I Did not think▪ that when we entertain'd our selves with the little Modern Philosopher, you would af­ter have demanded those things from me in earnest, which were then our diver­tisment: but since you have been so inclined, I obey you [Page 2] 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 Theam, require the assistances of the most dext'rous and generous Pen, whilst it lyes bleeding [Page 3] in the armes 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 shew of regret. Such a Prospect, requires the assistances of the noblest Pen, which can do no less then purchase to the owner the immortal fame of a Hero; since Marriage is not now assaulted from [Page 4] the Ambushes of Cloysters; nor from a lustful Fryer; 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 shew 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 [Page 5] any Motives to assist you in your just resolutions; that condition appearing too lovely in it self, to want the imbellishments 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 [Page 6] She possesses would not wil­lingly despise the glory of contemning Marriage for such an injoyment, and even be con­tented to be vertuous, rather then not be happy: this we have reason to believe would be their resolution, were they not strictly tyed 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 self-conceit­ed [Page 7] Malmsbury Philosopher. And I must reminde 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 simetry of parts, whilst the beauty and the charm are above the reach of Pens. It will yet be neces­sary, to keep your thoughts [Page 8] together, to pursue a Me­thod, and to decline the hunting-mode of writing now in use, of running Re­marques here and there, as the fancy of the Author leads him: Marriage is our Theam; 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 fool'd 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 [Page 9] inslave so many Generations with this dull institution; which did up­on that account, lose the freedome and the vigour of generous actions, and miscar­ried in those Essayes, that would have shewed a greater bravery and glory of Minde. All Ages being left such im­perfect draughts of Haeroick vertue, 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, [Page 10] had been born into these parts of the world, who had been free of this Clog, Eu­rope had never sat so long slumbring with its Arms a cross, whilst the Turk plun­dered it of its beautifull Pro­vinces; but that its Moones had been Eclipsed by those, who with the quickness of Caesar, had ranged the nume­rous Regions of the East; carrying their victories so farr upon the Traverse till they had found no day light to conquor by: but the World has wanted these He­roick flights, whilst it has been the impediments of [Page 11] 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 votaryes 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 defind more prudently, and with greater moderation, who made not bravery of minde a Knight errant hu­mour, [Page 12] submitting to all the risques of Fancy and Appe­tite; the world has suffer'd by nothing more then 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 then 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 publique kindnesses, sate long in Counsell how to define it; nor have they pas­sed [Page 13] its Character without many correctings and emen­dations; they have drawn to­gether different perfections; and then tryed them all (like Emmas Purgation) by the vigour of humane affaires, our Ancestours 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 minde: the present managers of Genius's, may try their off-spring by their Poetick fire, but they ought not to do that injustice to their Fathers, as to affirm [Page 14] they adored no other light. They have introduced Chymae­ras then, and have exploded ex­cellent Realities, who have dislodged braveries of Minde from the circles of Marriage; and with them they have rob'd 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 wis­dome against which none can justly dispute: They could with no equity, have raised a Title to more; since the Law [Page 15] 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 injoyment, that none might lay claim to the portion of an other: had beauty, and the possession of that Sex, been left a prey to [Page 16] the Conquerour, and subject to be borne away by the most forceible courtships, mankind must have ever dwelt 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 matrimoniall 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 [Page 17] restless, and more impatient then Ambition: and whilst a charming object had many claimers, she must at last have yeilded to the Conquerour; and not have gratified the pas­sion of the most deserving, but the most happy, being without the exercise of that Empire which Halcion Lawes had gave her, that must have been whol­ly lost amidst the animosities of Rivals. Or if mankind had been wearyed into a more Friendly way of living, and yeilded that to indifference, which they pretend would have been the effect of Saciety: yet still the world must have lost [Page 18] its Glory to preserve its Peace: and like those despised Regi­ons, who are therefore quiet because they bannish all things that would invite a Conquest. The use of excellent things must have been laid aside, and the World must have practised the wisdome 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 vertue which would languish when it had nothing to emulate; so such an indifference, must have yeilded up all things of a gene­rous [Page 19] concernment. Most actions of bravery and glory, receive a motive and originall from without; and as we have seen, that all Ages have applyed themselves to those things that procured the es­teem and the reward, Vertue presently fading, when it wants the Sun-shine of applause and emulation, and the showers of recompence: so no considera­tion of particular concern­ments in Love, and the stud­dy of appearing gratefull and accepted, had brought a great­er dulness on the world, then a present reflexion can readily discover, neither shall we affirm [Page 20] a thing at all unjust, to say, that the world owes not incon­siderable benefits to a vertuous Love; and that, not so much as it has brought upon its bo­some so many Hero's, but al­so, as it made vigorous and strong the beginning of that vertue, 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 [Page 21] be more propitious to it, then the moderation and the mid­dle way of Marriage? it re­moves on one hand what is violent, furious and Rapaci­ous, and overcomes on the o­ther a degenerate indiffe­rence and sloath: 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 dreadfull when it growes unruly; we saile with pleasure on that Ocean, and trace its yeilding bosome with remotest [Page 22] 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 Lawes: [...]its made tame and gentle, which would else have devoured the fairest concernments of the Universe: should the world be without the society of this govern'd Passi­on, it might want a heate to vi­gourate, and render servicea­ble all its parts, which must else have submitted to dull lan­guishments, nothing then ap­peares more just then Marri­age, [Page 23] 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 Bravo's, and Furioso's of Ages, who think that the satisfying of an ungovern'd appetite, is more important, then the being kind and oblieg­ing to common nature; whilst only such politiques as their own, can make it be thought expedient to destroy the good of the whole, for the unreason­able satisfaction of some in par­ticular. [Page 24] The highest wisdome 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 uneasie to the Sick and [Page 25] distempered. We have found how prejudiciall 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 Empericks, they have so altered and spoyl'd 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, [Page 26] done more then they for the prosperity and good of the world, it had possible known scantier Allowances of health and tranquility: had the Ge­nius of the Universs been fashioned by them, we might hardly have seen produced all those monuments of Vertue, 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 minde: and the world ought to look upon them as no other, but such who in Countries lying low, let in the Sea upon them, to drown [Page 27] all the possessions of greatest Value; thinking such an ex­travagancy sufficiently recom­penced, by having thereby an opportunity, to row the small Pinaces of their fancyes, trimmed with the Flag and Saile of their Poetry, over the buryed magnificencies and honours of their Fathers.

Marriage laid the founda­tion, and first principle of ci­vil Society; it was a Yoake for which the neck of innocence was not too soft and delicate; and a condition governed by unerring vertue, had yet need of these allotments, as to the advantages and improvements [Page 28] of Society. And that which Marriage appropriated, was the first proclaiming of Mine and Thine; the Earth was common▪ and the injoyments of it had an undistinguished right, whilst the concern­ments of the Bed were sacred and seperate: and even in those natures, the most ruined and decayed, there are yet the remaines of this old incli­nation, which shew themselves in jealousies, and a desire to possess alone the fancyed ob­jects; and in all things else we can allow a sharer, but in the interests of our Love: conquest, repine, and vio­lence [Page 29] divided the portions of the Earth, but nature sepe­rated 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 tra­velled▪ 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 [Page 30] respect is paid it, whilst every thing that is neglected, is by that scorn rendered cheap and contemptible; and any dis­esteem which Marriage lyes 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 studdy to do it Justice, we should find it again with the same votaryes about it, and not like dethron'd Monarchs, without its state and unattended. Some not generous as they ought, have put affronts upon Marriage, and a desire of their reputa­tions, [Page 31] 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 then 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 mans mind that will assist the en­deavour.

As the principle which [Page 32] continues nature, is of all things the most excellent and generous, so that which makes the continuance happy and advantagious, must not be contemptible: the seeds of be­ing in other Creatures are as powerfull, as Lyons and Tygers, who leave their young to inherit their quitted beings, and the Desarts where they govern'd: The Stag communicates to his Off-spring, 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 disciplin of Marriage: and it has not only perpetuated Generations, [Page 33] 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 usefull, civil, and excellent, it has given births to succesfull 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 Witt, and made that easy to be governed, which might else have proved too unruly for them that used [Page 34] 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 ruine 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 tra­vell'd to the confines of night and day; who riseing in the sphear 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 [Page 35] a famous Conquerour, who after wore the Laurels of so▪ many victoryes, conveying with her milk and her caresses, a sweetness that charmed the fury of his blood. Whilst Ambition, Warr, and Dis­tempers still emptyed the world, Marriage supplyed it with other inhabitants, who took up, through the track of the same Education, the affairs and interests of their Fathers. VVhen by the death of some excellent Person, mankind have been deprived of great advantages and blessings, some others have rose up, and equal'd if not excell'd the vertue of [Page 36] their Fathers. When Coun­tries have been widdowed and drooped over the loss of an­indulgent Prince, they have had restored in a successour, the freshness of their wither'd joyes: and the designes of a vast Empire, left in an imper­fect draught, has been fin­nished by the succeeding hand with all the beauties and imbellishments of Power. An increasing Nation, liv­ing too straight in narrow Regions, have under the con­duct of some Hero, sought more commodious places, whoes generous designes have been so farr perfected by his [Page 37] successours, 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 renown'd: those places that have suffered incur­sions, where they have not bravely distinguished and united their own blood, have presently lost the sence and name of glory; which sa­cred title of blood, has been the great motive to the most He­roick atcheivements; how did the world behold and ad­mire an invincible obstina­cy [Page 38] 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 vertue of a just Parent. The sence of glory, not bounded in those sacred Spheares, had wan­dered till it had spent its in­fluence, and fallen shot upon the Earth. Marriage holds the Idaea neerer, and inbellisht with that sence which makes it sacred; Emulation sees it a far off, and viewes it on­ly with indifference, to which [Page 39] the inclination is but fortui­tous and uncertain; but we carry it in our bosome, 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 vertuous, 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 armes of Alexander, and by effeminate Ages, are no where meant [Page 40] 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 meanes that Power, be­ing left without an Heir, but what was suspitious, and not respected by himself, the violence of its after Admi­nistrators, [Page 41] soon laid it low; who shareing of their Masters 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 dreadfull 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 vertue was the most usefull and generous; [Page 42] its Arts the most pleasing and excellent, and its Spirit the most persevering and great, that any times have shown, that were barely Vertuous, 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 Armes, but when it was governed by such Princes as Nero, and Ca­ligula, it yeilded to those Vices from which it could never recover it self; but by [Page 43] little and little declined, till that greatness on which the world had waited, and which it had served, laid it self down ingloriously in the languish­ing armes 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 [Page 44] to be the great security of a Nations Peace, since no­thing can more discourage the attempts of the most skil­full vertue, against the p [...]ace of Kingdomes, then the Re­flexions which it makes upon the vigour of those [...] qualities. So Alexander des­paired of Persia, whilst the Rhodian liv'd, neither has any Nation assisted an He­roick perfection to its own loss, since though some of it may be imployed ungratefully a­gainst it, yet it alwaies at the same time receives the effects of the others acknowledge­ment.

[Page 45] 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 Vertue, 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 in­couragement from those ages: Philosophers governed Re­publiques in Greece, but they lost not only their raputation, [Page 46] but their blood in the effemi­nate dayes 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 dayes, Poe­try and the looseness of the Theater, the debauches, and the excrements of Wit, were only valued and admired; and they received Elogies and Laurels, who invented new wayes of Debauchment, or that could express themselves with the greatest smartness on Letchery and Extrava­gance: VVit and Beauty, have ever shared one Fare in [Page 47] the world; when they are happily espoused to noble and illustrious Subjects; or else given up to prostitu­tion and dishonour; nei­ther have the lustfull 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 fancyes, 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, [Page 48] had they conversed with no­bler Theams. Thus the re­putation of Learning, and excellent Arts have fell and declined for want of Estima­tion; whilst all applyed themselves to those things that procured the fame and ap­plause, nothing is since the cor­ruption of nature so pernicious and extravagant as VVit; neither has any thing done the world greater mischief then that quality: it has put Na­tions into flames, fil'd with wounds the bosome of the Church; whether it has pre­sided in Camps, managed designes in Courts; or hatch­ed [Page 49] errous in low-rooft- Cloysters: in all which places, the world has felt the smart of its cruelty: it has somtimes ru­in'd by boysterous and bloody actions; at others by softness and flatteries: it has wound it self into all Interests and Affairs; and when it is not permitted to insult, to brave it, and to manage important concernments; it conceales it self, by a peculiar subtilty and bashfulness, from whence unsuspected it ruines and de­vours: but this quality, thus pernicious and unruly, becomes much more sober and usefull in the temperaments [Page 50] 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. VVhen the world was busied in matrimoniall Concernments, Learning o­pened it self in all the flou­rishes of a happy Knowledge; spreading to Heaven its Bran­ches, and through Earth its Roots: the easy and effemi­nate VVit, was put out of countenance by the gravity of that appearance, and sub­mitted willingly to more ex­cellent affairs, to gain esteem [Page 51] and reputation. Some men might have the fame of greater Learning, but the Oracle pronounced Socrates the wisest Man of Greece. And to come neerer our to times, where shall we find in any ages, so much sottishness and a dark igno­rance, as in those, that first a [...]lowed the solitary lives of Preists, in which they gave a Proofe not of their conti­nence, but their vices. Those dareing men, who with their inhumane Decrees, control­ed the influences of Nature; and could at their pleasure stem the Rapid Humidity: which dull Subjects of their [Page 52] bold experiments, they de­posited in Cloysters, those Stoves (too many of them) of wretched Lusts; which by the practices of beastly Crimes, appeared no other then the Jaques of the world. In those Ages the Sun of Learning suddenly clapt in, and that duller day oppeared little bet­ter then a night of knowing nothing; whilst the world seemed led by idle Phantasmes and foolish Illusions; pre­ferring dreames full of unpro­fitable Aenigma's, before the sentiments of waking ages. Those who were not serious were mad and unruly, those whose [Page 53] interests it was to appear so­lemn, were dull and blockish; as if with the opinion, they had lost the learning of their An­cestours; 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 mo­dell of the after governments of the VVorld: the dominion [Page 54] 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 mirrour might have seen the agreeableness of Power and Empire; and with better inclinations might become obedient to an univer­sall 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 [Page 55] willing to have parted with the most extravagant parts of their Liberty, but all desires of Soveraignty 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 advantagious Presidents: and [Page 56] 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 accidentall, and found neces­sary for the security and quiet of Power; since it is impos­sible for any Country to injoy Peace, Riches, or Profit, without the superiority of some or other. Marriage drew the Idaea of Power, and imbellished it with those ad­vantages that made it more pleasant to mankind, then had it been the rough draught of command, laid only in black [Page 57] and bloody Colours: with what abhorrance had they took the prospect of Domi­nion, if they had only seen it design'd 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 obligeing, 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 [Page 58] so excellent as the repose and pleasures of obedience, and he which injoyes his benefits secured to him, has rather what he should acknowledge with gratitude, then emulate in the industry and cares of his Governour; who though he weares 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 Lawes, and presidid over by the wakeing designs for the common good: and like the Children of a Family, they [Page 59] willingly allow the Parent his command, whilst they receive a maintenance and protection. In shor [...], it affords to mankind a convincing Proofe, 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 Kingdomes [Page 60] 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 fatall disorders to a Nation; whilst they have nothing to suffer but themselves in the cala­mities [Page 61] of ill success: few are so brutish, as to have no regard to the wellfare 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 ye [...] been misled to these actions, did dye with no thoughts more tender about them, then 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 dos not disprove the force they usual­ly [Page 62] have upon our minds: 'tis providing for those that come after us, which makes us in­dustrious, and somtimes peace­able and vertuous too; what man would not be shook, and feel some remorse in his de­fignes and projects of Ruine, that has a loving Wife leaning on his bosome, 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, cryes, let the world stand and fall with me, and we have good reason to believe, that [Page 63] the unmarried lives of the Romish Priests, have been the causes of great calamities and disorders in Kingdomes, who are entertain'd in all Ca­bals of that nature, like the Jewes in the Turkish Councels, for the peculiar aversion which they bear to the tranquility of Nations. Men who have too much leisure, and too lit­tle dependance on a common interest, will freely play a­way their own share in any Kingdome, by its ruine, whilst there are so many Cloysters in other places to protect and re­ceive them: which appear the black Treasuries of fatal Events [Page 64] their Guardians and Supe­riors flinging about those kin­dled fire-Brands, 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 Papall designs; and would take a great deal less pleasure in the disorders of Christen­dome. 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 [Page 65] single life; and whilst the thoughts have no certain aime to which to direct them, they are ever feeting and uncon­stant: and the wo [...]ld from shaded Cloysters, has seen e­mitted the most unquiet and restless Principles, whilst men dwelling in a perpetuall tranquility themselves, knew not how else to imploy their lei­sure, cursed from above, as lazy and unworthy, but by intangling and perplexing the affairs of the Earth: from these disguized men, have Empires felt Convulsions and dolefull Changes, which like fire disguized in Snow, [Page 66] insensible destroyed their peace; whilst the veneration of their dissembled Sanctity protected them from the sus­pition of such devouring Prin­ciples. Marriage made men in­tent on the business of a Fa­mily, and endeavour to them­selves that tranquility and re­pose which a just Government affords them; because they may by those advantages injoy the contentments and the in­terests of their families. But the single life, is usually in­clined to innovations and shift­ings of Power; because that variety whilst it pleases, it al­so injures none of those con­cernments [Page 67] 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 bosome 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 bo­some of a Nation, what tra­gique Scenes are presented to the tender and affectionate, who whilst they are immortal in their own resolutions, yet dye often for their relations in [Page 68] cruel apprehensions; and dread the roling Torrent, as bringing so unusual & so unkind a fate, in the losing of more lives then one; whilst they indure a death, must be sur­vived by sence. And for the other advantages of Power, which are union of mindes the Uxorious man opposes er­rours 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 [Page 69] 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 hopefull Issue: no­thing was esteemed of old, more an honour then many Children, the issue of a law­full 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 [Page 70] Children, who were famous; every Parent receives an hon­our from the Vertues, and the celebrated qualities of his off-spring; tis a reputation to have been the roote that bare 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 recompenced the defect by a double propitious­ness; causing that Race to be renown'd in the following Ge­nerations, that was not valued in the former, whilst all those Honours and Applauses, are [Page 71] not bestowed without a just Reflexion on the Parent that bare 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 our selves? to be the Parents of those that may prove succesfull 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 [Page 72] 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 wayes 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 ver­tue, 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 [Page 73] the flashes of a short fame, would with the hazzard of his own life, have alter'd the go­vernment of Kingdomes, 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 Death-beds, have great, as well as serious men, left such excellent instructi­ons to their Children of keep­ing [Page 74] up the honour and repu­tation of their Names, as if the interest they should take in it remain'd beyond the Grave: Agrippina doted so much on the Imperial dignity of her Son Nero, as to cry out, Oc­cidat modo imperet: let Me Dye so He may Reign. Neither have those who by rashness and ambition, fell into calamity, received more mournful ap­prehensions, then what they took from a reflexion on their Families. And nothing is more remarkable, then that Tragedy, which the wretched Gamester acted on himself; to which he was transported by the [Page 75] torment of such Reflexions. Who sees not with an agree­able pleasure, his name spread and flourish in a vertuous off-spring, 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 imbellishments of History, where it is only ad­mired; the other is somtimes resorted to by the curious Wanderer, who observes the workmanship without ap­pearing concern'd for the shaded Ashes: the noble [Page 76] Greek, who wanting Issue, was forced to adopt his Victories, to perpetuate his Name, knew well en­ough, that they were a bar­ren and distressed off-spring, 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 mens Issue, since that is a precaution not at all al­lowed [Page 77] 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 [Page 78] of Nature, and the ad­vantages of an off-spring, impede both, by such vain fears. Who neglects the rich Voyages of the Indias, because some have suffered Ship-wrackes? 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 [Page 79] us the delight of seeing our selves preserved from a sud­den forgetfull, and we may well submit to the satisfaction of such thoughts, without troubling our selves with fu­ture miscarriages.

Marriage does also perpe­tuate the memory and dig­nity of vertue. It is true it somtimes 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; [Page 80] and at least, if their vertue is much the weaker, yet supported by the Fathers memory, it becomes strange­ly usefull beloved and respect­ed in the world: the Chil­dren of some Men, who have been the Authors of great benefits and good offices to Kingdomes, 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 idolized, nor respected by the generality of People as a mighty Name; and a ver­tue possible in it self much the greater, found in a Per­son [Page 81] 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 per­swasions of inferior Captains could never do. He that erects triumphs of Glory and Honour, does not only in­shrine himself where he is a­dored, but sets his Posteri­ty in a sacred place: and with his only Name, appeases the mutinyes of Armies, pre­sides [Page 82] 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 antient Wars, Infants have been carryed to incourage Battles, thereby, with their unactive blood strangly animateing the veins of others. And it has more­over, been found to work much upon the disposition of humane nature, a kind of [Page 83] 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 ver­tue an Orphan, may have e­rected for it, the Hospitals of stately Tombs, and the Panegyricks of History; but he that would have it lasting and usefull, as well as admired must leave it to his Issue, where in the active Torrent of generous perform­ances, it may accumulate, [Page 84] the same glory and esteem it found in the dayes of an Ancest­our, 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 vertues and good offices of our Race.

Marriage did also inlarge the Sphear, and establish occasions of practical Vertue. He that is marryed 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 marryed (by [Page 85] the force of imbraces causes) lives to those Generations which stand next, the worlds 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 vertues that belong to this life, as they are more, so they are more considerable in the marryed State; Spe­culation how ever pleasing to some tempers, yet if it be not altogether Divine, is a [Page 86] thing of little advantage; especially to the world, and that is the measure of every excellent quality, the be­nefit of the generall world: infinite thinking, that de­signes 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 injoyed a perpetual Vacation from affairs, re­main too great a reproach of idle Speculation: the thoughts of men are perpetu­ally [Page 87] working, and wanting the entertainments of good and useful objects, pursue pleasant and agreeable Idaeas, that were never yet alter'd 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 then a name, which like the Camelion, 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 vertue, & the most practi­call [Page 88] 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 Presi­dents of vertue, had not the affections and tendernesses of these Relations, been the Motives and powerfull In­ducements to them: many indeed, (but unjustly) cry out of Marriage, as a condi­tion of care and perplexities, and celebrate single living, [Page 89] for its freedom and repose: but first, let us ask them, who ever found in a mortal State, that tranquility 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 shew us that condition of life under the Sun, that is even and undisturbed? If Marriage has caresit has no more then other conditions; Nay possibly they are more supportable in the gravity and charm of those concern­ments, then where they assault [Page 90] 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 shew 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 shew them many examples of glorious men, living not on­ly contentedly, but admired and beloved in the tyes of Matrimony, spreading their useful qualities over the [Page 91] Universe; whilst the Stoick has permitted his vertue to droop and wither, in the shade of his own humour: besides difficult and hard ac­quirements are the triumphs of vertue, that mind shines with no Lustreat all, which has not been brightned 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 [Page 92] 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 Common-wealth in the greatest dangers and toyles: so that to speak ill of Mar­riage, only out of a humour of repose and sluggishness, [Page 93] is to own the greatest re­proach and scandall in the world. When they passed by the house of that great Se­nator, who retired from the gallant affairs of the Repub­lique, and spent his time in a dreaming idleness, they use to say, here Vatia lyes bury­ed▪ whom have all Ages al­lowed for Heros? whom have they Deified and serv'd with Altars? not the lazy and the speculative, not the boysterous and injurious, but those who applyed them­selves to court humane Race with kindnesses and bene­fits: and they have met [Page 94] with the most lavish Elo­gies 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, then he that contrives one end; how great soever the sufficiency of one man may be, yet he shines but with a solita­ry Vertue, without the erradiations of an off­spring: Neither has the Coate of Nobleness been perfectly blazon'd, but with our Issue.

[Page 97] 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 Renown'd, then Hector that defended, and [Page 98] Achilles that assented Troy. Rome once owed its being and its safety, to the autho­rity and perswasions 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 ruine, and Rome had doubtless wanted its effects, had it not been in­spired by a revered Elo­quence. [Page 99] 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 Idea's 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 [Page 100] 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 Imployment, 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 [Page 101] those who have been happy in this Relation, and great Lovers of the Interests of it: Some men may have exceed­ed in politick 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, then the virtue of Pompey, and Brutus; men not only Re­ligiously prizing 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. [Page 102] We choose Friendship, as a Field for virtue to reap ad­vantages, in, and none but retired and trecherous 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, then 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 [Page 103] 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 Chimera's and [Page 104] Punctilio's, is she unfit for that society, who cannot chop Logick with the Scho­ler? 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 Battels, nor tell those Conquerors, that there swept into their Lap, the mighty stakes of the worlds Monarchy; or that though she can love as well as Portia and Cornelia; yet they cannot recount him the [Page 105] particular Gallantries of those Roman Ladies, they must surely make a very fan­tastick Standard, who mea­sure the fitness of that Rela­tion by such an odd agree a­bleness: Humane Race is to be supported and rend­red happy by a substantial virtue, and not by little Pun­ctilios and affectations; It has been such Whimseys 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 [Page 106] has set out the measure by which that Sex is found fit for our Society, which con­sists of something more im­portant then 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 after-times, made infinite inclosures, and men laid out all that stock on the little portions of their sa [...]y, which should have been imployed in the publick Banke of the Universe: And whilst they have pretended to refine hu­mane [Page 107] 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 Idea's, 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, [Page 108] 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 compleated Images and Idea's to draw by, its natural propensities would have designed some­thing, but the world cou'd never have known what to have called it; but Marriage has been in all [Page 109] Ages the Repository of disci­pline, and excellent Idea's: 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 sted­dy 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 de­sart, where they grow wild, [Page 110] and neglected, the sense of shame, and the fear of vice are preserved under this ma­nagement, and influenced from this lower Sphear, 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 [Page 111] 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 [Page 112] great and the Noble, had been Rocked in Cottages, and all their dayes 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 [Page 113] 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 rendred virtue fair and agreeable; but such also that shew a loathsomness, a degeneracy and abhorrency in vice, by such variety of Wayes, fashioning them in­to the habit of excellent qualities; which performan­ces have set so many accom­plished Persons into the [Page 114] world, who if they had met with Parents less careful, they might have missed 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 turnes of Hu­mane Affairs, and in the artful Traverses of Glory, who have not been very well furnished with great variety [Page 115] of Images: and from hence has rose the defect that spoil'd the whole frame of an He­roick virtue, design'd by some persons. In some Men we have observed a strange assiduity in the quest of glorious Atchievments, whilst yet a diligent Remin­der, will see more of affection and earnestness, then 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 [Page 116] draught of an Heroick vir­tue is fain to be taken from so many, because no one person appears furnisht 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's 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 [Page 117] 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 ows 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. [Page 118] 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 it self 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 beautious Prey: The Affairs of the [Page 119] 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 [Page 120] 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 publick 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 [Page 121] that time, and bafled all those advantages with which they should have serv'd their Generations: Whilst they had followed these de­signs, ill humour, restlesness 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 [Page 122] and Heads of their Subjects. Marriage more inclines the mind to serious and necessary business, then the wandring Lusts of Stews and Concu­bines; and even in those Countries, where Poligamy 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 ex­treamly wronged posterity; which we may perceive by [Page 123] the Extravagants of this Age, who live in a strang 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 [Page 124] 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 worlds 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, then the gravity and pru­dence of their Fathers: [Page 125] and these sottish incounters 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 [Page 126] 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 Idea's, [Page 127] 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 [Page 128] 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 setled; and the great tranquility of all things; sufficiently prove, that nothing could have been more propitious to the world then that condition: [Page 129] 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 Moments 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; [Page 130] 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 leasure; 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 [Page 131] called good humour, so much idolized 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 ex­treams; so the most aspiring Monarchs have often turned Fryers, shrouding the glo­ries and lustres of Regal Majesty in the Sables of a Cloyster, and men excessive­ly voluptuous, grow strang­ly neglectful and solitary [Page 132] when they are old: What judgment 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 [Page 133] 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 [Page 134] 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 errour of that fancy, when they must call to their assistance a greater force, then what their Poets, or their new Philosophers can bring them, and the sad ef­fects of this gayness, and those Chymera's, will easily be resigned for the other useful [Page 135] and practical seriousness, then their modish humours, their refined and elevated fancies, their careless and unaffected fashioning of things, together with their couragious and profound searches into Nature, will appear the sleights of those Empericks that have undone the world, and if we shall not be capable of so much repentance as to curse our selves, our posterity will do it for us, for sending them into the world, rather fit for Hospitals, or for Bedlam, then the Affairs of a just and happy life: To whom [Page 136] 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 [Page 137] any remorse to see Sa­crificed the being of many Families, and the prosperity and contentment of others, whose wasts and ruines de­clare by whom they have been plundered▪ Neither will that fantastick 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 Bravos. Marriage knows all the Traverses and Turns of Humane Affairs, [Page 138] and stands on a foundation of Natures 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, least 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 [Page 139] enough to please them. Whilst we have thus Sir, drawn the Portrait of Mar­riage, and reckon'd 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 design'd no man to that vanity, as to be taken up with the contemplation of his own endowments, like the fantastick youth, who made love to, and died for himself: The only way to take a right view of our [Page 140] own good qualities, is to see them in less flattering Mir­rours, 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 Desarts, 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, [Page 141] 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 Cloy­ster, 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 [Page 142] their kindness to Humane Nature, and their present carelesness and vices, have put us beyound 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, ought to let it be with less pride and af­fectation: [Page 143] 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 sence in them, but this is not only the matter of conversation, but the ad­mired Theam of some wri­tings, and being a subject capable of keenness, and something of novelty, men [Page 144] 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 ru­ines of their Morals? How little reason has Mankind to [Page 145] 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 bo­some 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 [Page 146] most excellent concern­ments of the universe: They have introduced infinite Punctilio's 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 shew 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 doat­ed on wit of theirs, let them [Page 147] 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 [Page 148] 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 our selves with sacred Wedlock, as an extraordinory proof that we have overcome the Flegm of [Page 149] a degenerate complexion; if we spend all our life in frolick 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 it self from the blemishes of an ill conduct, and the fol­lies of many Persons, have rendred some things ridicu­lous, that would have sup­ported their gravity in a better management in this [Page 150] enquiry, the subject is ex­tream 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 extream scandal to others. One great cause to be ascribed of this, is, that men live narrowly, and to their particular inclinati­ons, [Page 151] and humours, forgeting 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 tyed 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 publick aim; which neglects giving birth to perpetual follies and affe­ctations, amongst other [Page 152] things that they prejudice, Marriage suffers in the opi­nion of the indifferent or prepossessed; Any thing that is uneasie 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 easie, 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 Frollick; [Page 153] 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 fulness, 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 [Page 154] gallant Portia, tried her se­crisy on her wounded Arm, to make an experiment of her Sexes sufficiency; which whilst she bravely rescued from the reproches it had suf­fer'd, 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 [Page 155] 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 injoy their contentments in an un­discovered shade; we call it good humour to use all manner of freedom in our conversation; but how sel­dome is it found, that others will well interpret, what we well design, It were easie Sir, to lead this Current [Page 156] 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 er­rours, who discover them by their own light, And that not only, because we find our selves 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, [Page 157] 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 [Page 158] 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 President, who were the first Invaders of this seperated state; by whose attempts not only that condition, which appear­ed [Page 159] the principal foundation of the most excellent advanta­ges, became shaken and in­firme, 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 incouragement to a freedom in other things: What assaulted the first in­nocence we very well know; and we have reason to be­lieve, [Page 160] 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 ruine; 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 [Page 161] 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 layes it under the reproaches of Artifices and a Juggle, he withholds others from applying themselves to it, whilst his practices perswade them, that it cures no appetites, nor practises 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 [Page 162] them a fancy, that it is better to practice those Liberties before we vow, and assure then to loose 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 Affrica, is this Monster of Society; since he that devours the sinceri­ty and the candour of any thing, shows a worse cruel­ty then the sucking of its Blood, and the generous at any time, loose their repu­tation with more regret then [Page 163] 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 perswade the world by his experience, that Marriage is uncapable of its designs, and that the Ranges of lust were to no purpose inclosed, whilst the appetite is as ungoverned even in that Condition, which was designed to cure it, as in a common injoy­ment. We will only say further to these Persons, that [Page 164] 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 our selves a little, with the plea­sant and the beautiful Scenes [Page 165] 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 Practick that has assisted the Affairs of the world; and we must go another course then what we have already took, if we will follow the Cur­rent, where the Poetick fancy has led it: for those are the [Page 166] men who have pretended all along to extoll 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 it self with [Page 167] telling the murmurs of a Fountain, with reposing un­der the Mirtle, or in weav­ing about the Pine with a­amorous Characters: It only signalized it self in the victo­ries of May: and preserved no greater marks of its State, then the Tabor, and the Oat­pipe: It valued it self 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 Sun-beams, but this [Page 168] 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 signalize it self 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 Lawnes and the Mountains. They there­fore took it from so trifling a Discipline, they led it to [Page 169] 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 Sheep-hook, but to make a trifle of Crowns: but it was necessary that it should accommodate it self to a disposition suitable to its enterprizes, which made [Page 170] 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 burnt 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 captiv'd▪ Town. It triumphed over Regal Author [...]y, Duty, and the [Page 171] care of a Patrimony in the violent Scylla Eliza left not only her Tyre, 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 imbelishments to its Object. It has mana­ged Intelligence in Glances, and communicated Plots by the Character of Looks: It has been a spie in Armies, and fashioned the Intrigues of Court. These their Po­etick fury reckoned brave, but they have not at the [Page 172] same time withheld it from odd performances: They have made it leap Precipices, swallow Daggers, made Bro­thers burne for Sisters, and invaded the Fathers right of Love by the ardour of the Son. The inhumane 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 fantastick Ro­man, made Narcissus burne for the shadow of himself, with so feirce a Flame, as could only be quenched in that Fountain where he view­ed [Page 173] 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 Vegitables, and in­animate: It has turned Mor­tals to Fountains, to Trees, to Eccho's, and to Wall-flowers, preserving only in the note, the murmur, or the fragrant Character, the re­membrances of a former [Page 174] state, the wantonness of the Poetick fancy, have in these instances appeared very ex­travagant; though they de­sign'd in all, to shew the in­vincible Power of Love, whilst changing Natures could not change Desire: Neither could all the cruel­ties of a Metamorphosis dis­oblige a faithful Passion; Eccho though grief has worn her to a shadow, preserves yet strength enough to an­swer to an amorous Call, the Heliotrope yet linkes the pre­sence of the cruel Sun, and appears Melancholly, when he forsakes its Company. But [Page 175] yet, after all these cruelties and strange Experiments, the Poetick fancy could not o­therwise attone for so much barbarousness, but by ob­liging Love to shave, and retire to the Cloyster: The reflection on so much Blood as it had spilt, could not but naturally produce in it so great a Melancholly; 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 [Page 176] way: It formerly inva­ded the life and the felicity, aud 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 it self to Stratagems, and dissimulation, so long a War as it had he'd with humanity, had taught them to reinforce and fortifie 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 shewed [Page 177] 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 Snow-balls: It whisper­ed Intrigues through the Monastick Grate, and made assignations at the foot of an Altar: it coma'd amo­rous [Page 178] sentences with Beads; and vigourated a lascivious Song with the Airs of an Anthem: It bore it self dis­guized into the Pallaces of Magnificos, and practised dis­honour, whilst it proclaim­ed a Shrist: It resorted to the Chair of confession only to ease an amorous bosome, and demanded from the Fa­ther, not absolution but assistance: It kept Leigers in Republicks of Virgins, and held Intelligence with fide­lity and Honour: It was a­dored whereever it came, and prevented jealousie by the reputation of sanctity. But [Page 179] 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 easie a prosperity, and left its re­cesses for more publick in­counters: Its Elogies here blunted the Poetick 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 Rhiming reach, that has been so much the Idol of present Ages, here it ac­knowledged a Divinity, and shewed a respect to Piety [Page 180] and Altars: But they better affected its old Ethnick pro­phaneness; 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 Errant, and made it traverse Desarts, they inured it to hardship, and often forced it to take up its Lodgings at the foot of an Oak, or the Banck of a Rivulct, whilst it [Page 181] 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 free­dome of captiv'd Knights, and in putting an end to in­chantments; whilst some­times again it affected the kil­ling 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 [Page 182] 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 Idea's, they have brought it on Theatres, to inspire those Bravo's whom they call their Hero's: They have thought fit that it should signalize it self only in prodigies of valour, and [Page 183] miracles of Councel: 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 then Ru­ine, and more easie then Traverses: It has bafled 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 Dryades. But yet it does not always keep con­stant to the point of this elevation; neither does it ever affect to be so Heroick; [Page 184] it is often pleased to divcrt it self with meaner Actionfs: And to fashion the foole­ries of Comedy: It can make Experiments on the Groome, and is not averse from an Intrigue with the Landress; It is pleased with the small incounters, and the fallacies of Mascarade, and delights in being Cajol'd, and in committing Errours: Its Principles speake 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 [Page 185] 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 un­easie 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 it self in [Page 186] odd and fruitless performan­ces: It studdies infinite re­searches, and the Punctilio's of a Genius weak and defe­ctive, it grows hard to hu­mour, and is pleased with niceties and Criticisms, before things brave and substantial: The Poetick Lawgivers have formed 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 reach'd its Climaterical Year, and forgets its Grandeur so fast, that all the lofty nonsence of its [Page 187] ablest Ministers, cannot preserve it from a sottish Lethargy, they have carried it to the Magnificent Pallaces of Command, they have shewed 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 [Page 188] Magnificent a sence in the dayes of its Youth, had found it an aboad 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 Poetick▪ fancies before it, to prepare an E­lizium, to furnish it with [Page 189] Grotto's, with shady Groves, and Rivers; They have designed it an Eternal busi­ness, to repeat a past fideli­ty, and the Triumphs of mortal incounters; They have put it into the Arms of a perpetual Spring of Beau­ty, leaned it on a fragrant bosome, and under the in­fluence of bright and shining Eyes; wherein so sweet a recess, it must entertain it self for ever with repeating its humane Atchievments; yer if it find these Pleasures too luscious, they will permit it that varity in Heaven, which they allowed [Page 190] on Earth; They have form­ed it assignations in wither'd hollow Trees, and weary Traverses in Sooty Regions, They can imagine a perfect tranquility in nothing, and have framed their Elizium 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 Melan­cholly, [Page 191] and delight to be­hold the purple Current of a Wound, that it shall in­counter the Spectres of jealousie, and fright it self with its own shadow, that it shall Tilt in Tourna­ments of fancy, over­throw Rivals, and win Garlands: Thus have the Poets ploted 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 Elizium; yet [Page 192] they will not quit its Earth­ly part, whilst it rots in dirty Actions, they will force a freshness from that withered Trunk, and per­swade 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 Poetick Image, which you will find very unlike to that which has the ascen­dant of Marriage: The [Page 193] busie world has all along lain below this Roman­tick Passion, and would have nothing to do with its Chimera's: Sometimes it received a wound from those Fantasms; 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 Melancholly be­low its active Affairs: O­therwhile they were too Heroick, and flew above [Page 194] their humility. Its reality was too sordid, and its imbelishments altogether useless and Romantick; It therefore with great justice, excluded them all from its conversation, and took those Idea's 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 [Page 195] had ruined their plactice, and therefore would not admit of the leisure to be flourisht 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 spight 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 Victime to the injustice and sottishness of barbarous men, but stand a mighty instance of the approaching Ca­tastrophe [Page 196] 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 incounters so ma­ny frightful representations of vice, and the Ghosts of murdered Honours, and it must at the same time pre­serve it self from the Cyrcean Poetick Note, whose harmo­nious [Page 197] blandishments will lead it upon the Precipices of ruine 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 mirrour to shew the mon­strous attempts of this Age; The Atheist must behold [Page 198] with horrour a confutation of his bold Philosophy, in the Period of that world, to which he had given so fantastick a beginning, and the Poet, will with the same surprize, see it the Stage of that Tragedy, that will out­do all the dolours of his Dra­matick fancy.