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with Applaufe in the fulleft Affemblies. But, and if all Men of Honour in the Senate of Juftice, fhould be filent upon this illuftrious Subject, her own Works would not only declare: her undeniable Character, and pronounce her excellent Endowments, but also condemn their Ingratitude and Taciturnity. However, her happy Parents, her Husband, her Children, her Servants, her Friends, her Relations, her Acquaintance, and All, muft readily acknowledge the rare Qualifications of her Mind, in all the ingenious Arts both of Wit and Invention. They cannot but confefs the diligent Labours of her Body, in all the curious Works, both of Pleasure and Profit. They muft needs commend the prudent Undertakings of her Life, in all the induftrions Exercifes both of Virtue and Devotion. Let them not deny her then the Rewards and Advantages of her own laudable Employments; and never refufe her the due Praife of her own deferving Handy-works. Let her own commendable Actions certifie for her Prudence, and be the Credentials of her Wifdom. She needs no other Recommendation of her Ingenuity, Diligence, Virtue, Piety, or Religion. The wonderful Productions of her Understanding, Operations of her Hands, and Practices of her well-fpent, Life, will advance her Character both at the Court and in the Country. They will promote her publick Intereft as well as private Reputation in all popular Concourfes. They will publish her good Name, Honour, and Dignity, at the very Gates of Glory, as well as at the Helm of Government, or in the King's Palace. In fine, they will fet forth her growing Fame all over the Univerfe, without the Help of any other Royal Proclamation. REMARKS.

T

REMARK S.

HUS concludes the Character of our virtuous Woman, in her proper Colours of Honour and glorious Array of Wisdom. Melandthon calls this facred Defcription, Speculum honefta Matrona; which, I hope, may be juftly render'd here, the Looking Glass of an honeft Matron, an honourable Lady, or a Royal Confort, without any great Abfurdity or Reflexion. Simonides, the Greek Poet, indeed has been very copious, as well as fevere, in his Allegories concerning vicious Women; if not too fatyrically familiar alfo with the Fair Sex in general, by fuppofing their feveral Productions, diversify'd according to their various Frailties, to be either from the Sow, the Wolf, the Bitch, the Earth, the Sea, the Afs, the Weasel, the Mare, or the Ape; which are odious Names for rational Creatures, as if they were no better than a Generation of Brutes. But he fancy'd another Sort of Womankind of a more commendable Extraction; and faid, τήν τις ευτυχεί λαβών, He was happy that marry'd a Wife like a Bee; whom he excellently defcribes with the most amiable Character for her Beauty, Sweetness, Labour, Modefty, and divine Grace.

However, the fole Obfervation I fhall make in thefe Remarks is this; that the whole foregoing Encomium, how fimple or plain foever, is briefly comprehended by the eloquent Apostle to Timothy, Ch. ii. Ver. 15. in these Words, as a Summary of all her other Virtues: She fhall be faved in Child bearing, if they continue in Faith, and Charity, and Holiness, with Sobriety. For by Faith, the acknowledges the true Eternal God, both in Trinity and Unity; glories

in her Creator, confides in her Redeemer, and rejoyces in her Comforter: That is, firmly believes both the Old and New Teftament, and accordingly practifes all the Duties both of Morality and Religion to a Tittle of her Christian Profeffion. From whence arifes her divine Love of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft; effentially One and the fame, myfteriously, and fignaliz'd only in Time, or rather perfonaliz'd by thofe diftinct Offices of Creation, Redemption, and Sanctification of the World; which feem to unveil the Mystery a little for our better Belief, Understanding, or Edification. But, in fhort, The entirely acquiefces in fuch incomprehenfible Arcana's of Heaven, without any farther defigning Enquiries, diminishing Curiofities, or deftru&tive Modus's of humane Invention. Hence flows, as from an Original Fountain of Love, her great Kindness to her Husband and Children, her profound Charity to her Neighbours, or her faithful Juftice to the whole World. Hence proceeds her admirable Chafity, Holiness, or Sanctification of Life. Hence comes her celebrated Education, Industry, or Frugality. Hence, in fine, fhe derives her remarkable Prudence, Temperance, or faber Behaviour, in the good Government of her Family, and in the Moderation of all Manner of Expences, as well as Meat, Drink, or Apparel, &c. in humane Affairs. By the particular Enumeration of which Virtues, this whole Chapter feems to be fully accounted for by that elegant Epiftle, and amply fumm'd up in this accomplish'd

Character.

THIS, this is the finishing Stroke of a perfect Woman of Probity, a Lady of confummate Love, a Wife of celebrated Virtue; worthy of

a

a Robe and a Diadem, worthy of a King, worthy of Solomon himself in Wedlock with all his Glory! Who can then forbear becoming her Encomiast, how unequal or infufficient foever for her Merit, either by Word of Mouth or in Writing? Who can any longer doubt of it, or delay giving her what is fo much a Debt due to her Excellencies, as a Panegyrick upon her Life? 'Tis nothing but a lawful Tribute, that ought to be paid to her felf of Right, as well as to another Cafar, upon their Marriage.

I. THE Fruits of her extraordinary Love and Goodness, as well as Labour and Industry, are highly commendable; in all the good Offi ces of humane Society, either Civil or Domeftick, for the particular Benefit of her own Houfhold, or the general Advantage of the whole World. She is no finifter Partizan in Religion, nor dextrous Party-Woman of State; and yet the loves no Neuters in either Senfe. She knows that the Revelations feverely condemn all Neutrality and Lukewarmness in the fincere Profeffion of Gofpel-Principles, Ch. III. Ver, 15, 16. Because thou art neither Cold nor Hot, I will fpue thee out of my Mouth. She engages in no Manner of oblique Views, or implacable Plots of Faction; and yet difplays her own Honour, Veracity, or Integrity of Perfuafion. She delights in the Pacification of publick Tumults, Troubles, and Animofities. Her whole Inclination is, to compose private Differences, and accommodate politick Difputes. But the

believes there is no Medium betwixt Refiftance and Non-Refiftance, as contradictory Terms; fo that the former will always be a damnable Sin in it self, and can never be otherwise in its

own Nature, by the great Apostle's irrefragable Authority. However, fhe becomes ftill fo bleffed a Peace maker, upon all revolving Divifions, that he can reconcile any Thing but downright Contradictions. She has fo great a Regard for fcrupulous Confciences, that the thinks the Liberty granted to our tender-hearted Gentry, the Diffenters, is highly advifeable by political Prudence; provided, and if they can make a Confcience of that Liberty fo obtain'd for their Satisfaction, without taking an Ell of Toleration for an Inch given, ftretching the Authority of their Commiffions, and intrenching upon the established Church and State-Government. But her univerfal Charity, great Faith, or extenfive Moderation, is almost as good as an Affurance-Office, for the civil Behaviour of the Conventicle, in this Point of political Confidence. This would bear a larger Repetition.' But to recapitulate all her particular Excellencies of this Kind, would be an endless Piece of Work, or an elaborate Impoffibility.

II. THE Works of her great Charity and exemplary Virtue, in all Kinds of Moral and Religions Exercifes, are likewife highly meritorious or Praife-worthy. Nothing can disturb her Righteous and Philofophick Soul. No Barbarity of Affronts and Indignities can excite her private Revenge, or ruffle her loving Temper, beyond a willing Forgiveness of her Enemies, and an eafy Reconciliation with publick Scorn. She looks upon Virtue, according to the wife Notions of the Antient Philofophers, to be the Fountain and Foundation of all Happinefs; as it establishes the most perfect Harmony as well as Tranquillity of humane Life.

She