, and doing her Bufinefs effectually in all Weathers.

1. SHE does not fear the Cold for her felf, nor dread her own Security in fuch airy Hardfhips; but makes her Conftitution more hardy, by inuring it to the bleakeft Blafts of Wind, and chilleft Drifts of Snow that fly Abroad in the most pinching Seafon. By conftant Practice, fhe renders her felf able to endure any Hardfhips of Weather, for the Advantage of her Houfhold, without pampering her Genius, fparing her Carcafe, or favouring her own State of Health. She is not a tender Mother in that Refpect; fo as to indulge her felf in Eafe, Indolence or Idlenefs. She feldom affects fitting in a foft Chimney-Corner, or by a warm FireSide; but rather loves to get her felf a Heat by bufting Exercifes, and prefers the natural Warmth of her Conftitution, excited by active Motion and stirring Bufinefs, far before all the artificial Calefactions, acquir'd by modifh Cordials, or Cuftoms of drinking Cold-Tea, Chocolate, Coffee-Royal, and fuch like falfe Refreshments: which only pall the Appetite, poach the Stomach, and parboil Nature. But her Cloathing is always made of the beft Scarlet or warmest Wooll, fit for undergoing the Dangers, or preventing the Difafters of the coldeft Climate. And as fhe eats, drinks, or fleeps with Moderation, only fufficient to fatisfy Hunger, quench Thirst, and fupport her natural Strength; fo the never becomes Weather-wife by any ill Habit of Body. Thus fhe appears, as it were, TempeftProof at laft, without tendering her Conftitution. The Sharpnefs of the North-wind cannot terrify her Hardinefs, fhrink her Power, or fhock her Virtue. In fhort, the Greatnefs of her steadfast

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Faith and strenuous Perfeverance, does not ftag ger in any violent Storms; but is able to ftand the Teft of the moft bluftering and tempeftuous Euroclydon of State, with undaunted Courage, either in a natural, moral or religious Senfe.

II. SHE likewife does not in the leaft fear the Cold for her Houfhold, being both well-fed, and well-clad to their Hearts Content: for fhe always furnishes them with good homely Cloathing, as well as ftrengthening Victuals, that they need not be unwilling to venture out of Doors for Fear of the Worlt. They are in no great Danger of being hurt, by any Extremities of the Weather; neither in Dread of being frozen, like Statues of Snow, by the Northern, nor melted like Wax or Butter in the Sun, by the Southern Influences, at different Seafons of the Year: they are fo well provided for accordingly, against Both the One' and the, Other, by our careful and judicious Houfe-Keeper. They cannot complain of their Cloaths either in Winter or Summer, through too much Heat or extreme Cold, as unfeasonable and unfuitable to the Rigours of either Change. They have no Reafon to fear either Calentures by the One, or Confumptions by the Other; confidering the cautious Preparati ons that are made, both for their convenient Apparel and Nourishment, requifite for their Welfare, according to their respective Neceffities. But, befides, they have no Room left, neither to find Fault with their proper Habits or Li veries, as mean, vulgar and ordinary; for, by the Purport of the Text, they are cloathed in Scarlet: That is, in good strong ufeful Garments, it is no great Matter for the Colour; convenient for keeping out the Cold, as well as covering their naked Bodies; made for Service, as

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well as Decency; not fuperficial, not gaudy, not foppish; nor like the Fool's Coat of all Colours, to draw the ludicrous Eyes of Admirers, rather than preferve their living Corps from starving almoft to Death a-cold.

THE Government of the Body with Modefty, Discretion, or good Manners, is a Matter of great Moment. To keep our Bodies in Subjection to the Mind, and Obedience to Health, is the best Entertainment of them in Prudence. They ought to be well provided for, but not wholly ferv'd. Meat to lay Hunger, Drink to help Thirst, Cloaths to keep-in Warmth, Lodging to fhelter us from Weather, and fuch like moderate Indulgences to keep out the Cold, are fufficient in all Réafon. Every Thing is a fuperfluous Snare above a discreet and decent Competency. Our Apparel and Drefs require the ftrictest Regulation and Neatness. People's Humours may fometimes be fhrewdly guefs'd at, by their Garments. We may almost know a Fool by his Coat. Dirty Shoes, foul Linen, or a greafy Doublet, may perhaps give Offence in publick Company. We were born naked, and must return fo, notwithstanding our Shrowds. We dress-up our dead Bodies fometimes with too much funeral Pomp. No rich Attire can immortalize the Living, nor fave them from being Worms-meat. We muft All come at laft to our cheap Flannels, or homely Woollens. But the original Mark of our fhameful Guilt, is now become a Badge of our Honour and Dignity. Our gay Cloaths, Garbs, and Garments in Fashion, are made more ornamental than neceflary Coverings. Our Trimming is illuftrious to the laft Degree of Foppery. LaI dies may drefs fine to please their Lords; but what is a delicate well-drefs'd Woman, as the T

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Moralift fays, but an elaborate Piece of Luxury? However, it is the greatest Abfurdity for a Man to fpend his Hours, Morning or Evening, betwixt the Comb and the Glass; and must always be deem'd a moft fcandalous Effeminacy. What fignifies fo many Laces for the Back, where Virtue is lodg'd in the Mind?

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internal Array appears moft fplendid, and needs no external Set-offs. Native Beauty is the best, without any Arts or Fucufes. Virtue is fo glorious in it felf, that outward Jewels only ferve it for a Foil. To glory in Gold-Chains or Watches, can neither redeem our precious Time, nor affert our natural Liberty. Undreffing our felves of all fuch gaudy Appearances, as either hurt or hinder Virtue, is the best Way to recover that Freedom. Some vain People load themselves with all their Riches on the Outfide, and have but little left within Doors. They fometimes carry their whole Eftates upon their Backs, like the poor Savoyards, for a Raree-fhow. Some again are Princes in one Metal, and Slaves in another. Some alfo are fhackled, as it were, with their Money; and others faften'd, nail'd-down and riveted to it. In fome People's Ears you may, perhaps, fee a whole Patrimony hanging in a Pendent; or a House and Land contracted into the Compafs of one large Diamond, only fit for a Crown. Some egregious Fops, in fine, take more Pains in fetting off their beauifh Attire, than adorning their undrefs'd Minds; or in ordering their full Perukes, than cultivating their empty Heads. Folly has prevail'd fo far by Fafhion, that we fet a greater value upon the modifh Vanities of the Body, than the Virtues of the Understanding. And what are the fineft Gaieties of Dreffing,

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