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mi 
 
 i 
 
BELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
n 
 
i 
 
lii'awn 8. Jiiigiuved hy J. Ronmey, 
 
^bi liha-©© Farts 
 
 PUBLISHED -BTW.UILNEK. 
 
m 
 
 MA] 
 
 OF H 
 OPJ 
 
 / 
 
 'I 
 
 Call 
 
 Th 
 
 PRINT£ 
 

 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP: 
 
 BEIKO 
 
 HISTORICAL DISCOURSES 
 
 OX THB KBCE8SITT OF 
 
 MABBYING RELIGIOUS HUSBANDS AND 
 WIVES ONLY; *"""*'''» 
 
 AS AL80, 
 OF HUSBANDS AND WIVP<5 bptv/, ,.» 
 OPINIONS IN »EU0irw?^nNr.J?4r ■= 
 
 WITH 
 
 Alf APPENDIX s 
 
 •HOWIKO TUB MICBUiTY 
 
 09 
 
 CaSma none 6ut 3aeli3iot« ^erbante: 
 
 AND A PROPOSAL FOR 
 
 THE BETTER MANAGING OF SERVANTS. 
 
 HALIFAX : 
 
 PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM MILNER. 
 
 CHEAPSIDJ3. 
 
 MDCCCXL. 
 

PREFACE. 
 
 AS thl, way of writing. i„ case, not much unlike thi,, ha. 
 e.n approved of. and has met with great success, in otSe 
 hands; it has been an encouragement to this undertaking 
 I Historical dialogues, it must be confessed, have a ve^ 
 aking elegancy in them; and the story being handed tZ 
 -rard in short penods. and quick returns, makes the retain- 
 ng U m the mind the easier, and the impression the mor, 
 Mting as well as delightful. 
 
 The story represented here Is capable of such, and ,o 
 nany applications to the cases of young people, whose set 
 flement is always i„ view, that there will never be a time 
 ifhen the instruction will be uselt^s. 
 
 If any body should object, that too much i. put here upon 
 Ihe woman's part, and that a lady cannot be supposed, m 
 [he midst Of her lover's addresses. - to take upon her to de 
 «nand such an account of himself as is here suggested- that 
 ew men will stoop to such an examination; and few women 
 feature the loss of their lovers upon such a subject: let 
 ..ow ^mali Xiits »aUsfaction here proposed on 
 
VI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 
 
 the lady's part is, and that no gentleman can think it hard 
 a woman should be satisfied whether he is a Christian or a 
 Heathen ; a man of Religion or an Atheist; and, indeed, no 
 man of any tolerable share of sense, will address himself to 
 a lady for marriage, but he will take care to anticipate her 
 inquiries of that kind, by showing some concern for know- 
 ing what she is herself. 
 
 The universal neglect of this trifle, both in men and wo- 
 men, is what this book is designed to correct; and there 
 needs no greater satire upon that part, than the success of 
 the several raues here related, viz. The happy life of the 
 youngest sister, who came into the measures proposed; and 
 the miserable condition of the second sister, who rashly 
 threw herself into the arms of a man of different principles 
 from her own, though blest with all the good humour in 
 the world. 
 
 In these accounts, the very great confiequence of being 
 equally yoked is illustrated ; and it appears here how essen- 
 tial a share of religion, and a harmony of principles in reli- 
 gion, are to the felicity of a conjugal life. 
 
 To those who do not cast off all concern for themselves • 
 who do not make marrying a mere leap in the dark, and, 
 as the first lady expresses it, rush like a horse into the bat- 
 tle, these things will be of some moment. As to those that 
 are void of care In these matters, they must go on, and pay 
 for their experie.ice : let them take heed, and buy it as 
 cheap as they can. 
 
 If the women seem to be favoured in this story, and have 
 the better part of the staff put into their hands, it is be- 
 cause really the hazard is chiefly on their gjde, and they are 
 
 generally 
 othei-wise 
 H regard, tl 
 charge. 
 
 The ap 
 servants, 
 keep our ] 
 It is a 
 in evil, so 
 ■ -gree as 
 <^esses of 
 Ind for th 
 l^w for the 
 jpcommenc 
 fould easil 
 Jeirduty; 
 .#is time. 
 I But it is 
 Sieves, and 
 H : I say, w 
 <i|ncem for 
 j|y the debl 
 ^, we forge 
 lie confiden 
 •I another, i 
 iillJes' quiet, 
 This is all 
 •lort, being 
 liesuine to si 
 =^'iil OS any 
 
 ? ■ 
 
PBEP40E. ^jj 
 
 |p»er.ll,.he g,e.e«t ,„ff»«„ i„ ,he s„,«„: but If l.,e,. 
 
 The .pp.„d,x ,„ HI, „„^ ^^^^_ ,^^ 
 
 ~, ,„ sone ,e.pec.. .,e tt. p,„,„e „, f.^^^^^; 
 
 »«ep ouc house, ahrafs In di,„„,„. ' '"' 
 
 I.J. . „o„derfu. .h,„, ,0 resect „„. ,ha. .0 ,candalo„. 
 
 -Zo It °h::::r; '"■"''°'— -^ ■"'- 
 
 *«H r *u °*' '°"^ ««0' ^or their own ease 
 
 •nd for the satisfaction of one anoth., ' 
 
 ^» f^. <• another, come to a general 
 
 |w for the managing, the punishing, and, above aU ZT 
 iBcommending of servants »h- u , ' ^' *^® 
 
 #ould easily, Lay brZ; '' *'^^ "°"''* •^«' ^^ey 
 
 f elr duty /;eUhe'; ofT;;^ LVr *'^'"^'^^^' ^"^ ^^ 
 jlis time. ' '^'' *™°"» »«"«nt8 at 
 
 But it is all our own faults • »« . 
 *ki. , , lauus, we recommend sluts AnH 
 
 • e e. and drones .„d «„c,, i„.*„. f,„„„3_ ,„™;__»" 
 
 »■ »■ cnaritj for tho.e creatures <rha ha.e abused 
 
 « forge, the deb. of Justice .„ „„, .no.h,,, „, ^^^ 
 
 , «dence which one housekeeper and neighbour ol« 
 
 I .no.her. ,n one of .he n,o.. essentia, articies'o, .hcT 
 
 This ^ .1, exposed here, and tiough ,hi. par. ,. „„ 
 """" '° "'■ " ■"" - -^ «"P<.W.. and. in if L,„V 
 
 eful 
 
 »• "uy of the res.. 
 
 M 
 
\ 
 
 VUl 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 * ♦!,?. «rork recommends itself upon thi» 
 T.U edition of th s -^^ - ^^ „^, ,,„„, occa- 
 
 express condition, v^z. 'T*';* *^; ,,..,i,„ (errors of 
 
 .ion to alter ^^^^'^J ^I'^ZZo^ for any additions, 
 the press excepted) nr haveUou ^^^ .^^^^^ 
 
 ,,,. --I pretence to .off new J ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ 
 
 upon those wl»o »»«'« ^'^^ ^,^ ^he usefulness of the 
 
 ii 
 
self upon this 
 ot found occa- 
 ition (errors of 
 r any additions, 
 ns, and impose 
 g still fully i»a- 
 isefulness of the 
 jrever it comes. 
 
 iu^:ligious courtship. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 hi EKE lived, in a villarre near London, nn annjpnf 
 S^ave ^x.nfl..,nan of a good estate, w hie he had 
 ?.ned hy trade, having been bre.l a m'erchan , t h o ■ h 
 a very good family too. He had been aman^n 
 rcat business ; but his circumstances being earv and 
 Id S offV- ''^ life increasing with his^years, e 
 
 r if tow^ ^""uT' ^"'^ *.'*^" ^ ^«"«« « ""!« or two 
 
 \.PJ f9^"-.„ He was a widower at the time of this 
 
 Uirlm wife havuig been dead some years before 
 
 .He had hve or six children, and all grown un hi*, f 
 
 >"e settled in the world, though he had an ?sta?p 
 
 Jiich was sid better, were very sober, modest sen- 
 #e and religious young ladies : two of them 'esnel 
 
 ^1 ^hall most carefully avoid giving any room hero 
 
 80 much as to guess what onfnion in r.S thev 
 
 ^ ored up in, or whether the old gentitHiSn 7^ 
 
2 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part I. 
 
 a churchman or a dissenter ; and the same caution I 
 shall use with all the rest of the persons whom I shall 
 hriiig upon the stage in the course of this my story ; 
 my reason for which every hody will understand, by 
 the nature of the relation, and of the times we live in. 
 
 The father of these ladies had been a man always, 
 till now, hurried in the world ; being crowded with a 
 vast business, taken up with getting money, and with 
 growhig rich ; so that he neither had much concern 
 for, nor indeed took any care of the education or in- 
 struction of his children, but left them wholly to the 
 conduct of their mother. Nor was it any great loss 
 to the children, especially to the daughters, their 
 mother being a most pious, religious, and virtuous 
 lady, who was not only extraordinarily qualilied to 
 instruct her children, but gave up her whole time to 
 it from their childhood. 
 
 One morning, a little before her death, calling her 
 daughters to her, she told them, among other things. 
 That as to marriage, she had but two injunctions to 
 lay upon them, which, as she was not likely to live 
 to see them settled, she would desire them to lay 
 down as maxims in the choice of their husbands, and 
 which she would, as upon her death-bed, if her words 
 had any extraordinary influence upon them, oblige 
 them to observe striotly, viz. 
 
 First, Never to marry any man, whatever his 
 person or fortune might he, that did not, at least, 
 profess to be a religious man. 
 
 Second, Never to marry any man, how religious 
 soever he may seem to be, if he was not of the same 
 principle and opinion in religion as themselves. 
 
 And, as tiiis was but a little before her death, so 
 the daughters were more than ordinarily touched with 
 the sense of it, and resolved to pursue it exactly. 
 How they did pursue it, and the consequences of it, 
 will be seen in the following dialogues. 
 
 It followed some time after, that a gentleman of 
 a very good estate courted the youugeat of these 
 
 
 desii 
 
 L.. 
 
p. 
 
 [part I. 
 
 arae caution I 
 s whom I shall 
 this my story ; 
 nderstand, by 
 mes we live in. 
 a man always, 
 rowded with a 
 oney, and with 
 much concern 
 iucation or in- 
 wholly to the 
 any great loss 
 lughters, their 
 , and virtuous 
 ly qualilied to 
 whole time to 
 
 ith, calling her 
 ig other tilings, 
 
 injunctions to 
 t liKely to live 
 •e them to lay 
 
 husbands, and 
 ed, if her words 
 n them, oblige 
 
 whatever his 
 [ not, at least, 
 
 how religious 
 not of the same 
 jmselves. 
 
 lier death, so 
 [y touched with 
 sue it exactly, 
 equences of it, 
 
 i gentleman of 
 uigeat ol liiese 
 
 DIAL. i.j UKLIGIOU8 COURT.SHIP. 
 
 8 
 
 »>-!, an agreeable "p^er^o^riTl" I'ZT'^r'' 
 appearing to give the least^Sn"vlw Z ,'h " n""- 
 be as acceptaJile to thp 1.,Jv oV i ^ "^ should not 
 
 As be came thus rm),nll i LT \^ V'^ *"'*^''^''-- 
 appeared noiUhv^ dS"reSfln ^^'^^/'^ther, there 
 
 'ly : nor had she at h s'firsJ annpVrn *" ^'if ^?""« J^" 
 
 C'ption to n.ake again tt "L'^tle nanVi'fo^r^' '''' 
 son. Indeed no t^ i.io ...* ^ " , "^" as to his per- 
 
 veiy Jiand o me, yet is va^'^""''"^ ¥'" ^«'''"»« was 
 
 timt tiiere was no^ compaS^^^^ ^^' ^^^'^"^ ^t, 
 
 suies all this, she had tbk PnL • ^^'^.^ase; and be- 
 
 ti.e proposal,^'? '?hat he bpfnf H^ circumstance in 
 
 tiiree daughters, the intleman^h ^^' ^"""f «* ""^ ^Jie 
 
 , t^vo eldest siste'rs, and h ad sTni^^d T'^'^ ""'?' ^'"'^ 
 
 I "'ore particular fancy, g^infffir H f. """i ^^ ^"'^ 
 
 iT'ark of his affiction /,1V tL; 1,*'^"^' undeniable 
 
 * tieraaii told h m, that he hf.r.pTi "if i ' ^^ ^"^ M^'"" 
 
 ^design of coming to fs & » 1' ^"'^^ "^ ^''^ 
 
 l»;ave to take the person h^^^^^^^ ''•'» 
 
 <''»oice of, and that Kmu.tbt-'?^'""".' ^'^"^ "''^^e 
 
 ^with: thltitwouldt a vef^hardS' ^' ^'^'P^^ 
 I 'ini, and what he could n^S^f'^^^i^^tance to 
 I to marry one of his dauXlrs and h« -"'.^^^'^^"^6, 
 f another : that he was m^v Ko^ nff '" ''''^ ^^^1^ 
 ito the eldest, lettin- i^.J know n^f ?"» '''"^ «"^fat 
 M«^e the youngest first pL..7 'u^^''* J>appening°to 
 
 IjomethiJg s^J^S^t StSl^i t!:;^"" V"'* 
 ■to look no furtiipr • tUal t! i ' that he reso ved 
 
 'eldest or theseX' dn:l'hC;';&' ^ ^? ^'^ «^«» the 
 ll'e same thing ; but tha il hL ' '\ f"^^'^ ^'^^« '«'en 
 
-», » v:^^. z 
 
 W \ 
 
 KKLiaiOUS COUUTSHII". 
 
 [part I. 
 
 Ins own cn.nluct, not to chuse her, that was, frorn tlic 
 tiivst niouieut lie saw her, the only woman in t(i(j 
 world tliat lie ever tliought couhl make him happv 
 
 Her father could make no return to an answer tnut 
 had so much weii,^ht in it, and wiiich appeared to be 
 so sincere ; and therefore, not acquaintintf his voune- 
 e.-^t diiughter witii the desi'^u he luid to propose her 
 to iiim, lie took occasion to talk to them all together 
 Oiie morning- as they were drinking chocolate, and 
 begms merrily with them, thus : 
 
 I! I 
 
 I i 
 
 DIALOGUE I. 
 
 Father. Well, girls, you little think now which 
 of you all is likely to be first married. What say you, 
 child, (turning to the youngest) I hope you are con- 
 tent to let your eldest sisters go before you ? 
 
 ^d Daughter. Yes, yes. Sir : I desire both my sis- 
 ters may yo i)efore me ; for I see nothing in the world 
 to make nie in haste. 
 
 Fa. Wliy, what's the matter that vou are so out 
 ot love with all the world on a sudden ? Is it that vou 
 think yourself too good for every body, or every body 
 too good for you ? •> j 
 
 M Ba. No, Sir, I am neither so vain to think the 
 first, nor so humble to think the last; but I desire to 
 think of myself as I ought to think. 
 
 Fn. How is that, prav ? 
 
 MBa. Why, Sir, I think I live too well to change 
 for the worse ; and tliis is not an age to cliange for 
 tlie better; and therefore I desire to be as I am. 
 
 Fa. Why, is this age so much worse than that 
 which went beiore, pray? 
 
 Zd Ba. Nay, Sir, I don't know ; but I am very 
 
 i 
 
V. 
 
 [I'Aur I, 
 
 DIAL. I.] 
 
 ■ was, from tlio 
 wman in tim 
 J liim l)a|i[ty. 
 in answer mat 
 appeared to lie 
 ing his young- 
 propose her 
 n all together, 
 chocolate, and 
 
 RI^LTGIOUS COURTS HIP. 
 
 ik now which 
 >Vhatsay you, 
 you are con- 
 you? 
 
 both my sis- 
 j in the world 
 
 )u are so out 
 Is it tliat von 
 r every body 
 
 to think the 
 it I desii e to 
 
 ell to chanj^e 
 o change for 
 as I atii. 
 se than that 
 
 : I am very 
 
 St?J^i^;:Ctr^"^^^P-^-^that,ny 
 
 the;:\^rlierU:^tn/^?r^^ ^°"-^^^-«. 
 
 hope. Idaresavponeyvnn •.''*'' ^'^"''^''^inf?. I 
 At which the two eldest sahlli '''^''' '"'" '>^' ^"S'v. 
 giad to see it. An so Sff, ?'"''.' ^««J'aIl be ?efy 
 
 youngest sister, ti I tluvS« ^"J^^'^'^S' ^^th their 
 
 You are migi/ty iS «^.v ?.°'S'?SX'red her. 
 you fall upon^the wl ol'^ioVS^^^^ 'f^f '««t ^'^^^'•' ^^'^t 
 good enougli for you ' ''*^''^ "'»» nothhi<r 
 
 earnest Upon wl,i,.i, „„,' '.," ""' talked to in 
 
 tweeii estandeafnest nh»S..'„ ^ one another, be- 
 
 ^ tetters must go before yo^'^' " "*^ """i "ay, Vour 
 
 i^uestion^hX^^'/^^-bo^W.''^' ''««-- ' 
 : means : and it mav k^^ i, "" ^^^^^ a good offi^r 
 
 1*^ i?rt. O' I'll fir»i„- -^ . "'^^ word. 
 ^ esta^e^nd a ml" ^fe '" " *'" """'''^ = ^ S""-! 
 
 ;>i3 - -it^J^C" Ki^^^?r "t ".e first : i. 
 jgood. °'''" '*> " tUe estate be but 
 
 JinSLi^ieJme'!*' "" •"*'"»'« "y «West .isters 
 i-ou would no? Se'pIS wki,^?\*" = "ut I believe 
 
 r 'rj'r^*?'- ""y "f your Sis, " ™y "f """^i-g 
 
 i . f^p. te7o tt: rt 'iT -- 1 «'.ou.d. 
 
 .idered muci oftb, raatter "a., slwUfore''"'' "''''■ 
 
rf' 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 URLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [parti. 
 
 a {TOO? I 
 i« rnaii is? I 
 (ieJucts for a 
 
 esUiu-J What matter 19 in wimt tlit 
 wou d pass by a great many j.o.nely 
 good settlement. 
 3rf Z)a. As for the homely defects, perhaps I mnv 
 
 enough?' ^^'''' '*" ^' ""^"""^^ if t''«re be money 
 elms?"* ^°*^'°°' ^ ''^P^' ^^^" "y s'ster comes to 
 
 itmafb;^"'"'"'''^''" y^" "^^"^ ^<* ^''"«e neither, 
 3^ Da. I am afraid there will. 
 
 hale fo'elSn'J'"' ' ^'^"^^ y''" ^^^« >'«"' ^-^and 
 
 be^'&JS: Vhop'e' '" '' "^'' ''^ ""^^^" • ««'" 
 3rf Zja. And what if he should not ? 
 
 ^vh1l'f t^haf ilfmeT' "^^ "^'^ '^ " "^^*^^" ^^ ^^ ^'"' 
 3^ i>a. That's a proof of what I said before that 
 
 ^I'T "°^' ^^^^if^^f d much of the matter? ' 
 -i^ X»a. No, indeed, not I : but I suDoose mv 
 
 younger sister has. , ""t x suppose my 
 
 lid Da. Your younger sister never told vou so vet • 
 
 t'ion' S's^^H-i'p^^^^ rfr "^'^y littleCKa.- 
 lion, to say, it I ever should marry, I would not have 
 
 ?e '.t'l' nu?et"f' " r"^'^''' ^'^^^^^^ ^ man ; thout 
 religion, purely for his money. If you think thesp 
 
 things no Ob ectious, and are got ove^r such scruules 
 in the case, 1 must tell you, sister, that U seems the 
 business has been more iii your head than inTno or ut 
 least to wor8(3 purpose. ' 
 
 ti.^f i?."' ^^'^^h " '""y ^^ ''o ^ a"d then it may follow. 
 
p. [PAUT I, 
 
 besides a ffoofl 
 i« man is? I 
 y (ictocts tor a 
 
 >erliaps I mav 
 
 notliirij^ else 
 
 Iiere be money 
 iister comes to 
 chuse neither, 
 
 e for nothing 
 your husban(i 
 2ligion? He'll 
 
 ^en if he will, 
 
 I before, that 
 itter. 
 
 suppose my 
 
 i you 80 yet : 
 le considera- 
 mld not have 
 man without 
 
 II think these 
 mch scruples 
 
 it seems the 
 n mine, or at 
 
 t may follow, 
 it too, you 
 
 DIAL. I.] RELrOIOUS COURTSHIP. 7 
 
 ^ff pa. What, to marry an Atheist' n rr,«r, «*■ 
 |.™c.pl« ! taut k,K„v» „ J.|,„ I^Xfur nZ" ' "° 
 
 ..;;.<<.: up all .U„s. cUi,;.s : youM fat C^T'lvaS 
 Jjl Da. No, sistor, not for all I can see with my 
 
 sisteril"- ' ^"'' '° ^""^ °f « h"«band, whatever my 
 
 witlHu. disc"u'rse','i,„1t her"]*-'""' '•"■^' ""»' '"' 
 
 [knows it is but in jest ^'^^ bir; she 
 
 jesfor no' ^''" ^' ""''^"^^ ^^«"'«r it may be all in 
 
 ^jesf "if^Se'LVny'uur^^^^^^ T.V'^Yf ^" ^* ^^^ - 
 ■ in anotJier way. ^ ^ ^*' ^ ^'"'"'•^ ^ave talked 
 
 . h'^li £::^!::Z ^^^''^^i^ ^^'^th her father, to 
 
 i i> • w"n' ^''V.t^e" I understand how it is 
 i,/^' ^^*'"' ^*''^^' I'ow will vou takP ,T L 
 -|youngest sister married befcUv^u', ' '" ''" y^""" 
 
 *tS^3^:r^:f'i;5i^f ^^^verygladof it, ^^ 
 J I should savCn^tli^ L ^^'1**' ^P^'^^ '"y """d, 
 
 ^^ K;: Win- ^i7 ;''"'!^ ^"'"" "'^"d then. 
 
 ^«- Whj, bi,, for all my dbter'. bantering her, I 
 
8 
 
 heugious courtship. [i-art i. 
 
 must own, our younj?est sister will not be easily 
 pleased in a husband, as times f^^o now. ^ 
 
 la. How do you mean, child ? 
 
 ♦I '''^n .^If^' ^''*' ^ '"*^""' t^'^it thoufrh she may be 
 the hrst oi us that shall be asked, slie may be he last 
 of ns that will be married. ^ 
 
 Fa. Ay, my girl? is it so with you then? What* 
 ^^9 ^A?, ^ot'»,^^^'" ">^kin- your bargains witiiout 
 hard ^"'^ ^''^ ^'^^^^ ^<* "*^^J^" '^^"'-'liitiiuS ■' That's very 
 
 tb^S.f^';'"" 7^*v '' ''^''^ '^""^'^ y" have such a 
 
 sairJt air "'^ ^"^^^ "^^"° ^ ^- ^-'^ - 
 
 ^"- .y.^y.' h^w can I understand you any other 
 way ? If It IS not so, explain yourself. 
 
 2>a. Sir, I mean that my sister will not be easily 
 pleased. She will scarcely take the lirst that comes, 
 1 uare say. ' 
 
 ., ^f ^u [ ?^" ^ ^h^" ^^^^ '^ very ill ; for I assure 
 you he that I mean is a very good one. 
 
 I)a Nay, if he is a good one, it mav be she mav ; 
 but It is a question, Sir, whether her good one aiul 
 your good one may be both of a sort. 
 • Fa. Why, he has a very good estate, I'll assure 
 you ; tar beyond what she can expect. 
 
 JDa. That's a good thing; but that will go but a 
 httle way with her I know. 
 
 Fa. Well, he is a very handsome, well-accomplish, 
 ed, well-bred gentleman. She cannot dislike him 
 He is a most agreeable young gentleman, I assure you. 
 
 Da. That won't go a bit the farther with her nei- 
 ther, I am sure. 
 
 Fa. Then he is in love with her, and has singled 
 her out from you all. She will be the wife ot' his 
 attectiou to be sure. What can she desire more '* 
 
 -Lfa. She will desire something more still. Sir- 
 though tne last is a thing will go very far; doubt- 
 less lurther than any thing we have talked of yet. 
 Uut you know, Sir, my sister is a very sober, reli- 
 
 4'm 
 
 11- 
 
p. [I'ART I. 
 
 not be easily 
 
 • 
 
 :'» she may be 
 
 "ay be tJie hist 
 
 then? What! 
 rj,'aiii3 witliout 
 ? Tliat's very 
 
 have swell a 
 you don't un- 
 
 ou any other 
 
 not be easily 
 St that comes, 
 
 ; for I assure 
 
 ' be she may ; 
 good one and 
 
 :e, I'll assure 
 
 mil go but a 
 
 -accomplish.- 
 dislike him. 
 I assure you, 
 
 vith her nei- 
 
 l has singled 
 e wife of his 
 re more ? 
 •e still, Sir; 
 far; doubt- 
 Iked of yet. 
 sober, reli- 
 
 c 
 
 nit 
 re 
 
 DIAL, i.j uKH(;ious couinsHip. Q 
 
 '/hma body, and she will never marry any man that 
 iMiotsn too, thou-hhi^ estate, bis person, birt ac- 
 (•otn|,iis|„„ents, were beyond all the rest of the world 
 All. this was the reason why I suid she may be tbj 
 lir^^ asked and last married. 
 
 '/'^ '7,7' ^ ^^"""^ *'-'" ''"'"' "letters are as to that. 
 
 /)u 1 11 j.^sure you, Sir, she will know how it is 
 as to that before she eiitrages. 
 
 Fa. x\!iy, let iier alone to that part, that's none of 
 iny husniess. 
 
 ^of/ii'T"; l!- ^'^f /''"^h^d. '^ "ttle, and reflected back 
 
 bus mess ? W hose busuiess is it if it is not mine ?1 ^ 
 JJu lint, fen-, when you know her mind in that 
 
 uen^ VTL^'^Ti^ y°"' '•^««^i^i"S any disappoint- 
 '» ;nt, and prevent her venturing to disoblige you, in 
 en.sm- what you may propose to her. ^ ^ ' 
 
 Bheisn^u^llaJbol^^iS;'""''^"'^'^^-^-^ 
 
 klSou^^^tuini^lT ' '^'^^ ^- k"- ^- - a sober, 
 
 4>^osJll^r "'^'"^ to the contrary, my dear; I 
 
 r..,n^o\ ""*' .'1"^' ^* ™'*''^^ '"^ anxious about it be- 
 C.iuse you said just now, you could not tell. I hone 
 Jo Will n.qu.re farther into it before you take X 
 fturther steps about it. ^ -^ 
 
 le^LSl '^'n ' "' *^ ^^^^i ^^''' ««y she need not 
 ^_ concerned. He is so good humoured a man, he 
 *> II never cross her in small matters, especial Iv in 
 
 afbrL'^Jv^b.?'/-'' '-V"" '^^'"•^ aVSilfian 
 canoe angry, that his wile is sober and reli"iou^^ 
 
 7>« o'h' '^'T^ ^' ^^ •'^^'^^•^•^s «« she vviU ' • 
 0, sure ' "'^ '''^''' ''*" "^^^^ l'^ satisfied 
 
 «elrs:;^ i^^e!;' ev^^f ^^^ ^'^"^^"^^'^ ^^ ^^^ -^ that 
 
*l 
 
 10 
 
 RRLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [I'ART i. 
 
 Da. It is a sad life, Sir, for a womjin to have no 
 help from her liushaiid in tliiiij;.-- tliat are tfood, but 
 onlv to have lilterly for hersf If to he as good as bhe 
 will, or rather as ^rood as she can. IJy the same rule, 
 
 bMe ^yj'l ; and it may be, he will 
 ^ ir f 1 r the one, nor the worse 
 
 she may be as bad as 
 like her ne'er the bet 
 lor the other. 
 
 Fa. Weil, ho is a fine gentleman, and professes a 
 great affection ioi Jier. 
 
 Da. Before he has seen her, it may he, or knows 
 any thing of her. 
 
 Fa. No, no, he has seen her, but he has never been 
 in her company I know. 
 
 Da. So that I find he cares not what she is ; he 
 chuses by her outside only. 
 
 Fa. He takes all the rest upon trust. 
 
 Da. But my sister won't take him so, I can tell 
 him that. 
 
 Fa. I shall take it very ill from her if she 8lit,'hts 
 Lira ; for I assure you he is not to be slighted, he 
 has very nearly £2000 a-year estate. 
 
 Da. But I am sure, if he is not a relijjious man, 
 she will slight hira for all that. My meaning is, she 
 will never have him : I suppose she will not be rude 
 to him. 
 
 Fa. If she does refuse him, she and I shall quarn^l, 
 I assure you, and that very much. 
 
 Da. I hope you won't. Sir : you will give her leave 
 to ehuse to her own liking. It is for her life, and she 
 must bear the discomfort of it ; nobody can bear it 
 for her. Besides, Sir, you know she \vus very reli- 
 {^iouviy instructed by my mother. 
 
 . '^' . Ay, aj y ;ur mother was a good woman. 
 
 Da. And you know. Sir, I suppose, what advice 
 my mother gave her upon lier deatii-bed, viz. Never 
 to marry a man that was not religious, whatever 
 other advantages might oficr with him. 
 
 Fa. And dia she not give you the same advice too, 
 my dear. 
 
 i JM ll lHil lLft f t i l l — H >l. . <| > .. 
 
[P. [part r. 
 
 iniin to have no 
 t are ^rooil, but, 
 ' ad <>oo(l a;4 biie 
 y tlie tiaine rule, 
 may be, he will 
 , nor the worse 
 
 and professes a 
 
 y he, or knows 
 
 J has never been 
 
 rhat she is ; he 
 
 St. 
 
 n 80, I can tell 
 
 Br if she sliijhts 
 be slighted, he 
 
 religious man, 
 meaning is, she 
 t^iil not be rude 
 
 I shall quarrt 1, 
 
 11 give her leave 
 her life, and she 
 )dy can bear it 
 i was very reli- 
 
 lod woman. 
 
 le, what advice 
 
 bed, viz. Never 
 
 aoui, whatever 
 
 III. 
 
 auie advice too, 
 
 »'AI,. I.J RKMGIOTT8 COUIlTSHlP. H 
 
 ^ -ff'^- Ves, to be surp, and all of u«. 
 Jnow ';i^'Tim;"li^'" '^'n^^ ^''^' yoursister said just 
 
 .hetn" to tll'lluS:^^^^"^""^ --''^^ better, it 
 
 Jn. I hope you would be wiser. 
 
 JJa. I hope, Sir, I should act as becomes me l\nt 
 
 »ic^"ohiid,";,!i:' j^S^,!^""' ■' 8'« y- ""O «<!- 
 
 ^'i. Yes, Sir, and more than rdvice, for shp t,.fH 
 
 *J'n!{ fl''^ ""'" ' ."'** '^ ^ ™"ch is to say, she had • 
 Wund the inconvenience of it liersel r ^' 
 
 l^'i. Indeed S.r, I cann6t tell, till I know what 
 
 Ko^l f.lS^f '" ^^^"gai"«ther',ud^raent, if 
 )! !.! Ke him very weii upon seein. hiiu» 
 ^a. But you believe she won't. ^ * 
 
f i! 
 
 I 11 
 
 12 
 
 I 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [parti. 
 
 Da. If he is not a very sober religious man, I do 
 think she won't. If she does, she must break in upon 
 the most solemn resolution that she is able to make. 
 
 Fa. Why, will nothin-^ serve her but a saint ^ 
 Alas! where does she tln'nk to find him? What' 
 would she marry a bishop 1 
 
 I)a. Nay, Sir, if she should, she is not sure she 
 should not be disappointed. Ministers are but men. 
 
 Fa. No, indeed, child -, nor always the best of meii 
 neither. 
 
 IJa. But, Sir, where there is a profession of reli- 
 gion, there is a likelihood of finding the truth of it • 
 but where there is no profession, there it cannot be! 
 Now, though we are not obliged, to be sure, our hus- 
 bands should be saints, yet I believe we ought to be 
 satisfied they are not Atheists. There's a good deal 
 ot difference, Sir, between a friend to religion and an 
 enemy. 
 
 Fa. Well, well : the girls of this age do not much 
 trouble themselves about religion. They generally 
 let it alone, till they see what religion their husbands 
 are of. 
 
 Da. Dear father, I hope your girls are not of that 
 sort. 
 
 Fa. My daughters are like other folks' daughters, 
 I believe, I hope they are not worse. 
 
 Da. But, Sir, if that were true, then there would 
 still be the more reason to take care that they should 
 marry religious husbands, else they would have no 
 religion at all. 
 
 Fa. But how shall you know it ? 
 
 Da. We must endeavour to be satisfied as well as 
 we can. If we are deceived, it may be our unhappi- 
 ness, but will not be our fault? but if we neglect the 
 caution, it may be a double misery, by its being our 
 sorrow, and our sin too. 
 
 Fa. Well, child, I hope this gentleman will please 
 your sister as well us he does me ; and I would not 
 liave her stand in her own light. If he is not so reli- 
 
I 
 
 HIP. 
 
 [PARTI. /DIAL. I.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 ligious man, I do 
 lust break in upon 
 e is able to make, 
 ler but a saint? 
 nd him? What! 
 
 5 is not sure she 
 ers are but men. 
 8 the best of men 
 
 irofession of reli- 
 l the truth of it ; 
 ere it cannot be. 
 be sure, our hus- 
 ! we ought to be 
 ere's a good deal 
 > religion and an 
 
 ige do not much 
 
 They generally 
 
 n their husbands 
 
 Is are not of that 
 
 folks' daughters, 
 
 en there would 
 
 that tiiey should 
 
 would have no 
 
 sfied as well as 
 )e our unhappi- 
 f we neglect the 
 )y its being our 
 
 man will please 
 td I would not 
 le is not so reli- 
 
 T3 
 
 fpimis now it may come arterwar.ls. The man i« h 
 
 |b<)ber, wfll-l)red, jnut'uuoiis gentleman 
 
 ^T ri^i'' .V'"' '''^ "^y'V'^fo't, Sir, unless I knew him, 
 
 ^s ;™ ' ""T "* M'^ I'7"^'P'-' Sir, on whi.h rn^ 
 s ster goes, and by winch I am sure she will act in 
 nm matter that you n»ay not be disappointed, a.id 
 Tesent It ; for I know she will not go from it. 
 '-» , ';•/ T ^^'^™t yoii, I inteiKJ to talk with her 
 «1 out It, I don't doubt but she will like him very well 
 ■ U wo or three (lays after this discourse, theVather 
 bnug. ho.ne tins young gentleman to dinner ;ufd 
 
 te n !' M V' i !"'''' r^'^f '^" ^« ^^'^ ^^'itt' J'i« <iaugh- 
 Je had told her ot, that mtended to court her: and 
 ^; 'ivp'lT'"''" '''" '^"'^'^ ^'^'"'^ «f tlie thing and 
 Em direct" '"""^ ^"^^"'^^^^"^' -^^- -erit, 
 
 hJsK?'Jlf.,Tf '^''*."''* discourse much with her by 
 S thi «L • ^""\ '^^'^g no <i'^sign to begin closely 
 Sf w . L -^ V^""' ^^?^'«ver, he had the opportunity 
 Of walking two or three turns with her iEacrreen 
 
 h^r he"re nl^^'.'^f"' ^"'^' ^'^'^" ^'' took his leaver to d 
 fler he resolved to wait on her again; to which she 
 mtule no answer for that time. ' ^ 
 
 fnr u "*^^t evening he came again: and, after that 
 for seyera evenings together : when having made hJ^^ 
 acquainted with his disign, and laiTclofe s ege to 
 ^r lor some time, she found nothing to object Sn? 
 Wm • for he was indeed a most agieSlf Sn 
 
 4d letHn'^'"' r'^'^'l ^''' *« ''' o^^he o he?hand* 
 £h i V 1 ^'''' ^T^ '^^^t lionourable proposals he 
 %d made her, an.l how he had singled her out fi-om 
 
 teeLTblvt''^ 1 ?'' ""t"'.'' '''' choice, she bSZ 
 
 .i'"al;!^rSi::;^^^S";;!;^j!r.f!?:^?^ 
 
 JBct he showed her, and the distance she kept him 
 
14 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP 
 
 [part I. 
 
 \ 
 
 
 at, permitted him not to use any loose expressions, 
 tliat Miiijfht give her any light into his principles; 
 Hiid, as lie afterwards confessed, he found her so nice 
 in tilings of that kind, that the least dislocated word 
 would have given her offence ; and therefore he kept 
 upon his guard a great while, till at length, when they 
 hecanie niore intimate, he ahated his usual caution. 
 
 By this time, as she confessed to her sister, she did 
 not only like him, but really loved him ; and having 
 nothing to object against him, had given him reason 
 to see that she designed to have him. But she was 
 under a great concern how to know what he was as 
 to reliuion ; ano ■ jrribly afraid lest she should give 
 her affections such a loose, that, though she should 
 be deceived in the main point, she should not be able 
 to master herself so much as to go back. As she 
 was musing very seriously upon this one morning in 
 her chamber, her eldest 'sister came in to her, and 
 began the following discourse with her.] 
 
 Bid. sist. Sister ! how stands the world with you 
 now? 
 
 Yo. sist. Never worse, sister, if you do not help me, 
 I am undone. 
 
 JSld. sist. What's the matter? 
 
 Yo. sist. Why, if I have this man, I shall be the 
 miserablest creature alive. 
 
 m/d. sist. How so? 
 
 Yo. sist. O ! there's nothing of religion in him. 
 
 Md. sist. Are you sure there is not? 
 
 Yo. sist. No, I am not sure; but we have convers- 
 ed this month now, and I never heard one word about 
 it come out of his mouth. And if I speak a word, he 
 turns it off, and does it so cleverly that I can't put in 
 another word for my life. 
 
 Eld. sist. I warrant you I would find it out were 
 it my case. 
 
 Yo. sist. You could not, I am sure. 
 
 Eld. .sist. Why, I would ask him point blank what 
 religion he was of ? 
 
IIP, 
 
 [part I. 
 
 30se expressions, 
 his principles J 
 bund her so nice 
 t dislocated word 
 therefore he kept 
 ength, when they 
 s usual caution, 
 ler sister, she did 
 liim ; and havlnjuf 
 a^iven him reason 
 n. But she was 
 what he was as 
 she should give 
 lough she should 
 lould not be able 
 
 back. As she 
 3 one morning in 
 le in to her, and 
 ler.] 
 
 1 world with you 
 
 u do not help me, 
 
 n, I shall be the 
 
 ligion in him. 
 
 ot? 
 
 we have convers- 
 
 J one word about 
 
 speak a word, he 
 
 lat I can't put in 
 
 find it out were 
 
 B. 
 
 point blank what 
 
 1 
 
 DIAL, 1.1 
 
 KKI.IGI0U8 COURTSHIP. 
 
 Id 
 
 ^m,tt ' "'""''' '""'' '"W him, I was afraid he 
 
 t merry, that thou-h I was real v Sm i I *"'^' ^2 
 : could not for mvlife o^ftL i^ ^I'^^^^.^d about it, I 
 * of him. ^ ^^^ ^^'^ ^'^^^^ serious thuig out 
 
 tl.5'f;if '^" ""^^^'^^ "''"" "'"s* Jet it go on a little far 
 iiiei, tiJl vou are moie inrimsifo ...,^ ♦•ii "••^^*' 'ar- 
 
 talk of your uav of Jiv n" tf '. «^-^'" ^P"^ ^"'"^ to 
 
 »nd I may "e Are li eJ "^mX ^l^ f "'"" ^" "'^^ 
 further inqnirv,^wS I sh^ij.n ^'^^^ ^''"' ^'^^""^ 
 
 ^/./..f ^^•l.:;!^^^:l;l^Kr^"^^^"• 
 cunnino for me. " ^ ' ^ "'^^ ^^^^^y be too 
 disSisf'- ^^''^' ^" y^" *bi"k then that it is a 
 
 , i o. .s7sjf. Why, if he was a seriorm ppr-on hp utM 
 -"'iv.- .io ivusou or occasion to conceafi t T • i 
 -uvou.. to hide himself, it is Kmefhin^^it ^■ 
 
16 
 
 TX T, LI If )IJS COU l!Tsn I ]'. 
 
 [I'AHT I. 
 
 would not have known ; and then 1 need not ask any 
 more after it. 
 
 E/d. sid. No doubt of it, you cannot tJiink any 
 otiier. 
 
 Yo. sist. But indeed I do think otherwise; I verily 
 believe it is nil mere nature, and notliiny- but the 
 liei^lit of j^ood huuiour ; for I neser put the question 
 downright to hin>, but in a kind of jestiiig way. 
 
 Eld. sht. But w)iy don't you then?why'do you 
 trifle and dally so lon<? with athinjrof such eoi'ise- 
 quence? you are not afraid of disobliging him, are 
 you? 
 
 Yo. slst. No, indeed ; 1 am more afraid that his 
 answer will di^ohlii^^e ine. 
 
 Eld. slst. Vt'tiW, well ; you had better have it dis- 
 coursed now than hereafter. I would not be back- 
 ward to speak plain tohiin. 
 
 Yo. sist. If 1 talk ever so plain, he will not give a 
 serious answer. He is so merry, I cannot bring him 
 to talk. I beg you will see if you can break it upon 
 him. 
 
 £!ld. sist. Come, I will tell you what I will do, 
 which will be better a great deal than my talking 
 with him by myself. You know we shall all w.dk 
 together awhile' before supper : I'll begin it before 
 you, and you may speak or not speak, take it in jest 
 or in earnest, as you find it proper. 
 
 Yo. sist. Do, then J I think tiiat will be very well. 
 
 [The next evening the two sisters, and this young 
 gentleman, walking in the garden, as was usual be- 
 fore supper, and talking of several different things, a 
 servant brings the eldest sister a letter, which made 
 some little stop in their walk. She opened it, and 
 read it : and he, findhig lier colour change a little in 
 the reading, stept up to her : says he, What's the 
 matter, sister, (for he always called her sister) you 
 have no bad news, I hope ? Truly, says s'le, one way 
 it is no bad news, and another way it is. — And, turn- 
 ing to her sister, she says, Sir Janlcs is dead. He was 
 
I'. [tart I. 
 
 et) not ask any 
 
 mot think any 
 
 erwise ; I verily 
 otiiinu' but tiie 
 tit the question 
 ring way. 
 1 ? why do \<m 
 of su(;h conse- 
 iiging- liim, are 
 
 afraid that his 
 
 er luive it dis- 
 i not be back- 
 will not give a 
 innot bring him 
 1 break it upon 
 
 vhat I will do, 
 an my talking 
 sliall all wiiik 
 begin it before 
 :, take it in jest 
 
 ill be very well, 
 and this young 
 } was usual be- 
 ferent things, a 
 t;r, which made 
 opened it, and 
 lange a little in 
 he," What's the 
 her sister) you 
 's s»ie, one way 
 is.— And, turn- 
 s deud. He was 
 
 •?-^-.l.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. j; 
 
 a little concerned to hear <5omp «r ^i r .. 
 'Jead, lest It si.ould grieve his Sress«„r',T''^' '^'^ 
 out any appe.rance^ftroubleTretSerwil?' '""''' 
 It 18 the disposal of Providence I nm n^f ' ^^"' .^'"^'• 
 my aunt is delivered from one nfn "* ^"^^^^ ' ^^^ 
 bands that everriber womn , ^1 '"°ff ^'"".^ ''"«- 
 of that word nres.nrlv ami Si v^' -"^ ^"'^^^ ''^^d 
 to iier sister, said, VW g J^^^^^ «P«^'ci^ 
 
 teryis that? Why, tru iV sav. il • i^' V'''^ "'ys- 
 too true; Sir Jam^es S'a v^rv 'oof h'' k'' ^^'"^ '« 
 liun.our, and in several ntW'H-^ husband m his 
 
 , i;ad a dreadful I'r^^htm X^' says hf '^^'. 
 f niav be very true • a mnr, ^^ u ^' ^y^ "^) that 
 
 ^ ba.;d in one^Sg/a^.dry^^^J^^^' ^°^ ^"«- 
 
 i« owing much to'the disaSnent o?tp"»f"' ''^.^' 
 .voung lady's sister wis Vi^aT^If ^ Z ^* .tempers. The 
 ;orslLx|ict:d^rwS^S^-^--er; 
 ticulars: but he nut if nff I. ^.V- ^P^*' "'^Par- 
 (concern 'him much. At whth* t''"^ that did not 
 I ■■ lo<,ked at her, and smiled .^& ^'^ ^"""Ser sister 
 
 tel. her, that hZuX^at^ S wh^sh '^ 'J 
 
 told her was true • nampiv f jVoI' u , ^^ ^^^ had 
 
 ' . <^a.sy to break in upon iS' SI e tnnlT^",^^ ^^^ '^' '' 
 
 : resolved she would try ffbest of hpr J-n '""*'. ^"^ 
 
 ^Jound it soon answered her emJ. 5 ?^'" ' ^"^ '^'^ 
 
 'Jum very smartly No no ^tr' Z'^'l ''•^""^^^ ^o 
 
 *t ail i/om a disireS^^^f^S^S^^/' ^"^ "°' 
 Is worse a trreat dea? • if »,.!t ''^^^P^^^ ^n this case: it 
 
 Her being religious sddsh.:^ '^f}"-^' ^^"^'^""d too 
 
j 
 
 ( 
 
 III 
 
 (ii 
 
 hi 
 
 '\\ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 L 
 
 u 
 
 18 RKLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [iart I. 
 
 woinan can live comfortably with an irreligious profane 
 Jmsband! O very well, says he, again, What sLniHes 
 It to a woman, whether her imsbiind have any reli-ion 
 or no? I have better tlioutrhts of you, savs «he, tluin 
 to believe you speak as you think, or that vou would 
 be understood so. . u ui 
 
 Her sister had listened very attentively to all this 
 and was sensibly affected witli it, but said nothing till 
 now, when she turned upon her sister : Why sister 
 said slie, should you think so? I hope Mr. -^savs 
 norhnig but what he is very sincere in. Do you think 
 lie iias not ins religion to chuseus well as other voun" 
 gentlemen ? Madam, says he, how should I chuse m? 
 religion, that have not chosen me a wife? Tlien vou 
 are lor ch using you a wife first, says his mistress, and 
 your religion afterwards? Why, Madam, says he, 
 don t all the gentlemen in England do so too ? I don't 
 know what they do, says she, but I know what thev 
 ought to do. ^ 
 
 She was now too well satisfied of what she feared 
 before, and her mind was so oppressed with it, that she 
 was not able to hold ; but making an excuse to take 
 her sister's letter, and go in and tell her father the 
 news ot the death of his brother-in-law, she left her 
 «ister to walk with her lover, and went up into her 
 cliamber, and locking herself in, siie gave vent to her 
 passions, by crying vehemently a great, while. When 
 slie liad recovered herself, considering that she was 
 obliged. 111 civility, to go down again, she composed 
 lier thoughts, and kneeling down, praved to God to 
 lortity Jier soul in the resolutions, she had always 
 taken, never to join herself to any man that did not 
 acknowledge God, and profess to fear and serve him • 
 and, in this temper, she went down to him again. ' 
 
 bhe was with him after that some hours in the 
 evening, as usual : but he observed she was not easy 
 nor Iree ; at length, she told iiim, that upon this oc- 
 
 casion, of 
 the i'amilv 
 
 a relation being ih ad 
 and decent to tliLir 
 
 it was proper tor 
 father, that thev 
 
 I 
 
I 
 
 IP. 
 
 [I'ART I. 
 
 reliffious profane 
 t, Wiiat signifies 
 )ave any religion 
 1, says she, than 
 • that you would 
 
 iveiy to all this, 
 said nothing till 
 ii-: Why, sister, 
 
 pe Mr. says 
 
 n. Do you think 
 II as other young 
 Duid I cliuse my 
 wife? Then you 
 lis mistrees, and 
 adani, says he, 
 
 so too ? I don't 
 aiow what they 
 
 what she feared 
 with it, that she 
 
 1 excuse to take 
 I her father the 
 aw, she left her 
 ent up into her 
 ?ave vent to her 
 it while. When 
 ig that she was 
 I, siie composed 
 layed to God to 
 die had always 
 laii that did not 
 
 and serve him ; 
 > him again. 
 le hours in the 
 lie was not easy 
 It upon this oc- 
 was projier tor 
 ;her, that tliey 
 
 I'I'W,. I.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 19 
 
 .■•honld rnake«.ome little alteration in their conduct 
 .Id desired that he would not take it ill that she n-' 
 tired from hi.n sooner than she used to do T ?/." 
 could not object atrainst, and according y he took I L 
 I'ave believing that her uneasiness w' s notlum^ b ? 
 
 .e business of her aunt's being a v^low which 
 tl.ough, as she said, she was not much concerned for ' 
 > er sev(Tal thingsabout it might taSp Smnlif I' 
 «o as to make her not so perfectly easvnrci".' 
 company as she was before*^ ^ ^' ""^ "" ^'^^'^ 
 
 -But lie was quite out of his euess : for her uneasi 
 
 h^^Zl ^""l''!,r kind ; and she haj nSn "?Jw 
 
 ^y "pon her iiiind, but how she should discharZ 
 
 erselt entirely of his importunities, and yet wi hout 
 
 IrV' tV; V"r" '" '"™' ^"d withoufdrsob 1 
 
 ;;^ve;^L^iiSi,rmtr " '™^^ ^^^^^^^^ - ^- "-"^ 
 
 When she had thus taken her leavp nf hrm d 
 jvent up into her chamber, sending her maid ti desi p 
 xcu^e^lierto'Ter ^1. ""^ -dednlX'ser^ant't" 
 ^"^ was fndlspoI^S'" '^^ "^' ^^^"''^^ *° -PP-» 
 
 T'in\nTr. ^^ ^if '^'^^^ ^^™e "'to her chamber ^he 
 ttll^ ^ '" *''^ ^'"^^te^t passion imaginable ad 
 th owing her arms about her neck, O sister savs si . 
 l.elp me but out of this wretched buinessa^nd 'II 
 never come into the like as Ion- as I live '«?" • 
 no |nore, but hung about her, cryin" vliL'ntly'a^g.^^^t 
 
 doty tSf /o."/ '' ''' y'^"' «»"ld ? you know I'll 
 ri^inmy^;23K;::^^^^^^^'^--w?wasInot 
 ^Jist. lamafaidyouare: I don't know what to say 
 
 w^o^jl^^jUer^rsr™^^^^ 
 
 ^^st. What will ye do then ? how will ye put him 
 
eo 
 
 TlKLIOTOrs rOTTRTSTITP. 
 
 [PAHT t. 
 
 Vo sid. Put Iiiin ofl"! lot him put himself off an' 
 ho will; I have no more to say to him. 
 
 Sist. Nay, you must Imve more; to say to him, you 
 must tell him so. 
 
 Yo. sisf. Not I ; I'll novor are liim more. 
 
 Sitt. Chilli, you must not he rude to him: you 
 don't want mamiers. 
 
 Yo. .fifit. 1 would not be rude to him, that's it I 
 want your help ior. 
 
 SisL What can I do in it ? I cannot pro down to 
 lum, wlien he comes, and tell liim you will see huu 
 no more. You cannot desire me to carry sucli a 
 message. 
 
 Yo. .sist. No, that's true, I can't; I know not what 
 to do, not I. 
 
 Sf.st. Shall I speak to my father to do it ? 
 
 Yo. sisi. I think my father is the fittest to give him 
 Ins answer. He brought him first on, and I think he 
 should put him off. 
 
 Sist. But he will be in such a rage, I hardly dare 
 speak of it to him. 
 
 Yo. si<!t. Dear sister, he won't be angry with you, 
 his anger will be all at me. 
 
 Sist. You know, sister, my father's infirmity, that 
 It IIP is angry with any body, he is angry with every 
 body. I know he'll use me very ill if I break it to 
 him. 
 
 Yo. sist. What shall I do then ? I'll be gone, if I 
 never come home again while I live. 
 
 Sist. No, no, you shan't be gone ; whither will you 
 go? "^ ^ 
 
 Yo. sist. I beg of you, sister, speak to ray father 
 about it. 
 
 Sist. What shall I say if he calls for you ? will you 
 come down ? 
 
 Yo. sist. If I must, I will : but keep it off if you 
 can. ^ -^ 
 
 [The eldost doi!<rhtpr goes down to her Aitlier a lit- 
 tle betorf supper, jmkI, us soon as he saw her, he be- 
 gan the discourse.] 
 
ir. [PAUT I. 
 
 t himself off an' 
 
 in. 
 
 say to him, you 
 
 more, 
 le to him ; you 
 
 him, that's it I 
 
 mot po down to 
 ou will see him 
 3 carry sucli a 
 
 [ know not what 
 
 do it? 
 
 testtorrjvehira 
 , and I think he 
 
 , I hardly dare 
 
 ngry with you, 
 
 infirmity, that 
 ?ry with every 
 f I break it to 
 
 11 be gone, if I 
 
 hither will you 
 
 i: to my father 
 
 you? will you 
 
 ;p it oft' if you 
 
 er milier fi lit- 
 i\v ht-r, he be- 
 
 DJtAL, I. 
 
 IlKLIOIOUS COUKTSHIp. 
 
 21 
 
 la. Child what's the matter with your Bister' 
 her maid tells me she is not well : hiive you se^-n her ' 
 
 very welh'' '' ''"' -^"'^ '''"''' *'*'''" ^'''' ' «^'« '^ ""^ 
 Fa. What ails her? she must not be sick now 
 whatever slie does. Why, it is ominous to be sTk 
 when she is a wooin<?. '^^ 
 
 ,1 -^"«. ^ ^VjJ'-^ye «''<-' is sicker of that than of any thin<r 
 else, bir; it she was delivered from her iitni\f^m-^u 
 she would be well enough. b^'itleman. 
 
 Fa. \yhat do you mean ? why I intend tliev shall 
 be married the week after next. The writiuLN ur" 
 drawing; and I designed by and by, to huve^'ivei 
 
 ct^JZ^^^"" that a while. Sir: she has 
 Slio??!"""'- ^''^'" '"'"^ • ^'»at do you mean ? 
 
 abS the tomT ' "' " ' ^"""' P'^'""' *^"'' "^'^^ 
 /)«. Dearfutlier, do not be angry with me- it is 
 no bu8ir>es3 of mine. I had rather say no more* of i 
 for I see it will put you in a passion. But Xshou d 
 you be m a passion with me ? ^ "'^ 
 
 wifif^if^- '" ^.I'^^-.f "" • ^vJio can but be in a passion 
 and I II ciiange my mind too. I'll nevef Jive her a 
 ?romiL'her' " "^'^^ '' "^^ ^^^^^ niaiVthat' i'll 
 vi£"* ^ ''"'^ '^^' ^''■' ^^^ ^^' "° ^'^^^er man in her 
 
 rJ\}J^^'''^^'^^^^^^'^meant,hGn'i is she mad ^ toruhi 
 
 herself thus, and stand in her own lio|,t?doesX 
 
 ever expect to have such another ofiW- V ' ' ^'''' '''*^ 
 
 -^i. ^0, I believe not, Sir; „or does she desire it 
 
 M. No, nor ever shall, rij marry again, ns old as 
 
 I ui, and ^ive away what I have to stmn^er^ b ' o?e 
 
 jfrw\T ''"'^'■"'- *'*^^ ^^'^'^ '''•''' me^rhuJ. " 
 
 guii";' ^''" ^''"'''*' ^'''' ^^'^ ""'0'^'-'"t with the 
 
52 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [pahti. 
 
 Fa Why, you are nil trniltv, for auL'ht I know • 
 
 better able to speak for herself and you may"o^ be 
 m such a passion with her. ' °*^ 
 
 /«. Weil, let her alone till morning then, I sunnose 
 she 11 change her mind again by that time.' ^^ 
 
 Va. 1 am sorry, Sir, to see you take it so ill other • 
 bu 1 care say she will be the same to-morrow anJ 
 as lon^ as she lives. ' 
 
 mofSw!^'"' *'"" ^'" ^^ °^ "'^ '^™^ '""'d *oo to- 
 [The elder sister went up, after supper to her 
 sister's chamber, who waited for heVf [mpatient 
 enough As soon as she came, she gave her Sr an 
 account ot what discourse she had with her father 
 
 aftlicied'^iri'^ ^'' '''V ^^"^''' *^°"Sh it te/rified and 
 ?nlftl ^^'^ '""''^'' >'^^ '^ ^'^ ^'ot move her at all 
 to alter her resolutions ; and she endeavoured, as we 
 
 tt it wa^ t'h"« ?'. '^'""f-^ ^^^^^" ^^^^ ^'''- B"t wile- 
 wh«/!hrf '/ ""* ^'^^ **^^*^'' ^"s impatient to hear 
 what she had to say, or that she believiug he would 
 not meddle with it till next morning, came unvvarX 
 m his way IS not material ; but happenino- to s^e her 
 tlie same night, he called her unto him, and toW her 
 he wanted to speak with her. 
 
 coSaotK7'7 "'i^^'y ^^^^^ ^^^' ^^"^^ ^ little en- 
 bSint o tl/vVf' ""^^ something surprised at his 
 Degmning to talk before she expected it ; and taking 
 
 te" with vor''.*^f? ''''''I P"'^«- What'Mhe mat? 
 ter with you, child ? says her father ; thev told mp 
 
 you was not well; I ihiuk your pu'lse bUs veTy 
 
 oufof oide?! ^'"''' ^''' "°'' ' ^"' ^ ^^^ ^^'•y °»"°1» 
 /*a. Only a little in love, my dear : that's all I hope. 
 
IJ". [part I. 
 
 a%'ht I know : 
 'I for? where is 
 
 d. If you would 
 w, she may be 
 l^ou may not be 
 
 then, I suppose 
 time. 
 
 e it so ill of her; 
 :o-morrow, and 
 
 3 mind too to- 
 
 siipper, to her 
 her, impatient 
 ve her sister an 
 ith her father, 
 it terrified and 
 move lier at all 
 voured,a3 well 
 nswers to f,ave 
 er. But wlie- 
 atient to hear 
 k'iiig he would 
 !ame unwarily 
 ning to see her 
 , and told her 
 
 ch a little en- 
 urprisedathis 
 t ; and taking 
 hat's the mat- 
 tliey told me 
 se beats very 
 
 as very much 
 
 it's all I hope. 
 
 DIAL. 1.] 
 
 RKJ.IfjKM'S OfHTRTSHIP. 
 
 23 
 
 ]M. No, indeed, Sir, the contrary to an extreme, 
 as I suppose my sister has told you. 
 
 ra. Your sister, ciiild ? I can lay no stress on any 
 thin^r ^iie said : I cannot tell whetlier she was in JKst 
 or in eiiniest. 
 
 Da. Sir, I am very sorry that what she said is dis- 
 olili;4ing, and more, that it should |)utyou into a pas- 
 sion : I hope, when you consider of it, jou will be in 
 the me mind with me. 
 
 f'a. VVliat do you mean, child, by the same mind ? 
 I liuve recommended a j;entleman to you, whom you 
 can have no obj'Ction against ; and his fstate is dou- 
 ble to wiiat you can expect. You told me your-elf 
 that you had no objection against his person ;' and he 
 1ms made you his choice, and is in love with you above 
 all your sisters : what can you desire more? 
 
 l)a. All that you say, Sir, is true : and for his per- 
 son and estate, tliey are both better than I ought to 
 expect ; but — 
 
 Fa. Bntwhat? Prithee, child, don't bring any of 
 your canting scruples to me, I'll hear none of your 
 buts— 
 
 Da. It was my fear that you would be in a passion. 
 Sir, and would not iiear me. [ShecrU.^. 
 
 Fa. What father can bear to be so treated, and not 
 be in a passion? what would you have me hear? 
 
 Da. Sir, 1 would have you hear the reasons why 
 I caimot comply. 
 
 Fa. It is enough for me to hear you cannot. Tiie 
 reasons I have for the match are good. You aekiiow- 
 ledge the gentleman is agreeable. You cannot fay 
 that you cannot love him, and I am sure then \ou 
 cannot give a good reason against it ; and therefore I 
 expect you goon witli it. I have appointed the week 
 after next for your wedding ; and here, there's some 
 money to buy you clothes. 
 
 lllolds out a bank-bill to her. 
 
 Da. Sir, I beg you will not take it ill that 1 can- 
 not do it. 
 
 [She pulls back her hand from the bUL 
 
'H 
 
 11 
 
 ' 11 
 
 i 
 
 'I: 
 
 ! 
 
 '!: 
 
 24 
 
 RKLIGIOUS COUUTSHIP. fPAHT r. 
 
 advise you not to play 
 
 Fa. Wliat do you mean? I 
 tlK' tool wirh iiiH iuiy lou"-('r. 
 
 .i.t<T, wl,„ „,„ in p„i, \"'C ^1«; 1^1 "'"'r ''7 
 ca,m, in „l,i.i, arlutiv «„■„„, J-^rr ,1 Tl"' 
 
 ^:'.t':;.:,':;";,f;in:;s {-"-"•"'.v. - "'"•a.iiL';'. t^ 
 
 ;vaf ;ur'^v'j^\-ri" i?". ir'f t''';;,!i -- 
 
 not think you ou^^ht to com.nand n.e to r irrv «,?J 
 man uj^anist my M'ill. ''^'^^^ ^"^ 
 
 Da. You cannot then but think Sir fJiof t i. 
 
 shoS'nn.' ^ '"""'' ^•^oKvedyoubt.torefSvvhv 
 snould not my reasons be lieard f ^ 
 
 sufficieit.^"'"'" ^'''' "''" ^^''" "« ^^^^'^"^ that are 
 tliubr^me ?^'" ^^'^'' *' ^'' ^"^ °°^ ^^^^ b« J^^^e of 
 cliU(?r'en.'" ''^^' ""* arbitrators between me and my 
 
 ^"' L*^^^"°^ h^'P myself in that. 
 thiigen^Ltrrn^T"^"" ^^ ^^^«^^= will you have 
 f^rfif; J^ '^ '^'^^ .""^ *^ "^y father, I should give a dif- 
 dSease :;::: '■ '"' ' '^^^^« ^^ ^^y nothing^th^t miy 
 /'a. I can't be displeased with words so Tniu.h a« t 
 am by actions. Thi^ gentleman hrrnuSe h.s wav 
 
 annfther[rrM"^= '"?^"^ rP°«^^« tooV^at fo? 
 fthLlw i^ ^ ^^*"'*^- Y*^" J'ave entertained him 
 
 ""Sa Wii^n thf ' •' 'li '' '^' ""^'* ^""'' ^^ ^« intolerable. 
 J^a. VViieu the gentleman and you treated of thia 
 
 \ 
 
 
 a 
 
i 
 
 *. r^'AiiT r. 
 
 ^u not to play 
 
 passion, )wr 
 m liim loiul, 
 "T ; sind slifi 
 •r father, yet 
 
 P tlu?t never 
 'Vas iroinu: to 
 s no doubt in 
 '', but I can- 
 to marry any 
 
 ly I ou[;ht to 
 3U Ivnow my 
 
 . that I have 
 ply with my 
 e ; and why 
 
 ns that are 
 
 J be judge of 
 
 me and my 
 
 11 you have 
 
 i give a dif- 
 g that may 
 
 M\L. I.] UKLIOlOTrs COTJUTSHII'. 
 
 96 
 
 much as I 
 :e his way 
 • great for 
 ained him, 
 )w to treat 
 n tolerable, 
 ted of this 
 
 ■%,! 
 
 inatter, it was without me ; I had no knowledge of 
 it; neitiier was it my part to be concerned. 
 />«. Weil, I know that. 
 
 IM. After you were atrreed, you bring him to me : 
 I suppose this to be tliat I mi.:lit converse with him, 
 and hee if I liked to make him my choice: if this was 
 not tiie ease, you might as well, bv vour comnumd, 
 Have ordend me to marry him the first day as now. 
 la. Well, what do you make of all tliist 
 Jhi. Upon frequent visits mad.; me, I found nothing 
 disagreeable in him, and showed iiinjas nnicb respoc't 
 as was my part, I hope I have not showed him more 
 than l)eeame me. 
 Fn. Ves, truly, if you resolve not to have him. 
 I)a. Let iiim reproach me witlj that if he can. 
 Fa. VVIiy should you have entertained him at all. 
 it you resolved not to have him ? 
 
 ■^ii- } «li<l not for some time resolve not Ic have 
 him, till I discovered him father; and it was your 
 command that put me first upon the trial ; and mv 
 reasons against it now are good, if vou please to hear 
 them patiently : but I'll rather bear all you please to 
 lay upon me, than put you into passions at me. 
 
 i'fl. I desire no reasons nor no discourse: answer 
 me, the question is short, whether vou will have him 
 or no? It will raise .. y passion less than imperti- 
 nent reasons. 
 
 Da. If it must be so. Sir, without hearing any 
 reasons, then my answer is, No, never while I live • 
 and I leave my reasons for it to him that iudtres' 
 righteous judgment. ° 
 
 i''a. Tlien, from this time forward, you i'.re no rela- 
 tion of mine, any more than hiv cook-maid. 
 
 [The young lady was too full to sav any more, and 
 went out of the room while he was speakin"-.! 
 ^Id. Da. Dear father, do not say so. ° 
 Fa. Nay, it is no matter whetlipr she heard rf e or 
 no ; I'll keep my promise with her. 
 Md. Da. I hope you won't, Sir ; it may be my 
 
n 
 
 { 
 
 » ": 
 
 
 26 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [pakt i. 
 
 1^!^^ft^"'''' ^^'^"''''^' "'• >'"" "^'-^y ^ better 
 SdTistied or her reasons. 
 
 i'Vi. I know her reasons well enoii"h. He is nof 
 hypocrite enough for her, I su,,pose: if a fawn"?' 
 sn.ooth.tongued fellow would cmne and talk ^c in^ 
 ture to her, she would take him presently. She does 
 not know what religion is. ^ "^"e aots 
 
 £:/d. Da. Sir, if that were true, she should have 
 stronger reasons ior desirinu- a reiiy ious husband than 
 she nmy liave now, that she niioht have a kind " 
 8tTuctor to assist her. VYe have all need of le ps 
 
 k en nsL'.V'"'*,' ^^-^ 'T^- "" P'''^^'^'^ In.sbands to 
 iSil Tnare ' ^ irreligious husband is u dread- 
 
 [This was a night of passion; and little was done 
 all the evening by the father but to n.ake work fo? 
 repentance. He was so provoked at his dau4trr 
 that he made terrible resolutions against hertliat he 
 would never give her a farthin-; that he would turn 
 her out of doors ; that she should go to service that 
 he would make his will, and, Avhatever he eft to he 
 rest of his children, it should be upon condition that 
 they should never relieve her, nor own her nor call 
 her sister, and that if they did what they had should 
 go to his eldest son, and the like. 
 
 He was so disturbed, that he got but little sleep all 
 n fiht ; and m the morning, he was obliged to go^ut 
 of town early to his sister's, about forty railfs off 
 vhose husband was just dead ; so that he diTnot see 
 his youngest daughter any more before he went but 
 just as he Nvas stepping into his chariot, he called his 
 eldest daughter to him, What, savs he, child s to e 
 done in this affair while I am' gone ? she won't be so 
 rude as to turn him off whilel am awavTwill 1!^ 
 Indeed, Sir, says the daughter, I am perplexed about 
 It: Iknownothow itwiUhe manaue^ /Cu helieve 
 she wi see hun no more. Not see^him' ! savs he fa! 
 ther; that is the unmannerliest thing in tlie world • 
 .ure she won't be so rude to me ; she^might gWe me 
 
I. \ 
 
 \ [PAllT I. 
 
 nay l>e better 
 
 He is not 
 
 if ii t'awjiiiiir 
 
 1(1 talk scrip- 
 
 ly. She does 
 
 pliould Iiave 
 Imsband tlian 
 e a kind in- 
 noed of helps 
 ? liushiinds to 
 id is a dread- 
 tie was done 
 ike work for 
 lis daug^htfr, 
 t her, tliat he 
 e would turn 
 service; that 
 lie left to the 
 ondition that 
 her, nor call 
 y had should 
 
 ittle sleep all 
 ?ed to go out 
 ty miles off, 
 e did not see 
 le went; but 
 he called his 
 hild, is to be 
 won't be so 
 y, will she ? 
 alexed about 
 but I believe 
 says the fa- 
 i the world : 
 ght give nie 
 
 DIAL, I.J RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 27 
 
 tile opportunity to put an end to it handsomely. Pray 
 tell lier I expect it ; and I assure you, if she refuses 
 to see liiin till I return, I'll never see her more as long 
 as I live. 
 
 In this temper the father went awav : the eldest 
 daughter, poor lady, liad her lieart full with sucli a 
 messat(e, and scarcely knew how to deliver it : how- 
 ever, upon talking fartlier with her sister the same 
 morning, and finding her uiflexible, and periiaps 
 more stiff than she thouglit slie needed to be, she d'id 
 at last deliver it: their dialogue was short, but ef- 
 fectual, as follows.] 
 
 Eld. sisL Dear sister, what will you do in this 
 matter : my father is gone. 
 
 Yo. sist. VVliat can I do ? I think mv father is very 
 unkind to me. 
 Eld. sist. My father is passionate, you know. 
 Yo. sist. But not to hear me, not to ask my reasons, 
 this is very iiard ! Do any fatliers marrv their daugh- 
 ters by force ? 
 
 Eld. sist. Well, I'll tell you what your father says 
 to that : he says lie knows your reasons before-hand, 
 and he thinks them of no weight ? 
 
 Yo. sist. Dear sister do you think them of no 
 moment ? 
 
 Eld. sist. 'Tis hard for one daughter to make her- 
 self judge between her father and the rest of his 
 children. I am sorry you are so hard pushed at. 
 Yo. sist. What would you do in my case ? 
 Eld. sist. Indeed that's hard to say too ; I should 
 act as my conscience should tell me was my duty : I 
 confess, there is a powerful force in a father's 
 coiiuiiand. 
 
 Yu. sist. No father can command counter to God's 
 command. 
 
 J^ld. sist. That's true, my dear; but consider, child, 
 how far God's command lies on you here. I know 
 your text. Be not unequally yoked; and I remember 
 iny dear mother's words, that this caunot be under- 
 
28 
 
 IlKLIGIOUS COUHTSHIP. [PART I. 
 
 Stood of any thiii^^ but a relii,nous person raarrvln"- 
 with a profane. " '^ 
 
 Yo.sinf:. Well, sister; and you reniember the charge 
 she gave us, and the promise we made her : I look 
 upon tiie.se things to be verv binding in themselves 
 and very SHcn^d engaj^emenrs. ' 
 
 Eld. sut. They are binding indeed to wJiat is our 
 duty at the same time, and they add force to it, other- 
 wise the ctise would difier. 
 
 Yo. sist. Just so I understand it ; and I am sure 
 reason, experience, and the nature of the thing join 
 with it. What a wretclied house must there be, wlie- 
 ther it be the man or tlie woman's case, where one 13 
 a Christian, and the otiier an infidel ; one devout, the 
 other profane ; one pious and religious, and tJie other 
 knowing or valuing nothing that is serious! What 
 helps to heaven are such to one another ? For my 
 part, I need no wicked discouragements to pull me 
 back in my duty, nor ill examples to allure me to 
 tolly: I want all the assistance possible the other 
 way, 
 
 i:id. sist. You nreach like an oracle, child : I can- 
 not oppose one word you say; but what must you 
 do ? you heard what sad rash resolutions my father 
 made. 
 
 yo. sist. No, I did not hear them ; and I am glad 
 1 did not ; but, as I am sure I am right, I must do 
 my duty, and trust to Providence : if my father does 
 not do the duty of his relation to me, I'll pray to God 
 to forgive him. 
 
 Md. sist. Well, but what will you do with Mr. ? 
 
 Yo. sist. I have no thought about him now, I ani 
 pretty well over it. 
 
 Bid. sist. But you must not be rude to him, even 
 upon my father's account. 
 
 Yo. sist. Nay, I will not be rude to him, for his 
 own sake, for I have no quarrel with him. 
 
 £!ld, sist. How will Vmi nvniH it if wnii An nnf ^^^ 
 
 him I 
 
 I 
 
[part I. 
 
 on marrvin;j: 
 
 er tliecharpre 
 
 her : I look 
 
 I themselves, 
 
 ' what is our 
 ; to It, other- 
 
 il I am sure 
 le thing join 
 lere be, wiie- 
 where one ig 
 J devout, the 
 nd tlie other 
 ous ! What 
 r? For my 
 i to pull rae 
 allure rae to 
 e the other 
 
 hild : I can- 
 t must you 
 3 my father 
 
 d I am glad 
 
 :, I must do 
 
 father does 
 
 pray to God 
 
 hMr. ? 
 
 t now, I am 
 
 ) him, even 
 
 >im, for his 
 
 do not see 
 
 niAT.. I.] RKLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 29 
 
 Yo. sid. See him ! I would not venture to see him 
 iij)u'i itiiy Hccouiit. 
 
 J'Jld. slst. Child, what do you call venture ? You 
 are undone if you don't see him. 
 
 Yo. slst. I Jare not trust mvself to see him : I am 
 pretty well over it now ; but if I ?ee Jiim again, I know 
 not wluit influence my own weakness may iiave upon 
 my resolution ! ior 1 'must own to you, sister, I liave 
 no aversion to liim. 
 
 £Jld. sist. You might as well say, you own you love 
 him. 
 
 Yo. slsi. Well, if I should own it, perhaps it might 
 bear being called so : is it not better then, that I 
 should avoid the struggle between conscience and 
 affection? 
 
 JElcL sist. But I have a strong fancy that you 
 ought to enter into closer discourse with him upon 
 tliis matter. I think you do not either do him or your- 
 self justice else ; for, first perhaps, you may find, 
 that though he talked loosely then, when he did not 
 know, perhaps, whetlierwe were in jest or in earnest, 
 yet, if you talked seriously with him on the main 
 point yourself (for you know our discourse was at a 
 distance, and was rather a kind of civil raillery than 
 argument) you may find one of these two things will 
 happen, viz. either" he will talk seriously, and let you 
 see that he has a bottom of religious good sentiments, 
 which is all you ought to insist upon, and would be 
 a happy discovery on your side, or talk profanely, and 
 be self- convicted. 
 
 Yo. sist. There is more weight in this than in all 
 you have said yet ; but I never can do it. 
 
 JSld. sist. Well, let me add to it, what I was loth 
 to tell you, and that is, what my father said just now 
 when he went away. 
 
 [She tells her father's words, which stagger her 
 resolution.] 
 
 Yo. sist. My far her uses me very hardly. 
 
 Eld. sist. 1 am sorry for it ; but it is in nobody's 
 power to help it j he would be the same to anv of us. 
 
r 
 
 80 RKLIGIOUS rvoUIlTSiriP. [PART I. 
 
 Ffl. «.sf WI.Ht would you advise me to do tlien ? 
 IJd.stsL In.ly, It I aiiglit advise you, I would 
 li;ive you see liiin once more. , ^ vvoum 
 
 Fo. .s/.v^. To what purpose? 
 
 h.^~''-\ fi ^^'''•^' '?' '^ ^''' ""^-^^ *« *>■>'' whether what 
 iie sdiil before was in jest or in earnest. 
 
 yo. Aii-#. I tiiiiik the discovery is not worth the 
 coHipliuient. 
 
 i^/r/ m?. Really, I cannot say that. Would von 
 be content w have it true, that he is a sober and reli- 
 giously nidniHd <.entleman ? 
 
 y^j- fifst. Yes with all my heart. 
 
 ±^la. tiist. Is not an estate of nearly £2000. a-vear 
 aud an agreeable gentleman, very suitable, when' it is 
 jouied wirlj a good Christian? 
 
 Vo. sinL I allow it all. 
 
 B/d. slsL Weil ; and you have really not made 
 tvial enough, to resolve whether it be so or no 
 
 Yo. sist. So you would have me see him once more 
 to try It I can persuade mvself to be cheated f 
 
 ^Id.mt. Tiiat's unkind : would I have you to be 
 cheated ? No, tar, be it from me ! but I would have 
 you leave no room to blame yourself hereafter. 
 
 Yo.sist. You almost persuade me to let him come 
 to-night ; but it he does, I shall be very ill-natured 
 to him : I question whether I shall be civil to him or 
 
 Eld. sist. Tliat is not my proposal ; you may do it 
 and be very civil and obliging too, let the thing take 
 a turn which way it will ; and I wish you would try. 
 
 \o. mt. Well, I think I will venture then. 
 
 R 
 
 DIALOGUE XL 
 
 The young lady, having resolved to see the gentle- 
 man ontv.^ !nnr.-, at the persnasion of her sister, there 
 needed iioilnng to he done but sit still till evening, 
 
•. [I'AUT X. 
 
 to do t)ien ? 
 you, 1 would 
 
 vhethur wliat 
 
 )t worth tlie 
 
 Would you 
 •b(;r and reli- 
 
 2000. a-year, 
 le, v/hen it is 
 
 ly not made 
 arno. 
 
 n once more, 
 ated ? 
 
 ve you to be 
 would have 
 ;after. 
 
 Bt him come 
 >^ ill-natured 
 v'A to him or 
 
 u may do it, 
 e thing take 
 I would try. 
 then. 
 
 niAU II.] RBLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 31 
 
 the gentle- 
 sister, there 
 till evening, 
 
 when he was sure to come. It seems she had resolv- 
 ed to send a footman to him, to tell him she was 
 gon« out ot town for two or three days, and so to pre- 
 vent his coming, till her father would tell him in ne- 
 neral, that it could not be a match : and to make it 
 Jiood, she had ordered her father'8 coach to be ready 
 to Carry her to Hampstead, to an uncle's house she 
 iiad there ; but on this occasion she deferred it, and 
 m tjie evening he came, as usual, to wait on iier. Jt 
 would not perhaps be possible to set down the parti- 
 culars ot the courtship of this night, tliere being a 
 great deal of variety in it, and nobody present but 
 tlurnselves : but the best account we have of it bein"- 
 troni her own mouth, I have set it down as she relat- 
 ed It to her sister in the following dialogue. 
 
 As soon as the gentleman was gone, which, his en- 
 tertainment being not much to his mind, was some 
 liours sooner than usual, she came directly to lier 
 sister, who was expecting her with the utmost impa- 
 tience, though she did not look for her so soon neither 
 
 fdefo'f trwiioll!"^ ''"'""^ '"'^^"^ "^" ^'^^ ^'^ 
 
 he^tl '^^°" ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^° ^^^ ^^^*®^'' ®^® prevented 
 Well, sister, you have a nice guess with you ; it is 
 all as you said, and the business is now all done and 
 over. 
 
 Ut Sister. Well, before I enter into particulars, 
 are you pleased and satisfied ? ' 
 
 3d Sister. Perfectly satisfied and pleased. 
 
 i*'f • m/^ ^'°"^ pleased that you have seen him f 
 
 6d. Ihoroughly pleased ; I would not have but 
 seen him again for any good.- 
 
 1a'^ f s it as you expected ? 
 
 ¥* f ^' ^^' J"*' "^ ^ expected : a true gentleman 
 perfectly educated, politely bred, that knfw" aS 
 as much ot religion as a parson's horsp • ti'a*^ j- to 
 s^y, knows the way to the church door,' but scJrns 
 to debauch his breeding with such a clumsy thing as 
 
p. 
 
 r 
 
 i : 
 < r 
 
 1 
 
 
 32 
 
 IlELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PAliT i. 
 
 religion ; is more a tfcntleman than to trouble himself 
 with the meanness of reliyfion, and not hypocrite 
 enough to pretend to the suhlimer parts of ""it; one 
 that h;is not been long enough in this world to think 
 of the next, nor is yet come to any resolution when 
 he shall. 
 
 I.-?^. I am sorry for it. I assure you it is not as I 
 expected. 
 3iL lint it is as I expected, I assure you. 
 1st. Well, hut thougli it in, I beliere you are not 
 sorry you met him. 
 
 3(1. No, no, not at all, I assure you : I am much 
 the better satisfied that I have now the open decla- 
 rations of it from his own mouth. 
 
 1st. You surprise me ; I thought he had had more 
 policy than to do so. 
 
 3d. 1 assure you, as I told you, he is no hypocrite. 
 He is not ashamed to be believed to be full as bad as 
 he is, and made no doubt, but I would like him the 
 better for it. 
 
 1st. That's hard another way : he could not think 
 you were so too, sure. 
 
 3d. Why, he does not think he does any thing 
 amiss, I assure you : and takes it ill to be thought 
 mistaken. 
 
 1st. I can scarcely form all this in my mind. I 
 wish you would tell me some of the history of this 
 night's salutation, now it is so fresh in your thoughts. 
 3d. With all my heart : but it will be a long story. 
 l.s^ No matter for that : it will be the more pro- 
 fitable, and, I dare say, not the less diverting. 
 
 3d. Why, after we had been together about half 
 an hour, he seemed to recollect himself, and told rae, 
 he asked my pardon, that he had not condoled with 
 
 rae, for the loss of my uncle, Sir James : I told 
 
 him, he need not, for the loss was not so great. He 
 replied, he thought I appeared very much concerned 
 at it last night, which made him withdraw sooner 
 tliun he intended. I told him, I was thoughtful in- 
 
'. [P-VUT I. 
 
 •ouble himself 
 lot hypocrite 
 rts of it ; one 
 orld to think 
 solution when 
 
 it is not as I 
 
 ron. 
 you are not 
 
 : I am much 
 e open decla- 
 
 lad had more 
 
 no hypocrite, 
 full as bad as 
 like him the 
 
 lid not think 
 
 s any tiring 
 be thought 
 
 my mind. I 
 story of this 
 ur tlioughts. 
 a long story, 
 e more pro- 
 rting. 
 
 r about half 
 md told me, 
 •ndoled with 
 — : I told 
 I great. He 
 h concerned 
 Iraw sooner 
 )ughtful in- 
 
 ! 
 
 f 
 
 DIAL. II.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 33 
 
 deed, but not so much about that : for, thou-rh I be- 
 lieved niv aunt was very sorry for his death, yet I 
 thought >he iiad no great reason, for I was sure she 
 lived a very uncouifortahle life with him. He want- 
 ed then very much to know what I was so tliou'Wit- 
 iul about It, It i wi.s not troubled at the loss of'mv 
 uiiclu : I dechned telling him, but did it in a way that 
 I mtendfcd siiould prompt his curiosity ; for I desired 
 nothing more than to have a fair opportunity to tell 
 hun very plainly wliat troubled me: and lie soon 
 gave It me. He told me, betook himself to be so 
 much uiterested in me now, as to be concerned in all 
 my griefs; and he claimed to know if any thinff af- 
 flicted me, that he miglit bear his share in it : and 
 added something so handsome and so obliging on 
 that head, that I must acknowledge it shook mv re- 
 solution very much, and I had almost given ove? mv 
 de.^ign; but I recovered myself again in a moment 
 
 1st. Indeed you are a resolute girl 
 you repeat of him was very engaging. 
 
 Sd I told iiim, it was natural °lbr people to make 
 sudden transitions from other people's cases to their 
 own, and that indeed that was the occasion that made 
 mesouneasy. I knew my aunt was a lady of great piety 
 and virtue, that every one knew to be exceedingly reli- 
 gious and serious : that on the otiier liand, Sir James 
 was a mad, Irolicsome, merry fellow, that neither un- 
 ders ood any religion, or troubled himself about it, but 
 would play a thousand mad tricks with her, bec/ause- 
 of her strict observation of religious tbhigs : and that 
 
 « id ^i;!V''' 1 r'^^"^ uneasiness. He smiled, and 
 said he hoped I was not afraid on that score : for. 
 Madam, says he, though I pretend to no religion my- 
 
 ?hi' w''""'5^^'i'• 'f 'P'"^ ^^'^'^ t^'^t *io- '5'i'is was 
 Uie hrst, and I thmk a considerable confirmation of 
 what we had before ; was it not, sister ^ 
 
 «„!?• .! ^"^ ''''"y ^"^ ^'^"•" " ' ^"t i'^i tell you, how- 
 ever, there was one thing I observed to be a good 
 
 I think what 
 
94 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PAKT r. 
 
 foundation for religion, viz. That he respected them 
 that were relifrious. ^ "* 
 
 del. Ay, sister, but we did not end here : I told liim 
 I was sorry to hear lii.n say he had no relig on iS 
 self; because, as perhaps I had not a eroat deal to 
 marry a n.an that had none, would endang" rnv Ls 
 ng what I had j and I should rather ha f/l^sbi, J 
 to help rne on towards heaven, than to pull ,ne ba^l 
 1st. What could he sav to that ? ^ 
 Sd. He told me, he did not doubt but I would eo 
 to heaven without his help. He said, jesS v ^? 
 was a road he had never travelled ; butTmK^e 
 
 ^."^h^Tnro'n:"' ^""'-^'^ p^" -« ^-^'"-he 
 
 ^1»*. Well, there was something very honest in that 
 
 . ?ifor^t'k t?b%!it„'.' ""' "^^"'™ '^"«™ '" "»* 
 
 1st But it is better than a despiser of religion • vou 
 ought to have acknowledged whSt good you^founr 
 
 fd. My designs lay another wly : I aimed at a 
 fuller discovery, and soon had it. * 
 
 1st. Well, go on then. 
 
 3d. I told him what tricks my uncle used to serve 
 my aunt: how he got a book ot" devotions out of S 
 c oset once, and got a long printed story about ducT 
 ng a scold pasted into it; md another time got the 
 ballad ot Chevy Chace bound i.ito her psalm^-book^ 
 ho^y, when he ^new she was in her closet at her de- 
 votion, he would bring his huntsmen to fted the 
 hounds just under her window : and how, one time 
 he made a fellow cry fire, and the like : as you knZ* 
 8 ster, he played many such pranks, and would do aiTv 
 t uig to put h.3r thoughts into disorder. He told me^ 
 
 bled his thou{;hts much about religion (there was 
 another stab to my affections, sister) yet he said he 
 could not, henr to mnV" t 1-4 -f 5- -nm ® 
 
 ic* xA'^fi n I '*'*'" a jcot ut u neither. 
 
 ist. w ell that was another word in his favour, too. 
 
 I 
 
p. [part I. 
 
 •espected them 
 
 ;re: I told him 
 3 religion hira- 
 great deal, to 
 lunger my los- 
 ave a husband 
 pull me back. 
 
 it I would go 
 , jestingly, it 
 It I might be 
 le back, if he 
 
 honest in that 
 
 religion is but 
 
 religion : you 
 you found. 
 [ aimed at a 
 
 used to serve 
 ns out of her 
 
 about duck- 
 time got the 
 psalm-book ; 
 it at her de- 
 i to feed the 
 w, one time, 
 as you know, 
 would do any 
 
 He told me, 
 lad not trou- 
 
 (there was 
 t lie said he 
 ler. 
 I favour, too. 
 
 I 
 
 WAI.H.J RELIGIOns COURTSHIP. 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 S6 
 
 3f?. I replied, I was very sorry to hear him n«,« 
 
 ^:iaXuu • "' *""'>f 4 t»K-.h?sXut'' SiS; 
 
 and asked liim upon what foundation he could rh nk 
 oUett.ng up a iamily, if that was his case ? He told 
 me he kept achapluin ; and jestingly told me, he was 
 devout enough for all the rest of tL house 'l Jew 
 chagru.ed an. dull : I told him that these^hingffi 
 
 ^difTv'f' '''y, «*^ ^^'""^^'t^ »b.mt marrying 
 and it looked very dismal to me; but all I could saf' 
 con d not bring him to believe I 'was in earnest ^' 
 
 IsL I believe he is really very good-humoured, 
 farttr^' ''S '''f ""1^ ' ^"* ^ ^''^^ »orso,„ething 
 no^hu^^ind'ai'dr''' " ' "" '''''''' ' «^-" ^-^« 
 
 ans^VJ^'he'lreT "' '" "^^'^ ^^"^ ^^^'^> ^^^' 
 3d. He larghed at me, and told me he beliPvPfl 
 marrymg would make him mighty rel^^Lls- that S 
 wou d chuse a wife first, and the.^chusXVel g on! 
 fully.' """ """^ ""^"^^ '"'•^' ^« «P«» hin^self so 
 
 he^ptrclSTol. Z'T^^^y ^''''!'^^^ '' «"^ ^h«ther 
 ml.? .1? **^"°' ^ ^'° ^"'*« ^*»e tears stood in mv 
 
 t. Id m r 3/' ^ "^'^-'^'^ ""''^ "^y <li8order, a^d 
 Jxl? . 'u^*? "^^y ^°"y t'^en that it was his mis- 
 fortune to begin with one that could not be conS 
 
 fullTsSirffofYh *""'' '*';." '^^P^'^' whe'nr w2 
 luuy satistied ot the reason of such a resolntinn in 
 
 Si' he ^r^' T '"^' '' ^"' ^"^^ ^ wo^d': ay tbr ^iS 
 
 ScMm^Snce""^ ""^"^^^ "P°" ^ *^-^ o*' «" 
 
 •w ' '^i*'"' ^'^u ^^''y cunningly answered. 
 
 told , J hw ^^§""t *^ **'.^1'*^ ' ^«» in earnest, and 
 told me, he hoped I would not talk so because if 
 might be longer than he desired to ho without m^' 
 
 1st. ihat was still making the case worse • for it 
 was as much as to s=.v he neithpr h«rj -!^ ' v^ " 
 nor intended to hayelny ""^ ""''^ ''^*S***»' 
 
 3d. I did not fail to take it so ; and told him, the 
 
86 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [parti. 
 
 longer he was without me, it might he the hetter for 
 him ; but the longfcr he was without relitfion, I was 
 sure would bo the worse for him ; and tliHt I wondered 
 how u man of Wis sense couhl talk so. He replied he 
 had rather talk of any thing else ; for he found this 
 discourse did not please me. I told him he mistook 
 very umcli ; for, though I confessed it did not please 
 me to find liim to be what I hoped he was not, that 
 IS, a person who pretended to no relit; ion ; yet it plea- 
 sed uie very well that he had been so just to himself 
 as to let me know of it before any enyagements had 
 passed between us. 
 
 Ist. If I had not known that my sister was never 
 courted before, I should have thought you had passed 
 a great many such encounters as tliese. 
 
 '3d. You know it is all new to me ; L'ut, however 
 I knew that tlie thing was for my life, and that I 
 must speak now or never ; and I was resolved to out 
 an end to it. *^ 
 
 1st. I must own you were in the right, thou'^h I 
 am persuaded I could not have said half so rauch° 
 
 3(1. Why you have not heard hall of it yet- I 
 made him ano'y, serious, laugh, and think, verily, 
 once I made him almost cry, 
 
 1st. I am sorry I interrupted you : pray eo on 
 then : what said lie next ? -> ' f J B^ 
 
 3d. He said, lie wondered I could say that no en- 
 gagements were between us. He said, he was so en- 
 gaged to me, as he could never go back. I answered 
 that as liis engagements were from liimself, so they 
 were best known to himself; but that he knew very well 
 I was under none to him. He smiled then, and said. 
 be lioped I was. I answered I had not professed to 
 be engaged ; I told him I would not deny, that I had 
 respect enough for him to have goue farther, had not 
 such ditticulties appeared, as I could never get over 
 and had he been the person he was represented : but 
 that, as it wasj I had too much rt^pect for myself to 
 rum myself with my eyes open, and too much respect 
 tor mm to keep him in suspense. 
 
?. IPART X. 
 
 the better for 
 eli^'ion, I was 
 iHt I wondered 
 He replied, he 
 he found tin's 
 n he mistook 
 (lid not please 
 was not, that 
 ij yetitplea- 
 ist to himself, 
 igeiuents had 
 
 ter was never 
 uu had passed 
 
 >ut, however, 
 ;, and that I 
 solved to put 
 
 ?ht, though I 
 'so nauch. 
 of it yet ; I 
 ;hink, verily, 
 
 pray go on 
 
 f that no en- 
 »e was so en- 
 
 I answered, 
 self, so they 
 new very well 
 en, and said, 
 
 professed to 
 y, that I had 
 Lher, had not 
 ver get over, 
 esented; but 
 ['or myself to 
 nuch respect 
 
 DIAL, n.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 87 
 
 I 
 
 \st. Would he not take that for beiner in enrnest ? 
 
 3c/. Yes, he allowed ine tlien tiiat lie took nie to be 
 in earnest, !ind slioweu me, that lie wag im^arnest too: 
 for he appeared warm, and a little an^ry. He told 
 me, he was very sorry to be charged with deceivin'^ 
 me ; and asked, if ever he hfid said uny thing of him- 
 self which was not. true ? For, JNIadam, says he, if I 
 am not the person I appeared to be, I must have de- 
 ceived you in something: pray wliat sort of a person 
 did you take me for? I replied, as warm as he, that 
 I wondered be should mistake me so much : that I 
 thou-ibt he did not do me justice : that I had said 
 indeed he was not the person he iiad been represented, 
 but never said tli^t he had represented hiinselt' one 
 way or other. Then he begged pardon again, and 
 told me he had taken me wrong; that, whatever 
 came of it, he would never deceive me ; I should 
 know the worst of him, whether I would have him or 
 no. Indeed, Sir, said I, I am persuaded you are no 
 hypocrite. I understand you, said he, you think I 
 have used more honesty than discretion. No, Sir, 
 said I, I very much approve of your honesty, and do 
 not blame ^our discretion at all. But I do, said he, 
 for 1 find, if I could have counterfeited more serious 
 things than I am master of, and feigned myself a 
 little religious, all had been well. I told him, I would 
 not say that it was in his power to have deceived me ; 
 but I hoped he had acted a part much more like a 
 gentleman. He replied, that it was hard then I 
 should make so unkind a return to him, as to make 
 him lose his mistress for his honesty. 
 
 lit. Why really, sister, sojt was. 
 
 3d. I told him I thought the best return was to 
 treat him with the same sincerity, and that was the 
 reason of the freedom I took j that, as he told me 
 plainly what he was, I must tell him plainly, I could 
 not think of engaging with him any farther, till he 
 had thought a little of things, which alone could 
 make it reasonable for him to think of marrying. 
 
» j 
 
 ( , i 
 
 II 
 
 88 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [pabt X. 
 
 He would fain have turned it off to a jest • he lano-ho^ 
 at me bantered me, he asked me Vow lon^ I would 
 stay lor him ? I told him I was in no haste H^ 
 wked ine, how lonjr I thought I miuht stay befi.rp I 
 got a saint to my mind, a. tL world wen n^;*^" " ^j] 
 him, I was but an ill ud-je of 8uiniH Hmi ,n;,V» k 
 cheated, as wiser tha*'n f had S]\ut ht't 
 told him before, I would not full into the pit wthmv 
 eyes open He told me abruptly, he wK I h^X 
 never seen hun. At that word, V con Si was a 
 little a armed; however, I made no answer h..? 
 looked lull in his luce : I ^aw he was concerned anS 
 as I thought, in a kind of passion. Wl^n he IbLnd f 
 ^pked at him he repeated the words thus • I wJsh 
 with all my heart you had never seen me I 
 answered nothing. He added, he wished ^p hJ 
 known my mind>oner. I still 'safd nithing T^en 
 he flung himsel into my arms, and hung about me" 
 
 Xte%Tn^!nh r'^U "" '"^*P''«««ible%endefn:ss; 
 wny are you silent ? Because, says I, I would nnt 
 
 give you an answer in kind to any thiiW that is H a 
 
 true he wiS,'i"i- j^''*"^^'^''"" *^ ^"« = *»'»* i^^va^ 
 irue, he wished I had never seen him, and that he 
 
 had known my mind sooner; but it waT tJ at h« 
 
 lost me lor being so foolishly honest. Wh said I 
 Ay oJr ^'^ .^.'^'jeHvoured to have cheat;d me ^ 
 thA "'^^'l '"'^. ^'«' rather than lose you; and 
 wou d have done it effectually too! Why 'what 
 ^ou d you have done ? said I. ^ Done ! replfed he I 
 wonld have been the soberest, gravest yoSig fellow 
 that ever you saw in your life.^ And, do you think 
 yoursell hypocrite enough, said I, to have concea^^S 
 yourself erfectually ? Whj^ not, said he? perhans tou 
 thmk I am too much a W for t No^'^r sSf I 
 tliink you are ^.oo honest for it : and of the'two it iJ 
 much tlie better on your side. ' ' *' " 
 
 ut. This was a kind of turn and return betweea 
 jest and earnest : but how did it «nd ? ''e''^e« 
 
 I 
 
i 
 
 IP. [PABT Z. 
 
 jest : he laughed 
 >w long I would 
 no haste. He 
 It stay, before I 
 ent now ? I told 
 >, and might be 
 ; but that, as I 
 tJie pit with my 
 e wished I had 
 mtess I was a 
 o answer, but 
 •oncerned, and. 
 hen he found I 
 Is thus: I wish 
 seen me. I 
 t'ished he had 
 lothing. Then 
 jng about me : 
 ble tenderness, 
 , I would not 
 m that is dis- 
 ible for him tu 
 i : that it waa 
 I, and that he 
 was, tlmt he 
 id not to have 
 Wh , said I, 
 cheated me? 
 se you; and 
 Why, what 
 replied he, I 
 young fellow 
 do you think 
 ive concealed 
 .perhaps you 
 Sir, said I, I 
 the two, it is 
 
 urn between 
 
 DIAL. 11.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 39 
 
 n</. Why, he carried it on thus a long time, till he 
 put an odd case to me, which made me put a short end 
 to the discourse; we were speaking of fortunes, and 
 the grandeur of families : at length we came to speak 
 
 of the young duke of . Why now, says he, if his 
 
 grace should come and court you with tile state and 
 grandeur of his quality, the title of a duchess. Sec. 
 you would not turn short upon him, as you did upon 
 me, and say. My lord duke, pray what religion are 
 you of ? and yet he has no more religion than I. I 
 told him, I thought he did not treat me fairly : that 
 it was saying nothing at nil, to say I would not have 
 this man or that man, who never made any preten- 
 sions to me ; it was enough to me, that I would let 
 him know, I would refuse all the men in the world, 
 that should ever come to me, unless I found a rever- 
 ence of God, a sense of religion, and a profession at 
 least of the duty we all owe to our Maker, had made 
 some impression on them : that I mi^ht be deceived 
 indeed with an hypocrite, for it was not in me to judge 
 of the heart, and as the worki was now stated, it was 
 but too probable I should ; but then it should be my 
 misery, not my fault : and that since he seemed to 
 insinuate, that I did not act in that afiair with sin- 
 cerity, I had no better specimen of my resolution than 
 this, that though I was very sorry to treat him so, 
 who I was sati&lied had a respect for me, and whose 
 respect I acknowledged was not disagreeable, and 
 wliose estate and proposals were very much better 
 than I had reason to expect : yet, that upon this one 
 sini^le account, I assured him, I neither could nor 
 would discourse more with him on this affair ; and 
 hoped he would not take it jll, that I was forced to 
 be so plain with him, before I could persuade him I 
 was in earnest : and having said all this, 1 offered to 
 rise and retire, but he lield me fast in his arms, and 
 would not let me stir. 
 
 »erv '-'tr^f • K^t tti-i TT X bt;\.lt ■ it\IxT vvtiiti j\JUi Lam a\j hw 
 
 liim ? liow did he look ? 
 
40 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part * 
 
 3d. Sist. Look ! I confess isUfor u:^ i , 
 me more than all tlLZrdTh!rnZU u^ '''°^' "^ved 
 a year; and I slmll neJ^er fbn^^^^^ ^" ^alf 
 
 8 rangely affected, and once or f iv^^T ^ ^^^""^"^ 
 Jjs eyes; buthe turned h," head iw'fv '^^"^ *'"" ^» 
 himself, and embarked raeLaSe^'H'^'''""^^''^^ 
 fpite of all I had said. HoM sj ' ,.^'''"''^ '" 
 broken one positive promise vm, ,n'^ '^' ^'''" ^'''^e 
 I told him, /did not «r bei tha Tl j!.?! "''""'^J' 
 him any promise at all • Yes VJ « i ^ver made 
 
 thatyouwouldstavibrrne till A r* >'?" to^^ >»e 
 matters of reiio-ioi^ j toM . ^ ^'''. '""^^ ^^^'"ice in 
 
 thatpromise yet Yes hesaT'l', Y ■'"'' ^''^'^^ 
 would never discourse more wul. h'""^' Z ?"^' '"-' ' 
 I replied, then, I woul7excen r" '*''' ^^^'''• 
 though I thought he need no if,sis uoo/h;";-'''""'"' 
 rul reasons : First Rpn-mc^ i • ^P°" ^"^ ^^r seve- 
 
 ladiesabroad, 4ho woSi rot Ir '";?*''.^"^ '^ '"^^X 
 
 make the objecttn" Thad d^ne S Lt'^' '''''' '^ 
 casion for him to turn rJi.VriT '*^ ''"^'^® ^"» "o oc- 
 
 Because thie wi,"^ aS,Vn°c?„r S; *'r'"^S'' 
 upon those terms Hp «»iw Vi . "^^ ""^ return ng 
 knew. But, pr"v Madam 1 J- f ^«« »«re than ! 
 such a mighV^str'e^s upt"'th^ l^y 
 
 18 an entire article by itse t" ,m J h " ' v^'^^'g^on 
 «ot religious, need Z obstr'uc Lr L"^.?^^^'''^"^ "' 
 another; I am no enemv tn r^^ • ^^^^^'O" '» one 
 that it was indee^an accentli If •'°"- ^ ^"svvered, 
 now, not to find a L^tSn IV*''"^' ^' "'"^« ^•^"t 
 religion, and where^S wrnn/''?P^ ^'''t^r of 
 
 cou?d be no SessTn^ exnecf^.f^'^'rV^''^^^'*' *here 
 think I had renouS find In^i"""? ^''^' ^ ^''^"'d 
 heaven, if ] sSd .nlr^l'man tfi^^n'^ T' T'"^'' 
 ledged he had no religion lie tn ? ^?'^' »^'^»ow- 
 to see me run thiSo «„p1. f ""^"^ ™^ ^'"^ ^^^s sorry 
 
 didnotthinklhKeVhf ameT!"?''"^/ '^^' ^'^ 
 said, he had no thouSit of IJu ■ ' ''^/''" ^'^ "^ Jest 
 
 not urge me iuVtlS': wh.vt'f S ^'^f ^1 ^^"^^ 
 UPP., but would waito/i me agaLitndlS\rS 
 
IP' [PABT Ik 
 
 lis looks moved 
 nave said in half 
 ^. He seemed 
 ' I saw tears in 
 ^ and recovered 
 '1* discourse, in 
 ' I'c, you have 
 'e me already* 
 iiad ever made 
 '» you told nie 
 made choice in 
 ad not broken 
 1> if» savin^r, I 
 on this^affair. 
 
 circumstance, 
 on it for seve- 
 
 find 80 many 
 :heir heads to 
 re was no oc- 
 fe. Secondly, 
 his returning 
 
 more than I 
 fiy do you lay 
 r ? Religion 
 : religious or 
 ection ta one 
 
 I answered, 
 IS times went 
 
 and hater of 
 'edged, there 
 at I should 
 
 war against 
 nly acknow- 
 le was sorry 
 ty : that he 
 i" lie in jest 
 it he would 
 much stn ss 
 i>ped to find 
 
 DIAL, n.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 41 
 
 me in another mind, and to let me know he was not 
 quite so bad as I thought him to be. And thus we 
 broke up. 
 \st. What did he go away angry ? 
 3c;. Truly, I cannot say how' he'was: he seemed 
 disturbed and uneasy, and went away willinger than 
 I expected. " 
 
 \st. Ay, ay, and willinger than yoa desired too- I 
 can nerceive it, sister, well enough. ' 
 
 M. Why, I cannot deny but I have acted all this 
 by force upon my affection; but I should have been 
 undone; I should never have had any peace, or ex- 
 pected any blessing in the match; for, as a reli-ious 
 iite is the only heaven upon earth, if it please God to 
 support my resolution, I'll never sell the prospect of 
 n tor an estate, or for the most agreeable person 
 
 1st. It is nobly resolved, sister ! I hope you will 
 be supported in so just a resolution; but, do you 
 think he will come no more? 
 
 3ci. I hope not; but if he does, I resolve not to see 
 nim, it I can avoid it. 
 
 We must now leave the two sisters awhile, and fol- 
 low the young gentleman a little; for his story does 
 not end so. He went away very much concerned, as 
 above, and particularly it touched him very sensibly, 
 that he should hi', taken for sucli a creature, that a 
 sober, virtuous lady (for such he was sure his mistress 
 wa'') should refuse him merdy on account of his 
 wicked character ; and that though she acknowledfred 
 she had a respect for him, she was obiiued to shun 
 him, purely because she wasajruid of him, as abater 
 ot religion, and therefore dangerous to live with It 
 has often run in his mind, that she had said, slie could 
 expect no blessing with him ; and that if she married 
 inm she should think she had renounced God, and 
 declared war atraiust heaven • so that to be «ure I 
 am a dreadful fellow, says he,' that shVdareTnot take 
 me. Jest she should appear to be a confederate with 
 one ot God's enemies. 
 
 I 
 
42 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. fp^^^ , 
 
 wl?terr sXe t^t?\i;r"^-s not other^ 
 he had in trith ,u> rel.Vi ?, "r "s?,; 'r' '?"" •• ^''"t 
 n!"Ki, nor luul ever emmaim.T .v^ ?-^^ "P«" '"» 
 
 tlmt therefore the vom. I / '''' '"''' so ''""self, and 
 and if she had any .I d Sf r" lli^ri/" ''l^- V>-"" « "' , 
 dea of reason to refu e h ,n ? f '"'*' t«^ ^ &"-eat 
 ought to refuse hi.n i,on/|.P«.'^'''^'°''^'' Ionian 
 tliat she that did not wrnot f^^T"*' '',^'?""^- a"d, 
 or at Jeast such a w^flTs he cnn i '""^^ ''"" « ^i''« 
 f;e88 from; that this voulS 
 judgment, and it was his »,« Y ^*^ '"*^« « true 
 persuadinff her to alter LrT ""' ^o think of 
 ".ustlessci^nhisopUof'^^^^^^^^^^ short 
 
 state and condition he was n k. Jl ' ''"^f • ^'"^' 
 busmess to do, to deliver hmsH^^^^^^^^ 'a^ his first 
 
 went to her any more ^' -' *^' 'before he 
 
 anfbSnrpStV^^JoJa^^^ ^- J-e time, 
 
 duty, having had aneduSn whnir^.*.^'"^ <^a»«<^ 
 ^on, that Uneasiness increased /.r"^ of instruc- 
 which way to cast his thSL for 1mm"S^ *^"r'"ff 
 tion, he grew verv m^iun .11 . . ^^nraediate direc- 
 
 tin's youJj, Z:Z ZmtZZ^ 'f^rlf '' ''' '^^^^ 
 was infinitely increasThv .. ' ^'"^ *'*at affection 
 and by theeSrdtary^J^^^^^^^^^^^ "'/^is affair" 
 but the reproaches of h's C} n^ h'"' '^^""T^ ''"« / 
 star, that a woman, that even'vn ^'''"^^^"ch a mon- 
 durst not join her^lf ?« V- T"^^ ^^^ loved him 
 bis affectic^^^fbr If^^fj^f^^^^^^^^^^ doubled upon himTs' 
 
 ingto take him were Vo i isf ^ . k"'" '^''"^^dar- 
 tbem so well, tbat'sleiho'ldl't''" ^'»^d argued 
 them, he should not hivL,„,'**'-'^*' *"y ^^'ing of 
 be had before -flnHVl; I "*^ "'"^**' ^^teem for he? aa 
 
 could neZexXZill^l f^' '''^^ '* '^'^^ ^id not, hi 
 not bear the H.^'Jk^AV^ 'I^ J ?nd yet also he coA 
 
 .:;„ „7^ ""- ' ana yet also he could 
 "t= "1 not having her, for all thatT 
 
 '■Ma^i:;is.:ia»nft^.i:, 
 
■IP* [part I, 
 
 y was not other- 
 I't in it all: that 
 't God upon his 
 notions of reli- 
 • 80 Jiimself, and 
 Mie ri^rht of it, 
 
 8t^it,hadagreat 
 ry sober woman 
 Hccount: and, 
 i»Ke him a wife, 
 •ect any happi- 
 u made a true 
 [>t to think of 
 '"ch in short, 
 ''■o.isider wliat 
 ' -as his iiret 
 ' 'i, before he 
 
 or some time, 
 »^ thinor called 
 Old of instruc- 
 not knowing 
 nediate direc- 
 ted : he loved 
 tiiat affection 
 in this affair, 
 refushighira; 
 r such a mon- 
 e loved him, 
 upon him as 
 
 gain ; for ha 
 lier notdar- 
 had argued 
 
 "ly thhig of 
 
 w for her as 
 
 e did not, he 
 
 ilso he coijld 
 
 for all that. 
 
 I 
 
 T>IAU II.] RBLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 43 
 
 He lived m this uneasy condition for gome months • 
 1118 friends perceiving him to be very molancholv'. 
 tried many ways to divert him ; but none reached hig 
 case, or, It they did, they understood not how to ad- 
 vise him : tor his relations were most like himself, 
 people ot levity and gallantry, being rich and irav • a 
 laraily that dealt very little in matters of relijon • 
 he had an aunt, his mother's sister, who s.-emed verv 
 much concerned about it ; but as she thought all that 
 ailed hnn was his being crossed in his af]Sctior», she 
 worked her thoughts about night and day, to find out 
 a wife for him, and so to take his thoughts off. and 
 turn them another way : and at length, slie found out 
 a young lady m the city, of a very great fortune: for 
 8he haJ nearly £20,000 to her ponion, and she plied 
 It so warmly with him, that he consented to treat of 
 It with her friends ; and his circum.-.tances being such 
 us few fortunes would refuse, he found his way clear 
 enough, and so went to visit the young lady 
 
 It was an odd kind of courtship, you may be sure, 
 and he went about it accordingly ; for, as he confessei 
 afterwards, he resolved, before lie saw her, not to like 
 her, or any thing she said or did ; no, nor even to be 
 in earnest with her upon any thing; but only to jest 
 with, and banter her : and he told his aunt so before- 
 hand. However, his aunt would not take him at his 
 word, but would have hi.n wait upon her, and so he 
 did; but he needed not have taken up any resolutions 
 in the case, for lie was spoiled for courtship already, 
 at least for most of tlie ladies of the times : he had 
 no relish for any of their conversation: it was like 
 music to one that had no ear; all the gaiety and flut- 
 ter about them was lost upon him ; his firstmistress 
 had treated him with such solid reasoning, such seri- 
 ous talk, and had liandled him after such a manner, 
 that m short nothing but what was serious had now 
 any relish with him ; however, as I have said, he re- 
 Boivea to put a force upon himself so far, as to so 
 and see what kind of thing his new mistress was • 
 and accordmgly he did go, as above. ' 
 
44 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. fp^R^ i 
 
 » en ,,e came aw.y ..eSTo Sei 'l 'r,;„i1"* 
 
 you li^ve Se ? N»v !.il -^^ "«' i''""' "''a' would 
 I was onl^n iest O 8 vi"± "'"''"■■•' "■""'"'=<' *'«. 
 
 I 
 
 i.*^««a«-A*.v«rs*.t»(a»^Vi<; 
 
IP« fPART I, 
 
 there, and had 
 lie had no need 
 in no danger of 
 
 behaviour, the 
 less of her con- 
 tirst time; and 
 "Jf, Is it possi- 
 11" this shuttle- 
 with njy other 
 oleasRd at all. 
 le, till at last, 
 row worse, he 
 'ith her about 
 >t, What reli- 
 is>t 'm the very 
 • mistress: O, 
 I believe so, 
 ts when I was 
 
 concealed his 
 J farther, and 
 't doubt that, 
 , what would 
 , returned he, 
 'ant to know 
 
 quaker. No, 
 out your opi- 
 religion as I. 
 ' lieud much 
 when I keep 
 scourse, and 
 'f, tlioutfh it 
 one with his 
 1 liferent i'ace 
 
 it made his 
 ed hiia with 
 'ought, now 
 deformities. 
 
 to himself, 
 ^t that dear 
 
 I 
 
 DIAL. II.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 45 
 
 creature argued for herself against me; that to ven- 
 ture upon me while I declared against religion, was 
 to run herself into the pit with her eyes open, and 
 ruin herself by mere premeditated choice. It would 
 be just so Willi me in tnis case, if I should marry 
 this butterfly : we should even go liand in hand very 
 lovingly to tiie devil. This will not do my business ! 
 So he put an end to that affair aa soon as he could, 
 and resolved to see her no more. 
 
 All this wiiile he had no assistance from either 
 books, friends, ministers, or any body, only the just 
 and natuial reflections of his own reason : but as he 
 was a gentleman of poiite manners, and bred to con- 
 versation witlj gentlemen of the beat quality, as well 
 as the best parts, so the government of himself was 
 the more easy, and lie restrained the dejection of his 
 spirits from making any extraordinary discovery of 
 Itself, only, that ne appeared a little more sedute and 
 more thoughtful than before, and was a little more 
 retired in his way of living; but not so much but 
 that he came often into public company, as beiore. 
 
 It happened one time that, in promiscuous con- 
 versation, at a chocolate house near the court, this 
 gentleman and seven or eight more being present, the 
 company fell from talking of news to talking of re- 
 ligion : the discourse began about the ditterences 
 which had liappened in France lately, and were then 
 depending, between the pope and the French clergy • 
 and of tlie Sorbonne, or faculty of theology, as tliey 
 are called tliere, being at that time empldyed in 
 drawing up a new system of divinity, or body ofdoc- 
 trmes as tiiev oalled it ; and as a consequence it was 
 hinted how likely it was, that such a strict inquiry 
 made by men of learning and virtue, into the funda- 
 mentals ot religion, should lead them at last into pro- 
 tesiant principles, and break tiiat whole kingdom off 
 from the errors and ignorance of popery, opening the 
 eyes of the people to Christian kuowledge. There 
 being rome sober and sensible geutlemen there, the 
 
r 
 
 h t 
 
 i: ( 
 
 40 R»"QIOUS COURTSHIP. fp^^^, 
 
 on a sudden, a.id savs ti S^'m"'' °^^''«'n '"'ses up 
 am tired of this dulTJeJiXis stuff '•■' ^?"''' '^^'^k, ? 
 there's notJung in it. Ave TvA* ^'^" '^ ^''^ "' ^'"» 
 goto tlie opera' T) .L Lt L i^*'^*" = come will yoj 
 
 pray, wiiatcan there SSSl?^"' ^ ''""^^ ^t is: 
 IS unfit tora gent e^mr^ S« .'''^^ 'hat 
 
 '"an by, tallying wa'^^ell^vrMn* an aucie.t noble- 
 young gentleman's repiv ell J^f"', •''^'° i'^^""g t^e 
 course put the forKub L^ t"^'""^ = for this dis- 
 word gentlemen, saT^^^^^^^ On my 
 
 with you : I don't tliink vou ..«,. ii ~Z~ *'*^» ^et 
 Yes, my lord, says the foolish hZuTff ^J« question. 
 a nian of qualitv tn fi^n*!'.^ ^'""^ ^ts below 
 Pray, Sir, sa^s t^e^iorS L it h'l ^'' ^'^""^ «»>out i ! 
 to be a Christian? Omvlor.fr V."^" «*' ^^^'ity 
 banterine .:nd iest n- -« '^rd, says the other beau, 
 at the oplr.; i ^d t^'j;/;;'";f^-^ ChristS . 
 
 he, Come, come Jack nrff^ ^ f° ^"® comrade, says 
 went both^rtogefher ZZ ^V ^° ^ «« they 
 gage. Our gei.tWn ] sfp 2*' "^'f "^^.^ *''^''« to en- 
 this discourse, ti J^lL fS""* ^"^» P^^a^ure to all 
 
 CAm^^«...:^ndttn^X/S^^ 
 that expression to hismistress p.^i ? his havmg used 
 gave him the same return bur ZVr" ^^ ^"'^^ ^ady 
 empty, «o , surd a tirn'to « tf ^^'°"«^l '' ^as so 
 
 que.ce, that he reproached l^i,;.S;"|i^^f.^^^^ 
 
 ^ ^ ^-^«iy, and wa5 ashamed to^thlnkrS "ike" 
 
 1 
 
p. 
 
 [part 
 
 X. 
 
 nd judiciously, 
 eceive it with 
 "X, who Imp- 
 Je tired with a 
 tliem rises up 
 -ome, Jacli, J 
 tiiee let us go, 
 ■r, witli ail my 
 ome will you 
 "g gentleman 
 'ulled him to 
 I'is discourse 
 Wljy, says 
 orders, pray ? 
 
 » gentleman? 
 iliink it is: 
 ersation that 
 'cie.a noble- 
 hearing the 
 for this dis- 
 P« On my 
 —-has met 
 Qis question, 
 kit is below 
 J about it. 
 1 of quality 
 other beau, 
 ' Christians . 
 nrade, says 
 '•• 80 they 
 -are to en- 
 sure to all 
 ightygood 
 ^ving used 
 3 last lady 
 it was so 
 fiJJt Conse- 
 rving taik- 
 liow like 
 
 DIAL, n.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 47 
 
 JnW'^^ff ^T ^® ^PPe^'-ed to her ; and how he had 
 talked after the same senseless way, which he now 
 
 Inlhf ZT '' ''' '^''' e-Pty, scandalous th^ng 
 Wlitn the two young rakes were gone, the lord 
 tunung to the younu^ gentleman th?t hkd refused 
 them, complmiented him upon his having given C 
 so handsome an answer, and having run them both 
 a-grouud m one inquiry. My lord? said the gentle- 
 n a„, .f my question ran them a-groand, your lordsh n'3 
 question qu.te conloumled tht^n. Indeed, Zlo?d 
 contmued he, it is too much the notion now/esieciallv 
 
 ^Xl^nnT^'^l^i''''' ''' '' below keTtobe^ 
 religious. My lord said, It was so indeed • but thaf 
 
 St Tauf wa^r' Z"" P^^P'^' whether theV though 
 Jt. i'aul was a gentleman or not ? And whether Hp 
 
 did not show as much good breeding and g^^d man! 
 ners when he appeared before Agrippa, pfstus and 
 the governor bergius Pauius, as any nobleman^n 
 Bmajn could have done at the bar of the house ot 
 
 half I i^P*"" '''If 'IJ^J'^^^ h»« Jo'-'l^hip went on for 
 halt an hour, with a discourse so handsome so to thp 
 purpose, and yet so serious, that it high^ er teJJa j! 
 ed the company; showing, how it became every raTn 
 of quality to behave himself in subjection to the rules 
 given hira by his Maker, as it became every suK? 
 to honour his governor ; how piety and relT^on Sere 
 the gl'^'-y of a man of quality, ind made nobU U^ tml y 
 Illustrious ; that it was so far from being true tilt 
 religion was not suited to the life of a genUeman that 
 It was certain a n.an could not truly be rSUn«n 
 withoutit; that religion uas so far from befn a dutl 
 fhi fi^f ' l> "'^' "^''^ "?^'^«^ i^ conversatrn: as wi^ 
 
 could besot' IT'' ^* 'i'" '«^^»' '^"^^ really'no S 
 could be so bright, so perfectly easy, so cheerful tn 
 
 sociab e, and so always in humour for societf as a 
 
 Christian ; that religion was the beautv 0? coJ-^er'a- 
 
 t foV ^"I'^S'isted to make it pleasant and a-^reeabFe • 
 
 that without it company wa? empty, dLoursrun- 
 
:i' 
 
 i 
 
 48 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part i. 
 
 profitable, society unpleasant; and, in short, that 
 conversation, without a mixture of sornethin-' re'^ard- 
 ing religion, and a due con.iexion with it, wlis Tike a 
 dance without music, or a song without measure • 
 iike poetry Avithout quantity, or a sp^^ech without 
 grammar : that it wns a mistake to think Christian- 
 ity received honour from tlie dignitv of the persons 
 who professed it ; and his lordship said, he wondered 
 to hear men express tliemselves so absurdly vain as 
 to say, such a man is an honour to religion ; that' the 
 thing was true only in the reverse, and it should be 
 said, lleligion is an honour to such person • that it 
 was a contradiction iivtiie very nature of the thino- 
 to say. Such a m-in was noble, great, honourable, or 
 a gentleman, without religion ; and it might, with 
 every jot as much sense, be said so of a person who 
 had neither birth, family, nor manners. 
 
 Our gentleman came home charmed with this dis- 
 course, as hideed the whole company were besides- 
 especially considering the authority and di./nitv of 
 the person who spoke it. His mind was inspired 
 with new thoughts by it, both of religion an<i of him- 
 self ; he not only saw more of the excellency of reli- 
 gion in itseh, but began clearly to see it was the or- 
 nament ot a gentleman to be a Christian. It was 
 with the greatest contempt, that he now looked back 
 upon the notion he had formerly espoused of a t^en- 
 tleman s being above troubling himself with serious 
 tbings. How sordid and brutish did the two beaux 
 appear, said he, compared to that noble and excel- 
 lent person, my lord ! How were they laughed 
 
 at and despised, by all the gentlemen in the company, 
 and looked upon as fellows fit for nothing, but in the 
 highway to disaster ! On the other hand, it occurred 
 to liira, how handsomely did that young eentleman 
 ansvver t hem ! with what modesty did he speak, and 
 yet boldly, in defence of a religious life ! and what 
 an honour was paid him for it, by all the company, 
 and by the nobleman in particular ! and tiieu to think 
 
 tl(e n 
 
 ccpt 
 
 qualii 
 
 Fix 
 
 clusifl 
 
 comp 
 
 and tl 
 
 sliouh 
 
 est m( 
 
 resolu 
 
 the St 
 
 To 
 
 these I 
 
 retire 
 
 Hump 
 
 he ha( 
 
 some ( 
 
 When 
 
 be ali 
 
 and a i 
 
 with t 
 
 to the ( 
 
 ^ he roui 
 
 I tai 
 
 ■ wliy, 1 
 
 it. VV 
 
 be a CJ 
 
 tions, 
 
 when i 
 
 first pn 
 
 tell me 
 
 'viz. A 
 
 i impress 
 
'. [PABT I. 
 
 n short, that 
 ■ thinyr retrard- 
 it, was like a 
 lut measure ; 
 )eech without 
 Ilk Christian- 
 f the persons 
 , he wondered 
 inJly vain, aa 
 ion ; that the 
 I it should be 
 rson : that it 
 of the thing, 
 mourable, or 
 might, with 
 1 person who 
 
 nth this dis- 
 'ere besides ; 
 id ditrnity of 
 was inspired 
 
 ajid of Jiim- 
 ency of reli- 
 
 was the or- 
 an. It was 
 looked back 
 ed of a gen- 
 with serious 
 e two beaux 
 
 and excel- 
 ley laughed 
 le company, 
 r, hut in the 
 , it occurred 
 
 eeiitleman 
 
 speak, and 
 ! and what 
 3 company, 
 len to thiok 
 
 i 
 
 DIAL. 11.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 4J) 
 
 of what the lord had said, with what applause it was 
 received; how all the company listened to his lord- 
 Blup, as an oracle ; how general a consent was given 
 to It by all the gentlemen ; and, in a word, how 
 agreeable tlie conversation of the day was, put it all 
 tou'tthcr ; and yet, said he, of eleven gentlemen in 
 ti<e room, tlieru was not one man among them ex- 
 cept the clergyman, who was not above me both In 
 quality and estate. 
 
 From all this lie drew this general and happy con- 
 clusion for himself, viz. That he should never be a 
 cornplete gentlenjan till he became a religious man : 
 ami that the more of a Christian he was, the fitter he 
 should be tor the conversation of the best and great- 
 est men m the kingdom ; and, in consequence of this 
 resolution, he resolved to apply himself seriously to 
 the study of religious things. 
 
 To avoid the usual diversions of the town, while 
 these serious thoughts were upon him, he resolved to 
 retire into the country, to a little seat he liad in 
 liumpshire, remote from all conversation, and where 
 he had nobody to talk to, but his own servants, or 
 Whl°^ ,^ neighbourhood, who were all his tenants. 
 When he found himself so perfectly alone, it began to 
 be a little too much for him, and he grew very heavv. 
 whi.M" ! hypochondriac : his mind was oppressed 
 wi 1 the thoughts of his circumstances, but dark as 
 to the due inquiries he ought to have made : at leno-th 
 he roused himself a little with these thou-hts 
 
 wi.v T ^*i^T»/^'^'?"'-' ^"•^ '''^^"g a^Christian! 
 7t ^{Ji ""'je'-.'^tand notlung of it, or how to go about 
 
 « t o n '^-^ •' "v "^ '^^ '^ '■^•'^ion ? and what is it to 
 ^ tL ^'' -f r • He posed himself with these ques- 
 tions, and knew not what answer to give himself, 
 when It can.e thus into his mind. Did not that dear 
 
 r«iiT*'''u'f ^'r?"*"^'*^®y°'*"»*a*^y hehad courted) 
 leii me what religion was, and how she understood it^ 
 VIZ. A reverence of rtr»H n oor,"" "**•!" w—»-:- - J 
 impressions of duty to him that made us ! th£ cer- 
 
1 I 
 
 50 RKUGIOUS COURTSHIP. fPART I. 
 
 bemn to look >^i tt. ""■ '"' ''""'^ "h™ lie 
 vvlUcl. 1 e S „ "a^ t^X ,• ''°'1°!!'». ,"P»" tl,e want, 
 
 children? I don't »„S5hev'«-» ^ '' •" """■ 
 
 into a ix^flection, whicl/raispTfhia ,V ^^ ^"nf? him 
 expression, God'b^ ,Sc ?u un o rnp" '" If ««ionate 
 is become of ray fatheTanHr^rr?^^ ^^''at 
 
 on thus : Who am I' a apnl^n "f f ''^'' ' "« ^^^nt 
 servants, Sir7a™d WorSn r"" ' ^^ «"> attended by 
 by a narppi nf- r,^ vvorsiiippd, and Honour'd herp 
 
 "otiiing of him thaT JavH iT i^' ^ '°"^' ?"^ ^^"^ ^now 
 to serve aXbevthprnHlw'- ^ '-^"^ commanded 
 tau!.ht to know hJra ^^* "^'^^ "* ^"^ >^«t "«ver 
 
 poS'Tarmlr' ^fey' b?lrf "f' .""^ y^"^^'' «ve a 
 how sober, how refie?o,?, h '' *'*'^ **"** ^"'•^ '^^''^J i 
 are they dai yTeaSH h^ \'^ **'«>' •' ^ow 
 
 and how tm^evTln^^^^^^ 
 
 parents! Share's sSpI ^"'^k'"'''"!?"**^ ^y ^heir 
 in their faraUies h?.? kn ^ * ^°>: *** *«» years old 
 
 than I doT I have bepn To '"^f ^* ^^^ «"d '«^'"g'«n 
 
 nothing h„ ti,i/*LH""J^"^ht nothing, and know 
 
 ' ~ ' "^^^ ^ S'" «nder the curse of dark- 
 
i 
 
 flP- fPART I. 
 
 religious: but 
 
 art one evening, 
 ijouse, when lie 
 upon the want, 
 laid in lu» mind 
 I lie to himself, 
 
 most unhappy 
 JMg : our ances- 
 ;ioij themselves, 
 ' of it for their 
 i;jugrl»t it below 
 nt themselves, 
 [er for the leav- 
 
 it, but by pre- 
 This flunjy him 
 den passionate 
 says he ; what 
 ler ! He went 
 im attended by 
 Honour'd here 
 »ts, that think 
 alf frighted if 
 lit of him that 
 
 a monster, a 
 he meanest of 
 and yet know 
 1 commanded 
 and vet never 
 
 y'onder live a 
 I work hard; 
 re they ! how 
 heir children ! 
 :ted by their 
 ten years old 
 i and religion 
 g, and know 
 irse ot dark- 
 
 61 
 
 i 
 
 WAL.li.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 ■ jiess, in the midst of light; iirnorance in the midst of 
 knowledge; at.d huve moreto give aruoZntof 
 than u n.gro of Alric.., or a suvag. of A,n"S ' 
 He had wa.Hier.Ml so long in tiiese med Sin m n.f 
 jniuding hi. way, that he Lnd night ".mn' on 'and 
 il Kt ^'r' \''''"' ««♦■«- <n),n his own line 
 t he looked about him ; then he resolved to i; , S • 
 so hv brok.. ott his tlioughts a while and made i r 1^ 
 haste homeward. In his way he nece'saHly wen bv 
 a poor labouring man's door, who with a wi l a^nl bur 
 children, h,,a u. a small cottage on the waste, where 
 lie (the gentleman) was lord of the manor Arh! 
 passed by, he thou/rht he heard the ma^.^ voice a,^ 
 ^teppingupcloseto the door, he perceived that tie 
 p or goo. old n,an was praying to^iod with hi f ! 
 
 health, when others languished with pa.n aid sickness" 
 had ood, wheu others were in want ; aSrtv when' 
 IZ )l""' '" P"**""' ^^'•e clothed amrcoVered 
 
 ? nf 'S.Ii' iio:!," ,^;n A' '»»«■'« got .om" 
 ■»» tnouglit, and throwing out liis armj, 
 
52 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part I. 
 
 ,!l 
 
 Merciful God ? says he, is this to be a Christian ? 
 What then liave I been all uiy days ? Wiiat is this 
 man thus thankful for? Wiiy, my dogs live better 
 than he does, in some respects, and he is on liis knees 
 adoring hifiiiite jfoodness for his enjoyment! Why, I 
 have enjoyed all I have, and never had the least 
 sense of God s ^'oodness to me, or ever once said, God 
 I thank thee for it, in my life. Well miu'lit a sober 
 woman be afraid of me. Is th'; humble temper, this 
 thankfulness for mere poverty ! is this the effect of 
 being a Cliristian? Why, then, Christians are the 
 happiest people in the world ! Why, I siiould hang 
 myself, it I wa» to be reduced to a degree a liundred 
 times above him; and yet, here is peace, ease of 
 mind, satisfaction in circumstances, nay, thankful- 
 ness, which is the excess of human felicity ; and all 
 this in a man whojust lives one 'egree above starving. 
 We think our farmers poor slaves, who labour and 
 drudge in the earth to support us that are their 
 landlords, and who look upon us like their lords and 
 masters; why, this poor wretch is but a drudge to 
 these drudges, a slave of slaves ; and yet he gives 
 God thanks for the happiness of his condition ! I? 
 this the frame of religious people ? What a monster 
 am I ! Then he walked a little way farther, but not 
 being able to contain his astonishment, I'll go back, 
 says he, to poor William (for he knew his name) lie 
 shall teach me to be a Cliristian ; for 1 am sure I 
 know nothing of it yet. 
 
 Away he goes back to the poor man's house, and 
 standing without, he whistled first, and then called, 
 William ! William ! The poor man, his family wor- 
 ship being over, was just going to supper, but hear- 
 ing somebody whistle, he thought it might be sonu; 
 stranger who had lost his way, as is often the case in 
 the country ; and went to the door, where he saw a 
 
 gentleman stand at some distance; but not seeing 
 im perfectly, because it was dusk, he asked who he 
 was ; but was surprised when he heard his voice, and 
 knew who he was. 
 
I 
 
 IP. [PABT I. 
 
 >e a Christian? 
 .' Wliat is tliis 
 iogs live better 
 B is on his knees 
 yinent ! Why, I 
 
 litid tlie least 
 p orire said, God 
 11 luiu'lit u sober 
 ble temper, this 
 his the etiect of 
 ristiana are the 
 , I should hun|( 
 igree a hundred 
 peace, ease of 
 nay, thankful- 
 ilicity ; and all 
 above starving, 
 vho labour and 
 
 that are their 
 their lords and 
 >ut a drudge to 
 d yet he gives 
 I condition ! 1» 
 Vhata monster 
 arther, but not 
 It, I'll go back, 
 iV his name) he 
 or 1 am sure I 
 
 m's house, and 
 nd then called, 
 liis family wor- 
 jper, but hear- 
 might be some 
 ['ten tlie case in 
 here he saw a 
 but not seeing 
 ; askt^d who he 
 1 his voice, and 
 
 ^ DIAI.. II.] UrLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 68 
 
 Don't you know me, William ? says his landlord. 
 
 n Uiiam. Indeed I did not know vour worship at 
 first. I am sorry to see you out so fate, ant't please 
 your worsJiip, and all alone ; 1 hope you an't on foot 
 too : 
 
 Landlord. Yes, I am, William; indeed I have 
 \v.i (dered through the wood here a little too far, before 
 1 \v,} awar»': will you go home with me, William ? 
 
 M ill. Yes, an't please your worship to accept of 
 »"( with all my heart : you shall not go alone in the 
 dark tiius ; an't please your worship to stay a bit, I'll 
 go call Goodniuri Jones, and ids son too : we'll all see 
 you saft^ iiome. 
 
 La. No, no; 111 have none but you, William- 
 conn' along. 
 
 Will. An't please you, I'll take my bill in my hand 
 then ; it is all the weapon I have. 
 
 La. Well, do then ; hut how will you do to leave 
 your wite and children? 
 
 Will. God will keep them I hope, an't please your 
 worsnip : his protection is a good guard. 
 
 La. That's true, William ; come along then • I 
 hope there are no thieves about. 
 
 w;j *i . .. , [Thep go together, 
 
 yviii. Alas ! an't please your worship, it is a sorry 
 thiet would rob a cottage. 
 
 Xa. Well, but that little you have, William, it is 
 Bomething to you ; and you would be loth to lose it. 
 ^ Will. Indeed I could ill spare what I have, though 
 It be very mean, because I could not buy more in the 
 I room of it. 
 
 La. I know you are poor, -William: how manv 
 I children have you ? *' 
 
 Will. I have four, an't please you. 
 
 Xrt. And now do you all live? 
 
 Will. Indeed, an't please you, we all live by my 
 [hard labour. ' ' 
 
 La. And what can you earn a day, William ? 
 
 Will. Why, an't please you, I cannot get above 
 
•>w^-»-.v-ji*Mi_4;,. 
 
 54 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PART I. 
 
 lOcl. a-day now ; but, when your lordship's good father 
 was alive, he always gave the steward orders to allow 
 me I2d. a-day, and that was a great help to me. 
 La. Well, but William, can your wife get nothing? 
 Will. Truly now and then she can in the summer • 
 but it is very little : she's but weakly. ' 
 
 Za. And have you always work, William ? 
 Will. Truly, an't please you, sometimes I have not- 
 and then it is very hard with us. 
 X«. Well, but you do not want, I hope, William? 
 Will. No, blessed be God, an't please you, we do 
 not want ; no, no, God forbid I should say we want • 
 we want nothing but to be more thankful for what 
 we have. 
 
 [Tliis struck him to the heart, that this poor wretch 
 should say he wanted nothing, &c.] 
 
 La. Thankful, William : why what hast thou to 
 be thankful for? 
 
 Will. O dear ! an't please you, I should be a dread- 
 ful wretch if I should not be tliankful ! What would 
 become of me, if I had nothing but what I deserve ? 
 La. Why, what couldst thou be worse than thou 
 art, William ? 
 
 Will. The Lord be praised, an't please your wor- 
 ship, I might be sick and lame, and could not work, 
 and then we must all perish : or I might be without 
 a cover: your worship might turn meoutof this warm 
 cottage, and my wife and children would be starved 
 with cold : how many better Christians than I are 
 exposed to misery and want, und I am provided for? 
 Blessed be the Lord, I want for nothing, an't please 
 you. ° ^ 
 
 [It was dark, and Wi liam could not see him : but 
 he owned afterwards, that it made his heart burn 
 withm him, to hear the poor man talk thus ; and the 
 tears came out of his eyes so fast, that he walked 
 thirty or forty steps before he could speak to him 
 agam.] 
 
 La. Poor William ! thou art more thankful for 
 
p. [part I. 
 
 p's good father 
 orders to allow 
 lelp to me. 
 eget nothing? 
 I the summer ; 
 
 lliam? 
 
 ties I have not; 
 
 ipe, William ? 
 se you, we do 
 say we want ; 
 ktul for what 
 
 is poor wretch 
 
 hast thou to 
 
 lid be a dread- 
 What would 
 it I deserve ? 
 se than thou 
 
 ise your wor- 
 ild not work, 
 ht be without 
 t of tliis warm 
 lid be starved 
 IS than I are 
 provided for? 
 g, an't please 
 
 see him ; but 
 s heart burn 
 hus; and the 
 lit he walked 
 ipeak to him 
 
 thankful for 
 
 WAI,. li.J RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 65 
 
 thy cottage, than ever I was for the manor-house : 
 prithee, William, can you tell me how to be thankful 
 too : 
 
 Will. An't please your worship, I don't doubt but 
 you are more thai dul than I; you have a vast es- 
 tate, and are lord ot all the county, I know not how 
 tar; to be sure you are more thankful than I, an't 
 please you. , ".i c 
 
 La. 1 ought to be so you mean, William ! I know 
 
 Will. I dou' doubt but you are very thankful to 
 trod, an t please you, to be sure you are ; for he has 
 given your worship great wealth : and where much is 
 given, you know, an't please you, much is required ; 
 to be sure you are mucli more thankful than I am. 
 
 La. Iruly, William, I'd give a thousand pounds I 
 were as happy and as thankful as thou art; prithee 
 William, tell me how I shall bring myself to be thank-' 
 Jul , lor, though thou art a poorer man, I believe 
 thou art a richer Christian than I am. 
 
 Will. O ! an't please your worship, I cannot teach 
 you ; I am a poor labouring man : I have no learning. 
 
 La. But vvliat made you so thankful, William, for 
 little more than bread and water ? 
 
 *^YJ^h ^' ^m! ^"'' P^'^^'^^ y°"' '"y «Jd father used 
 to say to me, That to compare what we receive with 
 what we deserve, will make any body thankful. 
 
 La. Indeed that's true, William ; alas ! we that 
 ore gentlemen, are the unhappiest creatures in the 
 Tl!-'uT^ ^"'""^ ^"'^'^ «"'■ ^'^thers for any thin"- 
 L''th"u'art, William ?'= "" '''' '"''''' ''' ^^-^^^^'^^ 
 
 mo^^'" O f T !/^liiP^'^'' T"' ^''' ^"d ^ ^^«^t deal 
 S^fathe^was!'"''"'''^'' '' ^''^ ^ ^'^"^^'^» ^^ 
 
 artf Willfara" "^''^'' ^^ '° ^*'°'* ^ Christian as thou 
 
 I alrSv . ^r^rj^'ir^' f "^ P^^^''^ y^"' '""ch better 
 already , God has blessed your worship with a vaat 
 
66 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [pakt I. 
 
 with It, he has put means in your worship's hands to 
 do a great deal of good with it, an't pleaie vou 
 
 t'r'n 7 ^^^ ^^^^ * better estate than I," William 
 Wtl. I an estate ! an't please you, I am a no"; 
 labouring man ; if I can get bread by my work^foj 
 
 La. William ! William ! thou hast an inheritance 
 beyond this world, and I want that hope : I am Jery 
 serious with thee, William ; thou hast taught mT 
 
 S's mrih«?'''' "^**V' true happiness of a Ch^fs- 
 tidn s hte, than ever I knew before : I must ha - 
 more talk with thee upon this subject : for thou hast 
 been the best instructor ever I met wiih ' 
 
 jytit' A as ! Sir, I am a sorry instructor, I want 
 help myself, an't please you: and sometimes, the 
 Lord knows, I .m hardly ^able to hear up under mv 
 burden : but, blessed be God at other times I am 
 comforted that my hope is not in thfs life 
 
 nWmlnl *fhl f ' ^'^''^'-"'^^ l''y ^'***^ •« ''etter than 
 all mine ; thy treasure is in heaven, and tliv heart ia 
 
 coodkion.' ''°"^'^ ^'''' *" "y '''■'''' '^ '^' ^" thy 
 
 conSn^'tht'lL'eTwry"' ""^''^ " ^" ^ '^''^^ 
 
 fhff'J^'"''^, ^''"' ^^'i'''^™. lam very serious with 
 thee; thou knowest hov/ I have been brought up or 
 you remember my father verv well. " ^' 
 
 Will Yes, I do indeed ; he' was a good man to the 
 poor; I was the better for him many a day fhe was 
 a worthy gentleman. ^ ^ ' ^^ 
 
 La. But, William, he never took any care of us 
 that were his children, to teach us any thing of reli- 
 gion; and this is my case, as it is the case of too 
 many gentlemen of estates; we are the unhappiest 
 creatures in the world ; we are taught nothing, and 
 
 ul "iirr' -T ■■' ^^"Sio", or 01 mm that made ua; 
 
 It lb below us, It seems. ' 
 
p. [PART I. 
 
 to honour him 
 ship's hands to 
 ease vou. 
 an I/Wilham. 
 I I am a poor 
 ray work, for 
 >pe for on this 
 
 an inheritance 
 36 : I am very 
 St taught mc 
 iss of a Chris- 
 I must ha. 3 
 for tliou hast 
 h. 
 
 ictor, I want 
 metinies, the 
 up uiirier my 
 r times I am 
 life. 
 
 9 better than 
 
 1 tliy heart ia 
 
 to be in thy 
 
 is in a better 
 
 serious with 
 )ught up, for 
 
 i man to the 
 iay ; he was 
 
 y care of us 
 hing of reli- 
 case of too 
 ! un happiest 
 lothing, and 
 at made us; 
 
 DIAL. 11.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 67 
 
 M dl. It is a great pity, indeed, an't please you • 
 but I know it is so too often, tliere is young Sir 
 
 Thomas , your wor.-hip's cousin, he is a p'retty 
 
 youth, and may make a fine gentU-raan; but though 
 ih is but a cliild, he has such words in his mouth 
 and will swear 30 already, it grieves me to hear him' 
 sometimes. It is true, his faiiier is dead ; but surely 
 it my lady knew it, she wouici teacii ium better; it is 
 a pity bO iiopelul a young gentleman should be ruined. 
 La. And wl' > do you tni-ik spoiled him ? 
 Will. Some wicked cjiild.-en, that they let him 
 play witii, I believe, or some loose servants. 
 
 La. No, no, William., only his own father and mo-' 
 ther; I have heard his father take him, when he was 
 but a chiid, and make him speak lewd v/ords, and 
 Slug immodest songs, when the poor child did not so 
 much as know the meaning of what he said, or that 
 the words were not fit tor him to speak ; and you 
 tu.K ot my lady ! why, she would swear and curse 
 as ta,t as her coachman : how should the child learn 
 any better ? 
 
 Will. O dear, that is a dreadful case indeed, an't 
 please you ! then the poor youth must be ruined of 
 iiecessiry ; there's no remedy for him, unless it please 
 (jrc J to snigle him out by his distinguishing invisible 
 grace. 
 
 La. Why, his case, William, is my case, and the 
 case ot hail tlie gentlemen in England : what God 
 may do, as you say, by his invisible grace, I know 
 not, nor scarcely know what you mean by that word • 
 we are, trom our infancy given up to the devil, al- 
 most, as directly as if we were put out to nurse to him. 
 
 yVdt. Indeed, Sir, an't please you, the gentlemen 
 do not think much of religion : I fear it was alwavs 
 so; the scripture says, Not many rich, mt manu 
 noble are called, and it is the poor of this world, 
 that are rich in faith., James ii. -5. 
 
 La I tind it so indeed, William ; and I find myself 
 , at a dreadful loss in this very thing. I am eonviuced, 
 
f 
 
 ,'fli 
 
 Ui 
 
 f; 
 
 58 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PAKT t 
 
 the happiness of man does not consist in the estate 
 pleasures and enjoyments of iHe; if so, the poor 
 a one would be miserable, and the Vioh men only be 
 blessed ; but there is something bevond this world, 
 which makes np for all tiiat is deficient here : this 
 you have, and I have not ; and so, William, you, in 
 your poor cottage, are richer, and more happy, than 
 I am with tlie whole manor. ^^^' 
 
 Will Indeed, Sir, if in this world only we had 
 hope be poor would be of all men the most misera- 
 ble b esse, be the Lord that our portion is not in 
 this life. But, Sir, an't please you, 1 hope you will 
 not discourage yourself neither ; for God has not 
 chosen the poor only ; rich men have temptations 
 from thevyorld, and hiuderances very many, and it is 
 hard or them to enter into the kingdom of heaven ; 
 
 „n?u. tfl*"? "''^ 'Y •'"'^ *''« S'it^ " not barred 
 upon them because they are rich. 
 
 La. I know not how it is, William, nor which way 
 to begin; but I see so many obstructions in the work, 
 mat 1 doubt I shall never get over it. 
 
 Will Do not say so, I beseech you, Sir, an't please 
 jou; the promise is made to all; and if God has 
 given you a heart to seek him, he will meet you and 
 bless you: ioT he Ivds said. Their hearts shall live 
 that seek the Lord. Many great and rich men have 
 been good men; we read of good kings and good 
 princes ; and, it your difficulties are great, you have 
 pat encouragements ; for you tliat are great men. 
 have great opportunities to honour God, and do good 
 to Ins church ; poor men are denied these encourage- 
 ments; we can only sit still, and be patient under 
 tae weight ot our sorrows, and our poverty, and look 
 lor his blessing, which alone 7nakes rich, and adds 
 no sorrow to it. 
 
 La. But tell me, William, what is the first step 
 such a poor uneducated thing as I should take f I 
 see a beauty in religion which I cannot reach ; I see 
 the happiiiuBs which thou enjoyest, William, in a 
 
 7ne, 
 
 ii»-*f *i.<»»*»f* '^■— 
 
p. [PAKT r. 
 
 in the estate, 
 30, the poor 
 I men only be 
 lid this world, 
 nt here; this 
 liara, you, in 
 B happy, than 
 
 only we had 
 most mispra- 
 rtion is not in 
 hope you will 
 God iias not 
 
 temptations 
 any, and it is 
 n of heaven ; 
 is not barred 
 
 )r which way 
 I in the work, 
 
 r, an't please 
 I if God has 
 leet you and 
 ts shall live 
 ch men have 
 jfs and good 
 it, you have 
 8 great men, 
 and do good 
 e encourage- 
 iitient under 
 ty, and look 
 h, and adds 
 
 le first step 
 id take? I 
 each ; I see 
 iliiam, in a 
 
 out. II.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. fiQ 
 
 humble, religious, correct life; I would give all mv 
 est.ite to be in thy condition ; I would labour at the 
 hedge and the ditch, as thou dost, could I have the 
 sfme peace within, and be as thankful, a-id have such 
 an entire conhdence in God as thou hast ; I see the 
 happiness ot it, but nothing of the way how to 
 obtiim It. "^ 
 
 Will. Alas! Sir, an't please you, you do not know 
 
 r/m c .'""' M"* '^ P°°''' disconsolate creature ; 
 1 am sometimes so lost, so dark, so overwhelmed with 
 my condition, and with my distresses, that I am 
 tempted to fear God has forgotten to be grado^,!- 
 that lam cast off, and left to sink under m v ovvn bi^l 
 den: I am so unworthy, so forgetful of niV duty so 
 
 Tl^ \'f>^" r^ ^'t.^ and cast otr my confid^e^c^ha? 
 1 tear often I shall despair. 
 
 fr'//^'rl ^^\^^ *^^ y^" "^^ *'^«"' "^Villiam? 
 
 vviu. Alas ! b.r, I go mourning many a day, and 
 wukiug many a night ; but I bless the Lord, I always 
 mourn alter hi.n ; I always cleave to him :' I am no? 
 te«j,pted to run from him ; I know I am undone? Tl 
 seek comfort m any other: Alas! whither else shall I 
 go I cry night and day, Return,returlo father '- 
 and resolve to lie at his feet ; and that, thoUihedav 
 me, yet wdl I trust in him : and nle sed be he God 
 ot my hope, l»e does send comfort and peace though 
 sometimes it is very long. ^ ' mougU 
 
 dlttn ^^wi,u '"'''™'.''"'^ '' *''^* a disconsolate con- 
 d tion? Would you change your condition with me 
 that mn the nch glutton ? 
 
 Will. O do not say so of yourself, an't please vou • 
 God ,.as touchr-« your worship's heart, I perceivV 
 with an earnest oesire after hin, : you have aSoui 
 
 io. Eiicouruge !.,s, VVilllam! timts i ■.possible • 
 
 -- zy^ *' *'j^n-o i-Owarus me r 
 
 M *//. Why, an't please you, I heard you 3 
 
 
 jOU 
 
N 
 
 5 I 
 
 
 60 
 
 KELIOLDUS COURTSHIP. [parti. 
 
 would change vour condition with such a poor wretch 
 as I ; you would labour Ht the hedge and the ditch, to 
 have the knowled</e of God and religion, and to be 
 able to be thanl .'ul to him, and have confidence in 
 .♦.irn: this ijnpli.s,, that you have a lorujing earnest 
 desire qftcr htin, imd after the knowledge of his 
 truth. 
 
 La. Indeed, that is true, William. 
 
 WUL Tlien there are nianv comforting scriptures 
 which speak directly to you, Sir, viz. Blessed are they 
 that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they 
 shall beJiUed ; the longing soul shall he satisfied; 
 he will satisfy the desires of all those that fear him • 
 and the like. 
 
 La. But what must I do ? which is the way an 
 ignorant wretch must take ? 
 
 WUL Sir, an't please you, the way is plain : we 
 Kiust pray to him : prayer is the first duty, and 
 prayer is the greatest privilege we can eniov in the 
 world. •* "^ 
 
 Xa. Ay, William; but there is a great deal required 
 inpraver, that I am an utter stranger to; I never 
 prayed in my life ; no, nor I believe my father or 
 grandfather before me, William ! I come of a cur<»ed 
 race, William, and I doubt it is entailed upon the 
 lamily, like the estate. 
 
 Will. O, Sir, do not say that : the scripture is 
 piam, an't please you, that the children shall not be 
 punished for the father's transgression. 
 
 La. But then certainly thoy must not tread in their 
 lather's steps, as I do exacUy, William. 
 
 Will. That's true, indeed, Sir, they must not tread 
 in those steps. 
 
 La. But what dost thou talk then of prayer being 
 the first duty ? Why, if that be the first thing, I 
 n\mt not begin : for how can such a creature as I 
 pry toGod? 
 
 -' :iL As the Spirit of God will assist those whose 
 ?i^ rrtd are towards him, so we must pray, that we 
 ay be taught to pray. 
 
 I 
 
 •fV'iSi 
 
 - ».._—,«».»«, *.mn^-Ml,»t,^ «!.,«., ^.«i 
 
'. [part I, 
 
 a poor wretch 
 i the ditch, to 
 m, and to be 
 confidence in 
 Kjing earnest 
 viedge of his 
 
 ng scriptures, 
 essed are they 
 less, for they 
 be satisfied; 
 at fear him ; 
 
 the way an 
 
 is plain : we 
 
 it uuty, and 
 
 enjoy in the 
 
 deal required 
 to; I never 
 ny father or 
 3 of a cursed 
 ed upon the 
 
 scripture is 
 shall not be 
 
 tread in their 
 
 ust not tread 
 
 prayer being 
 rst thinj;, I 
 'eature as I 
 
 those whose 
 ay, that we 
 
 DIAL, n.] nELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 61 
 
 Lu. Is it not a difficult thing for a man to pray to 
 God, Wiiliam, that scarcely ever thoueht of God in 
 all his life ? 
 
 Will Well, Sir, but who do you think put those 
 thoughts in your mind, which now you have ? and 
 who opened your eyes. Sir, to see a beauty in religion, 
 as now you see ; and touched your heart with such 
 an earnest desire after the ways and things of Go.l, 
 as you now expressly say you have ? do you think 
 this is not of God, tin't please you ? 
 
 La. Indeed, William, I know not ; it would be a 
 very delightful thing to me, if I thought it was so. 
 
 \\'ill. Without question, Sir, it is : man can have 
 no such power; nature prompis us to evil thoughts 
 and evil desires, and to them only : the imagination 
 of the thoughts of our hearts are evil, and only evil ; 
 if there are any good motions, or heavenlv desires in 
 the heart, they are from God. Every good gift, and 
 every perfect gift comes down from above ; it is his 
 power works them, his invisible grace forms all holy 
 desires in the soul. 
 
 La. Well ; and what do you infer from thence, 
 William ? 
 
 Will. Why, Sir, an't please you, if God has begun 
 a good work, he will perfect it; if he has turned your 
 face towards him, he will lift up your heart to him : 
 to pray to God is as natural to a convert, as to cry 
 after the father or mother is to an infant. 
 
 La. Thou speakest, William, with more clearness 
 than ever I heard before ; but it is a strange thing to 
 me to talk of praying lo God : I pray ! that, except 
 just the common road of going to church, cannot say 
 that ever I kneeled down to pray to God once in all 
 my life ; how shall I pray ? 
 
 Will. That's sad, indeed, an't please you ! I am 
 sorry to hear your worship say so : does any creature 
 live, and not ray to God ! O dear ! that's a sad, 
 dreadful thing m truth! but however, Sir, do not let 
 that hinder you now. 
 
62 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part I. 
 
 Za. How dost mean, hinder me ? what can be said 
 to hinder me doing what I liave no kuowledL'e in, no 
 notion of, no inclination to ? 
 
 Will. O, Sir, an't please you, vou mistake your 
 own condition vtry much : do not discoura-e yourself 
 tnus; you know how to pruy better tlian manv that 
 make much noise with their devotions ; I see plainly. 
 
 Za. I pray ! William : I pray ! I tell thee, I never 
 prayed m all my life, as I know of. ' 
 
 ntll. An't please your worship, not to be anirrv 
 with me tor ray plain way. ** ^ 
 
 La. Prithee, William, be plain, and speak freely* 
 do not worship me and Sir me now j talk to me as if 
 1 were your neighbour or comrade; these are not 
 things to talk of with cringes and bows : I am a 
 wretched, contemptible, poor, rich man : thou art a 
 poor, rich, happy Christian j talk plainly to me, 
 Wi ham, the coarser the better, I like it best : there 
 will be no difference, William, between thee and me 
 Lereafter, but what will be on your side ; tell me 
 
 wv^w?*' y,''" "^*'"' William, by my praying? 
 
 Will. Why, Sir, you allow me to be plain, thefi I 
 say, you mistake your own condition, and thereby 
 put oil the comfort you might receive ; I say, vou do 
 pray, and know better how to pray, than mariy that 
 come to church and appear as if they prayed every 
 
 Xa. You must explain yourself, William, I do not 
 understand you. 
 
 Will' Why, Sir, those earnest desires you have 
 after the knowledge of God, and after the true wor- 
 ship ot (jod, which is the sum of religion, I say, those 
 earnest desires are really prayers in their own nature : 
 sincere wishes of the heart lor grace, are prayers to 
 Uod lor grace : prayer itself is nothing but those 
 •wis.ies and desires put into words, and the first is the 
 essential part ; lor those may be words used without 
 the desire, and that is no prayer, but a m:c.-.ry of 
 «jO(i : but the desires of the heart may h*- 
 
 God; 
 
 even withe . the words. 
 
 'aycrs, 
 
[part I. 
 
 t can be said 
 viedge in, no 
 
 nistake your 
 ajze yourself 
 II many that 
 see plainly, 
 tliec, I never 
 
 to be angry 
 
 peak freely! 
 i to me as if 
 ese are not 
 s ; I am a 
 ; thou art a 
 »ly to me, 
 best; there 
 hee and me 
 e; tell me 
 / praying ? 
 lain, then I 
 md thereby 
 say, you do 
 I many that 
 rayed every 
 
 m, I do not 
 
 i you have 
 
 e true wor- 
 
 I say, those 
 
 wn nature ; 
 
 prayers to 
 
 but those 
 
 tirst is the 
 
 sed without 
 
 rivc- :ry of 
 
 \>e p'aycrs, 
 
 68 
 
 DIAL. II.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 ;n a verbal prLyer : they wiU I r'aKt Se aVam'' 
 that cannot be withheld j vour heart will nrL T^ 
 you know not of it • nr;ivin.r f« n i Z J?"^^-^' ^^''«n 
 
 nothing what belon-s to prayino- not 1 T' f ^"V"^ 
 
 '^M-JorllZr'' "'"" "" ' ™^ ' ' ^-"l I know 
 . ^*f/- Nay, that was not all. What i<j th^ «.„ 
 
 me^-ni"''?!?,'.*^'"'''"',."''' ■■'"" """l «»'=l' a kind of 
 ^ords or no ; for it is the voice of his own spirit md 
 
 La. Thou art a comforting preacher, William : 
 
m 
 
 li 
 
 64 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PART X. 
 
 do I't wonder you enjoy such a shining beam of light 
 in vour own soul, when you have such a sense ot 
 thincTs as this ; you shall be my instructor, William: 
 I may call you father rather ; for tliou art better to 
 me thiin ten fathers. 
 
 Will. O, Sir, nii't ploasp you, my discomtorts are 
 very threat, and the beam you speak of is vt ry dun in 
 me. Do not speak sucli things of me; it makes me 
 ve/v sad ; lor 1 know my own darkntss; I am a poor 
 despised (-feature. . ^ * 
 
 La Well. Dut God may 'tiake you an instrument 
 of uood to me. or to any one he pleases I had never 
 this much instructicn in my life, Wilham ; you will 
 not be biickward to do good, T liope, it it be thus cast 
 
 in vour way. „ , , 
 
 Win. . shall be very g' d, if such a worm as I am, 
 should be an instrument, .v God's hand, to comfort 
 or inform your worship ; d sha 1 praise God for 
 this occasion as long as I lisc ; and indeed I rejoice, 
 an't please vou, to see your w rship inquiring alter 
 these things; I pray God hi > .-e tiu knovvledge ot 
 himself in your mind, and comtort y( with the liope 
 of his presence and blessing. 
 
 La. Amen, I thank you, William. 
 
 Will. Look you now, Sir, an't please you, did you 
 not pray then, ag lin ? , , , , u * 
 
 La. i joine 1 with you, William ; 1 don't know : but 
 if tuat be praying, I tiiink I did pray. 
 
 Will. Thus Godwin move your heart to pray to 
 him : and I beseech your worship to read the scrip- 
 tnv. s ; read them raucli, read them seriously, and 
 prav, «^ir, observe this one thing, when you read, 
 which I have experienced often, and very coinforta- 
 bW: and I dare sav, you and every one that reads 
 the word of God, with desire of a bl-ssmg, will expe- 
 rience the like, viz. When you are reading, and come 
 to any place that touches you, and that your mmd is 
 eufpr-tid with, vou sh; '1 tit.d, even whether you wiU 
 or no, your heart will every now and tiien iiU uselt 
 
 I 
 
p. 
 
 [fart X. 
 
 beam of light 
 ich a sense of 
 ctor, William : 
 u art better to 
 
 liscomfnrts are 
 ■ is vt ry dim in 
 ; it makes me 
 is ; I am a poor 
 
 an instrument 
 . ; I hail never 
 iam ; vou will 
 it be t^ma cast 
 
 worm as I am, 
 nd, to comfort 
 praise God for 
 ideed I rejoice, 
 inquiritijZ after 
 r kuowledf^e of 
 1 with the liope 
 
 se you, did you 
 
 lon't know : but 
 
 nart to pray to 
 read the scrip- 
 
 8eriou^ly, and 
 when you read, 
 very comforta- 
 
 oue that reads 
 *9ing, will expe- 
 adiniT, and come 
 lat your mind i^ 
 ■hetlier you will 
 i then Uii itself 
 
 w 
 
 nut. n.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 65 
 
 w "'*; and ■», per ,ap,,, ,he best mo^litnytrL^ 
 tile best exprexsed in tbe world. P™jer, ana 
 
 Xo. You will persuade me, William fhn* t i,„.k 
 have prayed already, and .l,a i a" in w'hXr I »m 
 or no, and whether I linow unv th ,,'J . ' "''i 
 that I want no teacliinK " ' ""' ""■* 
 
 ^mi. Pray, Sir, does a child want to be tanght to 
 
 Go^2 LlS*"^ i' "'"• *'• K""! 'I'e scripture, ■ if 
 
 b'el/ujjri;;™^'' '"'" ''^»«> ^»" ""' »"t S' :« 
 ><.^we'ri"{::iCg' trr„' .Sii" „»,"";•" ^i" 
 Br,rtLe":;^i>,rd''K^"'^"'^' i"-^^ 
 
 Blbk;'^?,^'b*;jltrz?iii?j"p' '•» '»" y«- 
 
 ^- Do, William, uid oo».e "aiid'ito, ,ith „. to- 
 
 a 
 
•0 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP, 
 
 [PART I. 
 
 ■1 
 
 ' 
 
 morrow ; I'll make thee amends for thy day's work, 
 and there's bouiethnig for thy ^uud advice, and cou- 
 ing BO far with me. 
 
 [He gives him some money, and sends him back 
 again. 1 
 
 Will. Thank your worship. 
 
 [They were now come to the manor-house, and he 
 was loth to detain him, because it was late, and be- 
 cause he was so affected with tlie discourse they had 
 had, he wanted very nmch to be alone.] 
 
 As soon as he cume into his own house, he locked 
 himself in a parlour, and began to consider, with 
 great seriousness, all tliese things, and especially, 
 what the poor mnn had said to him about praying to 
 God ; ancl, as his thoughts were intent upon tlie 
 meaning of prayer, the nature of it, and the advanta- 
 ges of it, at every turn of these thoughts he found a 
 a secret kind of hint like a voice in him, O that 1 
 could pray ! O, if 1 could pray but as that poor man 
 does ! How happy should 1 be, if I could but pray to 
 God ! and the like. He was not aware of the move- 
 ments ; they seemed to be wrought in his aflection 
 perfectly involuntary and sudden ; and they passtd 
 over without being noticed or observed, even by him- 
 self, till after a good while they returned stronger 
 and more frequent upon him ; so that he not only 
 perceived it, but remembered how often his heart had 
 thrown out these expressions ; when, on a sudden. 
 Die poor man's words came into his mind with such a 
 force, as if the man himself had been there : why this 
 was praying ; certainly I have been praying all this 
 while, an(i knew it not. 
 
 Upon this reflection, it was impossible for him to 
 express, as he said afterwards, what a strange rap- 
 ture of joy possessed his mind, and how his heart was 
 turned within him ; then he fell into the same sacred 
 ejaculations of another kind, viz. of admiration, 
 praises, thanksgiving, and mere astonishment; but 
 Btiii without speaking otherwise than a kind of men- 
 
p , [part I. 
 
 hy day's work, 
 vice, uud com- 
 
 ends him back 
 
 house, and he 
 i late, and be- 
 jur»e they had 
 
 use, he locked 
 consider, with 
 ind especially, 
 lOut prayinjf to 
 ;ent upon tiie 
 d theadvantu- 
 hts he found a 
 hint, O that 1 
 that poor man 
 uld but pray to 
 B of the move- 
 n his afiection 
 id they passed 
 , even by hira- 
 urned stronyer 
 ,t he not only 
 n his heart had 
 on a sudden, 
 nd with such a 
 lere : why tliis 
 raying all this 
 
 ble fur him to 
 a strange rap- 
 v his heart was 
 lie same sacred 
 of admiration, 
 nishment; but 
 a kind of mea- 
 
 »"»-n.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. $7 
 
 God: iTharhave nevc^'l^^en^tol^^^^^^^ ^'^ **> 
 to mention his name I that have ZVJl V ^''^ 
 
 to, if he had made me. twenty K and scraoes'i^Hia 
 tongue then was let loose, afid he cwS ont '^ m 'i 
 be God, that ever I came'neir tlmt poor m^n^'''''* 
 He continued a that evHiiintr «n i ^i «. 
 
 how to nianHo-P It ir. ♦i ^*^ •*«•♦* ", or mdeed 
 
 .ame ^S^n a.ld the", lie rLtSu^'rw^ "'* 
 
 now^he longea for the p<K„ n-anVcli^rwith^tSe 
 yomrgtmlemafsjlM hi'n »"''»"', i»y. that thi. 
 
\ 
 
 i 'I 
 
 il 
 
 m 
 
 1 
 
 68 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 [PABT I. 
 
 to the poor, and to the uninstructed people round 
 hira ; as well by reforming their manners, and re- 
 straininjf their vices, as, perliaps by bringing religion 
 to be accepted and received among ihera by hia 
 
 Tliese were some of the thoughts he came along 
 with, and as he walked, he prayed to God, very ear- 
 nestly, ttiat he mijfht be made an instrument to bring 
 the soul of this gentleman to the knowledge of God, 
 and to bow at the footstool of his Redeemer as a true 
 penitei»t. 
 
 His pravers were not in vain. Prayer, put up from 
 such a principle, and with such a spirit, seldom is 
 made in vain. 
 
 He came to the gentleman, while he was in bed, 
 for he had given orders to his servants to bring hira 
 up to his chamber : there he delivered him the Bible, 
 and told him he hoped he would find in it botli en- 
 couragement and direction in the great work which 
 he wai» going about, and that God would bless it 
 to him, and would supply by his grace all the wants 
 of early instruction, which he had so much com- 
 plained of. 
 
 He received the poor man with a glad heart, made 
 him sit down by him, an*) told him, God had made 
 bim the instrument of t»o much good to hira, that he 
 could not part with him any more while he staid in 
 the country. 
 
 William, says he, God has made you a father to 
 me, and I'll be a father to you and your family ; you 
 shall go no more home to that poor cottage, you shall 
 have something else to be thankful to God for than 
 bread and water. 
 
 Will. An't please your worship, I have much more 
 to be thankful for than that already ; but, if God has 
 been pleased to assist me to do you good hi this great 
 business of bringing such a soul as yours to the know- 
 ledgre of himself I shall have cause to praLie him, be- 
 yond aU that ever 1 had before. 
 
 cy, 
 
[PART I. 
 
 people round 
 tiers, and re- 
 iging religion 
 Lhem by bis 
 
 * came along 
 od, very ear- 
 m«iit to bring 
 cdjre of God, 
 liner as a true 
 
 r, put up from 
 rit, seldom ia 
 
 ! was in bed, 
 to bring liim 
 iiim tbe Bible, 
 Q it butb en- 
 t work which 
 trould bless it 
 all the wants 
 much com- 
 
 d heart, made 
 
 od had made 
 
 him, that he 
 
 e he staid in 
 
 u a father to 
 r family ; you 
 age, you shall 
 God for than 
 
 ve much more 
 »ut, ifGod has 
 d in this great 
 8 to the know- 
 iraise him, be- 
 
 Di^L. 11.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. QQ 
 
 fe An^vn'"'"' '^^ r°* ^^^''^ •"«' thank God sf ill 
 
 botli'to provide for a.^H'-fn^r'"'"''"'"'.™'' "^»'»'-<« 
 anS^of W '?ir? "■" P°°' '""" "" '^ of himself 
 
70 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP, 
 
 [PABT I. 
 
 Will. O Sir ! give God the praise, this is all his 
 own work ; and I hope your comfort shall increase 
 ifnd continue : did I not tell you, Sir, God would 
 
 teach you to pray ? , ,:, t j -.u 
 
 La. But now, William, what should I do with 
 
 this book ? , , .,1 
 
 Will. Read it, Sir, an't please you, and you will 
 
 pray over it whether you will or no. 
 La. But I am still ignorant; I have no minister 
 
 near me to explain it to me. 
 
 Will. The spirit of God will expound his own word 
 
 to you. 
 
 La. Well, William, you shall be my minister ; come 
 sit down by me and read it. 
 
 Will. Alas ! I am a sorry creature to be a teacher, 
 ^ir : but an't please vou, I have turned down some 
 places, which I thought of, to show your worship ior 
 your first reading. 
 
 La. That's what I wanted, William. 
 
 Will. An't please you, here's a text which tells you 
 what is the whole design of a written gospel ; foi 
 what end the life of our blessed Redeemer was laid 
 down, and his works and doctrine were published to 
 the world ; and this seems to be the first thing we 
 should know of the scriptures j for, indeed it is the 
 sura and substance of them. 
 
 La. Let me see it, William. 
 
 Will. Here it is, Sir : These things are laritten, 
 that ye might believe that Jesus is the Chrut, the 
 Son of God, and that believing, ye might have life 
 through his name.— John xx. 31. 
 
 La. That is very comprehensive, indeed, William. 
 
 M ill. And here is another passage I folded down, 
 lest you should ask, how should you do to believe; 
 it is in Mark ix. 24. it is a story of a roan, who brings 
 his child to our Lord to be healed, when possessed of 
 ail evil spirit : our Lord asks him, if he could believe? 
 It' thou canst believe, ail ihingi are poi«tbh; io iitin 
 that believeth ; and ver. 24. The father cned out 
 with tearsf Lord, I believe^ Iielp thou my unbelief. 
 
 ,! 
 
, (PABT I. 
 
 ;hi8 is all his 
 shall increase 
 r, Oud would 
 
 lid I do with 
 
 and you will 
 
 ^e no minister 
 
 , his own word 
 
 oinister ; come 
 
 ) be a ttacher, 
 ed down some 
 ur worship ior 
 
 rtrhich tells you 
 n gospel ; lot 
 eraer was laid 
 e published to 
 first thing we 
 ideed it is the 
 
 s are tcritten, 
 he Christ, the 
 light have life 
 
 leed, William. 
 I folded down, 
 do to believe; 
 nan, who brings 
 en possessed of 
 > could believe? 
 
 • . 1 « y * 
 
 iyt/ooit/ie iO liHH 
 
 it her cried out 
 I my unbelief. 
 
 DIAL. III.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 71 
 
 [William looks full in his face, while he repeated 
 the words.] ^ 
 
 Xa. What do you look at me for, William ? 
 
 yriL. O Sir ! I saw your very heart : I know vol 
 prayed : I know you said Amen in your very soul to 
 that word : glory be to the grace of God, and to the 
 word ot bod for you : the j*cripture, read with such 
 a heart as yours now is, will soon teach you all that 
 you want to know, and all that you want to do 
 
 .The uoor uentleman w.is overcome with his words 
 and could not speak for ? Tood wliile ; tears came out 
 ot his eyes; and at las : i burst out thus: Lord' 
 what a creature have I been, that have lived without 
 the teachings oi tlie scripture ail my days ! 
 
 Ums far this happy poor man was made an instru- 
 ment to the restoring this gentleman, and bringing 
 him to the knowled-e of God, and to a sense of re- 
 ligion : and, in a word, to be a most sincere Chris- 
 
 DIALOGUE IIL 
 
 ^fh^fhpT';.^*' ^f H *^ "'" ^^™"y ^J^ich we began 
 with . the father ot the yountf ladies was o-nn*. intn. 
 
 the country to visit his .iit.r, Si o was ^ewlfbecome 
 
 had sahl' n" ' '^^'Jl''"^; ''"^''^' his eldertLugh™ r 
 So /"^.h'™' ^*'?^ his joungest daughter would 
 HMilZ"It !i^'\T'^ ""''^ *'«^'«^«r in tis absence, 
 at one b w L >*^"'f' li"? ^" '""^ ^"^ thecourtship al 
 agahi ' '^'^ ^""^ ^""^' ^^^'""'^ he came hSme 
 
 heJ!lKir>fJ'ii^^!ir.^L^^^ 
 
 i^usband ; and partic«iS;rScau;^ hS^S' t^ 
 
72 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 [PAKT I. 
 
 beinjr of ace and just upon marryin*?, she intended to 
 remove : ilie house, which was tlie seat of the tamiiy, 
 being to be fitted up for her new dauehter-in-law. 
 Ppori these circumstances, he began the following 
 4ii»eourse with his sister. 
 
 Bro. Well, pray, sister, what kind of a ladv hag 
 ■mtj neph^«w got ' is he well married ? 
 
 Sist. Truly, brother, I can hardly tell how to aiwwer 
 you that tjuestion ; I believe every body will be liraer 
 piieased than I. 
 
 Bro. Wiiv, sister, what is the cause, pray, :auit 
 you are so difficult ? 
 
 Sut. O, arother ! the main difficulty that aau made 
 me ail my cays the most miserable of all wonen. 
 
 Bro. Wkit ! religion, I warrant you ; you wo«fai 
 have had luw have married a nun ? 
 
 Sist. Nay, I don't Icnow why I should de^re a re- 
 ligious woman to come into the family. 
 
 Bro. I never saw the like of yoa. sister, vou are 
 always a complauiing; you have ha& one of the best 
 humoured, jxoodest conditioned, merriest fellows m 
 the world for these five-and- twenty y«ars, anti yei 
 you call yourself a miserable wom^i : wIikc would 
 you ask in a husband, that you had n©tin Sir Jaimes? 
 
 Sist. Dear brother, is this a time for me to teU jou 
 what I wanted in Sir James, wljen he » in his gr».ve ? 
 I have wanted nothing in liim tuat a woman could 
 desire in a husband ; he was nsn in his estate, a 
 lovely, coraplet*?, liandsome gentaenian in bw pernm, 
 and held it to tiie last ; he was tne rtttst inunoured 
 man that ever woman had, and kind, as a hosband, 
 to the last degree : I never saw him in a pns&ion iu 
 my life ; lie was a man of good sense and learning ; a 
 man of honour, good breeding, and good manners : 
 none went beyond him ; all the country knows it, and 
 lov'd him for it. 
 
 Bro. Very well ! and yet ray sister a miserable 
 wfinian ! Would not anv man lautfh at you i I thinks 
 Bister, if ever you were a miserable woman, it is now, 
 because you have lost hiin. 
 
 til. 
 
[PABT I. 
 
 le intended to 
 ot the family, 
 {ihter- in-law. 
 the following 
 
 of a ladT has 
 
 [low to answer 
 will be hfftter 
 
 *e, pray, 
 
 that iuw made 
 
 Qi ; you woi^ 
 
 id desire a Fe> 
 
 ifiter, Tou are 
 ne of tlie best 
 iist feilowa in 
 years, aiiii yet 
 wlia£ would 
 in Sir Ja*aes ? 
 nne to te^i: you 
 
 in his gT*ve ? 
 woman could 
 
 his estate, a 
 
 in hki per»on, 
 >*iSt itQinoured 
 as a husband, 
 n a passion in 
 id learning; a 
 aod niannere ; 
 
 knows it, and 
 
 r a miserable 
 YOU ■ I thinks 
 nan, it is now. 
 
 WAX. in.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. yg 
 
 Sist. Well, that's irue too • I am «.« «««, ^ 
 wa,,, and »„,„e, p.rtap„ Zi /oaTLr5i„ro"C 
 
 »«.e ot h.m now : prithee whit's that to you „r ,n^; 
 
 m^ll^^ii^^T^J^ '^ ^ ^ain to answer you ; I 
 
 how he ili^i .„ ., _ Ino"- how he live.), and 
 
 i^ri„,,tf^;^ ,""'«-- "P" 1"» condition, if I had 
 
 -Je^ J^JT "'■' "' "»•' He lived like a «e„- 
 ■1* I Iwe tad o "tCa/STlZJ^' T°T "''?' 
 
 w,t'rni:d'^T?"^4i^:.o""or.!j: 
 
 Of jt aU h-S^Jt^tt ir - J'" """ « -»«" 
 
 »iZ"L •"" "" ■"' "■" '"-^ w-'eif much 
 
 ***^- X^, iw not onk dm ant k^c^if », ,* u j.j 
 not ^ally iw^j to hu*« ■». °T-J!? JT^^V? *>"* he did 
 
 wiioon thern— i^?^ T^ ^*** ^^a*'e iiad no 
 an!# ineuhw!*Te», y« value a m -whers and «c>i.,^ 
 
 hypocrites that taUujd at X^.^ ? *'^ P^^'P^^ 
 
 !»<"•«. Jt wa« the ZytLfTSlnl A'" *^^ 
 ab*»ut all our days. ^ diiference 
 
 anfd?ffef«;fj\,S;"l;;y^ ?^^^ fooltohave 
 
 ^Vi«'/VrJ"r''"''^"^'"L',"*' *".' "* ^ould withouVit "" 
 
WT^ 
 
 ■fciomffir-'-rrin- 
 
 74 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP, 
 
 [PART I. 
 
 Bro. Yes, yes, I know he served you many a 
 merry prank about religious doings ; such as putting 
 every now and then a ballad in your prayer-book, 
 or psalm-book ; and I think he put the story of Tom 
 Thumb once in one of Dr. Tillotaon's sermons. 
 
 Sist. No ; it was two leaves out of Don Quixote. 
 He did a great many such things as those to me. 
 
 Bro But they were all frolics j there was nothing 
 of passion or ill-nature in them. Did he not '^rite 
 something in the children's spelling-book once, and 
 make them get it without book, instead ot the lesson 
 you had set them 1 
 
 Sist. Yes, yes, he played me a thousand tricks that 
 
 WftV« 
 
 Bro. I think he once pasted a recipe to make a 
 tansey or a cake just next to one of the questions of 
 the catechism, wliere your daughter's lesson was. 
 
 Sist. Ay, ay ; and every now and then he would 
 paste a single printed word, that he cut out of some 
 other book, just over another word in their book, so 
 cunningly that they could not perceive it, and make 
 them read nonsense, „ , « 
 
 Bro. Why what harm is there hi all that ? 
 
 Sist. Why, it showed his general contempt of good 
 things, and making a mock of them, otherwise the 
 thing was not of so much value. 
 
 Bro. Well, and wherein was you miserable, pray, 
 in all this ? I don't understand you in that at all. 
 
 Sist. Why, in this, that he was not at all a reli- 
 gious man. 
 
 Bro. But what was that to you, still ? 
 
 Sist. Why, first, brother, there was all family re- 
 ligion lost at one blow. Tl»ere could not be so much 
 as the appearance of worshipping or acknowledging 
 the God tliat made us ; nay, we scarcely asked hira 
 leave to eat our meat, but in secret, as it we were 
 ashamed of it. Sir James never so much as said grace, 
 .^u.,.^!^.. oi toKia in hJa lifp. that T remember. 
 
 Bro. And they that do, make it nothing but a 
 
[fart I. 
 
 you many a 
 !h as putting 
 prayer-hook, 
 story of Toin 
 mons. 
 
 Don Quixote, 
 se to me. 
 J was nothing 
 he not T;vrite 
 ok once, and 
 I ot the lesson 
 
 id tricks that 
 
 )e to make a 
 
 e questions of 
 esson was. 
 len he would 
 It out of some 
 ;lieir book, so 
 it, and make 
 
 that? 
 
 tempt of good 
 
 otlierwise the 
 
 arable, pray, 
 that at all. 
 , at all a reli- 
 
 1? 
 
 all family re- 
 ot be so much 
 icknowledging 
 ely asked him 
 as it we were 
 1 as said grace, 
 ; I remeiuber. 
 nothing but a 
 
 7>Uh,lli.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 75 
 
 r^rir.!J^lf'4%:t^-«'^'. "otthat .hey 
 
 ♦»,f '^^'n u ' !®' '?®™ ^<* it ^'or fashion-sake then if 
 
 Bro. Well, what more is there? for this is nothing 
 
 r:i^^:^:!iS!^^'^^' ^-"^-> whoMerertf 
 
 ntn n V:*"" '■^/•^"''® ^«"»'o° ^a8 lost too. 
 by^lmt? ''''''^''"•' ''''^'' what do you mean 
 
 ouf ht'to^Jj'h^''*' ^ "'*" ^y '^ *^«* »"««gion that 
 ought to be between a man and his wife- such a« 
 
 K^'''"^' encouraging, and directing one another 
 helping one another on in the way to hiaven • assist- 
 ing one another in Christian duties, prayincr ^^iJh ind 
 in/^l^^u^'^^'rv^nd '"uch more, whi?ii I cou7d name 
 and which, without doubt, passes to tlieir m,itn«l 
 comfort and delight, betweeS a man and his wS 
 
 se'vinVrn^H Tf "^r"^ ^'^'^'^ '" worshipping aiS 
 sening God, and walking on in the happy course of a 
 re igjous life. All this hSs been lost ; aSd it bi been 
 
 and it hno?.™'' ^'""'^'f' ^^ '^^^^ ^" need oflelpa" 
 knows what hpl'/ °T ?'^^ considers, or indeed that 
 liS'h K f^P' "^^''^^ comfort, what support, a re- 
 
 STsav' t^h"' ^"' ^'A""' ™*y b« t° «"« another. 
 
 Srn^k ' ^'^° "" ^^'^ ^^'^ ^° '«*^' I assure you. 
 cofd not wf.t "*^«/'r^.^ ' ^"^' rethinks, if you 
 Sff «n 1 *f' "^ t'ose helps from your husband, you 
 
 «Sm^ It is such a loMg. hrnH./ii. ♦K^* :e r _^^. . .. 
 
 my days over again,' Ywouianot^marVy a' man"thl? 
 made no profession of reUgion, not I, thoSgTSe had 
 
m tm 
 
 75 
 
 HELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. (PABT X 
 
 t ■!' 
 
 ten thousand pounds a-year, and I had not a hundred 
 
 {lounds to my portion ; nay, I think I would work 
 or my bread rather. 
 
 £ro. You lay mighty stress upon these things. 
 
 Sist. Every body, brotiier, that has any sense of 
 the blessing of a religious family must do so. Pray, if 
 the honouring and serving God be our wisdom, our 
 duty, our felicity, in this world, and our way to the 
 next, what comfort, what happiness can there be, 
 where these are wanting In the head of a family. 
 
 Bro. It is better, to be sure, wliere they may be 
 had, but to lay all the happiness of life upon it, as if 
 a man or a woman could not be ndigious by them- 
 selves, without they were so both together, I do not 
 see that : I think you carry it too far. 
 
 Sist. I'll convince you that I do not carry it too 
 far at all ; I did not say a man or a woman may not 
 be religious by themselves, though the husband or 
 wife be not so ; but I say, all the help and comfort 
 of relative religion is lost ; the benefit and value of 
 which none knows^ but they that enjoy it, or feel the 
 want of it ; but there is another loss which I have not 
 named, and which my heart bleeds in the sense of 
 every day. 
 
 Bro. What's that, I wonder ? 
 
 Sist. Why, children ! brother, children ! you see 
 I have five children ; what dreddful work has this 
 want of family reli<;ion made among my poorchildren ! 
 
 Bro. Why, Sir James did not hinder vou instruct- 
 Uig your children. 
 
 Sist. Did lie not ! it is true he did not when they 
 were little ; but has he not by example, and want oi 
 restraint, encouraged all manner of levity, vanity, 
 folly, nay, and even vice itself in thent ? Do you think 
 children, thus let loose to humour their own inclina- 
 tions, and to the full swing of their pleasures, would 
 not soon snatch themselves out of the arms of their 
 motuer, uiiii dclivcf thomsclves from the iinpoftuoi'^ 
 ties of one that had no other authority with them 
 than that ot attection 7 
 
 about 
 
(FABT I 
 
 ot a hundred 
 would work 
 
 le things, 
 any sense of 
 so. Pray, if 
 wisdom, our 
 ir way to the 
 an there be, 
 I family. 
 they may be 
 upon it, as if 
 us by them- 
 ler, I do not 
 
 carry it too 
 nan may not 
 ! husband or 
 and comfort 
 and value of 
 it, or feel the 
 :h I have not 
 the sense of 
 
 ren ! you see 
 ark has this 
 loorchildren! 
 ^ou histruct- 
 
 )t when they 
 and want oi 
 vity, vanity, 
 Do you think 
 own inclina- 
 sures, would 
 irms of their 
 tc iiTipoftuui- 
 y with them 
 
 'I 
 
 DIAL. III.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 77 
 
 Bro. Why truly, there is something in tiiat • but 
 I do not .ee that your children are muLtl" worse • 
 there IS your eldest 8on, Sir James, that Is now he is 
 
 Bro her are debauched or vicious; and I am thankful 
 for . They have good charrcters for modest urettv 
 gentlemen, as you say ; but still, brother, the mS 
 tmna IS wanting. I cannot be partial to hem thS 
 they are rny own ; there is not^the least sense o? no- 
 tion ot rehpon nthem; they cannot say they have 
 no knowledge of it. I took care to depdve them of 
 that excuse, as early as they kr.ew any th ng b^t it 
 goes no farther; my eldest son will tell me somi 
 times, he has as much religion as a gentleman o^"^ 
 thousand a-yeur should hav^e; and hrboK tells 
 roe, It I would have had him have any re i^ion I 
 
 hSX'^^' ^" ^^"^^ ^'^^"^ ^'^ ^-^ ^K^ed 
 
 up^:?hirsu^e"t' """' "'"^ '"''' y^" '^«« ' «"d 
 fJ.^*: f^ " * dreadful jest to me, brother; I am far 
 from takmg ,t merrily ; you know I was othem m 
 brought up ; our father and mother werfof anothe^ 
 
 work of ra^"'.;'"^- ^"'i**^ '^^''' ^ery souls in fhe 
 work of God ; they jomed in every eood thin? with 
 
 he hnH- '' f'^'r i ''''y ^°^«d th^eSs as 4u a* 
 the bodies of us their children. The family was a 
 
 and day; and, m a word, as they lived so thev d Id • 
 Sru'.'l'r^B"'^.-"" Sarah. ^h^tl:n\J'^i 
 
 t«U you what can be said, uud what will 
 
sw 
 
 78 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 [PART I. 
 
 ;ll 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 1 
 
 stick close to them one time or otlier, viz. if they are 
 lost, it is not lor want of good instruction, or good 
 example : they cannot blame father and mother : it 
 has been all their own. Parents may beg grace for 
 their children, but they cannot give it them ; they 
 may teach their children good things, but they can- 
 not make tliem learn ; tli-it is the work of God, and 
 parents must submit to liim. But, when parents do 
 nothing, nav, rather by example and encouruuement. 
 lead their children into wickedness, what a dreadful 
 thing is that? 
 
 Bro. Well, but our two sisters were not led into 
 wickedness ; and yet, as I said, tiiey value religion 
 as little as anv body. 
 
 Sist. Ay, brotlier, I can tell you how my sisters 
 were both ruined : for they were not so educated. 
 
 Bro, Wliat do you mean by ruined? they are not 
 ruined, I hope. 
 
 Sut. I mean as to their principles, brother, which 
 I think is the worst sort of ruin : they were ruined 
 by marrving profligate, irreligious husl»and9. 
 
 Bro. I don't know wliat you mean by profligate : 
 I think they were both very well married. 
 
 Sist. Yes, as you call well married, and what I 
 call being undone. 
 
 Bro. And pray what has ruined Jack? for he is as 
 graceless a wretch almost as your Sir James was. 
 
 Sist. Truly, brother, just the other extreme : he 
 has a wild, giddy, play-house- bred wife, full of wit 
 and void of grace, that never had any religion, nor 
 knew wliat the meaning of it was : this has ruined 
 him. My brother was a sober, well-taught, well-in- 
 clined young man, as could be desired : but getting 
 such a tempter at his elbow, instead of a wife to help 
 him on to heaven, she has led him hood-winked to 
 the gates of hell, and goes cheerfully along with 
 him: a sad instance, brotlier, of the want of family 
 religion ! 
 Bro. Well, but what's all this to what we are 
 
[PART I. 
 
 z. if they are 
 ion, or good 
 I mother : it 
 he^ grace for 
 
 them ; they 
 )ut they can- 
 
 of God, and 
 m parents do 
 ^oura^ement. 
 at a dreadful 
 
 not led into 
 alue religion 
 
 )w my sisters 
 educated, 
 they are not 
 
 other, which 
 were ruined 
 lands. 
 
 ty profligate : 
 ed. 
 , and what I 
 
 L ? for he is as 
 ames was. 
 extreme : he 
 e, full of wit 
 ' religion, nor 
 is has ruined 
 light, well-in- 
 : but getting 
 a wife to help 
 lod -winked to 
 y along with 
 vant of family 
 
 what we are 
 
 »lAI..m., RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 79 
 
 «««. But yon ,ee hia children are. 
 
 cause .„ .ay, I i.a,e been .beTrSSf TJL^ 
 i.ajT„Je'e„XS?;=,r^fr'°" "'"■ "■" ^»" 
 i^re »y .aee, anU^.b-efr^ a'^'^-bl St, trt 
 vegnteeTltst^-u^ """ed ; tbey are 
 
 ^nfivTSl! r f ,Sletl"n\r„?1e't^ " ". 
 
 back, and tnSkts h,„ » r " *' '*' <''''' '"'"8' Wm 
 Bionmake/afnanaclmr? T?"' '"' » .""'« nU- 
 iim to know Ssell' ali' h. ' " *'T ''™' '^'-'hes 
 good principle, Wn with f,^ ' S"""""?"- WI.en 
 they but iiCraM y^"*" »°<^ ""nner,, how should 
 
 brewing of a man of'JU^,;?''?"'.,'"'' »«? «ff the 
 

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RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PABT I. 
 
 Bro. Your notions are delicate. You are very 
 nice, it seems, in these things, sister : though I must 
 confess, I am of your mind, when I consider it well. 
 
 Sist. Let the scripture be judge, whether the rules 
 of life dictated by tlie apostles to the Christian 
 churches, were not such, as not only agree well with 
 that of a gentleman, but indeed with that, without 
 which no man can be a gentleman j if you look al- 
 most through the epistles in the New Testament, you 
 will find it so ; I'll name you a few. ^, ,^ . • 
 
 Phil. i. 9. 10. That your love may abound in 
 knowledge and all judgment. ^there's wisdom and 
 
 ^^iS'you may approve things that are excellent.-^ 
 There's solid judgment. 4 „/p^„„ 
 
 That ye may he sincere and without offence.— 
 There is the honesty and onen-heartedness of a true 
 
 ^T*Pet?"iii 8. Love as brethren, be pitiful, be 
 courteous.^There is the charity, the beneficence, and 
 tlie good breeding of a gentleman. 
 
 Col. iii. 12. Put on bowels of merm, kindness^ 
 humbleness of mind, meekness, &c.-Who can be a 
 aentleuaan without these ? !.„„..# s,.,t 
 
 Col. iv. 8. Whatsoever things are }pnest,just, 
 pure, lovely, and of good report, think oj ;.^«*f ""/«' 
 -What tfiink yoinow? Can the practice ot these 
 things dishonour a gentleman? or do they honour and 
 illustrate, and indeed make a gentleman ? 
 
 Phil. ii. 3. In lowliness of mmd, let eacu esteem 
 others better than themselves.-Whathecome^ a gen- 
 tleman more than such hunuhty ? 
 
 I could name you many others, fill any man 
 that needs these rules say, they are not suitable to a 
 gentleman? No, brother, it shall ever be a rule to 
 roe, that the only complete man upon earth is a reli- 
 gious gentleman. . , „,x*{nnm 
 
 Bro. Why, you are wrapt up in these notions, 
 sister: I fincy you have been documenting my 
 
p. [PART X. 
 
 You are very 
 though I must 
 lonsider it vi^ell, 
 [lether the rules 
 
 the Christian 
 igree well with 
 1 that, without 
 if you look al- 
 Testaraent, you 
 
 .ay abound in 
 e's wisdom and 
 
 are excellent.-^ 
 
 .hout offence.— 
 Mlness of a true 
 
 be pitiful J be 
 beneficence, and 
 
 nercy, kindness, 
 —Who can be a 
 
 re honest, just, 
 kofthesithings. 
 )ractice of these 
 they honour and 
 nan? 
 
 let each esteem 
 t becomes a gen- 
 Will any man 
 not suitable to a 
 ever be a rule to 
 )n earth is a reli- 
 
 in these notions, 
 iocumenting my 
 
 DIAL. III.] RKLIGI0U8 COURTSHIP. gl 
 
 daughter, I am afrairi uf it t „ 
 
 just>ot the same'thT4s in kirdl^^^^^ '. 'I' !!«« 
 
 earned her scruples to sich a len. '^r^f '' ^? 
 
 beS^L^rn^oriiTLnt'^and of ^'' ^T."- '^' "- 
 I think, if ever poor vo,J'an 1 "l};.'^'"'^''^" '> and 
 gentleman that hid not o,rbad?u.nfv '?>' '^'^'' « 
 I; Sir James, as I toirvou^assmh « '"'''' ^^ 
 every thing else, as there a7e few such n^h'"^"' /^ 
 but he hattd reli<^ion anH Mlu '". ^^^ ^"rld , 
 
 n^^. V *^"n»;"^ ana r/iat has ruined im nil 
 
 4. ., : 7"" ^*^"'d '»al<e anv one Ian "h f«^ 
 talk of being ruiue.i : wiiy/Le vr n no ^ '?"■ ^^'^ 
 easy and plea.aut? is notVur eLest son «'k''^PP^'» 
 and has £1,400 a-vear? i, nntf^ " ? baronet, 
 
 well provided tor 9 ^L' J,!!., y^""* second son very 
 a-pieSe fortune left thrVVd"'':^''''^''''''^^ 
 ric^ you know not wt'o 7oi.S^^ir.nr '«^' «« 
 
 bro^th^'i^'thh^T^UmSl;"^ 
 
 iy ruined, and that h ™ J wmi^' '^^'^T '^ « ^"a'ni- 
 
 b. understood in I Vwerrtonfr'"' **'^' '•"^» ««" 
 not marry the best dnt^f !? '^'^''•^' ^»*'"' ^ would 
 
 notendeavou? to caJrv me M f "^''''''' '''**' ^«"'3 
 
 himself. The commS Tti, "*?'""' ^'"^ &« ^bere 
 
 £e not «n4L% S ^^P'**'" i" it. 
 
 a husb^md that proiesttiio rel Ln H '., "T «''«" 
 according to hnotvlednp ^i!^??"',^^^" w,th a wife 
 
 reason tlfeap.lSS ibr fhis r/V^V""^ "'^^ '« ^''^ 
 ryinff hiir tiiia vv. ^ "'* t/hristian ru e in mar- 
 
 sisSr ^^^^' ^^"^ •^"'"^'' ^'*^ ""' ^""Jer your p^y',,\ 
 prayed with hi. wi£r ^"^ ^^'^ '^'"^ ^^"^ J^mes 
 
HHI 
 
 I!' I I 
 
 I 
 
 Hi 
 
 62 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. fPART I. 
 
 Bro. No, I believe he did not indeed, nor with any 
 body else. 
 
 Sist. And do you think that this is the life of a 
 Christian, or the manner o\' a Christian family, bro- 
 ther ? You and I were not bred up so, and yet our 
 fatlier was a gentleman, and wanted neither family 
 nor fortune equal to them. Sir James is in his grave, 
 and I have no more to say of that : but if I were as 
 young as I was when I married him, and were to 
 chuse again, I would not marry the best nobleman 
 in the nation, if he was not a religious man : all en- 
 joyments in tlie world are nothing without it, unless 
 I resolved to cast off ail religion too : and where 
 would that end ? 
 
 Bro. This is just my daughter agam ? 
 
 Sist. Besides, brotlier, consider another thing: 
 how many young women and young men too, who 
 have been religiously bred, has this way of marrying 
 been a snare to ? tliat when they come to husbands 
 with no religion, or to giddy, loose, profane wives, 
 they drop all their own principles, and become emp- 
 ty of all religion too at last. You know how it has 
 been with our brothers and sisters, as I hint'"! to you 
 before. 
 
 Bro. There is no arguing with you, & , who 
 have had so much experience of it : but 1 tell ray 
 daughter, that perhaps she may convert her husband. 
 
 Sist. I don't know my niece's case, and so I can 
 say little to it ; but if this be it, that she refuses a 
 man for his being of no religion, she is in the right ; 
 slie is a good religious child herself ; my sister edu- 
 cated all your cliildren very well, and if slie marry a 
 gentleman, us the times go now, that thinks religion 
 below tiiem, and unbecoming, as most of them do, she 
 is undone. 
 
 Bro. So she says, and has just your arguments ; 
 that made me say, you had been documenting her. 
 
 Sist. No, mdeed, brother, not I j but I'll tell you 
 wh^'t I have been a tnsfnentQ to the familv ; and 
 
[P. f PART I. 
 
 d, nor with any 
 
 is the life of a 
 an family, bro- 
 !0, and yet our 
 neither family 
 3 is in his grave, 
 ut if I were as 
 m, and wore to 
 i best nobleman 
 IS man : all en- 
 thout it, unless 
 00 : and where 
 
 thing : 
 
 m? 
 
 another 
 
 ; men too, who 
 vay of marrying 
 me to husbands 
 profane wives, 
 id become emp- 
 ^now how it has 
 • I hint"'l to you 
 
 OU, 6 
 
 , who 
 : but 1 tell my 
 jrther husband. 
 e, and so I can 
 at she refuses a 
 is in the riglit ; 
 my sister edu- 
 i if she marry a 
 t thinks religion 
 t of thein do, she 
 
 our arguments; 
 umeuting her. 
 but I'll tell you 
 
 the fiitnilv • and 
 
 WAL. lli.J RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. gg 
 
 against ever/thing thlnvas"?!;? T""'?''"" ^^^^ 
 got this of cautioning tl em nev.rfn ' ^"^ " '^' ^^" 
 no religion, then ahew !LT.i '° ^'^^^^y « ^a" of 
 her forV ''''^ "°' ^^'^ ^^^e woman I took 
 
 £ro. I know not who has mufinn^^ u 
 has instructed her • hutiilh^^^^^,^^^' ""r who 
 vvarmly, she had ruined ersefe. l"''"".'* "P ^^7 
 tell you how it is. ^''^" '''**» ^er nicety. I'll 
 
 anKf ^^^nSir trth^tte^Thif ''' '^^'J''- 
 
 With you : I must needs^sav" J tr r '"« *^ ^« ^^^ 
 wrong. ^"^ '^^y> ^ tiimk you are in the 
 
 sfsf' ?«n'' IV ' e-M'^cted that from you 
 world. "'cnnation m such a case for the 
 
 hefownltatio'n" Ker'j.^^'''^^^^" ? Sheforces 
 gentleman, and 1 a" ovvnei i^ l ^^ ''"^^ '^'^ '^^^^ ^ »'« 
 nicety, she' pretended to cross'he^sdf '^Z''''^^' 
 tleman, and disoblige her father ' ^^^^o^tthegen. 
 
 St. Catharinr. ^ ^''^'*^ '""^« the story of 
 
 yofr'fine^plciZ'^lt'is 17' r""^' resolutions, and 
 command of S \iat rhn f ^ ^'''^c'Ple, an orig i„al 
 parents. ' "'*' children should obey their 
 
 "ofng f& SS^i:,?^,?. ^^ P--t commands 
 brother, our authority ceases. ' ^"' ^^'e°' 
 
84 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PABT U 
 
 !^' U 
 
 Bro. But I am sure this match is for her advan- 
 tage, and I'll make her have him. 
 
 Sist. That's a severe resolution, and if it be against 
 her conscience, you may fail in all you resolve upon; 
 besides, it is eviilent you ought not to resolve so. 
 
 Bro. What ! urn not I her father ? has it not been 
 always the ri«;ht of fathers to give their daughters in 
 marriage? nay, to bargain for them, even without 
 their knowledge ; did not Caleb promise his daughter 
 Achsah in marriage to him that should smite Kir- 
 jathsepher, not knowing who it should be, or whether 
 the girl sliould like him or no? and are there not ma- 
 ny such instances in the scriptures ? 
 
 Sist. All that is true, brother : but I do not think 
 the laws of God or man give parents that authority 
 now. 
 
 Bro. Then you allow my daughters to marry who 
 they please, without putting any weight upon my 
 consent one way or other; would you give your 
 daughters that liberty ? 
 
 Sist. No, brother, you wrong me ; but there is a 
 great difference between your negative authority and 
 your positive authority, in the case of adauuhter; as 
 there is a great diffierence between your authority in 
 the marriage of a daughter and the marriage of a 
 son. 
 
 Bro. I know my lady sister is a nice civilian : pray 
 explain yourself. 
 
 Sist. I can take all your banters patiently, brother, 
 and I will explain myself, contradict me if you can ; 
 I distinguish them thus : if your daughter desires to 
 marry any person you don't like, I grant that you 
 have power by the law of God to forbid her positively : 
 the scripture is plain, you have power to dissolve 
 even a vow or promise of hers, to marry, or not to 
 marry at all. But if your daughter is not willing to 
 marry one you may like, I do not think you have 
 the same right to command ; for you might then 
 command her to marry a person she nmy have an ab- 
 
 i 
 
[PABT I* 
 
 r her advan« 
 
 r it be against 
 resolve upon; 
 esolve so. 
 as it not been 
 ' daughters in 
 even without 
 ! his daughter 
 d smite Kir- 
 >e, or whether 
 there not ina- 
 
 do not think 
 hat authority 
 
 to marry who 
 jht upon my 
 ou give your 
 
 )ut there is a 
 authority and 
 L dauahter ; as 
 r authority in 
 narriage of a 
 
 civilian : pray 
 
 JDtly, brother, 
 le if you can ; 
 iter desires to 
 rant that you 
 ler positively : 
 er to dissolve 
 rry, or not to 
 not willing to 
 ink you have 
 •1 might then 
 ly have an ab- 
 
 DIAL. III.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. gg 
 
 liorrence of, and an aversion to, which conM ««♦ i. 
 the very laws of matrimony forhid f «?.« ? "m ^®» 
 repeat the office of raatrimonv ul i.iV "" ^^"''^ "«' 
 to love and honour him 'and ?o Z "«"'»P» ^^' 
 knew at the same time wonlH i P*^^™'*! what she 
 to perform, would b^o Su?et"seKr!/'°' ^'' 
 nage promise is a solemn oLThNi ^'V^ ^''® ^a'"" 
 husband in the grossest m«nn' ""*^- \'' '^*'««'^e her 
 
 wouldbelawiblfbThTrtodo"''"' ""'*'''" "'' ""^''^ 
 m>S:'^e7loir''' ''' '">^^"' «"« '^-rangue, I have 
 liri' v'^ ^i^y "J^"'^'^ ^^^^^ brother^ 
 
 very well, I am surr sI.p 1 JL^ •''"^'^ ^''«* ^^^erves 
 giois child, and willt inVv^"Y''"'*'''^«''•«li- 
 but ,f you force her marrv «. "^'^ ^°™«"' 
 remember my words bmrS' ^'"" -^^^^ ^o" "'"I 
 miserable, as^Tave been ' ^°" "'^^ '^^^^ ^^er' 
 
 t%Vo?o"se^v^ro^.Tr;? ~ -eVi?^: 
 
 brother, re^^mber my word^^%%' .?{ ^^"^"'"' '^^'^^ 
 Iier miserable, and wifl repent !t ^ ^° ''' ^"" '"^^^ 
 
 woSTc?notj;;ir^^ 1,^13 "1- positive neither, I 
 Shall see ^vlZuLe!lL^ "^^^ ^' '""'''^ »>"' ^ 
 home!' ^''' ^'' "^♦^ '^^"^ ^^"^ i^ goe«» when you come 
 U S: Pt"! y'^" «'»all, I promise you. 
 
 eldest dau^riHeJ was how L?"".-?''^''^'^ ^^ ^^^ 
 in the houle.] ' "^ ^' '^'^^ ^^ i^he was 
 
86 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. {paht I. 
 
 I 
 
 u.v 
 
 .1 
 
 11 
 1:1 
 
 ^ 
 
 Da. In the house? no, Sir, I think not. 
 
 Fa. Why do you think not? Wlien was he here? 
 
 Da. Never, Sir, suice the evening after you went 
 away. 
 
 Fa. Why, she has not served me so, has she? 
 
 Da. Served you, Sir! nay it Ls li^e has served you 
 so, for lie said, the last time he was here, he would 
 wait on her again ; but he has never been here since. 
 
 Fa. Then she must have used him very ill, I am 
 sure, he had never done so else ; where is she? Call 
 her down. 
 
 Da. Sir, my sister is gone to my aunt 's, at 
 
 Hampstead. 
 
 Fa. Very well ; finely managed I assure you ! well, 
 I'll manage her, and all of you, if this be the way I 
 am to be used. 
 
 (He is in a great passion. 
 
 Da. I believe there is nothing done to use you ill, 
 Sir, or to provoke you in the least. 
 
 Fa. What is she gone out of the house for ? 
 
 Da. Sir, you are so angry with her, when you talk 
 with her, that you frigiit her; I was afraid, last time 
 you tulkt'd to her you would have thrown her into 
 fits ; and so we really all advised her to go home 
 with my aunt last week, when she was in town, and 
 stay there till we could see what you will please to 
 have her do. 
 
 Fa. Do ! she knows what I expected she should do. 
 
 Da. As to marry Mr. , Sir, that she can never 
 
 do ; and she has talked it to liim so handsomely, that, 
 Sir, I assure you, he said himself he could not an- 
 Bwt-r her objections ; that she had reason for what 
 she did, and he could not urge her any farther. 
 
 Fa. Why, did not you say he promised to come 
 again ? 
 
 Da. Yes, he did say he would wait on her again ; 
 but he is gone into the country, I hear. 
 
 Fa. Well, I'll say no more, till he comes again, 
 then. 
 
I 
 
 », [PAHT I, 
 
 lOt. 
 
 v&a he here 7 
 tter you went 
 
 has she ? 
 as served you 
 ere, he would 
 !en here Hiiice. 
 very ill, I am 
 3 is she? Call 
 
 unt 
 
 -'8, at 
 
 ure you ! well, 
 I be the way I 
 
 great passion. 
 Lo use you ill, 
 
 se for ? 
 
 when you talk 
 raid, last time 
 rown her into 
 I* to go home 
 I in town, and 
 will please to 
 
 she should do. 
 she can never 
 dsomely,that, 
 could not an- 
 ason for what 
 farther, 
 inised to come 
 
 on her again ; 
 
 comes again. 
 
 DIAL. III.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 87 
 
 shf,;ouK.t'havVs:lS '''''' '''' ^^^ --^-^ 
 
 ^^msJ^^^Z more^'sheZlHt^'^^ ^^ ^'-' '^ «»>« 
 iet her know so much '"' "' "'^ °*°''«i ^'^ 
 
 %i ril trv h^.V IN "^'^'' "^^^^^ '"^™e more. 
 
 As the younj,' lady had acquainted her aimf w,>h 
 
 camp if i5"'"""^"° {^^ ^'« ^''^"1 he would) her father 
 Ws, but desired him to sit down. "^'-'^ " '^'-^"^ of 
 
88 
 
 HBLIOIOUS C(3UKT3HIP. [part 1. 
 
 [She saw lie was disturbed and uneasy: come 
 brotlier, says slip, be f;;lin and moderate, and do not 
 treat your child with ao much warmth j let you and 
 me tiilk o( this niitter; uiv niece has given me a full 
 account of the whole story.] 
 
 hro. Has she so ? but she shall give me another 
 account of it, before she and I have done yet. 
 
 Si.st. I find, brother, you consult your passions 
 only m all this matter, and I must tell you, thev are 
 base counsellors ; I wish you would act in cool blood, 
 and consult your reason a little too. 
 
 hro. So I think I do; and I won't be Instructed bv 
 my children. "' 
 
 Sist. No, no, brother, it is evident you act too vio- 
 lently ; if you consulted your reason, I am sure it 
 would tell you, that you are all wrong- : did ever a 
 father hurry and terrifv his children so with his fury 
 and his passions, tiiat they are afraid to see him and 
 ready to swoon wiien they hear he is coniin^r to them • 
 and then do you consider what a child this is, that 
 you use thus ? ' 
 
 iiro. I use her ! she uses me, I think ! and abuses 
 me too. 
 
 Sist. Be patient, brother, be patient ; passion I 
 tell you is an ill counsellor; consider the circum- 
 stances of your child, and hear what she has to say. 
 
 Bro. What do you mean by hearing ? I thinK she 
 ha'n't heard what I have to say, when she flies thus 
 from place to place, as il she was a thief. 
 
 Sist. That is becanse you do not act like a Chris- 
 tian, brother; you make yourself a terror to your 
 children ; this dares not see you; those at home dare 
 not speak to you ; why, what do you mean, brother? 
 you did not treat them thus, when they were little : 
 do you consider what they are now ? that they are 
 women grown, and ou^ht to be treated as such ? and 
 deserving women too they are, that the world sees : 
 and thus expose yourself most wretchedly to treat 
 them thus : I urn very free with you. 
 
neasy : come, 
 te, and do not 
 
 tliis is, that 
 
 WAI" III.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 89 
 
 liro. How do I treat them » Whuf ♦« »..«», :a 
 Kenthmun of £2 0(K) a-vp r Iv!r'»i *** Provide a 
 
 »on,o c.,mpletrySA;ntle na, 17''""^''''' * '^""d" 
 proiluce, and eJ^erv wfv , n " !■ ""^u!^® ^O'^" can 
 
 or staying t.Il I c«r rtow / 'Zd 2"^!^ ?"' 
 weeks keeping him company, and Xn he k«!w^;* 
 w rjtingd were drawiiiff inr 1.1,. • "® ""*^'' ^^e 
 is this?, decent wa7oft eat Lg HaS'TJr^r"' ' 
 
 > of reiat^f 'vet' f th' '''^^''' «" thi/td be ju;t as 
 
 anouL ft our cJ lldT ?nraU ^''T^^'* «"« »» 
 
 tJie young people ca„ a 'e^ and H. "^^'^'^^^^^ »«>. if 
 together to talk w jf'^ .. ^° ^^ "^^ P"' them 
 
 like one another, or no' wUether they can 
 
 treated hi rt!? o^Me teSr,!":! ,t' ''."^J"'" 
 
 J, 
 
mBSBS 
 
 00 
 
 RRLIOIOUS COUUTSHIP. [PART I. 
 
 Sist. Tliat's all answend by what I said before 
 that she told you positively, before you went out of 
 town, Hhe would nev«'r liavo him, and indeed had 
 resolved then to see him no more ; for what should 
 a young woman keep a man company for, when she 
 resolves not to have him ? whatever vou may think 
 brother, it would not have been very handsome on 
 her side ; besides, I can a.ssure you, your daughters 
 are none of those women, that do aiiy thing unbe- 
 coming. 
 
 Bro. Why, she did keep him company after it, for 
 all that. 
 
 Sut. Never but once, that she might dismiss him 
 civilly, and that was merely a force of your own upon 
 her, because your passion with her obliged her to do 
 that work herself which you ought to have done for 
 her. 
 
 Bro. Well, she is an undutiful, disrespectful crea- 
 ture to me ; I ha'n't been an unkind father to her* 
 bur, I'll let her know herself my own way. * 
 
 Silt. You'll consider of that, brother, when your 
 passion is over. 
 
 liro. Not I ; I am no more in a passion now, than 
 I Was before. 
 
 Sist. That may well be indeed ; because vou were 
 then in such a passion, it seems, as disordered all 
 your family. Is passion a proper weapon to manaee 
 children with, brother? 
 
 Bro. It is impossible for any man to be thus treated 
 by his children, and not be in a passion ; ingratitude 
 is a, thing no man can bear with patience. 
 
 Sist. But who shall be judge between you, brother ? 
 for it is possible you may be in the wrong as well 
 as your children j and take this with you as a rule in 
 all such branches, that generally those that are in the 
 greatest passion, are most in the wrong. 
 
 hro. No, no, I am sure I am not in the wrong. 
 
 bist. That's making yourself judge, brother; I 
 think you should kt some judicious, sober, impartial 
 
[part I. 
 
 said before, 
 
 went out of 
 
 indeed had 
 
 what should 
 
 or, when she 
 
 may think, 
 
 liundaoine on 
 
 ur daughters 
 
 thing unbe- 
 
 J after it, for 
 
 dismiss him 
 ur own upon 
 ed her to do 
 lave done for 
 
 )ectful crea- 
 ther to her; 
 
 , when your 
 
 >n now, than 
 
 3e you were 
 sordered all 
 1 to manage 
 
 thus treated 
 ingratitude 
 
 Du, brother ? 
 
 'oiig as well 
 
 as a rule in 
 
 at are in the 
 
 i wrong, 
 brotiier; I 
 r, impartial 
 
 DIAX.. III.] REUQIOriS COURTSHIP. QI 
 
 JouTself '" ^°" "'■"''' ''"'« y^"^ ^«"'' ''ear her 
 
 be^n^ll':!nd1;^;i,^!^:;'5 ^'^' ^- -^'itrators 
 iiist. I liope you will act the father with thpm 
 
 Hist. It God should act so with us nil wi.u* «!, 1 1 
 become of us ' Think nf timt h ♦■ ' . ^^^^'^ 
 
 o<Af. iiuiy brother, I do not see anv caimp vn, 
 have to be offended 'with your child :L^?ue IZ 
 an7f k " '""'^ ""''* young gentlema^to court ,er 
 sml p^T '^■*'" ^^""^ J^^''^**''^ ^^"'' the thou""its of 
 
 son hU i;/'"""! "* y"""* ♦■'^"'ily ; his estate, iTispe?- 
 son, his charac er, were all pleasing : but here's the 
 
 huvrpu^IuS fo^^ "'^' ' ^"PP-^> y^^ "'ght 
 
 Pri!f''^' 7l" •^'' brother, I do not charge you with the 
 Sun nf"" h^'"'^/"'y. ^"y ^^^^•^''•"ed in the relMouS 
 pun of their education. 'curious 
 
 Bro. Did I obstruct it or blame her for if ? t u^ 
 them to her ; it was none of my^Lrness ' ^ '''* 
 
 om. llut IS a sad way of dischartfino- vour dntv 
 to your children, brother, in their educanon h.^ 
 that's none of my busi.ie«s'; we'wTl leave I at now 
 
 Bro But none to me, I confess that. 
 
 h^^:' . y ^'" ^^ ^*> to you in the end, if vou know 
 how to make yourself an honour to them. / 
 

 fl t 
 
 02 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PART 1. 
 
 Bro. Well, I'll make them fear me, if they won't 
 honour me. 
 
 Sist. You are hardly in temper enough to talk to : 
 however, let me fio on ; I tell you they have been so 
 bred, and they so well answer their education, that 
 they are an honour to your family ; their mother in- 
 stilled principles of virtue, piety, and modesty in their 
 minds, while they were very young. 
 
 Bro. Well, 1 know all this. 
 
 Hist. Pray be patient; among the rest, this waa 
 one. That a religious life was the only heaven upon 
 earth : these were her very words ; that honour, es- 
 tate, relation, and all human pleasures, had no relish 
 without it, and neither pointed to a future felicity, or 
 gave any present, at least that was solid and valuable ; 
 and, on her death-bed, she cautioned them never to 
 marry any man tliat did not at least proless to own 
 religion, and acknowledge the God that made him, 
 whatever fortunes or advantages might offer, as to 
 this world. 
 
 Bro. She might have found something else to do, 
 when she was just at her end, I think. 
 
 Sue. Brother, let me be free with you ; she had 
 two bad examples to set before them, where a want 
 of a religious husband had made two i'amilies very 
 miserable, tiiough they had every thing else that the 
 world could give ; and one was your own sister. 
 
 Bro. And the otiier herself: I understand you, 
 
 oiotpt* 
 
 Sist. Be that, as the sense of your own conduct di- 
 rects you to thhik, brother, that's none of my busi- 
 ness : she wiis my sister, and therefore, I say no more 
 of tliat.— But tliese are all digressions; the young 
 women, your daughters, thus instructed and thus re- 
 ligiously inclined, are grown up ; you bring a gentle- 
 man to court one of them, wlio, with all the advan- 
 tages his person and circumstances present, yet wants 
 the main thing which she looks for in a his^band, arid 
 without which she declares bhe will not many, no, 
 
[PART I. 
 
 f they won't 
 
 li to talk to : 
 have been so 
 ucation, that 
 ir mother in- 
 xlesty in their 
 
 est, this waa 
 heaven upon 
 t honour, es- 
 had no relish 
 ;re felicity, or 
 tnd valuable ; 
 hem never to 
 roi'ess to own 
 it made him, 
 It offer, as to 
 
 Qg else to do, 
 
 ou; she had 
 vlifcre a wajit 
 families very 
 ' else that the 
 m sister, 
 ierstand you, 
 
 rn conduct di« 
 e of my busi- 
 I say no more 
 i; the young 
 i and thus re- 
 rina a gentle^ 
 ,11 the advan- 
 jnt, yet wants 
 hii?biinfi, ajid 
 }t many, no, 
 
 DIAt. in.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 93 
 
 not If a peer of the realm courted her : pray what 
 have you to say to such a resolution, that you shall 
 oppose it ? 
 
 li/o. How does she know who is religious, and 
 who not ? She may be cheated soonest, where she ex- 
 pects it most. 
 
 Sist. That's true ; and she has the more need to 
 have her father's assistance to judge with, and assist 
 her in her choice. 
 Bro. I don't inquire into that part, not 1. 
 Sist. No, I perceive you don't ; siie has refore 
 the more reason to look to herself. 
 
 Bro. This gentleman may be as religious as any 
 body for augiit she knows ; how can siie pretend to 
 know, I say, who is religious ? 
 
 Sist. It is easier to know who is not reh^ious, than 
 who is: but this gentleman has been so kind to her 
 and so honest, as to put it out of all doubt, it seems- 
 for he has franklv owned to her, that, as to relijfion' 
 he never troubled his head about it ; that is a road 
 he never travelled , he makes a jest of it all, as most 
 voung gentlemen now-a-days do ; tells her, that his 
 business is to chuse a wife first, and then, perhaps, 
 he may chuse his religion, and the like : is this the 
 gentleman you would have your daughter nmrry? 
 brother ! is this your care for your child ! is it for re- 
 fusing such a man as this that you are in a passion 
 with your child! I blush for you, brother! I entreat 
 you, consider what you are doing. 
 
 Bro. I will never believe one word of all this, I am 
 sure it can't be true. 
 
 Sist. I am satisfied every word of it is true, and 
 you may inform yourself from your other cliildrcn if 
 you think it worth your while. 
 B' 0. I'll believe none of them. 
 Sist. Not while you are in this rage, I believe vou 
 will not : for passion is as deep as it is blind ; biit if 
 you Will cool your warmth, and k't your reason return 
 to its exercise, and to its just dominion in your soul, 
 
94 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PART fc 
 
 r 
 
 ■\ 
 
 then you will hear, and believe too ; for, when we are 
 calm, and our pa**i»ions laid, it is easy to judge by tiie 
 very tellitisf of a story, whether it he true or no ; but 
 it is not my artrument whether it be true or not. 
 
 Bro. No ! pray wliat is your argument then ? 
 
 Sist. Why this', whether you are not in the wrong, 
 if it is true. 
 
 Bro. In the wrong! in what pray? 
 
 Sist. VVliy to treat your child with such fury and 
 ungoverned passion as you do. 
 
 Bro. Why, how must children be treated when 
 thev are insolent and disobedient! 
 
 jassion and heat, brother : 
 
 that can possibly happen 
 
 ler act in a passion with 
 
 Sist. Even then not with 
 there is no case in the worh 
 which ought to make a fat 
 his own children. 
 
 Bro. No ! how must he correct them then, when 
 thty do evil things? 
 
 Sist. All with calmness and affection, brother; 
 not with rage and fury ; that is not correcting them, 
 that is lighting with them;, he must pity when he 
 punislios, exhort when he corrects ; he should have 
 the rod in his hand, and tears in his eyes ; he is to be 
 angry at tlieir offences, but not with their persons ; 
 the nature of correction implies all this; it is for a 
 child's good that a parent corrects, not for his own 
 pleasure : he must be a brute that can take pleasure 
 in whipping a child. 
 
 [He sat silent here a good while, and said not a 
 word, his conscience convincing him that she was in 
 the right; at length he puts it off thus :] 
 
 Bro. Well, I am not correcting my children now, 
 they are past that. 
 
 Sist. Yes, yes, brother, you are correctinir now too ; 
 there are more ways of corr ;ction tiian the rod and 
 the cane ; wlien children are grown up, the father's 
 frowns are a part of correction, liis just reproaches 
 are worse than blows ; and passion siiould he mors 
 concerned in that part, than ni the other. 
 
 t i 
 
[PART 1^ 
 
 , when we are 
 > judge by the 
 le or no ; but 
 16 or not. 
 ■nt then ? 
 in the wrong, 
 
 uch fury and 
 
 treated when 
 
 heat, brother : 
 
 (ssibly happen 
 
 passion with 
 
 ra then, when 
 
 ion, brother; 
 •recting them, 
 pity when he 
 ; sliould have 
 !8 ; he is to be 
 rheir persons ; 
 is ; it is for a 
 )t for his own 
 take pleasure 
 
 nd said not a 
 lat she was in 
 
 children now, 
 
 ctinir now too ; 
 n the rod and 
 p, the father's 
 ist reproaches 
 muhi be inore 
 er. 
 
 DIAL. III.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 05 
 
 Bro. Those are fine-spun notions; but what is all 
 this to the case in iiand ? 
 
 ^ist. Why, yes, it is ail to tJje case in hand. I am 
 Borry there is so close an application to be made of it • 
 lor, If wi, are not to be in a passion with our children' 
 even when we have Just reason to correct then, and 
 see cause to be displeased with them, sure we must 
 not be in a passion with them, when there is no cause 
 tor displeasure ; I say displeasure, for cause of passion 
 with our children tliere can never be. All passion is 
 a sin, and to sui, because our children sin, can never 
 06 our duty, nor any means to show them theirs 
 sin imt ??"^' """^ *^'^ scripture say, " Be angry,' and 
 Sist. If you could read that scripture accordino- to 
 inn^nrr/i i»^«''P''«^^ti'^"» it would help to couvhice 
 
 IZ * J ^''^""^ ^''^ '• ^"^ ^"'""y' "^"^ I'e "ot in a pas- 
 won; to be angry may be just, as the occasion for it 
 may make it necessary ; but be not immoderately 
 angry, tor that is to sin, and no cause of anger cau 
 make that necessary; and, therefore, anotifer text 
 Sdys, Let all bitterness and wrath be put awav from 
 among you," Eph. iv. 13. These are scriptures, bri- 
 ttier, tor our conduct even with strangers ; but when 
 we come to talk of children, is it nSt ten thousaud 
 times more binding ? we cannot be in a passion at any 
 body without sin ; but, to be in a passion at our chil- 
 dren, that IS all distraction, and an abomination, that 
 tends to nothing but misciiief. 
 
 Bro. You are a healing preacher, sister; I confess 
 there is some weight in what you say ; but what can 
 1 00, when cluldren are thus prevoking? 
 
 Sist. Do ! no home and consider the case maturely 
 and pray to God to direct you to your duty : if you 
 aid that seriously, you would soon see, that your child 
 IS not to blame, and that you are very much in the 
 ^ruiig to press her in a thing of this nature. 
 
 I \I^' ^'^^'' "''^' ^""**' ^^•^' ^" neitiier; you may say 
 wrong in behig aiit;ry, but you cannot 
 
 not very ill used: that I am positive in. 
 
 say I am 
 
96 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PART i. 
 
 Sist. Let roe hear you sav so, when with temper 
 and calmness vou have heHrcI the whole case. If you 
 will not bear to hear it from your daughter herself, 
 hear it from her sister ; and be composed and impar- 
 tial, and then I shall see you will be ot another mmd. 
 
 Bro I can't promise you I can have so much pa- 
 
 ^'SirWelttiil you can, you can't say you are 
 doin<' the duty of a lather. 
 
 fHere the discourse ended, and he goes home agam ; 
 the young lady, thinking sbe had «""« encourage- 
 ment from this discourse to hope that he would be 
 calmer with her, went home too m the afternoon, 
 and took care to let her father know it, and see her 
 ?n the house ; however, he took little notice ot it for 
 
 *°The'n"xt morning he called his eldest daughter to 
 him, and began another discourse with her upon the 
 
 *^clm!e,"child, says the father, now passion is a little 
 over, and I arn disposed, however ill I am used, to 
 bear it as well as I can ; pray give me a true account 
 of this foolish girl, your sister, and how she has ma- 
 na^ed herself since 1 have been gone. 
 
 J)a. What, about Mr. , Sir? 
 
 Fa Av, ay ; was ever any wench so maa> to at- 
 frontsuch a gentleman as he was? I wish he had 
 
 ^""t^'Zir^erclt^: he did not ; and I desire 
 to be thankful for it as long as I hve. 
 
 Fa What do you mean by that, cliiia . 
 
 Da. Because I have not been forced to disoblige 
 my father, or to marry against my mmd as my sis- 
 te? has been ; two things I know not which is most 
 terrible to me so much as to think ot. , , , »„ 
 
 Fa Why, you would not have hef-n such a fool to 
 have run into these scruples too, would you? I have 
 a Kptt'^r opinion of vour sense. , _ 
 
 i)a7 1 desire your good opinion of me mny always 
 
 
[part X. 
 
 nth temper 
 ise. If you 
 iter herself, 
 and impar- 
 lotheriuind. 
 9 much pu- 
 
 ay you are 
 
 lome again ; 
 
 encourage- 
 lie would be 
 B afternoon, 
 
 and see her 
 tice of it for 
 
 daughter to 
 ler upon the 
 
 ion is a little 
 am used, to 
 true account 
 she has ina- 
 
 mad, to af- 
 wish he had 
 
 and I desire 
 
 to disoblige 
 d, as my sis- 
 vhich is most 
 
 luch a fool to 
 you ? 1 have 
 
 i mny always 
 
 »( 
 
 DIAL. lu.j IlELiaioUS COURTSHIP. 97 
 
 continue : and therefore, Sir, as I am not tri,.,l J 
 
 no need o such foofish breaches on youraccount 
 
 Fa- W^l \'r """"J^''' ^''-'.^^ '^^^ of that "'• 
 T wv'i r *, "' ^^ *° y*^""" S'^ter : you know when 
 I left Jier I ciiarged lier to eutcTtain him till invr! 
 
 Ua. D.ar father, you went away in a uas^ion • 
 she had dee ared positively she would not have 1 hn' 
 ad ,he cou d not thinlc of entertaining a gentleman' 
 atrer she had resolved not to have hira°: it wSl not' 
 have been handsome. However, I did over persuade 
 tZl'' Tul'7 ^^'^Sn'g^t you went away' Kopes 
 truly that she miglit have had some optortun kv?J 
 be be ter satisfied in her main scruple about reSn 
 and thot she might have got it over -hut on th^ 
 contrary, he made such ai^pen declaratL of fi^ 
 contempt of all religion, and his peSt Sran^ 
 uny thmg about it that I could not but"wonder a 
 It; sure he must think we were a family of \thektt 
 or else he did it to affront her : 10^ ! cLldZ':- 
 think it could be agreeable to any of L and nnnn 
 us she made the sin.e open declaLt 0" to hm Tat 
 she could never think of joining herself to « n'.n 
 perfectly void of principles : aKo they parted '^ 
 It were, by agreement. ^ parteu, as 
 
 Fa. Was it so short between them, then? 
 
 tee sKr-' ' ^"^ «"^ «'^^ ^'-^-- 
 
 thu^hMHl"*! '' f'^ "°' "" l""'^'^ f"o^ "»en, to thwart 
 ['. ol " A'r ^''".-' '^"^ ^''' ^■^"'^y' ^"d all for she 
 "f^vvo uui what? iiuu he been a fawning hypocrite! 
 
BOf 
 
 li 
 
 98 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part i. 
 
 that could have talked of relitjion, whether he had 
 any or no, she would have taken him. 
 
 Da. She would not have been easily deceived, Sir, 
 for she lays the whole stress of her life's welfare upon 
 it ; it is a solid principle with her, which she cannot 
 go from, and which she thinks her fancy and fortune, 
 and all things in this world, ought to submit to. 
 
 Fa. Well, but you say it was a long discourse j I 
 don't doubt but you have heard it, over and over. 
 Pray give me as full an account of it, child, as vou can. 
 
 Da. Yes, Sir. 
 
 [Here she relates the whole night's discourse be- 
 tween the gentleman and her sister, as it is in the 
 foregoing dialogue, except only that about staying 
 for him till he was grown religious.] 
 
 Fa. Well, I think they are both fools; he for being 
 80 open, and she for being so nice ; it will be long 
 enough before she has such another offer, I dare say. 
 
 Da. I believe that is none of her affliction. Sir ; 
 she is only troubled at disobliging you, which she 
 had no possibility to avoid, without oppressing her 
 conscience, and making herself miserable. 
 
 Fa. I do liot see that is any of her concern. 
 
 Da. Yes, indeed. Sir, it is: and lam afraid she 
 will grieve herself to death about it. 
 
 Fa. If that had been any grief to her, she would 
 not have acted as she has done. 
 
 Da. It is a terrible case. Sir, to have so many pow- 
 er lul arguments press against conscience ; I wonder 
 she has been able to stand her ground against them, 
 and I am sure it lies very heavy upon lier mind. 
 
 Fa. What do you mean by arguments pressing upon 
 her conscience ? 
 
 Da. Why, Sir, to name no more, here is a gentle- 
 man, who, by his professed choice of her, and extra- 
 ordinary proposals to her, has given undoubted testi- 
 mony of liis loving her very sincerely. In the next 
 place, a splendid fortune, giving her "a prospect of en- 
 joying all that this world can otfer. Thirdly, A very 
 
 I 
 
 he 
 
[PAKT I. 
 
 Jther he had 
 
 eceived, Sir, 
 welfare upon 
 h she cannot 
 and fortune, 
 bmit to. 
 Jiscourse ; I 
 iT and over. 
 I,a3 voucan. 
 
 iscourse be- 
 I it is in the 
 lout staying 
 
 he for being 
 ivill be long 
 , I dare say. 
 liction, Sir; 
 , which she 
 pressing her 
 
 icern. 
 
 a afraid slie 
 
 , she would 
 
 > many pow- 
 ! ; I wonder 
 gainst them, 
 •r mind. 
 ressing upon 
 
 is a gentle- 
 ', and extra- 
 )ubted testi- 
 In the next 
 jspect of eu- 
 "alt/f A very 
 
 "lAU HI.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. gg 
 
 t is easy to see, she nur^ "ly £ -i^^sSt' \- "\"^' 
 but really loves him. And /« /,, tKt« i "'' ''"''» 
 her father, who she never S^vPhP'"'''"'/ "^ 
 disoblige ;hom, is effectu;llyT^ri n hersdf'fnr" 1,*-'' 
 
 J^h^'l^^lllltllfe "^' P-'" -^^^ ^- then. 
 
 dufy^ted^er^^^nT^in^^^^^ 
 
 her resohuioL He hasrofessed h^« '^ ♦ *^ "^ *^ 
 
 I' a. I understand nothing of it nor rlrti « ^' 
 J a. What need 8he trouble herself about his reli- 
 
 imfe^noThi Vto y rhi'TdoTo't ?"T ''''•' ■■ I 
 
 asanyrelat&nofmine ' °' '""'' "f"" '"'■■ 
 
 yo;^":ifaa''Sr1f trT'h'^'""' *'' «"" 'how 
 Iiave but trdaughter" ti^D'rov^d^lr- y""""' »"<>» 
 Jbat, for I thiuk ft S te'^^t^hfart?^ ^ 
 
 ei.5.f ofht Se^^ffthtofn'^'h"^*.:!^- h-aV'J 
 

 u 
 
 N 
 
 100 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part i. 
 
 inclined to a consumption ; and being very ill one day, 
 her sister, wiio was her fast friond and only com- 
 forter, desired she would go out a little and take the 
 air : so they resolved to go to their aunt's at Hainp- 
 stead; the sister's design being to persuade her to 
 stay two or three days with her aunt : in which short 
 journey several strange adventures befell them, which 
 will gradually introduce themselves in the following 
 discourse, which began between them as they were in 
 the coach going to Hampstead. 
 I Dear sister, says the eldest sister, what will become 
 of you ? will you give way to this grief so much as to 
 let it destroy you ? 
 
 Yo. sist. What can I do, sister, I support it as well 
 as I can, but it sinks my spirits ; it is too heavy for 
 me : I believe it will destroy me, as you say. 
 
 Eld. Shake it off then, sister. 
 
 Yo. Shake it oft'! you talk of it as a thing in my 
 power : no, no, sister, effects rarely cease till their 
 causes are removed. 
 
 Eld. Nay, if you would talk philosophy, I am sure 
 philosophy would cure you. 
 
 Yo. Ay, but I am no philosopher, I hope : prav how 
 would that cure me? r , t- j 
 
 Eld. How ! what I mean by philosophy, is reason : 
 though women are not philosophers, they are rational 
 creatures: I tliinkyou might reason yourselfoutof it. 
 
 Yo. I do talk reason, when I say grief having 
 seized upon my spirits, and the cause being unmove- 
 able, while that remains so, the effect will be so too. 
 
 Eld. It is not in my power to remove the cause : 
 but yet, I think, if you would hear reason, you might 
 remove the grief which has the effect. 
 
 Yo. And you think reasoning would do it; pray 
 what kind of reasoning is that ? 
 
 Eld. Why, to reason but upon the folly, the mad- 
 ness, the injustice, nay, the sin of immoderate grief. 
 
 Yo. You begin warmly ; pray let's hear the folly 
 of it. 
 
 I 
 
I 
 
 t [part I. 
 
 ry ill one day, 
 id only coin- 
 ! and take the 
 t's at Ilainp- 
 suade her to 
 Q which short 
 them, which 
 the following 
 I they were in 
 
 twill become 
 30 much as to 
 
 >ort it as well 
 00 heavy for 
 say. 
 
 thing in my 
 ise till their 
 
 ly, I am sure 
 
 )e; pray how 
 
 y, is reason: 
 r are rational 
 'self out of it. 
 grief having 
 ing unraove- 
 ill be so too. 
 c the cause : 
 n, you might 
 
 do it ; pray 
 
 y, the niad- 
 ierate grief, 
 ar the folly 
 
 DIAL, iji.] UKLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. JQI 
 
 mi.miy several things will convince von nf u. 
 
 13 a senseless thing : for it is a rnH-,n« 5^ .?-! i ' "^ 
 aims at nothing, steks'nothlng' SvourVo^thini' 
 onlv corrodes the spirits, stagrmtes the ""y ^e^^^^^^^^^^ 
 and stupifies the soul; and thprpfor<. 3 / ' 
 anciently represented a's a vip' r? gre;at^T „ T 
 
 gSnS^sfSi^ris-^ 
 
 ended m madness : if it descended, it possessed thp 
 blood, and ended in death. possessea the 
 
 Fo. Pray end your reasoning ; for I do not imrlpr 
 stand It : go back to the point proposed wharmus; 
 
 S:# ^J?" surprise me, sister. 
 
 ^/rf. Surprise you, child ! in what ' 
 oK I J T ^"^ °"'^ grieved and astonished that vn.. 
 should have such mean thoughts of mfas to thS 
 rny griet is founded upon the Jarting of Mr 
 
 twi of k\ iri'^ ^''r'' «i™y «0"l/as ofcenis I 
 iv.ixl V ^ ^^ dehvered from him. 
 
 it 1? but itn? ^?" ^'^ ''"'^^^^' t^^t it is better as 
 
 It l» , out 1 know it !S a "ToiJi- "trji -A 1 ^ 
 
 cipie and atfection; " " ^^^^'^ ^^^''*^*^^' i^""" 
 
f 
 
 102 
 
 RKLIOIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 [part !• 
 
 Yo. Not at all, sister, I am over all that; it Hit! 
 not nold me half an iiour ; when my conscience dic- 
 tated to me my real danf^er, tlie future feli(!ity of my 
 life, the commands of God, and the dyinj^ instructions 
 of my dear mother : do you think the little stirrings 
 of an infant afi'ection to the man, was able to struggle 
 with such an army of convictions? God forbid ! no, no ; 
 he is to me as the most contemptible fellow on earth. 
 
 Eld. ^o, no, sister, you never thought him a con- 
 temptible fellow, I am sure ; nor is he so in himself. 
 
 Yo. No, as a gentleman he is not so ; he is a lovely 
 creature, and the only man in the world I could ever 
 say I had any affection for. 
 
 Eld. I know you loved him ; nay, and do love him 
 still ; your face betrays you, sister ; while your tongue 
 named him, your heart fluttered, and your colour 
 changed ; I could sec it plain enough. 
 
 Yo. How cruel is that now, sister ! you prompt the 
 affection to revive, you would recall the temptation, 
 and assist it in a new attack upon me : I allow, I 
 loved him, and as a gentleman so every way agree- 
 able, I do so still ; but, shall I yoke myself with one 
 of God's enemies ! embrace one that God abhors ! 
 speak no more of it, I entreat you. 
 
 Eld. That's carrying it too far; you cannot say 
 who God abhors. 
 
 Yo. I'll put it the other way then, to stop your 
 mouth : Shall I yoke myself with a practical Atheist? 
 embrace one that rejects God, love him that hates my 
 Saviour ? 
 
 Eld. '!isi;fi that's too far too ; he told vou he did 
 not hate religion. 
 
 Yo. You cavil, sister, you don't argue ; I'll give it 
 you in scripture words ; is he not one of those who 
 say to the Almighty, " Depart from us, we desire not 
 the knowledge of thy ways ?" did he not openly suy 
 the same thing? is not he not only void of the know- 
 ledge of religion, but of any desire to have any know- 
 ledge of it ? 
 
[PAIIT I. 
 
 that; it dill 
 iiscience dic- 
 elicity of my 
 ? instructions 
 ittle 9tirrinp;9 
 le to struggle 
 )rbid ! no, no ; 
 low on earth, 
 lit him a con- 
 
 in himself, 
 he is a lovely 
 
 I could ever 
 
 1 do love him 
 8 your tongue 
 
 your colour 
 
 u prompt the 
 i temptation, 
 : I allow, I 
 y way agree- 
 )elf with one 
 God abhors ! 
 
 cannot say 
 
 to stop your 
 ical Atheist? 
 hat hates my 
 
 i vott he did 
 
 ! ; I'll give it 
 )f those who 
 Bve desire not 
 >t openly suy 
 of the know- 
 'e any know- 
 
 DIAL. III.] RELIGIOUS COUHTSHIP. 
 
 103 
 
 Jjfd Do not take what I said ill, sister, I acknow- 
 
 sister. " " * °"^' ''"' y°" '^'" ^"^^ ''•'"« 
 
 Yo. No, sister, as sui-h I abhor him : the thoughts 
 
 of having b.en but in danger of him, makes my blo^«i 
 
 run chill in my veins; shall I marr; a proflig^iteT a 
 
 oZi'tVil'o'^i'P'V ""^''''f' KasLirnpudWceto 
 own It ! no sister, I rejoice that I am delivered from 
 him, and 1 never desire to see him more as long us I 
 
 Md. And have you really got so far above it as 
 you say you are ? 
 
 t]jL?^?i '"r' •' ''^!-^ "?f y°'* «"'^ I o'te" lamented 
 t e lossot a religious family, even in our own father? 
 tiie want ot religious conversation, the want of a 
 lather to teach, instruct, inform, and explain reli- 
 gious things to us ? Have we not seen thS dreadfil 
 nte pur aunt, my father's sister, lived for want of 
 a religious husband, and the heavenlv life mv aunt 
 here, our motlier's sister lives, that has a pious*, sober, 
 religious husband and family? And can t-ou think 1 
 ever would be a wile to such another as Sir James ' 
 besides, could I bear to be tied to a man that could 
 not pray to God for me, and would not pray to God 
 with me! God forbid ! the greatest estile%nd the 
 
 Jll'.'h'-T" V^^ world, should never incline me to 
 such a thought ! I thank God, my soul abhors it ; and 
 
 %}f\?l ""^ ™,y ^«^^^ ^^'^t '*>e snare is broken. 
 
 mifdlhuT?^' " '' *^'" '^"^ oppresses your 
 
 r^ui.y ^'^u^ • ^T ?*""°' ^^^ "»e such a question. 
 
 Uust as she said those words, came a eentleman 
 
 on horseback and gallopped by' the coachSe, and 
 
 ooking into the coach, pulled off his hat to her and 
 
 having paid his compliments, he rode on. The verv 
 
 W Tn' -'^ ir^'i ^'?' ^^^ ^^^'' ^"t^'- I'ad droppea 
 rpLi, !? '" i^ chariot, and was stooping down to 
 reach it, and so she did not see him ; but? when she 
 got^up, looking at her sister, she found her look very 
 
v 
 
 101 RKLIOIoas COUHT3HIP. [VAUT t. 
 
 ■EhL What's the matter, sister Csavs «iu. k • 
 mud, frioht.ned) a'nt you well ? ^^ '^''' ^'''"''' 
 
 IjA No, says slie, h'nd lue vour bottle. 
 
 Lfel'« gives her a little bottle to smell to ami «i.„ 
 be-raii to come to herself J ' ^"" ^"^ 
 
 en.S^f ^^^""^ ''"' '^^ "'^"^'' «"ter, was you fri^^ht- 
 
 Xi>- I jya9 H little disordered. 
 
 «..f lt,iri'f„K,l',! « '"- ">™ .hat rode by sav 
 
 treat'yo^u'; '^s^^^k ''' " ^° '^^^' «'^*-' ^ - 
 
 are^ifmorSCZ:^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 %r^^i,T^^''*V'^ there {.r^seX '" '' 
 
 Ko Well, et us then, bid him drive apace. 
 ma Alas ! there he is a little before Z 
 [She calls to the coachman to drive anace «nd 
 ookm^ out o the coach, she saw the gentleman rid 
 
 Sr/f ""^ ^"^y ^""^ «--»'«' - liS: wTy'oVtt 
 
 to fn^i^ Vh"™^'/^^'" *° the coach-side, and offers 
 IvT^A ^ ^^ " y°"' '^«^«'-' *io y^^u answer Wm 
 
 /.J; ^'i"""^ ^P*''^'' *^"« word to him. "' 
 
 -^^rf. He IS gone now a great way off. 
 
 [She looks out of the coach af^ain.l 
 
 ihey soon came to their iiunt's house, and w^rt in 
 the coach standing at the door. After they h,' ■ " 
 there about a quarter of an hour, the gentleman wl o 
 knew wel enough where they were, eSto^hp 
 iiouse and sent in their footman to telUhe eldl f 
 sister he was there, and desired the favour to SDeak 
 two or three words with her ^ ^ 
 
 T.be servants led hhn into a parlour, and the young 
 .. . . .me 'lown to hna in a few minutes. He told 
 
 f>UL. Ill 
 
 her, thii 
 
 iiiiist asH 
 
 That I 
 
 ticeiderit; 
 
 eauiiy |»e 
 
 Jm' ■vi- Ji 
 
 dr(;d mil 
 
 weeks at 
 
 si^'n in ct 
 
 conceniii 
 
 three woi 
 
 sister, sa^ 
 
 respect, I 
 
 and, as I 
 
 and did n 
 
 think I si 
 
 ill what s 
 
 I did. SI 
 
 sister had 
 
 ing again. 
 
 the manne 
 
 however, 
 
 thought fi 
 
 little more 
 
 ever her si 
 
 was propo 
 
 No, Mada 
 
 you had oj 
 
 like yourst 
 
 so ill undei 
 
 coir '\Au to 
 
 waj^ of spt 
 
 perfectly s< 
 
 stood my c 
 
 not rightly 
 
 ter could a 
 
 dam, said i 
 
 dation yoiii 
 
 refused an} 
 
Ki/lL. iir.i IlKUOTOTIS COUIlTHiril'. K)-, 
 
 h.-r that before he ontored into any discourse, he 
 liiiist a-.srie hoc ot ♦^v o thing's : First 
 
 That 1 I, overtaking,' theiuYipon the road was nurelv 
 ttcci,lt-ntal,an.J without the least de.i.n,, assheEit 
 ea:uiy he sutisHed by his servants and 'ba-^.'^" %V 
 Y ; ■ just settin- out ..n a journey ()fabo;e an I'lun- 
 diva tn,h.s, and sliould nit return under three 
 weeks at east. And, secondly, That he had no de- 
 siAU m calhn- there, to move any thing to he "sister 
 concernn,g the old aflair, but only to have two or 
 three words with her relating to himself. You krmw 
 sister, says he, for I must still give you that name of 
 respect, upon what terms your sister and I paned • 
 and, as I promised her I would wait on hef affain' 
 TJ't T' ^ V^ ^^^" ^^"-y ""easy lest she S 
 t mk I shewe. her some disrespect, and that I took 
 111 what she said to me ; and tmly'for some time so 
 I did She answered coldly. That she believed he? 
 sister had not at all been di'ssatisfied at his not com- 
 gugam. No madam, says he, I believe that? by 
 the manner ot the dismissal she had given me -but 
 however, I would not be rudo to hert whatever she 
 thought he to say to me. Slie returned, and with a 
 little more concern than before, that she hoped, how- 
 ever her sister had thought fit not to go on with wh^t 
 was proposed, yet that she had not be'en rude to him 
 JNo, Madam, says he, not rude. Sir, savs she a« 
 you had offered nothing to my sister but what was 
 like yourself, very honourable I am sure she does not 
 so iJ: understand herself as to offer any thing unbe- 
 coiM.. to you. He returned, with a very ^blWh'. 
 way of speaking, that her sister understood herself 
 perfectly well ; and I assure you, says he, she under- 
 stood my character better than I did myself I do 
 not rightly take your meaning, Sir, said he my sis^ 
 hL "^^'?''^^ "° objections to your character : Ma- 
 dam, said he, you know very well upon what foun- 
 dation vour Sistpr «ItProfl },'- T»-:--i --.",, 
 „ 1 ]" .'.'"" — »'»^-'' Hr: mi::u, iXUiX aOSOlutelv 
 
 refused any farther treaty with me, viz. That I was 
 
11 
 
 106 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [parti. 
 
 a profane, wicked, irreligious creature : the fact wns 
 true, I owned it to her, that I neither had any know- 
 ledge of religion, or desired any, for which I was a 
 very great brute. 
 ] think you were very sincere, said she. 
 O, Madam, said he, I do not say I was a brute for 
 owning it, but I was a brute for living in that horrid 
 manner, and yet thinking tliat any sober woraau 
 could entertain a thought of having n .. 
 I am very sorry, said the lady, it happened so. 
 I am very glad. Madam, that she treated me so, 
 replied he, and shall love her ten tliousand times bet- 
 ter for it, if that be possible, than ever I did before. 
 
 Says she to him again, Sir, you are pleased to ban- 
 ter a little. 
 
 No, sister, says he, I don't banter : and my stop- 
 ping to speak with you was for tiiis reason : I do not 
 ask to speak with your sister, but I beg you will tell 
 Jier from me very seriously, that she has been a bet- 
 ter mstructor to me than my father or mother, or all 
 the tutors and friends I ever had in my life ; she has> 
 convinced me, that I was a monster, a scandalous 
 fellow, that ought to have been ashamed to pretend 
 to a woman that had the least sense of her education, 
 or of hira that made her : I have reason to give 
 thanks to God every day I live, that ever I saw her 
 face, and that I had that repulse from her. Tell her 
 I recommend it to her, to preserve that noble, hea- 
 venly resolution which, she said, she had taken up, 
 VIZ. never to marry any but a religious man : She is 
 undone it she breaks it ; and though I am never able 
 to deserve her, yet I will always think of her as the 
 mother ot all that is or ever will be good in me, and 
 value the memory of iier accordingly ! He waited no 
 answer, but, with all possible civility, took his leave, 
 and his horse being at the door, took* horse and went 
 away. She waited on him to tlie door, and as he was 
 paying his respects to her, sitting on his horse, he 
 :^id to her, Dear Madam, 1 hope you will give your 
 
 no, 
 
p. [part I. 
 
 ! : the fact was 
 liad any know- 
 vhich I was a 
 
 she. 
 
 ?a8 a brute for 
 in that horrid 
 sober woman 
 
 ppened so. 
 :reated me so, 
 and times bet- 
 I did before, 
 •leased to ban- 
 
 and my stop- 
 ison : I do not 
 g you will tell 
 as been a bet- 
 mother, or all 
 
 life J she has» 
 
 a scandalous 
 ed to pretend 
 ler education, 
 ;ason to give 
 ver I saw her 
 tier. Tell her 
 It noble, hea- 
 lad taken up, 
 
 man : She is 
 Bin never able 
 
 of her as the 
 d in me, and 
 fie waited no 
 ook his leave, 
 rse and went 
 and as he was 
 his horse, he 
 dllgive your 
 
 ^I'^l" ni.l RRLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. IC7 
 
 sistera particular account of what IlmvPfl.,,-^ ♦ 
 
 cried out to her s «S S..' "■■' ''^''joungest siste; 
 
 yof fe "gi'ne.'" *° "^'y- "« <"" "»' desire to «e 
 Yo. Is he gone ? 
 
 you, ,oi.i l^e^^i-j;* tr..^„!^'' «■«•'»" -''" 
 
 ness ? I5 it not enou Ji 0,« r h^"" ""' '"'" """'- 
 self once? ^ " ' *""« cnquered my. 
 
 de^'oartf d'l'r " ' '"'' """ y™ «=' « very pra- 
 
 .voXr''„?\KA.Lt"''.?"'''^ ""^""er you 
 yo W ,0. H„ fl """ge alteration in him. 
 
 £M WW h/ ■" '°'^" ""y "" alteration ? 
 
 n«,'^ta?olK„V°'"'* *" """• '*" "P""""? No, 
 n.o,t nicelyTand was sure ClofT '*'* ''yP'""-"' 
 
!l 
 
 J08 RKLIGIOUS COTJirrSHTP fPARTi. 
 
 3 o. I won't trust hirn. 
 staff on^iSoS^'" "" '^^''^ '» '^" '"' »">•. 
 
 1 sLouia be lar from dscouraging hJr :""bu't t^^i^ri 
 
IP 
 
 frART I. 
 
 e beforf^, he was 
 vliy you should 
 
 so; heacknow- 
 m (iiscretion be- 
 f lie was to be- 
 trary course, 
 ociite now, any 
 
 to tell the sub- 
 
 fi to lay snares 
 ave me deceiv- 
 iire to hear no- 
 te me; would 
 have so much 
 ceived ? 
 tlistanding the 
 ?lse I believe I 
 sense of duty; 
 rsake me now. 
 er to hear any 
 ider fully nice ; 
 ck to acknow- 
 her thoughts 
 all sway upon 
 i" with violent 
 ng of turning 
 ands single in 
 i should assist 
 
 DIAL, iv.j RliLIGlOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 8 not here, I 
 3he has acted 
 young body 
 I've such a re- 
 ind I am sure 
 : but what I 
 
 100 
 
 was going tell her was nothing to discourage her : I 
 wish she would let me tell it you first. 
 
 Yo. With all my heart, tell it my aunt ; I'll with- 
 draw. 
 
 [She goes out of the room, and the eldest sister 
 tells her aunt what the gentleman had said.] 
 
 Aunt. Well, niece, I do think of the two it may be 
 still better not to tell it your sister; let us lay it up 
 in our hearts ; if it be true, and he is a reformed man, 
 w J shall perhaps hear more of him ; if not, to per- 
 KuaUe her he is really changed, is but to make her 
 love him more, without knowing whether he thinks 
 any more of her or no, and that can be of no service 
 to her. 
 
 Mil. I submit, Madam, to your directions, but 
 then I break my promise. 
 
 Aimt. You may find a time for that too. 
 
 [The discourse broke off here, and her aunt, findinf' 
 the young lady very ill and disturbed, desired her sis- 
 ter to leave her there for a few davs, to tell her fa- 
 ther, how ill she was, and that she thought the country 
 might divert her a little ; but that if he desired her to 
 come home, she would return whenever he pleased. 
 Her eldest sister did so ; but all the answer she got 
 was, She might stay there for ever, if she would, he 
 never desired to be troubled with her any more.] 
 
 ^f-^vw^i^v* 
 
 DIALOGUE IV. 
 
 Thk former dialogtie having put an end to the court- 
 ship between the gentlemiin and his mi.stress for the 
 present, and there being some interval of time between 
 those things and the remaining part of the s'orv, that 
 mterval is filled up with another litt!-.: affair 'in the 
 same family, of a still nicer nature than the other, 
 thougii not carried so far. 
 
110 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part I. 
 
 The father had frequently discoursed these thintfs 
 with his eldest daughter, in the case of his sister, as 
 18 to be seen in the last dialogue, and found, by her 
 discourse, that she was pretty much of her sister's 
 mind, in the matter of choosing a husband : but hav- 
 nig a gentleman in his thouglits for her, who had the 
 character of a very sober, religious person, he made 
 no question but he should dispose of this daughter 
 both to her satisfaction and his own. 
 
 It was with a view to this design, that he had iested 
 With her, m one of their last discourses, that he had 
 a religious husband in store for her, and that he hoped 
 he should give her no occasion to play the fool, as 
 her sister had done. ' 
 
 In consequence of this, he took occasion to tell her 
 one evening after supper, that what he had spoken in 
 a way of jest to her, at such a time, was really no iest 
 in his own thoughts ; that he had been spoken to by 
 a certain gentleman, a considerable merchant in the 
 city, whose eldest son had an inclination to pay his 
 respects to her ; and I assure you, my dear, says the 
 tather, he has the characterof a very sober, relitrious 
 gentleman ; and, I am sure, his father and mSther 
 are very good people : indeed the whole family are 
 noted for a religious family, and I know no family in 
 the whole city that have a better character. 
 
 She made him no answer at all, till he began with 
 Jier again, Wliy are you so silent, child, said her fa- 
 ther, have you nothing to say ? Methinks when I look 
 back on the disorder which the obstinacy of your sis- 
 ter has put us all in, I would be glad to have every 
 ditticulty removed beforehand with you, and there- 
 tore I speak early, that if you have any objections I 
 may hear tliem, and not be driven afterwards to ask 
 people pardon, for ill usage which I have had no hand 
 m ; and I would have you use your freedom now, that 
 1 may take nothing ill from you afterwards. And 
 ilius he pressed her to speak. 
 Daughter. I am in no haste, Sir, to marry j the 
 
IP. [part I. DIAL. IV.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 ied these things 
 of his sister, as 
 (1 found, by her 
 I of her sister's 
 band : but hav- 
 er, who had the 
 •erson, he made 
 f this daughter 
 
 HI 
 
 at he had jested 
 es, that he had 
 id that he hoped 
 lay the fool, as 
 
 ision to tell her, 
 e had spoken in 
 as really no jest 
 in spoken to by 
 (lerchant in the 
 tion to pay his 
 r dear, says the 
 sober, religious 
 er and mother 
 lole family are 
 •w no family in 
 acter. 
 
 he began with 
 d, said her fa- 
 ikswheni look 
 icy of your sis- 
 to have every 
 ou, and there- 
 ly objections I 
 rwards to ask 
 m had no hand 
 dom now, that 
 jrwards. And 
 
 o marry ; the 
 
 times terrify me; the education, the manners, the 
 conduct of gentlemen is now so universally loose, that 
 I think for a younu' woman to marry, is like a liorse 
 rushing into the battle ; I have no courage so much 
 as to think of it. 
 
 Father. But there are a great many sober, civili- 
 zed young gentlemen in the world ; it is hard to re- 
 proach them all, because many of them are wicked. 
 
 Da. Sir, it is those civilized people which I speak 
 of; for even those who now pass for sober, are not 
 like what it was formerly. When you look narrowly 
 among tiiera as they are in the gross, ten rakes to one 
 sober man : so, among the sober men, that are called 
 civilized men, and whose morals will bear any cha- 
 racter, there are ten Atheists to one religious man ; 
 and, which is worse than all the rest, if a woman 
 finds a religious man, it is three to one again, whe- 
 ther he agrees with her in principles ; and so she is 
 in danger of being undone, even in the best. 
 
 Fa. I never heard the like ! Why what are my 
 daughters made of? What, is nothing good enough 
 in the world for you ! If you all go on such niceties, 
 I must never more think of marrying any of you. 
 
 I)a. You had rather. Sir, not think of it, I dare 
 say, than think of seeing us miserable. 
 
 Fa. Why, there is not a man upon earth can please 
 you. as I have stated it. 
 
 Da. Providence will either sett.'e me as I would 
 be settled. Sir, or will, I hope, dispose you to be as 
 well satisfied with ray present condition as I am. 
 
 Fa. Why, it seems, you are gone mad, farther than 
 your distracted sister. 
 
 Da. I hope, Sir, I am in my senses, and shall be 
 kept so. 
 
 Fa. Why, it seems a religious husband won't 
 please; what is it you would huve ? 
 
 Da. I desire. Sir, to live as I am, at least till some- 
 thing offers, which is fit for me to accept. 
 
 Fa. Wliat do you call fit, child ? What can be Ht 
 m your way of talking? 
 
112 
 
 lOii' 
 
 ItELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [i'ART i. 
 
 ,. "P^i,}^ ^V'" my jiid<,niient and conscience are satis- 
 tit!(i, hir, I believe my fancy will not he very trou- 
 blesome to you. If I must marry, Sir, I would have 
 It he so, as I may expect God's blessing and my 
 
 la. I tell you nothing in the nation will satisfy 
 >our judgment and conscience, as you call it, if the 
 notion you have of things be true. 
 
 Da. Then I am very well satisfied to remain as 1 
 
 Fa. That's ungrateful for your father's care of you. 
 
 X>a I am sure, Sir, I would not be ungrateful, nor 
 undutiful to you J but I know not what vou would 
 liave me do. 
 
 Fa. I would have you see this gentleman that I 
 have proposed to you. 
 
 Da. I shall submit to any thing you command me, 
 C5ir, that is not a breach of my duty to God • I hope 
 you will desire nothing of me, that I caunot'do with 
 a quiet mind. 
 
 Fa. Well, you may see him ; I hope that can be 
 no harm. 
 
 Da. If you will please to let me know then, how 
 tar you allow me to be in niv own disposal, and how 
 tar not ; and wlietlier I have the liberty to refuse 
 inm, it I do not like him. 
 
 Fa. Yes, if you resolve to use your judgment, and 
 not refuse Jiim before you see him, but give good 
 reasons for what you do. 
 
 Da. I think, Sir, I ought to have a negative voice, 
 without being obliged to dispute my reasons with my 
 tather ; lor that is just bringing me into the same 
 condition with my sister. Her reasons are good to 
 lier, but not to you, Sir; and so you take her con- 
 science of duty to God, to be a contempt of her duty 
 to you : I would not be run into the same snare. 
 
 /a. You are mighty positive in your demanding a 
 negative voice against your father. 
 
 Da. But I hud better know my case beforehand, 
 
 me. 
 
 you 
 
[i'ART I. ■ WAt. iv.J RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 fice are satis- 
 t)e very trou- 
 I would have 
 liug und my 
 
 will satisfy 
 -•all it, if the 
 
 remain as 1 
 
 J care of you. 
 igrateful, uor 
 t you would 
 
 iinan that I 
 
 immand me, 
 Jod ; I hope 
 inot do with 
 
 that can be 
 
 V tlien, how 
 al, and how 
 ty to refuse 
 
 Igment, and 
 I give good 
 
 •ative voice, 
 )ns with my 
 the same 
 are good to 
 ce her con- 
 of her duty 
 3 snare, 
 enianding a 
 
 beforehand, 
 
 aSS'oS rou,%t KeS;.^1 [!,"" '' ™^ '''''* 
 your government. ^eemmg to encroach upon 
 
 m Sif TthinT 'It ""^^^ y^"'- ^^'"^"d i8. 
 
 J^a. What, without showing any reason ' 
 thSm.f^eJt&I-£-i^ 
 
 bTir^htTot^t^eSk^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 co^ild no! maintain my reasons^ ^'^ '"'" *^""^'^' ^ 
 
 hpfv^t you capitulate with me for this libertv 
 
 Sa ^No ^^slr ''t'F"*^^™^"' d« y°" ? 
 .„ "• ^^°J .,i»"^> i do not capitulate with von hi,* t 
 
 Z)« tK if"™'!-*'"" «'>at, indeed, daughter. 
 atllL "" ' ^'S °' y"' Si'. I -ay never see him 
 
 look Z tt^rLuJ TClm "k' '' ^"^ "^y 
 
 a nassiori „^,, ''*^^^*'^» " you Will. [He rises up in 
 «e.^H.T Ct P^' T'^y' Outcomes'- in a^ain l^ 
 - -J J But, ,t inay be, 1 may not like your choos- 
 
114 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 [pAbt r. 
 
 ing any more than you like mine. [Her father 
 returns.] 
 
 Fa. I wonder what it is you would have roe do in 
 such a case as this : here is a match proposed to your 
 sister; how she has treated me, you know. Now I 
 have a proposal to you, where the j^^rand otyection is 
 removed ; what can you desire of a father i 
 
 Da. Sir, I desire only, that if you think fit to dis- 
 course such thintrs as these with us, we might he able 
 to speak for ourselves without discomposing you; we 
 have not a mother to stand between, and muke our 
 objections, and to hear our reasons. 
 
 Fa. Well, that's true ; [she weeps, and that moves 
 him, especially speaking of her mother] it is my loss 
 as well as yours ; come, let me hear, however, if you 
 have any objection against the person I propose now, 
 tell it me ? I'll endeavour not to be warm. 
 
 Da. I can have no objection to a man I never saw 
 or heard of; but I think we should have liberty to 
 refuse, Sir, when we come to discourse of such a 
 thing with the person ; and that is all I ask, and that 
 we may not disoblige you, if we use tliat liberty ; and 
 without that liberty, I desire you will be pleased 
 never to make any proposal at all to me; and if 
 ever I make one myself, I will be content to be 
 denied. 
 Fa. You are very positive. 
 
 Da. It seems to be so reasonable. Sir, that I can- 
 not think any children can ask less, or any father 
 tliink it too hard ; it is the children that are to feel 
 the consequences of the mistake, if there be any. 
 
 Fa. Well, that's true ; come then, if you will talk 
 
 with this gentleman, you shall have your liberty to 
 
 take him or leave him : have you any objections to 
 
 make beforehand ? if you have, let nie know them : 
 
 that will prevent all occasions of disgust. 
 
 Da. Will you please to hear rae with patience, Sir ? 
 
 Fa. Yes, I will, if I can. 
 
 Da. \o\x have heard ao much said by me, S«.r, in 
 
 I 
 
[pAnr r. 
 
 [Her fatiier 
 
 lave rne do in 
 losed to your 
 low. N«MV I 
 I ot)jectiou is 
 
 nk fit to dis- 
 Tiight be able 
 iing you ; we 
 tid tnuke our 
 
 d that moves 
 it is my loss 
 vever, if you 
 propose now, 
 n. 
 
 I never saw 
 ^e liberty to 
 e of such a 
 tsk, and that 
 liberty ; and 
 i be pleased 
 me; and if 
 intent to be 
 
 that I can- 
 : any father 
 it are to feel 
 be any. 
 'o\i will talk 
 ir liberty to 
 bjections to 
 know them ; 
 
 itience, Sir ? 
 
 me, S>.r, in 
 
 DIAL. 
 
 IV.] IlKLIGIOUS COUIITSHIP. 
 
 115 
 
 my sister s behalf, that you must necessarily believe 
 1 am ot the same opinion : that is to say, that I would 
 not marry a ni;m that ma<le no profession of relitrion 
 upon any account whatsoever, were his estate Iii«i 
 person his sobriety, his qualifications ever so h[vit- 
 mg. I need not j-ive reasons for this, Sir; what I 
 have said, what my sister and my aunts have said on 
 that account, is enou-h ; but it is my misfortune, 
 Sir, to have another scruple beyond all this, and 
 
 meiuL. '''''^ '"^ '''^^^ ^'^'^^ "° °^^^«'«» to 
 
 Fa. Very well ; then you intend to be more trou- 
 blesome than your sister, I find. 
 
 Z)a. I hope not, Sir, because I give mv scruolps in 
 betorehand ; and if any thing offfrs t^^ou "b o ad 
 tha will shock the foundation I lay dovv,., I l^n^ 
 you 11 not hearken to it on any account, and then viu 
 will have no occasion to say I am troublesome. * 
 
 /•a. Well, let's hear it, however. 
 
 I)a. Why, Sir, as I will never marry any man who 
 does not make some profession of religion, ho^eve? 
 rich or agreeable, handsome or sober he is ; so how- 
 ever serious or religious he is, I will never mar;y al 
 
 slfni 71'''^ P'"^'^}V^^^, opinion, and way of worship, 
 shall not agree with my own. ^* 
 
 Fa. And is that your resolution ' 
 
 wilfrmt nli^'P^ '^ '' well-grounded. Sir, and that you 
 will not disapprove my reasons for it when you please 
 to hear them calmly, and to bear with my mean way 
 ot arguing thein. ^ ^ 
 
 «,/m / ^'""^ ^ ^''^^ ™"^'^ ^" the right to say vou 
 would be more troublesome tlian your sister : hovv" 
 ever, you do your sister some kindness hi it, for this 
 extravagant humour makes her's look a thousand 
 times more reasonable than it did before. 
 
 l>a. Tiiat's what I foresaw. Sir, viz. that I shall 
 remove your disi.leasure from my sister, and brini 
 down upo,, myself; but I cannot help it. ^ 
 
 i'rt. V> ell, I shall relieve myself against all your 
 
I' 
 
 116 
 
 RELIGIOUS COTJRTSiriP. [part I. 
 
 humours ; I'll talk no more of settling any of you, till 
 your curiosity is abated. 
 
 [Though her father seemed to give it over thus in 
 discourst; with his daughter, yet he hud gone farther 
 witli the gentleman that had made the proposal, tiiau 
 he had told her ; and had invited the fatlier and mo- 
 ther to dinner the next day, with an intent that they 
 should see and be acquainted with his daughteu? ; 
 supposing, at the same time, that they would bring 
 the young gentleman with them. 
 
 They came to dinner accordingly ; but, as the fa- 
 ther knew well enough that the education of their 
 son was in a different way from that of his daughter, 
 and that she had declared herself so positively in that 
 part, he had desired them privately not to bring their 
 son to dinner. When they were come, and before 
 his daughter was called in, the father told them how 
 the case stood between him and his eldest daughter, 
 and that he saw no remedy but this, that as he had 
 not told her any thing of the design of his invitation, 
 or that they were the family he had designed her a 
 husband out of : so, if they thought lit to turn their 
 eyes to his second daughter, he was in hopes she 
 would have more wit than to run into the ridiculous 
 scruples of the eldest. They presently agreed, that 
 it was not at all reasonable to force the inclination of 
 the y(»ung lady ; that they saw no room to bring the 
 opinions in religion together in their children, their 
 opii»ions at that time differing extremely, and their 
 son being as positive, they believed, as his daughter : 
 80 they said, with all their hearts, if their son could 
 fancy the second daughter as well, it should be the 
 same thing to them ; however, the mother of the 
 young gentleman asked him if he would give her leave 
 to enter into discouse with his daughter upon the sub- 
 ject of iier scruples ? He told her, with all his heart, 
 for he would be giad to have her change her mind : 
 because, as on the one hand, he should be very well 
 satiefied to bring them together, so he really thought 
 
[part I. 
 
 y of >'ou, till 
 
 iver thus in 
 ,'oiie farther 
 roposul,tliaa 
 her and mo- 
 nt tliat they 
 dauf^htei;^ ; 
 would bring 
 
 t, as the fa- 
 bion of their 
 us daughter, 
 bively in that 
 bring their 
 , and before 
 Id them how 
 St daughter, 
 t as he had 
 is invitation, 
 signed her a 
 to turn their 
 n hopes she 
 le ridiculous 
 agreed, that 
 nclination of 
 to bring tiie 
 lildren, their 
 y, and their 
 is daughter : 
 lir son could 
 lould be the 
 other of the 
 :ive her leave 
 ipon the sub- 
 all his heart, 
 e her mind : 
 be very well 
 ially thought 
 
 DIAL, 
 
 iv.j RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 117 
 
 her notions were empty and simple, and should be 
 glad she was made wiser j but then, AladanV, says he 
 you must not discover the real design, for you io' 
 she will be backward to speak freely. ' Sl^ agreed to 
 that, and so this private discourse^ndedjYndhS 
 daiigiiters benig Introduced, and the usua cere "o! 
 mes passed, they went to dinner, the voung lau -pI 
 k.jowujg no;hi,.g of the design of their being invited! 
 Tie atherand mother were charmed at the con- 
 duct ot he young women; their persons and manner, 
 the modesty ot their behaviour,*^and above all the 
 politeness and pertinence of their discourse • and 
 something happening to be said about marryini the 
 father falls to rallying his daughters upon tK cetv 
 n that point, that nothing would serve them but re- 
 ligious men. There is iny daughter savs ht 
 
 (poniting to his youngest) I think nothing wHl do for' 
 her but a parson ; she refused a gentleman of £2 000 
 fo7rer^^^'^ '^^y* ^«^^^« »»« was not religious eno^^^^^^^ 
 
 No, Madam, says his daughter, my father means 
 because he had no religion a! all / hardly so much as' 
 
 tav ?n H °T ' f^":. •* ^^^^'^^'^OTse ofteJ knows the 
 way to the church-door. 
 
 Tliat alters the case quite, said madam ; why. Sir 
 says she you would not have married your daughtJ; 
 to a brute! a man without religion is a worse brute 
 
 tu?e" butTi/r-'?" ^""^ «.^^y^ '^' dictates ofC 
 ture, but an Atheist acts against reason, nature and 
 
 common sense. I would nSt marry a child of 'mine 
 
 to^a man of no religion, if he had ten thousand pounds 
 
 Well, says he, there's my daughter , fpointintf 
 
 to his eldest) she goes farther :%he is nJt^S 3 
 
 hefown'if ""' -"'^f^' ^""''^'^ "'"«t have one of 
 ifiLrVP'"'*"" "' religion, that goes to the church 
 where she goes to church, and worships iust ZZ 
 
 Te & • ' ^""""^ ^^^^ '^^ ^'" ^^^' ^'^ Pi'^'^ed whilo 
 
n 
 
 t 
 
 MB 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 [HAUT I. 
 
 Madam, says the eldest, I expected my father 
 would he upon my hones next : my father talks of 
 my opinion as if I was somethinj; that nobody else 
 is ; as if I was one of the new prophets, or of some 
 strange singular opinion, sometliing monstrous in re- 
 ligion : all I say is, that as I profess nothing but 
 what I think is right, and what thousands agree with 
 me in, if ever I do marry, as I suppose I never shall, 
 why should I not chuse to have my hu.sband and I 
 of the same opinion, that we may serve God together. 
 
 Madam, says the old lady, your father does but 
 jest with vou ; he can never oppose so reasonable a 
 thing as that : I must confess, I think it is much to 
 be desired ; I will not say but there is a possibility 
 of doing as well without it ; it may not be a sin : but 
 I own, it is better, if it can be so. 
 
 I am sure it would be a sin in me, says the daugh- 
 ter, because it would be against my conscience. 
 
 Ay, Mudara, says the other, that's true ; and you 
 are very much in the right to insist upon it, if it be 
 so ; and no doubt your father will be far from offer- 
 ing any thing that may seem to be a violence upon 
 your conscience. 
 
 I offer violence, Madam, says the father, nay they 
 are above that : they take upon tliem to say, I will, 
 and I won't, to their father ; I assure you they are 
 past my offering violence to them. 
 
 In nothing, Madam, but this crabbed business of 
 marrying, says the daughter, and there indeed we do 
 take some liberty with my father. 
 
 Well, Sir, says the old lady, you must allow liberty 
 there ; marriage is a case for life, and must be well 
 considered ; and the young ladies are to bear it, fall 
 It liow it will, you know, for better or worse : they 
 had need be allowed some liberty there. 
 
 Besides, Madam, says the youngest, all the liberty 
 we take is in negatives only ; we don't offer to take 
 any body that my lather don't liUe, only we don't care 
 to take such as we don't like ourselves. 
 
 I 
 
 .».' 
 
 i 
 
[PAUT 1. 
 
 d my father 
 ther talks of 
 nobody else 
 I, or of soiiie 
 iistrous in re- 
 I nothing but 
 is agree with 
 I never shall, 
 isband and I 
 jrod together. 
 ;her does but 
 reasonable a 
 t is much to 
 a possibility 
 be a sin ; but 
 
 '8 the daugh- 
 Bcience. 
 ue ; and you 
 >n it, if it be 
 ir from offer- 
 'iolence upon 
 
 ler, nay they 
 
 I say, I will, 
 lou they are 
 
 i business of 
 indeed, we do 
 
 allow liberty 
 must be well 
 ) bear it, fall 
 worse; they 
 
 II the liberty 
 offer to take 
 vve Uuii't cure 
 
 DIM.. IV. 1 KKLIOIOUS COL'UTSHU*. 
 
 119 
 
 The old gentleman then put in : Upon mv word, 
 Sir, says he, I think your dau<i|,t,.rs are in tli'e riuht • 
 forcertaiidy, thougli wi; may refuse to let them marry 
 where they rnav chuse, yet I can't think we should 
 deny them the lil)erty to refuse what we may olf<>r ; 
 or else we may as well give them in inarriai-.', as was 
 done in old days, and n<!ver let thejn see one anotlier. 
 
 The eldest sister turned her head towards lier fa- 
 ther at tliis, but said nothing. 
 
 I understand you, Betty, said her father ; but slie 
 8;iid nothing still; and the old lady, finding the dis- 
 course pinched u little hard, began some otlier talk, 
 and soon after, the men withdrawing, kft the ladies 
 together. 
 
 When the men were gone ; hark ve, said the old 
 gentlewoman, I was willing to break off the discourse 
 just now, because I was afraid it was offensive to 
 your father : but pray let me talk a little more to you , 
 Madam; I fully approve the resolution of your 
 youngest sister, but niethinks yours is a little un- 
 cliaritable : speaking to the eliiest. 
 
 E/d. sist. I was very much obliged to you. Madam, 
 for breaking off the discourse; for my father is pas- 
 sionate, and is sometimes so out of temper with us 
 upon these points, that we are greatly grieved at it, 
 and particularly that he will not gi've us leave to 
 speak, 
 
 Yo. slst. I am sure it has almost broken mv heart. 
 
 Old lady. I am sorry for it; for indeed I think 
 yours is nothing but what every woman that is a 
 Christian ought to think herself obliged to : what 
 dreadful doings must there be, when a religious wo- 
 man marries a wretch that is a despiser of God ! a 
 Christian to be linked to an infidel ! one that serves 
 God, to be joined to one of God's enemies! and then 
 to love such a nmn too ! the very thought is enough 
 to fill one with confusion ! take it whieli way you will 
 it is equally dismal. First, to be marrip'rfto him' 
 and not love him, that's a hell upon earth ! and to 
 
 •*j*-,pjrf*«*(fc**-»*,-^ '*•■>*,, 
 
I I 
 
 1 i 
 
 I i 
 
 
 120 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part r. 
 
 love hini ! one that we must reflect on as a limb of 
 the devil ! a son of perdition ! to embrace one that 
 God abhors! to have the affections bound to one that 
 tjod Jiates ! what contradictions are these! what hor- 
 
 HrL^w,^" \i'^ '°"^ "^^'"^ *''«y li^e! and what 
 dreadtul thoughts must crowd into one's mind, if such 
 a man should corae to die before us ! dear youne 
 lady, said she, you are happy that you could defend 
 yourself a^amst such a proposal. 
 
 uhS' ^J*^- B"*',^.''^**™' y^^^ ^^^^Se upon rae is a 
 iittle hard; I thnik the arguments areas strong almost 
 
 nSr'* ^' "^ ''''^'''' ^^°"^^ '^^y are of another 
 
 Old lady. No, I can't say so. Madam; it is true. 
 
 there is something to be said in your case, but nothing 
 
 so essential as in the other ; and, as I said, methinkf 
 
 Ll}lu- 1* y,? " '• ''."^^^ <^''^"^y ' I hope, child, you 
 rofes d^" ^" opinions but your own are fatal to be 
 
 Md. sist. No, Madam, not at all ; I hope there 
 are good people of all persuasions; but if I did not 
 
 ti'ii m^seifT ^^'^' ^'''' *'°"^'^ ^ '*"'''^' *^® *'^''*^"'S 
 
 Old lady. So far you are right. 
 jEld. sist. Then Madam, though in charity I ought 
 iLlr ""i^f ' ?° ^^ S^"*^ Christians, and that I 
 should, and do keep up a friendly correspondence 
 with many who dissent from my judgment in reli! 
 gious matters, yet there is a great deal of difference 
 between charity to them, and union with them. 
 
 Old lady. You have studied the point thoroughly 
 I perceive; I understand you perfectly; pray go on 
 
 ^/rf. sut. Madam, in discourse with my father I 
 could never use any freedom, or obtain leave to pro- 
 pose my scruples, wirh the reasons of them : but I 
 hope you will allow me liberty. 
 
 Old lady. With all my heart, for I am glad to en- 
 ter^nto so curious a debate with vou. 
 
 ^Id. sut. ueiigiou, Madam, without door* is one 
 
 
 '.'?;• 't,- "wc 
 
 r'*4»««^#-«»..*^ 
 
[PART I. ^ Vixu ir.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 n as a limb of 
 race one that 
 fid to one that 
 se! whathor- 
 e! and what 
 I mind, if such 
 dear young 
 could defend 
 
 upon me is a 
 strong almost 
 are of another 
 
 in ; it is true, 
 ?, but nothing 
 lid, methinks 
 Je, child, you 
 re fatal to be 
 
 [ hope there 
 if I did not 
 the cleaving 
 
 aritylought 
 
 and that I 
 
 rrespondence 
 
 (lent in reli- 
 
 of difference 
 
 1 them. 
 
 thoroughly, 
 
 pray go on. 
 
 my father, I 
 
 eave to pro- 
 
 ;hem; but I 
 
 I glad to en- 
 doors is one 
 
 121 
 
 be mtS''„p?,fiS^,^r„'alf„''„'''"'V^' '^™ ■"-y 
 charity; but I believe if 1.^™^' •k,'"''"". '"""»'='' »f 
 
 'vilut oneness of desires whT.^ « i? \ ^* ""'°"» 
 
 things leave Voom fn^H /cir ^u""^*^"*'«»ent8 of 
 
 united voice a^d«ffi? ^S worshipped with the 
 in tlds caJp » who5f t"^** ?,f '*'« ^''"'^ family even 
 to on«'n!f4nr^f;!!?P^:^'" '^^«"ch relatio^ns be 
 
 selves, oTwfthlheirSls? '"'" "^'^^ ^^ ^^^^^ 
 
122 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [parti. 
 
 now witht: ^^''" ™^ '^°'''^' y°" ''"'''^^y ^^^^^ nie 
 
 fiin^'i'i?^*!-^* '' "•"* ^"""^^' Madam, that they being 
 sincerely rehgious apart, shall worsli n God in their 
 
 but"t?.?f1%rV"''"^'^ ^'"''^'^ than not at aU; 
 but the z.-a , the affection, the unitinrr their hearts in 
 
 mis a as! ih as lost. Then, say t be in the imhlir 
 worship, there they make a woeTul separation ' God 
 t^mt has made them one, is served by them as two-' 
 God has jomed t,hem toj^^ether. and they pan asunde; 
 in their servn,g him -God has made tliela one : how 
 does tins consist, Madam ? 
 
 Old lady. I see you are full of it. 
 
 J^ld. sist.ln their public worship, sacraments &c 
 
 S tho"ul'H'"''' '"' '''''' g-« withSr 'wo?: 
 IL' V^"fe''' they communicate in the same ordi- 
 nance they set up two altars ; one worships here and 
 one there; and though their faces are both set 
 onn'rr'^^''' perhaps%hey turn back to back as 
 
 T^M ^«-ff rSf,°" ^""^ very clear in it, indeed, Madam. 
 
 -B d «j;^ Tins 18 not all. Madam, there a/e several 
 family circumstances beside these, which make union 
 o opinion absolutely necessary ; as first, family wS- 
 81. p IS a thing, without which, families, however 
 privately and separately devout/are coupled with 
 heathens, Jer. x. 25 Po^ir out 'thy wrath upon the 
 heathen, and upon the Jamilies rchieh call not upon 
 
 8 fn tKi "t^'^r\ '^'^^ "^'^y ^« i" ^ P^hlic wC- 
 nr ?:;.! t'l""^"^ ^^''^>'* ''^ "" <^xact ifarmony in 
 private ; and how can this be, where either of them 
 dissents from the manner ? I'f there is a discord n 
 the manner, there can be no concord in the perform- 
 ance, no union m the affections : in a word their 
 
 SnSiryikeVf'"''^"^ "■"' -"» -•" "^« '^- 
 Old lady-. I expected you would name that scrip- 
 
 ■v» ' ' * <>» 'm i« M »i w »««»^ H 
 
'. [part I. 
 
 biy affect me 
 
 lat they being 
 God in their 
 m not at all ; 
 lieir hearts in 
 'one another; 
 in the public 
 ration ; God, 
 ;hem as two ; 
 part asunder 
 m one : how 
 
 raraents, &c. 
 th their wor- 
 
 sarne ordi- 
 ips here and 
 re both set 
 
 to back as 
 public wor- 
 
 sed, Madam. 
 a are several 
 make union 
 family wor- 
 es, however 
 iipled with 
 th upon the 
 ill not upon 
 public wor- 
 larinony in 
 »er of them 
 . discord in 
 le perform - 
 rt'ord, their 
 Id be thus 
 
 that scrip- 
 
 DIAL, 
 
 IV.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 123 
 
 ture, though it was certain that was spoken princi- 
 pally to those who married with unbelievers, which 
 IS a different case. ' 
 
 Bid. silt Well, Madam, we come to another case ; 
 Suppose the husband and wife we are speakin" of 
 have children, what foundation of eternal schism is 
 there in the family : some of their children adhere to 
 the father, some to the mother : some worship in this 
 mount, and some nowhere butat Jerusalem ; some so 
 with the father, some with the mother: some kneel 
 down with the father, some with the mother ftni 
 as they grow up they really learn not to kneel down 
 at all : family education, united instruction, caution, 
 exaraple, thev are all dreadfully mingled and divided 
 
 iri»V f f^ ^^""^ ''''™^ ^"^ ""^'""^ ' ^"^ t''« children 
 grow out of government, past instruction, and all lost. 
 Ihese, Madam, are some of the reasons I would have 
 given my father (if he would have had patience w t h 
 ine) why, m his late proposal he had to make I d.^- 
 sired that I might be at liberty to clmse by mV ow^^ 
 princip es and not at random, as too many do. 
 
 Old lady. But, Madam, do you not allow, that if 
 Doth parties are sincerely pious and reli-ious, that 
 they may make allowances to one another, and make 
 
 fn'El^Jiel'i'JetS ?"' """"'= ""* °°^ "»<"'- 
 Eld. sist. Truly, Ma'dara, as to that, two things 
 
 bo^h.%J?,rir' *"'' ^^^^ ^^>^" ^•^"^''J^r^'l S 
 ooin . i<irst, the more sincere in religion either of 
 
 likp?v''/. "^ ™?,';^*i^«'i i" principle and opinion it is 
 IS *''7/^'" ^^' a"d the farther from making 
 
 fn theTiV° '/"i ""T^r'' ?"^ «^Pecially, secondly, 
 in the great a. tide of educating and instructing their 
 children ; for what tender mother, that havii, J' fixed 
 
 IVTul "' '^' ''"l''^' ^" ^^'^ ^««* manner and 
 way could bear not to have their children brought 
 
 nmi? i ""' K^ sentiments of religion, which she thinks 
 
 ost agreeable to the revealed will of God ? And tiie 
 
 more conscientious and religious she was, the mo e 
 
124 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PART I. 
 
 • ■-'■■», . , 
 
 steadily she would cleave to it as her duty; and the 
 like Of the man, so that here would be a constant 
 heart-burning and uneasiness. 
 
 Old lady. Truly, Madam, I think your reasons 
 good, and you guard them so well with self-evident 
 conclusions, tliat I cannot think your father can de- 
 sire vou to break through them : if you thuik it will 
 be for your service, I'll mention it again to him. 
 
 Md. sist. If you do, Madam, I desire to be absent ; 
 he will not hear from me. 
 
 Old lady. Let me alone for that. 
 
 [When the old lady had done this conversation, she 
 bean to call for her husband and the father, so the 
 young ladies withdrew : when she was come to them, 
 she applied herself to the father and the husband in 
 
 a few words.] , , , . v j 
 
 Wife. Upon my word, says she to her husband, 
 this young lady has more religion in her than all of 
 us, and a clearer sight into the particular parts of a 
 reliyious life, than any that ever I met with before. 
 Fa. Why, says the father, have vou had a battle 
 
 with my Betty? , , , ^ , 
 
 Wife. No, upon my word, we have had no battles j 
 I have not been able to open my mouth against one 
 word she says ; she is able to run down a whole so- 
 ciety of doctors in these points ; I am a perfect con- 
 vert 10 all she says ; and though I wish from my soul 
 • my eon had such a wife, yet I would not for the 
 world they should come together, at the price of put- 
 ting the least violence upon such noble principles, so 
 solidly established, and so firmly adhered to ; and I 
 defy all mankind to confute her. 
 
 Hus. You prompt my curiosity : I wish you could 
 tell us a little of the story. 
 
 Wife. A little ! I can easily repeat it to you : it is 
 impossible I should forget it: but it may be, you, 
 Sir, turning to the father, may not care to hear it. 
 
 Fa. Yes, yes, 1 would very wiilingiy litdt it, though 
 I did not care to hear it from her. 
 
[part I. 
 
 ty; and the 
 a constant 
 
 our reasons 
 self-evident 
 her can de- 
 hink it will 
 to him. 
 be absent ; 
 
 ersation, she 
 ther, 80 the 
 >me to them, 
 i husband in 
 
 ler husband, 
 r than all of 
 ar parts of a 
 mth before, 
 had a battle 
 
 d no battles ; 
 
 against one 
 a whole so- 
 perfect con- 
 rom my soul 
 
 not for the 
 price of put- 
 irinciples, so 
 id to ; and I 
 
 4 
 
 ish you could 
 
 to you : it is 
 nay be, you, 
 to hear it. 
 :,cir it, though 
 
 DIAL. IV.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 125 
 
 Wife. Well then [Here she gives them a full 
 
 account of all the discourse above.] 
 
 ritis. I never heard any thing more solid, and inti- 
 matmg a thorough sense of religion in my life: I wish 
 my son and she were both of the same opinion then : 
 tor a woman of such principles can never be fatally 
 mistaken in opinion. 
 
 Fa. I confess I would never give her an opportu- 
 nity to explain herself thus with me : but I assure 
 you, I am so moved with it, that I will never oifer to 
 impose upon her again. 
 
 Wife. Then, you see. Sir, it was an error to be so 
 angry with your child, as not to hear her ; I fear you 
 have done so with both of them. 
 
 Fa. Truly I have ; but I see now I have been 
 wrong to them both, and indeed more to my young- 
 est daughter than to my eldest, for she refused the 
 gentleman because he really had no religion at all 
 ^o^J yet I was in a violent passion with her. * 
 
 Wife. Nay, that was hard indeed; for, if there be 
 all this to be said that a woman should not marry a 
 man of a different opinion in religion, there must be 
 more to be said why she should not marry one that 
 despises religion ; and this indeed I said to your 
 youngest daughter, applauding her conduct, though 
 1 did not know that you had used her hardly on that 
 account. •' 
 
 Fa. I would be obliged to you, Madam, to let me 
 Know what discourse you had with her too, for t»iat 
 affair is still depending. 
 
 1 ^^ff-^^^^ "11 ray heart; my discourse was not 
 long— [She repeats what she had said to the younirest 
 daughter.] "^ " 
 
 Fa. Indeed, Madam, your are right , the thing is 
 so indeed ; but he was a pretty gentleman, and had 
 *\^^ery noble estate, and I was mightily pleased with 
 the thoughts of the match, and that made me the 
 pore passionate with her than I sliould otherwise 
 have been. 
 
 ill 
 
126 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part 
 
 1* 
 
 ■f 
 
 r/r* ^''"^^' '"'* own folly too: he told her so di- 
 r ctly, in so many words ; owned he had not troubled 
 his head about rehgion, and did not intend it : made 
 a banter and jest of reliijion in i?oneral : told her it 
 tTniJ/r'^^ ^'"*^ never travelled, m.d that he in- 
 tended to choose a wife first, and then, perhans he 
 miprht choose his religion. ' ^"""'^P^' "« 
 
 affS tbrVr ""' """^ '^ '^^^ "^ ^ -^"^' <>' "« 
 
 ^ai}^'/%^V^''' ^^* '. ^'^ "«' only professed a ffreat 
 deal of affection, but chose her out tVom therest • and 
 you know she is the youngest (for I designed my eld- 
 e t tor hun) and made her the'particular misK of 
 Ins choice, and, I verily believe, loved her very welf • 
 & pnH^"" camiot deny but she had a Icindners for 
 
 VJ-^ il'^eed he 18 a most lovely gentleman. 
 
 »^K//e. fche has acted a noble part uideed • and thA 
 more affection she really had for l.im, tfifmore of a 
 Ciiristian she has sliown in her conduct. 
 
 .J?' . ^'a'\ wo^J*^ s ly indeed if you knew all her 
 conduct, and knew the person too 
 
 kno'v^ie'pson."'' '""^''^''^ ' '''''''^ ^« ^'^^ ^ 
 
 /'a. Madam I should be loath to name him to his 
 
 prejudice ; and, it you think it will be so, I hope you 
 
 will let It go no tarther. r^ j"u 
 
 Wife 1 promise it shall never go out of my mouth 
 without your leave. ^ •""um 
 
 Fa. Why it is young Mr , a gentleman T he. 
 
 heve you have heard of. ' «'''"''^™*" ^ ^^' 
 
 weir^h;,."/*""'* *"*" ^^\ "^^ ^"'''^ J"'" intimately 
 well but I am surprised at it, upon an account that 
 1 believe will surprise you too. 
 
 Fa. Whutcan that be? 
 
 Wife. Why it is true that gentleman had no reli- 
 gion : poor gentleman ! he came nf a n,Q«f "..hacDv 
 stock J there never was any religion in the fomily • 
 
(I'ART I. 
 
 e was such a 
 
 >\d her so di- 
 not troubled 
 end it : made 
 : told her it 
 I that he in- 
 perhaps, he 
 
 )nduct or no 
 
 ssed a great 
 the rest; and 
 fned my eld- 
 r mistress of 
 ;r very well ; 
 kindness for 
 leraan. 
 ed; and the 
 le more of a 
 
 new all her 
 
 1 be glad to 
 
 2 him to his 
 , I hope you 
 
 f my mouth 
 leman I be- 
 intimately 
 ccouut that 
 
 lad no reli- 
 jt iHihappy 
 the family; 
 
 DIAL. IV.] IlEUGIOUS COURTSHIP. 127 
 
 /«. Tiiat's true, and I thought that a great mat- 
 ter, as the youth go now. ^ '^ 
 
 Wife. IJut 1 cuu tell you more news than that of 
 huu : he IS become the ,nost pious, seriourreSus 
 gentlemiui m all the country. ' ^"'b^ous 
 
 w v-^"t" '*"''P"'*^' ™e indeed, now. 
 
 yy/Je. 1 assure you it is no copy of his counten- 
 
 ft"bv; n' M,''""'7;' ""^ ^'^ '' ^«I»«^ ar.d hinou?ed fo 
 It by all the geutlomen round him : and he behaves 
 
 Jmvkv ""ru'r- "'r'\^'"'"'''*y' ^"'i «° much seS 
 onS^tl^U fevv 1 -m.^^' '' " ''' ^^""^^"'- -'^ «-P-« 
 
 in'hhnf''''^^' ^''"''^ ^"""^^^^ ""' alteration appeared 
 
 Wife. About three months, I believe. 
 
 lui.l Wish you had told ray dau-hter this. 
 
 ^^Je. It was impossible I should have brouffhf 
 such a thing in, that knew nothing of trecircum- 
 
 .^./. Nay, if you had, she would not have beliPVPd 
 
 a word ot it ; on the contrary, she would have aken 
 
 t all tor a trick of mine, and that I had i vUed vou 
 
 hither on purpose to bring in such a story ^ " 
 
 nije. Let me alone for that against another time 
 
 th 7visr" 71^''' ;""'-^"?"^' P'''' leave to reS 
 tins Visit. I design to invite them to come and see 
 
 anii^m V^'' w""'?-^ ?*^ discourse ended for a time • 
 
 ?er w h tr^'*"' ?^'^" "'^^^^* '"'• '*'« eldest daugh^ 
 
 ter with the son ot that gentlewoman bein" laid asidp 
 or the present, the old lady, at parting, ii a frie^dlv 
 nanner, mvited the young'^ladies to ifer house anS 
 
 they promised to come, and the father .aiS aloud E. 
 
 wouid come ana bring them. '"" 
 
 It was not long before the young ladies put their 
 
—^ ->*»- ■ -n * ' 
 
 ■f 
 
 P1 
 
 f^ , 
 
 128 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PART I. 
 
 father in mind of his appointment : for, being migh- 
 tily pleased with the old gentlewoman, they liad a 
 great mind to pay the visit, that the acquaintance 
 might be settled. Tlieir father appointed the next 
 day, but, being interrupted just at the time he in- 
 tended to go, he caused them to go without him, and 
 send the coach back for him to come a;fter them, when 
 his business was done. 
 
 Wliile they were here, the good old gentlewoman, 
 who entertained them with great civility, diverted 
 them with every thing else she could think of; and, 
 after abundance of other usual chat, they fell to talk- 
 ing the old stories over again, about religious hus- 
 bands, and the necessity there was to have both hus- 
 band and wife join their endeavours for propagating 
 family religion. The youngest daughter repeated her 
 mother's maxim j Madam, says she, it was a rule my 
 mother gave us at her death, at which I see so much 
 weight in, that I desire to make it the foundation 
 upon which 1 will build all my prospects of happiness 
 VIZ. That a religious life is the only heaven upon 
 earth. I have added some other things to it since, 
 which my own observation directs me to, but which 
 I believe you will allow to be in their degree just 
 such as these : viz. That a religious family is one of 
 the greatest comforts of a religious life : that where 
 husband and wife are not mutually, at least, if not 
 equally religious, there can never be truly a religious 
 family : that therefore, for a religiously inclined wo- 
 man to marry an irreligious husband, is to entail per- 
 secution upon herself as long as she lives. The old 
 lady replied, I iind, Madam, as young as you are, you 
 have studied this point very well. Indeed, Madam, 
 said the eldest sister, my sister has had occasion for 
 it ; for slie has been hard put to it, what with the 
 offers of an extraordinary match, my father's violent 
 passion, and (among ourselves, Madam) not a little 
 the importunity of her own affections, that, for my 
 part, l' must confees I wonder she has been able to 
 
 man. 
 
(part I. 
 
 being migh- 
 they hud a 
 cquaintance 
 ed tlie next 
 time he in- 
 >ut him, and 
 theu), when 
 
 intlewoman, 
 ty, diverted 
 rik of; and, 
 
 fell to talk- 
 ligious hus- 
 ^e both h US- 
 propagating 
 repeated her 
 as a rule ray 
 see so much 
 ! foundation 
 of happiness 
 leaven upon 
 
 to it since, 
 , but which 
 
 degree just 
 ily is one of 
 
 that where 
 least, if not 
 y a religious 
 inclined wo- 
 ;o entail per- 
 3s. The old 
 you are, you 
 ed, Madam, 
 occasion for 
 lat with the 
 her's violent 
 I not a little 
 hat, for my 
 been able to 
 
 WAL. IV.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 129 
 
 Stand her ground. They are three powerful arffu- 
 ments, I acknowledf.'e, said the old lady ; pray. Ma- 
 tt n'f 7 ^' " "'^y ^' P^'^P^^' J^t "»« know sCe- 
 thm- ot the manner: you need not mention persons • 
 I am not mquisitive on that score, I assure Vou Tf 
 my sister gives me leave, Madam, says tlie eldest • 
 the youngest said she left her at iibertv. Why then* 
 
 Madam, says she, my father . fHere she S 
 
 rer an abridgment of the whole storV, but wiffi 
 
 the mostextravagant part ofherfather^ passion hat 
 It might not reflect upon him.] F««'"", "lat 
 
 Well Madam, says she, I will not say all mv 
 isZfe fTr ^-t '""'Pr^^^'ory, because yiour sister 
 IS Here for it is a rule with me, never to praise anv 
 one o their face, or reproach an^ behind the rbacks^ 
 but It IS an extraordinary story indeed : and, turnin<^ 
 to the youngest sister, she said to her Ve?y sWiousl? 
 
 aMarJtJi''''^^ you, child, in suchresolutWs 
 and grant that you may have the true end of them 
 fully answered; that, if ever you do marry, it nmS 
 be to a man as uncommonly serious, piouZ and S 
 such' TJZ^'''' b^on inimitably res^Ce i'l %fuSng 
 to if ffi 5'''' ^""^ *''^ ^^"' ""^ ^t. Then turnini 
 to her e West sister, says she, this surprising storf 
 puts me m miud of another story, whicli a ve?y gooj 
 man, an old acquaintance of ours, told me the other 
 day, and which tliey say, had jut now happened to 
 a young gentleman that he knows in the country % 
 IS a pretty way off too, but he told us his name • I 
 
 encouragement; who 
 
 the story" for your sister's 
 
 Knows, but she may l)e a means "bv smh nn" 
 
 exampled conduct, a^ this of Jiers^, 7o bring ?he' 
 
 oFhllTondmo^n^ '^' "^^" ^^^ ^^^"^^ ^« — -^ 
 
 famiirimf J?"^^'^^'^ i" tl»e country, of a very good 
 thh^^hf -2^ * u^'y ^''^^' «8ta*e, but young, and, I 
 tiimk he said, a bar.hpior • h" i^ rot aL, o^L '^ 
 twpntv o.wi i, VV — ' ' ^^ ^'Q'' aoove six-and- 
 twenty, and has between two and three thousaDd 
 
130 
 
 IIKLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PART 1. 
 
 OIA] 
 
 I 
 
 \ ■ 
 
 
 a-year; itseeiin he is a most accomplished, well-bred 
 man, a handsome, cliarminj; person ; and every thi:ig 
 that could be said of a man, to set him out, "he said 
 of liira ; he had, indeed, been of a family, he said, 
 that had been eminently wicked, so that The very 
 name of religion had scarcely been heard of among 
 them for some ages; and young master, said my 
 friend, could not be said- to be worse than his father 
 or grandfather ,i^ho went before him. 
 
 However, it happened, it seems, that he went to 
 London. I think, says she, my friend said it was last 
 winter, and when he came back he was strangely 
 melanciioly and dejected, and quite altered in his 
 conversation: instead of riding abroad and visiting 
 gentlemen, and receiving visits from them, he shunned 
 all company, walked about his gardens and woods all 
 alone, till very late in the night, and all his servants 
 wondered what ailed him; that one night they were 
 in a great fright for him, knowing he was out on foot, 
 and aloTie : when, about ten o'clock at night, he came 
 in with a poor honest country fellow with him, that 
 lived almost three miles off; that the next day he 
 took that poor man home to his house, and sent for 
 his wife and children, who all lived before in a poor 
 cottage on the waste, and provided for them ; gave 
 the poor man a farm rent free for twelve years, which 
 always went for £22 a-year, with a good house; 
 lent him stock for manuring it too, and made him 
 bailiff of the manor, and, iu short, made a man of 
 him. Whereupon every body said, that the squire 
 had been in some great danger or other, and the poor 
 man had saved his life ; and, when somebody hap- 
 pened to say as much to him one day, he answered, 
 Yes, that poor man had done more than saved his 
 life, for he had saved his soul. 
 
 It seems this poor labouring wretch, though miser- 
 able to the last degree as to the world, was yet 
 known to be a most religious, serious Christian, and 
 a very modest, humble, but knowing and sensible 
 
 
 man 
 
 him, 
 
 scan 
 
 some 
 
 poor 
 
 brou 
 
 youn 
 
 and 1, 
 
 almo: 
 
 man 
 
 lor tl 
 
 and s 
 
 ter w 
 
 fri<'nd 
 
 sober, 
 
 and q( 
 
 admin 
 
 I tel 
 
 est sis 
 
 Ifct yoi 
 
 in the < 
 
 V hen I 
 
 ^fy; f 
 
 his rel: 
 creatui 
 poorest 
 ably pi 
 little pj 
 Ay, J 
 ,„ wy aist 
 _i| are thej 
 a dam,sa' 
 does thi 
 of a gee 
 dam, Sii 
 Hampsi 
 She pt 
 dies cha 
 ishe turni 
 
 ■| 
 
 
 
?. 
 
 [PART X. 
 
 ihed, well-bred 
 nd every thiug 
 m out, he said 
 iinily, he said, 
 that the very 
 lard of among 
 ster, said my 
 ban bis father 
 
 at he went to 
 suid it was last 
 was strangely 
 altered in his 
 id and visiting 
 ra, he shunned 
 > and woods all 
 ill his servants 
 igbt they were 
 as out on foot, 
 ni<rht, be came 
 with him, that 
 le next day be 
 e, and sent for 
 lifore in a poor 
 or them j gave 
 re years, which 
 good house; 
 and made bim 
 nade a man of 
 hat the squire 
 p, and the poor 
 jmebody bap- 
 , he answered, 
 nban saved his 
 
 though miser- 
 orld, was yet 
 Christian, and 
 \£ and sensible 
 
 MAI^ IV.J RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. IQJ 
 
 man, and he fiad been discoursing food fhinrru «,•»!, 
 
 young gentleman's chamber an J eh Jfl- "^ *^® 
 
 ad.m'J. re|'anThrcou„'','ry"f„*rT "'' ""' """"»'» 
 
 creatur^ in'ibe wo d, reX^doZTl^'T't!^ 
 poorest in the countrJ «,.,-:? ^ . ^^'^^^ ^^ ^^e 
 ably pleasant Sti^^^et" 
 little patten, of virtue^^Tir^^unr^b l^ ''^"'^^ ^^ ' 
 
 -y 'slsirru'ldT; " t;r^siU^ -eh ag.ntleman 
 are they to he fbundT I ne ve^ Sct'ft "T' ^tf ""^ 
 
 of a geitle nir, S'?''^ "nbeard-of-non.uch thing 
 
 Hampshire. ^' ^^^ " ^* somewhere in 
 
 Idie^nhP^SfJi'^-A' "'*' ^?1' ^'^'^ *»•« voun^ la. 
 
fl 
 
 183 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PARTI. 
 
 ( 1 
 
 i! I 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 I 
 
 and left them in the dark as to the name of the gen- 
 tleman ; for she perceived they lioth guessed at U, or 
 
 ^Thenuiev hud taken their leave, and the two sis- 
 ters were in the caach coming home, snys the elder 
 sister to tlie other, did >ou observe Mrs. B—s 
 story of the gentleman in IIamp^hlre ? Yes, said the 
 other, I did ; and I believe you tancy it is tho same 
 person we know of. It is very true, says the eldest, 
 1 did think so, all the while she was telUng the s «ry : 
 and 1 expected she would name him, hut I was loath 
 to ask her his name. I am glad you didn't, says the 
 otluT for I know no good it can be to me to hear it, 
 one wivy or Jthe?, now he isgone. Why, would not you 
 be glad to know that he was really such a one as she 
 has described ? says the eldest. Yes, truly, tor his 
 iwnsX I should! said the sister ; but it is nothing 
 to me now ; I had rather never have hira mentioned 
 at all to me, upon any occasion wbatev'er. 
 
 After thev were come home, their tather, who had 
 been engaged all the while, had sent tl.e coach back 
 
 forthem, with an excuse for ltrV''"'""'^'iT;pr3 
 hiquisitive to know of them what discourse tliey had 
 aV and, his eldest daughter telling him one story 
 and Lnotlier story, he would cr , , Well, was tha all ? 
 For he expected she had brok. n the thing to them. 
 No, says the eldest, she told us a strange story in 
 Hampshire ; and with that repeated the passage 
 word for word. Her father took no notice ot it at 
 that time but two or three days alter, as they were 
 at suppTr! he says to his eldest laughter Betty, wl^ 
 do ySu think the gentleman "i Hampshire is that 
 
 Mrs B told you the story of? I cannot tell, say. 
 
 ^le prav who was it ? even as I thought wl^en you 
 tohl'iSe 6f it, said her father i or I had heard some- 
 thing of it before ; it is nobody else but Mr.— -,the 
 samf your wise sister there thought tit to treat with | ^^^. — 
 
 Nay, Sir,8aystheeldest,donot8ay my sistertreat- 
 
 "ft 
 
[PART I. 
 
 > of the pen- 
 8sed at it, or 
 
 I the two 9is- 
 ys the eider 
 
 dis. B '9 
 
 k'es, said tlie 
 
 is tlio aume 
 V9 the eldt^st, 
 11^ the story: 
 
 I I vva» loath 
 (lii't, says the 
 lie to iiear it, 
 vould not y(JU 
 1 a one as slie 
 ruly, for his 
 I it is nothing 
 ira mentioned 
 jr. 
 
 lier, who had 
 le coaelj back 
 ling, was very 
 jrsi; tliey had 
 dm one story 
 was that all? 
 iiing to them, 
 ange story in 
 I the passage 
 lotice of it at 
 , as they were 
 ;r, Betty, wlio 
 pshire is, that 
 innot tell, say^ 
 ght when you 
 d heard soine- 
 
 it Mr. ,the 
 
 t to treat with 
 
 ny slater treat- 
 
 i 
 
 WAL. IV.] RELIGIOUS COUHTSHIP. I33 
 
 ed hinn with ill manners ; for hfl nwn« th^ «« * 
 to tfmt himself: but how are you suTe oh ^TTK 
 It .9 he ? Why. I have had the^tory sava l' er Sthl'r' 
 irom herhusbund, who is areatlv i^k./J^t I -.^^ 
 he named his name to rne.^norkUS fn n S *"•* 
 that I knew any thing of him ^ '" *''" '^"'' 
 
 Truly, says the eldest, I am very slad of It fn- i • 
 
 other objection against him hS LTx ''c ^'^'^ "^ 
 be wlfat hef wifl.^"wi/v Ho'^''srv«'M"''? V" '•^'•^'^» 
 
 ■Way, if he liaa been so foolish. I know nnt ™i,„* * 
 flay to it says the father; let i rest a9 it is ?f''i^ 
 will not have him, whetlie^ he be reMo'i or'nor re"" 
 
 w^lTa's'l^" ''T "t^V^" ^^' ^'^ no7be Vr I "ius' 
 was a snam atid a c oak anrLwiio ofurwi- '^."o'"ua, 
 
 about it ^^^'^ ^-"""«*"^^une; I'll meddle no ^r^ 
 paSealiH'v t''l'' ^^"'^ "^^ t° ^«J«te t'"s story very 
 
 se^^ral other „ober and reli-ious exnre««ionl ' 
 
 enS to me "ZttV f '1^ *l""' »^aV been affliction 
 "Uo« to me . but my father's conduct haa always 
 
itj 
 
 a 
 
 134 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PARTI. 
 
 made it double j because he cannot talk of it without 
 resentment and unkindness : if it be really so, that 
 
 this is the gentleman Mrs. told us the story of 
 
 yesterday, I should rejoice ; nay, though I am loath 
 to be cheated, and what he said of playing the hypo- 
 crite with me, has made me the more backward to 
 give credit to outsides ; yet, were I sure it was a real 
 work of God in him, and that he was become a reli- 
 gious gentleman, you know I have affection enough 
 to rejoice on my own account, and to entertain him 
 after another manner than before : but yet two things 
 make it still remote from me : First, That I have no 
 demonstration of the truth of the fact : and. Secondly, 
 That, if it is so, he has made no step towards me, and 
 perliaps never may ; and you know, sister, continued 
 she, it is no business of mine till he does. 
 
 Why, that's true, say the eldest sister ; but what 
 must be done then ? 
 
 Done ! says she, let it alone j let it rest, till we hear 
 sometliing or other of it in the ordinary way of such 
 
 thinjrs. „ , « x. 
 
 But what must we do with my father ? says the 
 
 eldest, for J»e is always talking to me about it. 
 Do ! says the other, give the same answer to him 
 
 from me as I do to you. 
 Then, says the eldest, I am sure he never will rest, 
 
 till he brings it about again j for he is strangely m- 
 
 tent upon it. , .„ , , „ * 
 
 Let tliat be as pleases God, I will be wholly neuter, 
 savs the youngest sister. . 
 
 Some time after this discourse, the father, having 
 occasion, for his health, went down to the bath, and, 
 taking all his daughters with him, he continued there 
 gome months ; in which time they contrucied an ac- 
 quaintance with a lady and her two daughters, who 
 came thither from Hampshire. Tlie old lady had 
 been a widow of a gentleman of quality, by whom she 
 had two daughters, but was married to an eminent 
 clergyman in the county where she lived ; and they 
 
 7 "^ 
 
p. [part z. 
 
 Ik of it without 
 really so, that 
 U8 the story of 
 igh I am loath 
 ying the hypo- 
 e backward to 
 re it was a real 
 become a reli- 
 STection enough 
 > entertain him 
 ; yet two things 
 That I have no 
 and, Secondly t 
 )wards me, and 
 ister, continued 
 es. 
 ster ; but what 
 
 est; till we hear 
 ry way of such 
 
 ther? says the 
 
 about it. 
 
 i answer to him 
 
 never will rest, 
 is strangely in- 
 
 5 wholly neuter, 
 
 I father, having 
 ) the bath, and, 
 continued there 
 ntracitid an ac- 
 daugliters, who 
 e old lady had 
 y, by whom she 
 to an eiTiinent 
 lived ; and they 
 
 DIAL. iv.J RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. I35 
 
 were all together at the bath, and lodged in the samp 
 apartments with these ladies. ™® 
 
 It happened one day after dinner, talking freelv to- 
 gether about marrying religious husbands Ind wives" 
 the eldest daughter, as what is always much udo„' 
 inlT'S'^'-'^'l^-^^'" proportion much up^on the tonX 
 inssted m discourse upon the misery of unefuaf 
 matches, and how unhappy it was, either to huSd 
 or wife, when a religious, pious, 'sincere Christian 
 whether man or woman, was married toanoThe" S 
 had no sense of religion ; and she gives a long acco^n? 
 
 aunt, how good a husband she had in all other res- 
 pects, how comfortably and pleasantly they lived 
 
 Y«t n ^^/^'V*'^* .°"^ '*^^°S '' ^°d then she tofd them 
 (stU without nam ng any body) how many odd tS 
 w*,V'^?/T®** h^« ^ady, and the like. "" '"^^^^ 
 Well, Madam, says the old clergyman. I can tell 
 you such a storv of a lady in our county, as I bSievJ 
 you never hearclthe like.' I do not know the woman 
 says the doctor but I know the gentleman intSv 
 well, and have had a great deal of religious coL^ersi 
 tion with him upon the occasion I shall tell you of 
 
 wh^thPr«r'i- ^^•°""^' ^"'^y' «^>'« the doctor" but 
 Whether she lived in our county, or the city, or where 
 
 he 18 perfectly mute, only that he ofte^n teiTrhe; 
 S r ""'"' = ^"w^ f '^"= ^^ '^^^' resolved to con! 
 SnlJXir ' ""'°'^ ""^ ""^ '' '^'^ to press him 
 
 fnl^*' gf ntleman, says the dottor, is of a very c-ood 
 family, has a noble estate, a comely person a K 
 comp ete courtly education, and tMs haLnenPd 
 was almost always in London. ^^appened, 
 
 >.»!;'' mistress must be little less than an anirel in 
 uraan shape by his description ; but thatwe^^ave 
 
 know 1 '°' f"'' ^*^'^™' ««y« t»'« old docror,^you 
 iT^rj^^ love Rive themselves a liberty that 'yZT: 
 — ;7 "''"^Tcr, {liter ail imngs were asreed anH tho 
 writings drawing, itseems sL threw EffenUrely, 
 
' ! 
 
 136 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PART I. 
 
 and refused him merely because she found he was a 
 man of no religion. ,, , , *, * 
 
 Savs the eldest sister, how could she know that, 
 Sir ?"he was not so foolish as to tell her so, himselt, 
 I suppose. , ,, ^, 
 
 Yes, says the doctor, he did : why then, says the 
 sister, I suppose he was indifferent whether he had 
 her or no : Indeed, says the doctor, one would think 
 so, and I said so to him : but he told nie that it was 
 80 far from that, that he had taken up his resolution, 
 never to have any other wouian, if she were the 
 richest, best, and most beautiful creature alive. 
 
 Then, perhaps, the lady has a superior fortune to 
 him, besides her other qualifications, says the sister. 
 No, just the contrary, says the doctor. But, Madam, 
 savs' he, I'll tell you the history of this gentleman, if 
 it 'is not too long for you : it is a story that cannot 
 be unprofitable to anv one to hear, especially to you, 
 ladies, who have taken up such happy resolutions 
 about marrying none but religious husbands. The 
 ladies bowed, in token that they desired him to go on 
 with the story. So the doctor went on. 
 
 Nothing touched this gentleman so near, says he, 
 after he was gone from his mistress, as to reflect 
 what kind of a wretch or monster he was, that a 
 virtuous young ladv, and one who he had reason to 
 believe had no dislike to him, should be afraid to 
 marry him for fear of being ruined, and that she 
 should think, if slie took him, she declared war 
 against heaven, and renounced all pretensions of duty 
 
 to her Maker. [Here he related the whole story, 
 
 his talk with himself, the discourse at the chocolate 
 house, his retreat into the country, his happening to 
 hear the poor countryman at prayer, his conversation 
 with him upon the way, and his conduct afterwards, 
 all in the manner as related before.] 
 
 We must suppose the sisters to have much less 
 sense of religion than they were knowu to have, and 
 particularly less sense of the case itself, in which it 
 
p. [part I. 
 
 'ound he was a 
 
 he know that, 
 ler so, himself, 
 
 then, says the 
 
 whether he liad 
 
 ne would think 
 
 me that it was 
 
 3 his resolution, 
 
 she were the 
 ture alive. 
 jrior fortune to 
 says the sister. 
 
 But, Madam, 
 is gentleman, if 
 3ry that cannot 
 pecially to you, 
 ppy resolutions 
 msbands. The 
 ed him to go on 
 m. 
 
 I near, says he, 
 9, as to reflect 
 he was, that a 
 E> had reason to 
 uld be afraid to 
 1, and that she 
 le declared war 
 tensions of duty 
 ;he whole story, 
 It the chocolate 
 lis happening to 
 Ilia conversation 
 iuct afterwards, 
 
 have much less 
 iwu to huve, and 
 self, in which it 
 
 DIAL, iv.j RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. I37 
 
 was easy to know they were nearly concerned ifthpv 
 were not verv much moved with the par iculars oT 
 his story ; and no sooner had the docto? fiSed this 
 [t hr/h?? r''''^ very handsome reflections upon 
 JL; the sisters longed to withdraw, to compare 
 
 with Som."'"'' ''^'^'"' "^^^^^ ^^«y could IS 
 But the eldest sister went farther: for though 
 
 htl & ^T'T"^ greater, and her concern 
 
 gentleman if ? "^ '" P' .^^^ "«'»« ^^ this 
 genuemdn, it i ^, .xe ; according y, at lenc'fh «!h« 
 
 r elf 5°„'=t',J'' '"" """^ ,"'■ f"»V'emleman ^'aa 
 aseerel No, Madam, says tire doctor, his name U 
 
 ZT—- hv'^h?- r-'"" ""''-•»* »"' of S^r Tto- 
 mas , by whom he eniovs an estate of 4?'2 nnn « 
 
 year and after his uncle, wlio is very rid he has 
 
 nearly a thousand pounds a-year more entailed upo^ 
 
 The two sisters had heard too much to continup 
 any longer, the youngest especially, who nre^enS 
 some indisposition, withdrew, andS'sK tooS 
 
 chill ^ ""^'l' ^r' '''''' ''^"^^ *« her, .he sa cL Wei 
 chdd, what do you say to this s ory' there^ rn 
 room to think tJiere can be anv desi^' in t Jis JJ 
 t^hTy'^rtrue" ''' '''''''''' ^" the °parSci!a?s,l 
 Her sister said never a word : but she found aha 
 had been crying, and that she- was still 00 fuH of it 
 to speak ; so she let her alone for a while tu aLr 
 some time, fetching a great sigh! w ch Jave h^r 
 passions some ventr says the yo'u^es Wlfy^'^ha? 
 do you say to it? I say to iU says the eldest silV^r 
 I can say neither more nor less to it, than what he 
 two disciples said to one another, going to Eramaus 
 about our Saviour's discourse to tl.em,°after he was' 
 gone, did not our hearts burn within ."wlf^pT 
 «^Kea to u. : 1 am sure mine did, saysshe" -ay and 
 mine too, says the youngest. Bit i^t i all nKg 
 
 t , 
 
' f^ 
 
 138 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part I. 
 
 to me now. Nay, says the eldest sister, if all the 
 story be true, it may be somethingf to you still : for 
 "ou see, the doctor says, he is resolved to have uo- 
 Dody else. I give no heed to that, says the youngest 
 sister, for the tables are quite turned now between 
 us, and he ought to refuse me now, tor the very rea- 
 son that I refused him before ; for I have no religion 
 for such a convert as this, I am sure, any more than 
 a man without any notion of a Beity, had religion 
 enough for me. Well, well, says her sister, let pro- 
 vidence, which brings all things to pass its own way, 
 work as he sees fit ; I dare say, as my aunt said, we 
 shall hear more of it. 
 
 They had very little discourse at that time but 
 what ended thus ; but the eldest sister had a great 
 mind her father should hear the story too, if possible, 
 before they left the place ; and she resolved to take 
 an opportunity to bring it about, if she could ; but 
 she was happily prevented by the forwardness of her 
 father to complain of iiis daughter's nicety on all 
 occasions : for in discourse with the doctor and his 
 lady, the young ladies on both sides being absent, 
 he took a liberty to exclaim vehemently how foolish 
 one of his daughters had been, and how she bad ob- 
 stinately cast off a gentleman of such and such qua- 
 lifications, as before. My dear, says the doctor's 
 
 lady to him, pray tell Mr. the story you told 
 
 the ladies yesterday. With all my heart, said the 
 doctor ; so he repeated the whole story. 
 
 The father was exceedingly surprised at the parti- 
 culars, but more when the doctor told the name of 
 the gentletnan. However, he held his tongue, as it 
 happened, and did not let the doctor know how nearly 
 it related to his family ; but in the evening, taking 
 hi.^ opportunity, he calls his eldest daughter to him. 
 Hark ye, Betty, says she, did the do<;tor tell you a 
 story t'other day, of a gentleman in Hampshire? 
 
 M-\>&y Kfll y &uiu Clt\>t Zi.ll-Ji JT vlt XXHl/TiT VllClL LUIS XS LliC 
 
 same Mr. that we kuow of? says her father. 
 
 
 DIAL. ] 
 
 Yes, si 
 does y< 
 Sir, sa; 
 at it ; ' 
 her fat 
 him ofi 
 him no 
 that he 
 that sh 
 certain] 
 he will 
 A fev 
 and tlie 
 and to { 
 went bo 
 ther, sh 
 count ol 
 pened al 
 as what 
 especial] 
 agreeabl 
 to the y 
 things ? 
 I am gla 
 But is it 
 that you 
 Madam, 
 none of t 
 aunt, yo 
 turnirjg 1 
 now you 
 sister wh 
 went out 
 too. [H« 
 he had sa 
 I think 
 the youuj 
 
 uvL La&c 
 
 thing, ani 
 
p. [part I. 
 
 iter, if all the 
 you still : for 
 !«i to have uo- 
 s the youngest 
 . now between 
 r the very rea- 
 ave no religion 
 any more than 
 ', had religion 
 sister, let pro- 
 is its own way, 
 aunt said, we 
 
 that time but 
 er had a great 
 :oo, if possible, 
 solved to take 
 he could ; but 
 irardness of her 
 
 nicety on all 
 loctor and his 
 
 being absent, 
 ;ly how foolish 
 >w she had ob> 
 and such qua- 
 3 the doctor's 
 story you told 
 leart, said the 
 
 d at the parti- 
 1 the name of 
 tongue, as it 
 low how nearly 
 I'ening, taking 
 ughter to him. 
 tor tell you a 
 t Hampshire? 
 
 iat tuiS !S LUC 
 
 ys her father. 
 
 DIAL. IV.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 139 
 
 Ym, Sir, says she, he told us his name : well and what 
 does your sister say to it ? says he. She Lvs mtlf 
 
 certainly hear of IL a^ifrl^f ^m^f^ll^'^/^rlu^tj^ 
 he Will have no rest till he come to see ifer^a' a"n ' 
 
 pened at thejr visit to the merehant'* i«w,r Jl t 1 ^ 
 
 I am g ad, tor his sake, that God opened Ws evpV 
 But IS It no satisfaction to you, child savl hll 2nV 
 that you have been so farth'ern'strument& i^/^^^ 
 Madam, says she, I the instrument^ I have hp^n 
 none of the instrument, not I. Yes ^es rin L h " 
 aunt, you have, and he acknowledges it tSo «n!J 
 turning to the eldest .ister, says hefl think clS 
 
 Sstl^wha?'h^ ^'■'J''"' y'^"'- P'-omise^nd tell ou; 
 S!n/. ^^''^ '"'^ *° >'°" ^^''en he called here ai he 
 went out of town. Yes, Madam, says she, so I Jhink 
 
 *hl ?*"^ ^*^'* ^'^^^ ^'^v® told me this before sava 
 ^ot *^-""^''' ''^'''' ^«y' ^i^t^"-' replied TeT!(d'yIu 
 fhL"rr^''T''.f'?^^^ **'"^ *orbid me' telling you anv 
 tlung, and withdrew out of the room, aiid bid^me tfl 
 
140 
 
 it 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP, [parti. 
 
 my &unt ? Why that's true, I did so, says she 
 a^airi, and I have been so confused, that I know not 
 when I do well and when I do ill : indeed, niece, says 
 her aunt, I also obliged her not to tell you : for I 
 concluded, if there was -ny thin^ in it, we should 
 Jiear ot it again ; and if we did not, it could do vou 
 no service. 
 
 VVliile they were talking thus, a coach stoptat the 
 loor, and a servant brouffht word, their father, and 
 another gentleman with him was below stairs. 
 
 It will be necessary here to leave this part a while 
 and bring forward the story of the young gentleman 
 as far as it is needful to the coherence of thin^rs • the 
 story also will be very short. " 
 
 Tiie young gentleman having, as has been said, ta- 
 ken his new tutor, the poor countryman, into the 
 iiouse with him, received so much assistance from his 
 advice, and had daily such instruction in religious 
 things, from the wholesome, plain counsels of this 
 humble poor creature, that the benefit of them soon 
 appeared m his conversation, and his reformation soon 
 became visible in the general course of his life. He 
 kept company with the soberest, gravest, and I'st 
 religious persons that he could 'nd ; he kept a most 
 regular, reformed family : and seeming to resolve to 
 reside pretty much there, for the better government 
 ot his family, he took in a young minister of an ex- 
 traordinary good character, to be his chaplain, and 
 caused every servant who appeared disorderly, or vi- 
 cious, to be put away from iiis house. 
 
 TJiese, as the natural consequences of a sincere 
 work upon his own mind, were tiie visible produc of 
 that blessed change, and indeed an agreeable evidence 
 of the sincerity of it ; but they were far from being 
 the sum of things ; for, in a word, he proved to be a 
 most pious, sincere Christian in all his ways : and as 
 this was attended witli a natural sweetness in his 
 disn&3ition-, modesty and generosity in his manner, 
 and an excellent temper, free from all manner of pride 
 
 DIAL. I 
 
 or hyp 
 
 sorts o 
 
 and ho 
 
 men w( 
 
 Hev 
 
 rally ir 
 
 not be ] 
 
 who wj 
 
 the clos 
 
 religiou 
 
 meiits V 
 
 but the 
 
 Buti 
 
 tired lif 
 
 somethi 
 
 his hap 
 
 things 
 
 gan to s 
 
 much oi 
 
 the assij 
 
 had mad 
 
 a sense ( 
 
 Tiiese 
 
 and he i 
 
 him, th£ 
 
 that you 
 
 his soul 
 
 ticn, he 
 
 assistanc 
 
 ther help 
 
 he stood 
 
 he was w 
 
 the instri 
 
 good, wi 
 
 her for hi 
 
 Herefl 
 
 in religio 
 
 up a relig 
 
 mother, a 
 
 hr^*fc>-^ir£| 
 
 :;;j.^;i!-.*U>*it<4'.l-i:>.»«»j*v***j.AkVi*'^cJ^* 
 
IP. [part I. 
 
 lid 80, says she 
 that I know not 
 ieed, niece, says 
 tell you ; for I 
 n it, we should 
 it could do you 
 
 ach stopt at the 
 leir father, and 
 )w stairs, 
 lis part a while, 
 )un^ gentleman 
 e of things ; the 
 
 13 been said, ta- 
 ■yman, into the 
 iistance from his 
 iou in religious 
 pounsels of this 
 it of them soon 
 efornoation soon 
 of his life. He 
 ivest, and ^st 
 he kept a most 
 ig to resolve to 
 ter government 
 ister of an ex- 
 > chaplain, and 
 isorderly, or vi- 
 es of a sincere 
 iible produc of 
 eeable evidence 
 fur from being 
 proved to be a 
 8 ways : and as 
 weetness in his 
 in ••IS HianneF} 
 manner of pride 
 
 ithiJfi^* 
 
 DIAL. IV.] RKLJGIOUS COURTSHIP. m 
 
 or hypocrisy, it made him perfectly affreeahlp tn oil 
 
 tir^niS i^"v*^!' «"J°yrae"t of himself, and the re- 
 
 These thouglits dwelt upon his heart a good vhile 
 fi?m VT"^ ^''T'^^' '^'y ""easy: it oWrcd to 
 th^/v!?*^ certumly, as it had pleased God to make 
 
 h?s srurw^ir;r«' ^''' ^"^ ^^^ ^larm, anS sTrIke 
 uis soul with the hrst sense of his wretched oomU 
 
 ticn, he had certainly furnished her fo l£ far 1: 
 
 assis ance and made her capable of giv n" him W- 
 
 ther help light, and directiohs in his duty • and hat 
 
 fA^'S^:;?^^^^- ^0^ ^addesign^S 
 
 . He reflected, how suitable a disposition she was of 
 
 Vi%f,T '^i"«^ *° the design Kad of keTpnJ 
 up a religious familv, and h'*-" "''.".•— »^i u- "■ 
 
 "Other, a n.i„re«, ;„Wa iadfymiynSbe io'lTin' 
 
142 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 rPART I. 
 
 i • 
 
 I 
 
 
 and his whole house; who now saw the truth of the 
 excellent sentence she had often repeated to him, viz. 
 That a relifjious life was tiie only heaven upon earth. 
 He discoursed all these things with his faithful coun- 
 sellor, poor William, who pressed him by all the per- 
 suasions he could use, to no and make her his own ; 
 for it was the only fear, William said he had for him, 
 that he would marry some lady, who, having been 
 brought up in the usual levity of the times, would 
 pull him backward, rather than forward him in his 
 religious resolutions. 
 
 With thi'se thoughts he resolved to go to London, 
 and apply himself immediately to his former mistress, 
 and obtain her for his own, if possible ; but was ex- 
 ceedingly disappointed, when he found she and her 
 father, and all tiie family, were gone to the bath. 
 
 However, he waited, and hearing of her return, he 
 went immediately to make his visit, without any ce- 
 remony : when he found she was abroad, he fell to 
 work seriously with her father. He told him, that 
 the last tiuie he was tliere, he had indeed promised to 
 wait on her again, notwithstanding what had pas- 
 sed. Her father told him, he had received an account 
 how his daughter had used him ; that he was in the 
 country when it happened, othcrwi; c he should have 
 concerned himself to have secured liim better treat- 
 ment : tiiat he had resented it so already to his daugh- 
 ter, that he had scarcely been on speaking terms 
 with her since : that, as to his promise of coming 
 again, he believed she was convinced that she had 
 no reason to expect it, seeing no gentleman would 
 care to be ill used twice upon the same occasion. 
 The yoi g gentleman answered, that he was very 
 sorry he should resent any thing from his daugliter 
 on his account; tliat he was surprised to hear him 
 say, she had ill used him ; that, upon his word, slie 
 had not said or done the least unbecoming thing to 
 him : that he was even then, when she did it, fully 
 tiunviitced of the reasouabieness of what she had 
 
 DIAL. IV 
 
 said, ar 
 
 and alsc 
 
 that if s 
 
 njeaner 
 
 and tha 
 
 maiiitiiir 
 
 the leas 
 
 business 
 
 to see if 
 
 niands th 
 
 TJie fa 
 
 ments an 
 
 gentlema 
 
 of his ila 
 
 all he cou 
 
 it ; and n 
 
 declaratio 
 
 he found i 
 
 any more 
 
 desiring a 
 
 the terms 
 
 consenting 
 
 tleman's t 
 
 ladies wen 
 
 observed, i 
 
 as they we 
 
 I had gi 
 
 coach stop 
 
 up word, t 
 
 was below 
 
 be sure, v 
 
 comes runr 
 
 sl'ort, that 
 
 had brough 
 
 The aunt, 
 
 disorder, sai 
 
 a little, and 
 
 sister was v( 
 
 the passages 
 
?. 
 
 fPART I. 
 
 DIAL. IV.l 
 
 KKLKJIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 e truth of the 
 3d to him, viz. 
 en upon earth, 
 faithful couii- 
 by all the per- 
 
 her his own ; 
 le had for him, 
 ►, having been 
 
 times, would 
 ird him in his 
 
 50 to London, 
 rmer mistress, 
 ; but wus ex- 
 [ slie and her 
 the bath, 
 her return, he 
 ithout any ce- 
 >ad, he fell to 
 old him, that 
 id promised to 
 hat had pas- 
 ed an account 
 he was in the 
 e should have 
 better Ireat- 
 tohisdaugh- 
 >eaking terms 
 ise of coming 
 that she had 
 :leinan would 
 ime occasion, 
 he was very 
 his daughter 
 1 to heur him 
 his word, &he 
 ling thing to 
 ? did it, fully 
 ^hat she had 
 
 143 
 
 that if she had Jor e less si e wo, m '"^ '^^ '^ '''•^ '' 
 meaner principle^t than h/in ".^"^ '"*'''' "^^^^^ ^^m 
 and that her ^Lnsw.^^^^^ ''!,^ '^^^ '"'^'••ess of; 
 maiiiUuned them t af h J h '? ^°.°f » ^""^ «''« «o well 
 the least tl h. T/o X L !" Tl^^''' *'"""' "*^'' "«^» 
 
 business was i^ot now to SSr^ ""^ ^''^^ ^"« 
 to see if he could com nlvh«?f lier arg.iments, but 
 
 mands that she then S/ ,i^^^l ""'^^^ ^^'^ J"8t de- 
 TliP f..ft raade, than he could beforp 
 xne rather answered with a ^""*u ueiore. 
 
 raents and excuser and Ich A ^a^^ "'^"^ '^'^'"P''" 
 gentleman found that Lni^K^® discourses; but the 
 of his daughter's 5ef-usaf nT^^' '^''^'''^ **'« '^^'^^ 
 
 all he could 8^7 to coni?- "^'^ ^' ' '""^ ^" ""'^^ 
 it; and modeltfy fUS^\ rJ'""' ^ '/'^^l ^^^en 
 declaration aboS r«i.w ^ "" *^ ^^ ''^'"^''er '" any 
 
 he found there was no asL^nf^r^i' 'TV^^^^ ''^'^'^ 
 anymore about kLfh! . 't' i^«decli„ed saying 
 desiring another intPrvL ^"l"f ^*'« discoursi tS 
 
 the ter^ns of formerpol^ak^ '"'. -^^^^^^ "P«" 
 consenting to thev LK^f »i ' '''*"''^* ^^^ father 
 tleman's fhario L H.rnn^f^'^r'".^''" young gen- 
 
 was below stairs buthPvvv "'''''^'" gentleman 
 be sure, when the el! p J 1^? surprised, you may 
 comes running up stars Ljf''' K« "S^ .^own first, 
 8liort, that it wi^Mr ^ ' T' ^'^^ "•^«'«' " 
 had brought him * ^*^ '^^^' *^'"'' father 
 
 disIrcirsaid"rhJ;"^C^^^^^^^^^^^ appear in any 
 
 a little, and le tme^'o do^n fir^^^^^^ l^\'^u° ''^«" ''^y 
 si8ter ^as verv^a,fof^'^?,f^?i,^^^^ the youngest 
 
 ^i- passages ^rWrelaie^^Iir^JoIv^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
144 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PART I. 
 
 that although it was jioine surprise to tlie younj; lady 
 to have him coiue thus suddiiily and altruptly upon 
 her, not havinj; prepared iier thoughts, or resolved 
 upon wliat reception to u'ive aim, and not havii.j^ the 
 least intimation from her fatiier upon wliat account 
 he came, yet that slie was not alarmed as slie u^ed to 
 be ; the scruples of lier conscience were all answered j 
 her jealousies of his hypocrisy were over, and her 
 aftection had little or notliiug to struggle with now, 
 unless she might doubt his resentment of tilings past, 
 and whether lie came upon tiie old account, or rather 
 to perform liis promise, and make a visit of ceremony 
 only ; however, site begged her sister to speak to her 
 aunt, that tliey might stay at her house, and that she 
 might receive his visits there, because then she 
 would have her aunt to advise and con?ult with, on 
 every occasion ; and then that she would put oflF tlieir 
 being left together that night, that she might con- 
 sider things a little, and know the better how to 
 receive him. 
 
 Her sister went down, and sending for her aunt into 
 another room, proposed the first to her j let me alone, 
 niece, for that, says she. So the other went up to 
 her sister, and soon after the father calling for his . 
 two daughters, they went dawn into the room. It j 
 was easy lor her, at first sight, to perceive, that her' 
 lover was not at all altered in his affection to her j 
 that he did not come to her with resentment, or with 
 ceremony ; for he flew to her, took her in his arms, 
 and told her, he came to see if she had goodness 
 enough to pardon his not keeping his word with her, 
 in couiing to wait on her again, and also to claim her 
 promise of staying for him. He spoke this so softly, 
 as not to be heard by the company, and without ex- 
 pecting any answer, turned about to pay his respects 
 to her aunt ; in doing which, he told her, he hoped 
 she would give him leave to wait upon her niece at 
 her house. 
 
 The aunt took the hint, and turning to the father 
 
 DIAL. IV.; 
 
 Brother, 
 
 would Itj 
 
 the genti 
 
 care to p 
 
 terrupteci 
 
 bring it t 
 
 ray iieart 
 
 1 believe 
 
 Upon t 
 
 says alou 
 
 pany tliu 
 
 visit you, 
 
 Hainpsiei 
 
 above an 1 
 
 his euterti 
 
 coming hi 
 
 father plej 
 
 and there! 
 
 They both 
 
 coming or; 
 
 told her, 1 
 
 oa her, wh 
 
 their first 
 
 They ha> 
 
 had said, 
 
 wliole afte 
 
 they began 
 
 in a few \ 
 
 But, becau 
 
 «ary to fiu 
 
 useful as it 
 
 the particu 
 
 her and lier 
 
 As she h£ 
 
 every parti( 
 
 the first of i 
 
 full accoun 
 
 morning, af 
 
 in his new 
 
 32 
 
, [PART Z. 
 
 lie younjj lady 
 iltruptly upon 
 ;8, or resolved 
 ot havii.ij the 
 wliut account 
 as she Uhed to 
 all answered ; 
 over, and her 
 jle with now, 
 )t' things padt, 
 »unt. or ratiier 
 t of ceremony 
 ) speak to Iter 
 , and that she 
 use then slie 
 i-ult with, on 
 d put off tlieir 
 le might con- 
 )etter how to 
 
 ■ her aunt into 
 ; let ine alone, 
 iv went up to 
 lalling for his i 
 the room. It 
 eive, that her[ 
 jction to her ; | 
 ;raent, or with 
 er in his arms, 
 
 had goodness 
 ^ord with her, 
 o to claim her 
 
 this so softly, 
 d without ex- 
 ly his respects 
 
 her, he hoped 
 n her niece at 
 
 ; to the father. 
 
 WAL. IV.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. I45 
 
 Brother, says she to him privatelv I ^hini, le 
 wouhi kt my niece stay her^^/^r Se tt" ,n/S 
 tiie gentleman come to wait on her here f wm,U ♦ I 
 care to prevent such little scrup e?rVo.7rnow in' 
 terrupted that atlair before, and you wUl the slnp^ 
 bring ,t to an end according to your mhid VVm? «m 
 iny leart, says the father ; if we had done so be ori 
 1 beheve she had not played the fool as S did " ' 
 Upon tins, turning tiieniselves to the comn mv «»,. 
 8ays aloud, Niece, I don't intend to t^e X Jom 
 puny thus ; i suppose, if tiiis gentle an des.Vnrtn 
 
 Thev l^tf r ' ''r r y' -" ther^^^^^^^^^^ 
 They both bowed to lier in token of assent and n?-ht 
 coming on, her father talked of going awav s^^he 
 told her, he would take another opportuuity^to wait 
 
 ?be?;«vrt''.^tesr " ''' ''-'''' '^"^ ''- -"<^ 
 
 whole afternoon to themselves j'a.d? from that dai 
 they began to understand one another srwe | tlSt* 
 la a e^v weeks, matters began to draw To a cosh' 
 But, because souie part of tlfeir discourl is necel' 
 sary to fauish the former account, and miy be «« 
 useful as it ,s entertai.iing, I «hall first give fome of 
 the particulars, us they occurred in discourse between 
 
 As st hnf 'i' '■"V'^'^''' "^^'^ ^"» occ^ion''''''" 
 As bhe had advised with her sister and aunt uoon 
 
 tKr'; '"•'*'' ^"^ especially with her sist "r, Zm 
 Jbe first ot It; so she made no scruple to give them a 
 
 in'hii f; "''"-'j V'"" t?e'i"e.UHu had been above a week 
 i»^his new addresses, that coming into her aunt's 
 
 
146 
 
 RfiLIOIOUS COURTSHIP. [PAET !. 
 
 '■ I 
 
 : f 
 
 IJ I . 
 
 dressing-room, she found her sister there drinking 
 cottee with her auot; und her sister began with her 
 tbos : 
 
 Eld. gist. Well, sister, you used to be free with a 
 body, and tell one now and then how hings went 
 with you ; now we hear nothing from you : what, is 
 it all to be a secret ? 
 
 Aunt. Nay, niece, you ought not to press your 
 sister to (;ive an account of such things. 
 
 JSld. When she wanted advice, Madam, she was 
 open enough. 
 
 Aunt. For ray part I wish her as well as I do my 
 own children : but I cannot desire her to give any ac- 
 count of such things, unless she wants advice in any 
 thing ; and then she's a judge of that. 
 
 Yo. sist. Indeed, Madam, if 1 have not told any 
 thing, or every thing, both to you and my sister, it 
 has not been by a way of reserve j I am ready to give 
 a full account of all you desire; for there is nothing 
 passes between us, that need be concealed from you, 
 that are so near to me. As for my sister, I told her 
 every passage before; and as for you. Madam, did 1 
 not desire to be here, that I might consult and advise 
 with you, and have your directions in every step? and 
 1 have wondered you never asked about it before. 
 
 £ld. The cliief thing I want to know is, how you 
 find him, as to the grand affair of religion; and, whe- 
 ther you think him a hypocrite or no? 
 
 Aunt. Ay, that's what I am curious about. 
 
 Yo. I am but an ill judge of sincerity, especially in 
 a case where my inclinations, you know, are partial. 
 
 Bid. Why, you were the nicest creature alive be- 
 fore, sister ; and yet you know, your affections were 
 the same way then. 
 
 Aunt. Ay, niece, what can you say to that? 
 
 Yo. Madam, my sister takes it quite wrong. 
 
 Eld. How do I take you wrong, sister, did you not 
 conclude him to be an Atliei^t ? 
 
 Yo. But I never said he was a hypocrite; if he had 
 
 i 
 
 I -^ 
 
 Yo. 
 
 
, [PAKT f. 
 
 ere drinking 
 gan witli her 
 
 B free with a 
 things went 
 uu: what, is 
 
 press your 
 lam, she was 
 
 1 as I do my 
 I give any ac- 
 id vice in any 
 
 not told any 
 my sister, it 
 ready to give 
 re is nothing 
 ed from you, 
 r, I told lier 
 ludam, did 1 
 lit and advise 
 sry step ? and 
 it before, 
 is, how you 
 i; and, whe- 
 
 bout. 
 
 especially in 
 , are partial, 
 are alive be- 
 'ections were 
 
 I that? 
 vrong. 
 ', did you not 
 
 te : if he had 
 
 DIAL.IV.J RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. I47 
 
 teo"n ^""^te*"]^*" ''« was polite, I had been ef- 
 fectual y deceived; for it was too trrr, a..-! mL 
 said, a he had talked a little religiou iv, rmv, If he 
 had not openly nrofessed hiscontemp, of .11 re . ion! 
 
 Sbjecjfon '"** ""' ^""^ ^ ''"•^ "' '"' ""«^^ «"y 
 Armt That's true ; you are right niec hut how 
 
 heard at the bath about him true, or no » 
 
 Vo. Truly I believe they are. 
 
 £:fd. Are you but I beiieve still ? I would have had 
 the bottom of them all out by this time : what have 
 you been about all this while ? 
 
 ♦I, ^'^' "^fi'.'^ ^^ ''*T.® ^P^"* *" the time almost about 
 the great difficulty of judging whether he is sincere or 
 
 I iTre" j. ""^ *■■" '^'"'''^^ ^°' *'''"°"°*' '' y«'' 
 
 kirS'^nV 5*7' *''^" } think my sister is mad : what 
 kmd ot confession ofprmciples do you insist on prav» 
 
 I hope you don't set up to examine the heart, 
 ♦hi^^'- » !"?*" ^" "P°" ™i«akes with me, sister : 
 the dispute lies just the other way ; I am for allow- 
 ing him to be smcere, but he will not grant that I 
 have any reason to do so : he says, that I ought to 
 believe he is a hypocrite. b"!- lu 
 
 Aunt. Come, niece, let us have the whole story of 
 Vr wfti ^''n" *'"T ''o^ to J»dge of it together. 
 «o5 * ^'^/'^ HJy ^^^^^^ Madam: you know he 
 nt tL^lK™^ last Tuesday night, wb^n you first left 
 us together. Alter some compliments, he repeated 
 what he h.dsai.i before, that became t^ ask my par- 
 don or not coming again ; I told him, I did not ex- 
 pect him to come again, and, if I was to believe the 
 opinion ot other people, I had used him so rudely, 
 m.'*n 'i^*"* "°* reasonable to think, that any gentle- 
 So ^f' "^^^ 80 treated, would ever confe again. 
 ^i'*L^^I^^*^-«f''e"* >"^- He wondered, helaid.' 
 h«n«r'"i*"'''''"^ ^" ^^'i ^^' f"f *»« assured me, 
 he not only never said 1 used him ill, but never 
 
 i 
 
U8 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PART X. 
 
 if! 
 
 ft 
 
 thought so, and certainly I would not say so to any 
 body ! for he was persuaded, he said, that I did nei- 
 ther do it on purpose to use him ill, or believe it was 
 ill usage. I told him, be did me a deal of justice to 
 say I did not act on purpose to affront him ; but that 
 I could not but say, I thought I had used him a little 
 too rudely for all that ; and that if he thought so too, 
 I was very ready to take this opportunity to ask him 
 pardon, without so much as naming the necessity I 
 was in, on other accounts for doing what I did. 
 
 Aunt. You were very cou'tly in that particular, 
 niece : pray, what did he say to it ? 
 
 Yo. He told me, I had nothing to ask him pardon 
 for : and assured me, he had not been gone half an 
 hour from me, before he was convinced of the justice 
 of all I had said, and huw much reason I had to re- 
 fuse him, upon the nicety which I had refused him 
 upon. He added, that he had a thousand times since 
 reproached himself with the folly of his own conduct 
 at that time, or that iie could think it would recom- 
 mend him to any woman of virtue and sense, to boast 
 of having no thought or sense of religion : for. Ma- 
 dam, says he, had you taken no notice of it, I should 
 of necessity have concluded in a quarter of an hour 
 after, that you had no sense of virtue or religion your- 
 self. Why, what if I had not; said I; I had been 
 but the more suit ble to you, and you must have liked 
 me the better for that. He returned, no, Madum, 
 just the cont'iry ; for, though I own I had not 
 thought of reiijiion myself, yet had any woman told 
 me so of herself, I should presently have said, she 
 was no match for a gentleman ; for no man can be so 
 void of sense, as well as of religion, as not to know, 
 that a woman of no religion is no woman fit to make 
 a wife of: and this, says he, convinced me, that you 
 were in the right to refuse me on that account. 
 
 Amii. It was a very ingenuous acknowledgement, 
 I confess : the truth of it is so convincing, that I wish 
 all the I oung women, who have their settlementtt in 
 
[PART Z. 
 
 ay 80 to any 
 at I did nei- 
 )elieve it was 
 of justice to 
 im"; but that 
 i liim a little 
 ought so too, 
 ty to ask him 
 i necessity I 
 I did. 
 it particular, 
 
 : him pardon 
 gone half an 
 of the justice 
 i I had to re- 
 refused him 
 id times since 
 own conduct 
 vould recom- 
 iuse, to boast 
 on : for, Ma- 
 )f it, I should 
 ;r of an hour 
 ■eligion your- 
 ; I had been 
 Lsthave likeu 
 no, Madum, 
 n I had not 
 ' woman told 
 i\e said, she 
 nan can be so 
 not to know, 
 n iit to make 
 me, that you 
 ccount. 
 >wledgement, 
 ^, that I wiBh 
 ettleraenttt in 
 
 DIAL. IV.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 149 
 
 
 view, would reflect seriously on this point, That how- 
 ever wicked men are, they are always willing to have 
 sober, religious, and virtuous wives; and 'tis very 
 rarely, that the worst rake in nature, if his senses are 
 in exercise, desires to have a wife loose like himself; 
 —but pray go on, niece. 
 
 Yo. He told me, he was not gone a quarter of an 
 hour from me, but this reflection struck with horror 
 upon his mind ; what a dreadful creature am I? Sure 
 I am a horrid, frightful wretch ! that a woman of 
 sobriety and religion was afraid to venture to take me, 
 for fear of being ruined : and tiiat she should think 
 she declared war against heaven, and joined herself 
 to one of God's enemies! He was going on, but I 
 found his speech stopped of a sudden ; at which I was 
 a little surprised, and asked him if he was not well ? 
 He said, Y^s; and endeavoured to hide the little dis- 
 order he was in, and went on. He then told me, that 
 I had been really very just to hiu», and he had reason 
 to thank me for it; and that he had desired my sister 
 to express his mind fully on that account ; which he 
 hoped she had done. I told him, I could not now 
 enter upon an apology for what I had said to him so 
 long ago ; that, if I had treated him rudely, or se- 
 verely, I was very sorry ; but that what I did was 
 occasioned, as he knew very well, by his making such 
 open declarations, and such as I thought he really had 
 no occasion for, concerning his aversion to, and igno- 
 rance of all religion ; and that^it was really a dread- 
 ful thing to tlunk of marrying on such terras. He 
 replied, that if I had said less than I did, he must ne- 
 cessarily, when he came to his senses, have had a 
 meauer opinion of me than he had ; and, tj-at it was 
 really the reproaches that I had given him, and the 
 excellent reasons I had given for my resolutions of 
 rejecting him, that had now brought him back to me, 
 and had made him resolve to have no woman upon 
 earth but me, if 1 would not revoke the resolution I 
 had taken against him ; for nothing less, than so much 
 religion and virtue, could ever make him happy. 
 

 160 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PAKT Z. 
 
 Aunt. If he was sincere in this, I assure you, niece, 
 it was a high compliment upon religion, as well as 
 upon your conduct. 
 
 Yo. I told him, that, as the reason I had for using 
 him so was thus approved by himself, he bound me 
 to preserve the same resolution, on the hazard of his 
 having a less esteem for me. He confessed that was 
 very true ; "^inless he could convince me the cause 
 was removed, which he saw no hopes of; and that 
 was the reason that he came to visit me again, with 
 so little encouragement, that he knew not what to 
 think of it. 
 
 £Jld. What could he mean by that? why, sure, 
 then all we have heard must be false, and he is tho 
 same man as ever. 
 
 Vo. I was greatly startled at his words, and looked 
 steadily at him, but could judge notliing from his 
 countenance ; but it grew late, and he took his leave, 
 falling into some other cursory talk, and left me, I 
 confess, in tlie greatest confusion of thoughts imagin- 
 able: for I was dreadfully afraid he would declare 
 himself to have no sense of religion on his mind still ; 
 and then I was in a worse condition tlian at first, hav- 
 ing thus admitted a second treaty with him. 
 
 Aunt. I thought, child, you were a little perplexed 
 on Tuesday night, but I took it to be only a little 
 thoughtfulness more than ordinary, which is usual on 
 such Of "^asions. 
 
 Yo. vV^hen he came again next night, he made a 
 kind of an apology for having left me in more disor- 
 der than he used to do ; for, to tell you true, Madam, 
 says he, I was not able to go on with what I was say- 
 ing to you, neither am I now, says he, seeing I am 
 come to wait on you, and yet have effectually shut 
 the door against myself. I told him, I did not per- 
 haps rightly understand him, unless he would explain 
 himself : why, says he, I have first told you sincere- 
 ly, how absolutely I approve of the resolution you 
 took against me, and yet owned, and do still, that 
 
[PAKT Z. 
 
 e you, niece, 
 , as well as 
 
 ad for using 
 e bound me 
 azard of his 
 ed that was 
 e the cause 
 f; and that 
 again, with 
 not what to 
 
 why, sure, 
 nd he is tho 
 
 , and looked 
 ig from his 
 )k his leave, 
 d left me, I 
 !;hts imagin- 
 >uld declare 
 s mind still ; 
 it first, hav- 
 im. 
 
 le perplexed 
 snly a little 
 h is usual on 
 
 he made a 
 more disor- 
 ue, Madam, 
 it I was say- 
 leeing I am 
 :tually shut 
 did not per- 
 uuld explaia 
 you siucere- 
 soiution you 
 o still, that 
 
 DIAL. IV.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 151 
 
 I am no way able to convince you that the r nse is 
 removed. 1 told him, tliat I thought he was lujt just 
 to himself; and that the same thing, whatever it was, 
 that had power to convince him that I was under a 
 necessity to refuse him on that occasion, would cer- 
 tainly assist him to remove the cause. He turned 
 short upon me. But, Madam, says he, did not I 
 make conditions with you, that whenever I talked of 
 it, you should take me for a hypocrite? and did I not 
 declare positively to you, that I wuuld deceive you, if 
 I could. 
 
 Eld. Now I know what he meant. 
 
 Yo. Ay, so did I too ; but he run it up so high 
 against himself, that I could not answer a word, un- 
 less I would have turned the tables, as it were, against 
 myself, and courted him, by telling him how vvell I 
 was satisfied of his sincerity ; so that, in short, I was 
 
 Suite puzzled ; for what could I say to u man tliat 
 id, as it were, bid me believe him to be an hy- 
 pocrite ? 
 
 Aunt. You had a nice case before you, niece; pray 
 what said you to it ? 
 
 Yo. I told him very coldly, I was under a neces- 
 sity of believing every thing he said, because he had 
 been so sincere with me all along ; and I begged iiim 
 therefore not to tell me seriously now that he was a 
 hypocrite ; and that the cause of my refusing to talk 
 witli him before was not removed ; that I iioped it 
 was otherwise, but should despair of it, if it came 
 from his own mouth; and that if I was assured 
 from his own mouth that he came to deceive me, 
 he must needs know I had nothing else to do but 
 to act as I did before, which he had owned I had 
 reason for. No, Madam, says he, I do not say I 
 desire to deceive you ; but I say, that having told 
 you I would, you ought to believe I design it ; and 
 1 see no room to convince you that I am not an 
 
 WOUlu be 30 
 
 
 and know not whether 1 dare tell you that I am not 
 so, even in the best of me. 
 
152 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. fPABT l. 
 
 • 
 
 I 
 
 Eld. I could have put an end to all this nicety in 
 two words. 
 
 Yo. Then you will the more easily tell rae how I 
 shall do it. 
 
 Eld. Why, I would have told him that though I 
 had not so much concern lor him to busy myself to 
 inquire alter iiis conduct, yet I had not so little, as 
 not to be glad to know by , ; * hands than his own, 
 that he was no hypocrite, an;l that I rejoiced for his 
 sake to iiear tS)at his tyes were opened to that which 
 could alone mike him the happiest man alive. 
 
 Yo. Then I must at the same time have told him 
 that my scruples were all over about him : wJuch 
 was as much as to tell him, I would have Jiim when- 
 ever he pleased to take me : but I have not learntd 
 that way of talking: yet. 
 
 Aunt. Well, niece, and if you had, after so long 
 acquaintance, and so itmcIi pressuig, I do not think 
 you could have charge yourself with being forwan*. 
 
 Yo. Well, then, you wil the better like what has 
 happened since. Madam. 
 
 Aunt. With all my heart ; then, pray go on, ray 
 dear. 
 
 Yo. Why, Madam, this took up the first three or 
 four nights of our discourse ; the night before last, 
 he began a little more seriously, and came closer to 
 the thing itself: he told rae he had made himself 
 very melancholy with rae ; for he thought that in- 
 stead of courting me to have hira, he had taken a 
 great deal of pains to court me to refuse him again. 
 I told hira, X thought so too ; and that I confessed I 
 had been a little concerned about it, because I could 
 by no raeans understand him. He told me, it pro- 
 ceeded from the just reflection he made on his fool- 
 ish discourse two years ago, viz. that he wished he 
 had counterfeited religious discourse : and he would 
 certainly have cheated me if he cotUd, and he did not 
 doubt but he could have done it efFfctually, Those 
 words, lie said, flew in his face, when he went to say 
 
fPABT I. 
 
 ills nicety in 
 
 !ll me how I 
 
 at thougl) I 
 ly myself to 
 
 80 little, as 
 lan his own, 
 )iced for his 
 } that which 
 alive. 
 
 ve told him 
 dim : wJjicU 
 2 liim when- 
 
 not learnt d 
 
 fter 80 long 
 o not think 
 ingforwcin*. 
 iG what has 
 
 go on, mv 
 
 rst three or 
 before last, 
 ae closer to 
 ade himself 
 ht that in- 
 lad taken a 
 him again, 
 confessed I 
 use I could 
 me, it pro- 
 )n his tool- 
 wished he 
 i he would 
 i he did not 
 l!y. Those 
 went to say 
 
 DlAr,. IV. 
 
 URLiniOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 153 
 
 any thinq; seriously to me, and persuaded him liiat I 
 would believe he was only counterfeit iriff serious 
 thiMfrs on purpose to deceive me. I answered, he 
 might reproach hin.self with those things, but I did 
 not ay any stress on them ; for I believed he had too 
 much honesty, whether it proceeded from nligion or 
 no, to oftir to deceive me in a thing, in which he 
 ovyned so ing( nuously I was riirht. Tlien he told me. 
 with ilie greatest affection in his discourse, that ever 
 1 saw 111 my lite, that he must confess, as he said be- 
 fore, that my rejecting him, as I had done, had made 
 impressions on iiia mind quite different from what he 
 had bftore : but that he found it the hardest thintr in 
 the world to express what had happened to him on 
 that account, and the thoughts of those things which 
 Had taken up his mind since that : only this he would 
 own to me, that I was in the right: th^.t he had 
 most notoriously exposed himself to me, and that he 
 tiad perfectly the same opinion now of those things, 
 which I had before, viz. that a religious li.'e was the 
 only heaven upon earth : but he could go no farther, 
 he said, nor could he answer for himself how far such 
 tJioughts might carry him, or express tome the par- 
 ticulars that had lain upon his mind about them ; 
 and liovy tar what he had said would satisfy me, he 
 did not know. I told him, I hoped he did not think 
 1 set up tor a judge of the particulars: that my ob- 
 jection before lay iigainst a {general contempt of all 
 religion ; that it was my terror to think of ui-irryinsr 
 an enemy to God, one that had no sense of the .-om- 
 mon duties we all owe to him that made us : but tliat I 
 never pretended to expect a confession of faith irom 
 bim, or any man, in such a case. He told me, he 
 thought it required more assurance than he was mas- 
 ter ot, to talk any thing of himself that way, at least 
 till there was more intimacy between us: that he 
 thought religious things (talked of in that manner) 
 r-^^svea an injury Irom the very diseouisr; and that 
 It was next door to boasting of them, which was the 
 
 ^ 
 
154 
 
 BKLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PART I. 
 
 worst kind of Itypocrisy, and if he con Id say no more 
 ot luraseU but tJiis, he hoped J wouid take it for a 
 sufficuint testimony of the alteration nf j*.-^ fhoLnrh,? 
 Vfz. that he loved me for the honour I rt-id to^reii- 
 ' ^jou, and for that steadiness which had lii-tde me re- 
 iaae !v5!a before. T toid him, I saw his difticulty, and 
 I Uiiit I u ould abiJto him the trouble of entering into 
 Par;«i;iiry, which I found he was too modest to re- 
 late, I nil which however I was not quite a stranger 
 to ; Aa.i that I desired we mip:ht speak no more of a 
 tbing which 1 knew it was difficult for him to be free 
 in. He blushed as red as fire, when I said I was not 
 a stranger to the particulars, wliich he d. lined to 
 express, and said not one word for a good while I 
 told him, I knew it was a point that could n,)t come 
 easily trom a man's owp mouth ; that I did jiot de- 
 sire it, and would make him easy, so far as to tell 
 him, I was fully ' dsfied he was no hypocrite, and 
 Jioped he would give himself no more trouble about 
 It. He took me in his arms, and told me very affection- 
 ately that I had said that of him, that he would give 
 all the world to be able to say of himself ; that, how- 
 ever, he hoped to be beholden to me for more than 
 that : and as I had given him the first view of the 
 Deauty of a religious life, he expected a great deal 
 more from my assistance and example in pursuin? 
 the steps of it. I told him, thaii I begged of him we 
 might avoid all religious compliments, for they were 
 the oddest things in nature; that he quite mistook 
 me J that it was not because I thought myself capable 
 ot guiding m religious matters, that I insisted on the 
 necessity of not marrying a man void of religion, but 
 from a due sense of just the contrary, viz. th» want 
 1 should bem of being guided and assiste reli- 
 gious things upon all occasions mvself; thtf mid 
 be a fatal 'r 'stake the other way,' an-" ^re^ to my 
 disadvant . to have him expect mor oe than 
 ne would ; and that, on the contr ' . (hou"»'* 
 i had now so much less religion tha i : "that^he 
 
 DIAI.. IV, 
 
 ought to 
 relused 1 
 
 This is 
 Only wit 
 sant stor 
 the court 
 I cannot 
 
 [Here 
 and the 1 
 ligious li 
 
 Aunt. 
 instructi( 
 Well, nie 
 
 Yo. W 
 
 Aunt. 
 greatest 
 met with 
 
 Yo. Ai 
 him then 
 
 Aunt. 
 you desii 
 example 
 in Britai 
 husbands 
 
 Thus f£ 
 this storj 
 this, the 
 married, 
 that couli 
 well-gove 
 agreeable 
 temper, d 
 thing else 
 they were 
 knew then 
 
[part I. 
 
 >ay no more 
 i^ti it for a 
 Ib thougin 9, 
 iiid to rdi- 
 iJsdeme re- 
 iiculty, and 
 itering into 
 dest to re- 
 
 a stranger 
 > more of a 
 n to be free 
 <i I was not 
 declined to 
 I while. I 
 I n(>t come 
 lid not de- 
 
 as to tell 
 ocrite, and 
 iible about 
 y afiection- 
 would give 
 that, how- 
 more than 
 lew of the 
 great deal 
 1 pursuing 
 ot him we 
 they were 
 e mistook 
 elf capable 
 ted on the 
 igion, but 
 
 the want 
 isA 5 , leli- 
 it;it juld 
 
 '^ to ray 
 Qe than 
 
 k ihniinrhf 
 - — \,.,l^.,„ 
 
 that he 
 
 DIAX. IV.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 165 
 
 ought to refuse me now, for the same reason that I 
 relused him before. 
 
 This is the sum of our affair, and thus it stands, 
 onJy With this addition, that he told me a very plea- 
 sant story, which happened at a chocolate house near 
 the court, which is so useful, as well as diverting, that 
 I cannot but relate it to you. 
 
 [Here she tells them the story of the two beaux 
 and the lord, discoursing of the suitableness of a re- 
 ligious life, to the life ol a gentleman.] 
 
 Aunt. That story is fit to be read for a lecture of 
 instruction to all the young gentlemen of this age. 
 Well, niece, you are a happy girl. 
 
 Fo. Why, Madam? 
 
 Aunt. Only in being courted by a gentleman of the 
 greatest sincerity, modesty, and piety, that ever I 
 met with in my life. 
 
 Fo. And would you advise me, Madam, to have 
 nim then ? 
 
 Aunt. Ay, child, without any more difficulty, if 
 you desire to be the happiest woman alive, and an 
 example and encouragement to all the young women 
 m Britain, for rejecting profane and irreligious 
 
 Thus far, I think, contains all the useful part of 
 this story, only adding, that it was not long after 
 this, the tather and all friends assenting, they were 
 married, and lived afterward* the happiest couple 
 that could be imagined; having a sober, regular, 
 well-governed family, a most pleasant, comfortable, 
 agreeable conversation with one another: suitable in 
 temper, desires, delights, and, in a word, in every 
 thing else ; and what made them completely happy, 
 they were exemplary hi piety and virtue to all that 
 knew them. 
 
 4 
 
RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 PART II. 
 
 We have seen the happy conduct of the youngest of 
 If V"'*'^ daughters of the gentleman, whose family 
 this book began with, and the comfortable success of 
 »L .1^^*^*^"^ daughter fiora the beginning, acted 
 upon other principles, or rather upon no prindples at 
 ^fi'Jr i^"" li'^tory may, perhaps, be no less fruJMuI 
 ot instruction than the other, though something more 
 tragical as to her own part of it. 
 
 She had declared to her sister, as appears in the 
 beginning ot her story, that she would not trouble 
 herselt, when it came to her turn, what religion the 
 gentleman was of, or whether he had any religion or 
 Th^i f ^''^ ^"^^ * Sood settlement; and now we 
 shall see her be as good as her word. 
 
 Her father, whose character I have sufficiently 
 f Jn^" ot already, having had. for many years, a 
 considerable trade in Italy, wLre he onci lived, 
 there came an English gentleman to visit him, who 
 had been formerly contemporary with him, and loiiir 
 been his correspondent or factor afc Leghorn : and 
 who, being grown very rich, was come to En-land. 
 where he resolved to settle. There were some ac- 
 counts, It seems, depending between them, which 
 they had appointed a day to settle and balance, in 
 urder to exciiauge rrleasea; which being all finished 
 
 •.••„fv, ^ ,„. . 
 
TART n.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 157 
 
 youngest of 
 hose family 
 e success of 
 ning, acted 
 Tinciples at 
 less fiu'Mul 
 ithlng more 
 
 ears in the 
 lot trouble 
 •eligion the 
 religion or 
 id now we 
 
 lufficiently 
 y years, a 
 )iice lived, 
 him, who 
 , and long 
 lorn : and 
 > £n<;land, 
 '■ some ac> 
 m, which 
 talance; in 
 U finished 
 
 
 in the morning, the father of these ladies takes the 
 gentleman into his coach and carries him home to 
 dinner with him, where the old gentleman entertain- 
 ed hiin very handsomely, and where he had an op- 
 portunity to see his two maiden daughters ; for the 
 youngest, who had been married some time, was gone 
 into Hampshire to her country seat with her husband. 
 This Leghorn merchant no sooner saw and con- 
 versed a little with the ladies, but he took a fancy to 
 the youngest, and from that time resolved to make 
 her his wife. It was not long before he let them 
 know his mind: and, having made very handsome 
 proposals to her father, he (tlie father) received him 
 with a trankness suitable to their long intimacy and 
 aciuaintance, and told him, Witli ail his heart, if his 
 daughter and he could agree. 
 
 Before 1 bring them together, it is proper, to the 
 relisii ot the story, to take a little notice of tlie cha- 
 racters of the tvrc young persons, of wliose story we 
 ought to have a general idea, that we may not be left 
 to gather it up slowly among the particulars. 
 
 The young lady was very sober, virtuous to the 
 nicest degree, extremely well-bred, and wonderfully 
 good-humoured. She was likewise a very lovely 
 beautiful person, tlie handsomest of the three sisters* 
 beyond all comparison. As to religion, she had a 
 very good foundation of knowledge, and had done 
 nothing to make ir, be supposed she was not truly 
 religious in practice ; but slie was not altogether so 
 grave and serious as her eldest sister, much less was 
 she so strict and devout as her younger sister that 
 was married, as miglit be observed from what passed 
 between theii> at first: her temper was sprightly and 
 gay; and, though she g " neU herself so, that she 
 gave every one room to s hat she had a true sense 
 of religion at bottom, ai.d a fund of good principles 
 and notions in her mind, yet she was young and mer- 
 ry, and did not tie herself up so severely in such things 
 as her sisters had done ; which, though it was no part 
 
 r^ 
 
mvi^ 
 
 158 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP, [PAKT li. 
 
 of her happiness to the affair before her ; yet it ren- 
 dered her very agreeable to the father ; and particu- 
 larly, it made the affair with the Kentleraan much less 
 trouble to him than he had with her two sicters. 
 
 The gentleman was, as I have observed, a very 
 handsome a[;roeable person, perfectly well-bred, hav- 
 iiitf lived abroad, arJ seen u great deal of the world. 
 He was also a man of excellent parts and sense, and 
 talked admirably well almost on every subject that 
 came in his way ; spoke st ^eral languages, and, in 
 shore, was not only a -complete well-bred merchant 
 but much of a gentleman : and all this to be addea, 
 that he was very sober, grave, and oftentimes, as 
 occat ion offered, his discourse upon religious affairs 
 discovered him to be very serious and religious. As 
 to his estate, it was not very well only, but extraor^ 
 dinary : he was indeed a little too old, having lived 
 abroad twenty-two ycnrs, and was about so much 
 above twenty, whic'j wai* the age of the lady. How- 
 ever, as this was an advanf ge in many other ways, 
 through b' iudgiarnt and ixperiencrt in the world, 
 the father , ?de na scruple at all of it, nor did his 
 daughter inquire much alter it. 
 
 In a word, having been introduced to the young 
 lady, she mr ■ ,ave been a woman of . mch more 
 nicety and scrp^jle than she professed herself to be, if 
 she had disliked any thhig either in his per jiior 
 circumstances ; and, therefore I >*ving kept ner com- 
 pany for some weeks, tiings oegan to draw near a 
 close, when one even' aftrt the gentleman had 
 been with her, and go aw , her eldest sits ter and 
 she happened to meet and ie following dialogue 
 between them may farther explain the case. 
 
[PART II. 
 
 yet it ren- 
 nd particu- 
 in much less 
 sisters. 
 ved, a very 
 1-bred, hav- 
 f the world. 
 i sense, and 
 ubject that 
 es, and, in 
 
 merchant 
 ) be addeu, 
 >ntinies, as 
 ious affairs 
 igious. As 
 ut extraor- 
 aving lived 
 t 80 much 
 dy. How- 
 »ther ways, 
 
 the world, 
 lor did his 
 
 the young 
 luch more 
 slf to be, if 
 
 Eer . jii or 
 er com- 
 raw near a 
 leman had 
 ; sister and 
 9 dialogue 
 
 DIAL. I.J RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 DIALOGUE I. 
 
 150 
 
 Eld. sisl Well, sister, how do you g on » when 
 "^y'i" ^'l '«y tlje wedding clothes ? ^ 
 think I ^^-^'Z,^""'' K"«^v: even when you will, I 
 
 Eld Pnthee let's have done with it then I want 
 
 S7 ^''^^'^'^^'-^ then I can talk free y io Jim ' 
 
 Jist. Why, you may call hira brother now, can't 
 
 m ifpt ,''"'* ^'*; somebody else, you know, and yet 
 •Suimt ^ ^'''^ °* ''^'■^ °* '^ afterwards for 
 sistei!) "®^" ^® gentleman that courted the third 
 Sist. Ye.., yes, I ^ neraber it: but I'll assure vou 
 I am none ofthose, 1 either make an end otft one 
 way or another in less than so many months 
 herf ^ ^"P' ^''"'' ^^Jections are not so just as 
 
 Sist I don't enter into her scruples I assure you. 
 Eld. I hope you have not her occasion, 
 not I ^^' '*°"'' ^^"""^ ""^^ occasion she had, 
 
 wiStS?..^."^^' '''*?■■ ^ ^°"'' ««y «« neither; 
 wituout doubt her occasion was very iust • and vow 
 
 have no? fS™'"^"^*"'''? "P^" you f bit I'hope ^CS 
 Hdve not the same occasion. 
 
 I ifavP ni nUr ?°^ ^^'^t you mean bv an obhgation ; 
 
 L'a^on ilTf ' y""" **^.'?' '''t^'^ • I mean the obli- 
 gation Uiat is upon us all from the charrre mv mother 
 
 g'i:>usl^,^sbrdl'^' '''"'"'^'^ ''^^' uTarr'J^inrret 
 coS ^ ^'''?^ ".P.°? ^'^^t my motht said to be ffood 
 but I !;, nn;\oT' "i ,^\«"«"i'i giv. its due weight : 
 but I do not take it to be a command that binds me 
 
 I 
 
160 
 
 nELIOIOUS COURTSHIP. PART xr. 
 
 
 absolutely In duty to my mother's words. Dutv 
 certauily ends when death si^parates. 
 
 Eld. I know not whether it does or no, sister. 
 
 Sut. I think you are too superstitious that way 
 
 Eld. Well, but suppose it to be but as advice vet 
 It has a double force with it. First, us it came from 
 a tender, dear, and most affectionate mother, who not 
 only most passionately loved us, but had an excellent 
 judgment to direct her to give us the best counsel. 
 And, secondly, as our own judgment and consciences 
 must testify with lier, that what she enjoined us to 
 observe, is the most reasonable thing for us to do 
 and that can be imagined for our own advantage as* 
 well for our happiness here us hereafter. 
 
 Sist. You lay a greater stress upon it than I do I 
 ^^ .}\ '* ™y mother had been alive, indeed, I 
 should have thought myself obliged to be guided by 
 Her direction, and her injunctions would have been 
 positive commands ; but then, she would have been 
 able to judge of particular circumstances, aud would 
 Jiave given her advice accordingly. 
 
 Eld. But her advice to us was therefore suited to 
 Jier present state of absence, and went no farther 
 than to a case described by its own circumstances, 
 ana which nothing can alter ; because the obli-ration 
 supposes the circumstance, and where the circum- 
 stance is not, the obligation ceases. 
 Sut. You talk so learnedly, I want an exphination. 
 ±.td. No, sister, you don't want an explanation, I 
 am sure : but you are disposed to lay it all aside, as 
 a thing you have no need of; however, I'll explain 
 myself m a very few words. Our mother warned us 
 agamst marrying men of no religion, that is, men 
 that made no profession of a reverence to God and 
 His worship : this want of a religious profession is the 
 circumstance which I speak of: iUW circumstance 
 floes not aooear. the advipp ma^pa ,.,. «„- ~.,«.i — 
 Knew we could not judge ot sincerity. 
 
DlAt. I. HRLIOIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 161 
 
 SUt. Well, 80 then if a man tolls me he is rplitiioug 
 it iH well-enough, whether In- Hp.ak. truth or „o ' 
 
 AM. V\hm iummLs we talk of tl.is, I l,„ne we have 
 an assurance ot tlie contrurv in Mr. . 
 
 Sist. No, not I indeed • what* assurance can I 
 hiiye I He seems to be a sober man, that's all 1 know 
 
 V I 1 1 • • 
 
 Bid. Well, and I would know more of it, however 
 II J were you. "-'ci, 
 
 Sist Why, I do know something more of it too- 
 now I think »t It; for we were talkinjr of such things 
 or.e night, when we happened to mention one Sir 
 Kohert — -, and he snoke of him with a great deal 
 ot indignatior.; he saii he was a horrid atheistica 
 wretch, and that he could not bear his company ; for 
 he was always makins: a jest of sacred thi/.j-s, banter- 
 
 '"^m" [^i'^'.''" "• .*"^** * manner, that no sober mind 
 could abide it without horror. 
 
 fw wu" H'^**^ isitomethinpr in that I assure you. 
 
 Sist. Why, I take it to be a plain declaration, that 
 he has a just reverence for religion, as my sister took 
 the contrary m her lover, for a declaration of his 
 having no religion at all. 
 
 Md. Nay, he told her he had not, in so many 
 words and ihat he had not troubled his head about 
 It, and did not intend to do it. 
 
 Sid. Well, then, and this gentleman has told roe 
 ne lias; lor he owns he has ^o much regard for reli- 
 gion, that he cannot hear it ridiculed and bantered 
 without horror. •^"••tcicu 
 
 £ld. This is something, I confess, ii gon^ral : but— 
 
 itist. But what ? what would you. ha we me to do^ 
 
 Wustl examine his principles and opinions? Shall 
 
 I ask hira to say his catechism ? If I should talk on 
 
 wifp wm 'ha fh-^rV"r,'. ^^^,' ^'"d °f '" catechetical 
 wife will he thmk I shall make? He'll think I shall 
 
 be a school-mistress rather than a wife. 
 -.•«T~"-"V*'"' li"* T.ii-.uj5ii yvu are so pert wi in your 
 8i8^r, forsooth, you need not be so with hira, I hope. 
 
 ,-;, 9/'^' 
 ^ *-,.' 
 
162 REBIQIOUS COURTSHIP. [pabt IX. 
 
 Nor need I tell you how to manage such a nohit • 
 but I warrant you I would find out what his oSfnnn 
 was, oiie way or another: why, heTav bea £S 
 
 Mid. Well, you are an easy body : a little matt... 
 saLsfles you. I should presently Lve saM I h„^t 
 wliV^lr"'" '"? P"''«tant Church ot-E id' 
 
 L elbli's hWlaVi'' °"'^ "'"""' "'■ J2»8'''"1 '"M 
 l.ypocrit!r:;,/chS.s^''"l''J;f »" *"'' "»■•''' to "e 
 
 in mv S; ^' ^ "''^' ^'"^'•^ '^'^^'^ a vile distinction 
 
 ^ sil TH ''^''' '*^"y ™^«»' the Popisl/church 
 Ai5^. These are remote things, sister • for rnv n«rf 
 
 Jeern?b^dT;^"^^ ' ' ««^ ^--^ ^l^lf^d 7^' 
 
 surf "^^ ^* '' * '^'"^' °^ °^°"'^»t' «i«ter ; I would be 
 
 *^vi* ^"* '' ^ ^^^® "^ '■^o™ to suspect. 
 .^^f/'^-^P'^" yo» do not answer the nh!i.n«nn „«„ 
 weir under to luy mother's desire. -'a— - J"** 
 
[PAHT II. 
 
 ch a point : 
 liis opinion 
 be a Papist 
 em are very 
 erently and 
 
 • am sure I 
 bowever, I 
 
 heard him 
 )ther time, 
 eclared lie 
 
 as by law 
 
 tie matter 
 d) I hope, 
 ' England. 
 Catholics 
 gland that 
 
 Jrld to be 
 spect any 
 >nestman, 
 equivocal 
 listinction 
 
 le 
 
 I have 
 
 people 
 
 xpression 
 
 declara- 
 
 niaintain 
 
 law; and 
 
 liurch. 
 
 »ny part, 
 
 fid I 8U8- 
 
 (vould be 
 
 
 wainiO religious courtship. 163 
 
 tf: i? """I"""!' ray mother wenuoo far 8i,ter 
 
 husband and „ife by reason ^^ly'l^t^Z Xf 
 
 re.fl li eXV*?df " """"""'» "■» "«« ""le 
 £!ld. I don't know that neithpr- vam o„j t i 
 
 are ruined as to their peace -and v^l.nh ***""'''** 
 ,4 — ^?'.^''^^«':' I a'n"ot willinsr to he ,\^o.'...^ 
 
164 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part xi. 
 
 :^i 
 
 the worship of God, and the bein^ of God ; nay, you 
 cannot but remember, how the other night at supper 
 he discoursed very gravely ; and, I assure you, to 
 me he was very agreeable, about the men of the town 
 pretending to be Atheists, and to deny the being of a 
 God, and the next minute profanely swearing by his 
 name. "^ 
 
 Bid. All this is true, and clears you from the first 
 scruple ; so far, I may grant, you are within my 
 mother's first injunction. Not to marry a man that 
 does not profess to be religious in general ; but that is 
 but one part. What say you to the other. Not to 
 marry any man, however professing himself to be 
 religious, timt is not of the same opinion with your- 
 self •' 
 
 Sist. Youwillcarryevery thing up to the extremity, 
 but however, I have a way for that too ; and you 
 shall not charge me with slighting my mother's 
 advice. 
 
 Bid. What way have you got? I doubt it is but 
 an odd one. 
 
 Sist. Why, if he will not be of ray opinion, I'll be 
 of his opinion; and so we will agree one way, if we 
 can't t'other. 
 
 Bid. Tijat's boldly said, and I must own to you, 
 signifies you are yet to choose in your own opinion. 
 Pray what if he should be a Roman Catholic ? as I 
 nmted before ; you know he has lived in Italy. 
 
 Sist, Well, if he should be a Christian Catholic, I 
 am a Cutholic Christian ; so we r ed not fall out for 
 all that. 
 
 Bfd. 1 persuade myself, you are not so indifferent 
 as you mtke yourself, or else (which I hope rather) 
 you are jestmg with lue, or you talk thus upon a sup^ 
 position, that you are sure he is a Protestant. 
 
 Sist. Well, you are ill the right there loo: I cannot 
 entertain such thoughts of him j besides, my father- 
 told rae he was a Protestant. 
 
 £id. It is our misfortune, sister, that my father 
 
[part II, 
 
 I ; nay, you 
 It at supper 
 ure you, to 
 of the town 
 e hein{< of a 
 aring by his 
 
 )m the first 
 within my 
 i man that 
 but that is 
 er, Not to 
 nself to be 
 with your- 
 
 extreraity, 
 ) ; and you 
 y mother's 
 
 >t it is but 
 
 ion, I'll be 
 way, if we 
 
 vn to you, 
 t^n opinion, 
 lolic? as I 
 aly. 
 
 Catholic, I 
 'all out for 
 
 indifferent 
 
 ipe rather) 
 
 pon a sup" 
 
 nt. 
 
 : I cannot 
 
 my father 
 
 my father 
 
 DIAI.. I.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHI|». IQfi 
 
 does not much concern himself about these things, 
 he leaves us to our fate. ^ » 
 
 Sist. And is that our misfortune, say you ' I do 
 not see It I confess ; for I think 'tis our business to 
 choose for ourselves: and I observe, where Sera 
 are so very strait laced, and confine their children to 
 such and such particulars in the husbands or wfves 
 they shall choose, their children generally choose 
 without much regard to those injunctions, or e^e fly 
 directly m the face of them, and go quite contrary? 
 
 ±.ld. You argue, sister, from the practice to the 
 duty, as if because children do not regard the care 
 and concern of their parents in their marriage there! 
 fore they ought to do so ; and it was not'the duty 
 aboE'' '•^^'^«^*^'>^°'' or to concern themsdves 
 
 Sist. I don't inquire what is the duty of parents • 
 I «™ speaking what is the practice of children ' 
 
 sLT ?t"h;^C".'*K°°* J"'.^""y t'*'*^ practice, I hope ? 
 
 i:iust. I think, take one time with another child rPii 
 do as well, when they trust to their Ln d'Ject ons ? 
 mean when they choose with judgment ; pray what 
 uould become of us if we were just to follSw our fa- 
 ther's direction? you know, he would d rect us to 
 ment ' first that comes, i/he lik^S'Lt the settle- 
 
 Bid. That's a wrong way of arguing, sister that 
 iTZZ.'^'i''' neglects^t, tlJefor^e' chSn a?e 
 ?hL 5L^"'- *^/ ""^'^ P^'*"'^^ ^ '^« their duty, and 
 that show a just concern for a religious happiness of 
 tiieir children, in settling them in tlie world^^ 
 
 ^ist. 1 do not see much difference I n^v ■ h.,f 
 sometimes the one do as well as the othe^^ ^' ''"' 
 
 £^ia. Yes, there is this diffennce. sister that 
 
 7uteV'uXltirif''^ '""^ child%n"Seldom' 
 ruined, unless it be by their own ^vilful obstinacy. 
 
 aue. And sometimes children are ruined, let thp 
 
 W\t\m».r.^. 
 
 thP,nlri«!fo J"^" oe»li nay, soir ♦imes the parents 
 themselves know not what to direct. 
 
!i( 
 
 if 
 
 II 
 
 \ } 
 
 166 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part II. 
 
 JS'/rf. You may as well say, that, because doctors 
 die, nobody should take physic. 
 T f*^^" ^^t'ly one has eyes "to choose for thf«w«.lves- 
 
 case, That love is Wind; folks may easily aee the 
 difference between a religious man and an A^he st 
 without their parents. ^uieisi, 
 
 ^ ^/</. But it is a matter of such weight and sn 
 irrecoverable when done, that we oufjht to see with 
 as many eyes as we can -, and a careful, reli Jr us 
 parent is a good scout to look out for usriS 
 pilot to steer us, and a good counsellor to advise u* 
 as von'dn t"«V'^ the want of it, perhaps, so much 
 llllf iu ^^^' sometimes, the very mistake of the 
 parent, is the cause of the ruin of the children 
 *u- , : . ™"'*^ confess, I do see the want of it and J 
 think it is a sad thing to be left so, as we are' wUh- 
 out the gu hie of our parents, for al thaT; and iT we 
 in particular, should be ruined by it, 'our lathe; 
 would have small satisfaction in his o^n conduct' 
 tissuch a management makes children slight thei^ 
 their father's directions, as they do. 
 
 Sist. Well our father does kind things for us 
 another way, however. ^ 
 
 md. I don't desire to reflect upon my father • but 
 If his care was as much employed in choosing reiiiti- 
 ous husbands lor us (since he will have us marry) as 
 lie IS is m getting portions for us, we should find the 
 
 anrour'fwn. '' '""'^ '°°'*" '° ^'' ^"^^^^ satisfaction! 
 
 ^fi' «!f "*"^.* *®^^ *^e more care of it ourselves. 
 Why, that is the point I am upon ; I wish 
 
 TamTnn ^^ '" ''''"' '''''''' ^°^ ''' ^' yo"^ case That 
 A. uiu upon, 
 
 ob^ct.' ^ ^'^''^ ^"^'"^ '^' ^ '^'"^^ ^ ^^^ "^ '''on* -0 
 
 I k"^'^;!'^*" ?y "** ™'*''^' *'«*«'^> you are resolved, 
 I see, aiid must go on ; but vou will huv vnnr ex- 
 
 perieQce at a terrible price; and if, upon tiie trial, 
 
 *k;. 
 
[part II. 
 
 ause doctors 
 
 themselves j 
 eijihi m this 
 jsily aee the 
 
 1 an Atheist, 
 
 i?lit, and so 
 
 to aee with 
 
 jI, religious 
 
 ' us, a good 
 
 advise us. 
 
 ps, 80 much 
 
 stake of the 
 
 Idren. 
 
 of it, and I 
 
 2 are, with- 
 ; and if we, 
 
 our father 
 n conduct; 
 slight their 
 
 Qgs for us 
 
 ather; but 
 sinif religi- 
 5 marry) as 
 lid find the 
 atisfaction, 
 
 ourselves. 
 3n ; I wish 
 r case that 
 
 room to 
 
 i resolved, 
 
 \r YOUr fix— 
 
 the trial, 
 
 DXAL. I.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 167 
 
 you should be mistaken, yoo will think of -his dis- 
 course^ hereafter. ' 
 Sist. Wliat would you have me do ? 
 Bid. Do : I would enter into a serious discourse of 
 religious matters with liira ; I would know how we 
 were to live together, whether as Heathens, or « 
 Christians ; I would find out his principles, if he has 
 any, or find out that he has none; this is not cate- 
 chising lam, nor is there any thing indecent in it. 
 You are not ashamed to inquire into his estate, and 
 make provision for yourself out of it by a good join- 
 ture : and will you be ashamed to inquire after that, 
 wmoh IS of ten thousand times the consequence ' 8<ire 
 you can never go on hood-winked at all hazard* 
 tiius, in that part that is for the happiness of you-r 
 lift>, soul, and body ; besides, had not you your sister's 
 example before you? 
 
 Hist. Why, 1 tell you, it is clear to me, that he is a 
 man that has a sense of religion upon iiis mind • I 
 gave you an instance of it in his detestation of Sir 
 Kobert and his practices ; if my sister could h*re 
 hud but so much satisfaction as Dkat, she never 
 
 would h> ve refused my brother . 
 
 £lid. iTou wrong ray sister, I assure you : she did 
 not come so far ii*deed ; because she came to a clear 
 discovery that he had no religion at all, which was 
 tlie hrst point; but J can assure you, if she had o-ot 
 over that point, she would have inquired farther- 
 tor, tis a poor satisfaction' that is founded upon 
 negative religion only. '^ 
 
 Sist. If we expect to search into positives, as the 
 world goes now, I think we put a hardshin upon 
 ourselves that we are not obliged to. 
 
 Md. But certai?ily it is our business to do it, if we 
 expect to live happily ; for there are a great many 
 men now a days tiiat are not Atheists, and abhor 
 oantermg ot religion, or making a jest of sacred 
 „., aiive notuing ai nil m them that is 
 
 nt to be called religion. 
 
168 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part n. 
 
 do not inquire after it- T H« t,^,* « i "^"'^J yon 
 Changed ,1^ >vorr "piL'tLlubj^et*"" ^"'' ""'^ '- 
 Robert "'. ' "" y""' .«'"" l"' '"W about Sir 
 
 §fj- ^^^Vw do you mean ? 
 
 Iml. \\ I'll, and should I not do so ' ^ 
 how ts uSi'mH'v","' ''"'!"''= »"'y «» ". "n" »b«<rve 
 
 hL'Jl|y,y°'^ <^"""«t go to heaven without vo'„i 
 f_0„„(l, or yuu caiuiol be reiiyious without tour 
 
 IS, 
 
[part XI. 
 
 ' inside; a 
 he be not a 
 cRunot find 
 
 much, but 
 it out ; yon 
 )u have ex- 
 
 ahout Sir 
 
 hira. 
 
 vou would 
 • J it seems 
 !U"ty than 
 
 n his word 
 ' provided 
 your part 
 it is not 
 mch a re- 
 ch apart 
 i it under 
 > go back. 
 
 d observe 
 
 satisfied, 
 
 that eon- 
 
 ir family, 
 
 ^» 
 
 e height, 
 >ne mies- 
 m or no? 
 ae opiai- 
 )e religi- 
 H word, 
 isband. 
 high; I 
 ut youi* 
 
 ut "\our 
 
 ^^Ai. I.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. Igg 
 
 husband; but I do say you cannot go comibrtablv 
 tJirough the journey thither without him nor Z 
 Without you. A woaian is to be a heJpSe and « 
 mm 18 to be the same; now a husbSnH »m hf 
 sorry help to a wife, if L is not a 1 elp In^ie Jeli* 
 gious part ol her life : and ,u sorry help indeed in the 
 
 affSn^to'it/'" '''' '" has a sense of it, and an 
 
 £1(1. VVell, but it will hold in the other part of the 
 
 question too: suppose he has, yet, if his sense of re! 
 
 & !?h°rti^?^'"'^''^» or'ajre^able to Tur senS 
 ", It he thinks you are going the wrontr wav Tmf 
 you think he is going the vvrori.' wav^ on! nniil fh- 
 way and tlie oth^er p^lls that wayT?n^Ve'Kn Vha? 
 s"d^rS"thrf '' '"^'^ ^^""^' '^'^'' havTy"outn' 
 
 i^i* y!f' ^?'^ ^'^y^ considered it very well. 
 
 Md. I douDt It, sister; I doubt you have onlv 
 considered of it so as not to consider of i" ^ 
 
 »ut. I have considered it so far as to see that T ran 
 i^^'^thmg in it any farther; I cannot en ernto" 
 debate about principles; tell 'him what ray o Son 
 
 hL^f'^ ?^/"'" ^''^^ ^'« "Pi"i«" is, and try before- 
 hand, whether ttiPv aoT«« A^. r.,. . t'.^m ^^ oerore- 
 
 "..«ui uui seitieraent: tnat's the father's nm 
 sure my lather won't bring a Heathen to me : 
 o„"7i .■ " *^ ''"'-'' ^"d that is our misery, that aq T 
 said before, we have not a father to concmi h mself 
 n that part for us; but I do not think it sucian 
 
 wa^T'oth;:"? ''' ^r '' .'^°- »"••« I could some 
 
 KucL at h m . IT^ '' '"l *^'^' ^ ^"""^'i »"^ke some 
 
 Feast • ,l?ri i ^^i' ^*l" ^'^^^^ "^^"'^^ oft'^^'-e^ it in the 
 ieast, neiiher iias he shown you any thinir of it • T 
 
 do not so much as find that he has ev/r gSo chureh 
 with us,^ since he appeared so public) v. 
 nn^'f 'i '!i"^'' ""'.that^s true; and I wonder he did 
 not indeed, especially ia«t Sunday, when ho dined 
 
170 BBUGtOtIS COURTSHIP. [mbi „. 
 
 Tufflcfenl""' "= """"" "■' «'="»« "«« I ">oagl,t „a. 
 atf£,ra^LZ'',Zfer/et"a%'o7otV^^^ 
 
 Iea«"'gr„''„"'d'?„'';i't''.' I Wt rf" ' ""^ "»' '"« 
 ticp- hnt/fT '• ^^o'''^ doliiiD 80 much iriius- 
 
 about u' '„3 IfhtoT' ' ""."'"^ »"S 
 words. "^ •'""""gilt in 80 many 
 
 hnSd'pr„t ""' "'■' """ »""'' " 1"«'i™ for an 
 
 haf t «„'/h„ra!?d,™' """^ '■"" "'"««" ■"king 
 
 6^^/. Why, if I should, and he were rPflliv o t» 
 P«t. do vou turn L. woJld be'SoTrCiltV^lI 
 
 ^ 6W. I should thiuk he was verv ir.dJff«~"* -.w..u_ 
 1 wao ai«pieased or no, or that 'he pre^unicdl^^'^y 
 
*. [PABT II. 
 
 thought wa» 
 
 ughed at him 
 go to church, 
 day. or no? 
 ! he was obli- 
 quis lie Mon- 
 
 then he was 
 hhn too ; for 
 of day. I'll 
 •8 with him ; 
 w, and your 
 
 Msess'd with 
 ly particular 
 )ut it. 
 
 ave not the 
 much injus- 
 [ be satisfied 
 in 80 many 
 
 stion for an 
 
 bout asking 
 
 •eally a Pa- 
 ol as to tell 
 
 not to deny 
 
 tie confess'd 
 
 ? he had so 
 
 it. 
 
 ler to deny 
 
 , than ven- 
 
 DlAl. I.J RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 171 
 
 n* 
 
 ,4.1 
 
 rturr 
 
 [i«d on uiy 
 
 being so engaged to him, that I could not go off- 
 either of which I should take for insufferable insult ' 
 Bid. No, you would have him conceal his princi- 
 ples, and discover them when you could not help 
 yourself; pray which would be the greater insult '' 
 
 Sist. You strive to push me into a strait : but I 
 have a medium again that delivers me f.om the 
 necessity on either side, nnd that is, to shake off the 
 suspicion ; and, seeintr you have no real ground for 
 It, I cunnot see why I should terrify myself with a 
 mere jealousy. 
 
 Eld. I own I have no ground to suppose him a 
 Papist ; but I would never marrv a man in the world 
 witliout knowing what his principles are; 'tis no 
 satisfaction to me to say he's not an Atheist, he is not 
 a profane despiser of religion ; negatives are a poor 
 foundation, sister, to go upon in a case of such conse- 
 quence ; if he is of any religion, he should tell it me 
 or I would have nothing to say to him. ' 
 
 Sist. Why, I told you. he said in particular, that 
 he was ot the church of England, as by law esta- 
 blished. 
 
 Eld. Why, first, dear sister, I told you that's 
 notlung but what any Papist mavsav, even without a 
 dispensation ; but however it sieins he did not say tliat 
 but in way of discourse to other people ; he did not 
 say so seriously, in answer to any inquiry of yours or 
 to give you satisfaction. . ^ j , 
 
 Sist. No, that's true : I have not desired any satis- 
 faction of him ; for I take those casual, occasional 
 discoveries of himself to have more of nature in them 
 and to be less liable to suspicion than a formal! 
 studied answer to a jealous or doubting question ; 
 and I have many reasons for my opinion too. 
 
 Aid. Why, that may be true; but I cannot think 
 tnat such occasional, cursory speeches can have solid 
 foundation enough to satistV vou "n a »hin«. «f oy^jj 
 moment; and I think I have" the testimony "of%^e 
 latfiers of our reformation on my side, who, withou* 
 
173 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part «. 
 
 doubt, saw it in tlie jfreat weijrht that lies on this oart 
 mz.ot tl. . advantage and necessity tl.at there is ffi 
 husband and wife should b. of the same opnion Tn Jell 
 
 S?" ffi ^ T^' "'1°'*'"^ • ^*'«" they appSd with 
 the officeot .natnrnony,that the communion be' Jven 
 to The marned couple at every weddin.; • that^? 
 
 t'^^LZ^Z' ?Hy:^'' '''f.^^'^'y both "ie'a prof 
 lession ot the Christian religion, but that thev both 
 
 afrreed m the profession of the same princ nles anS 
 joined together in the same communion S t « 
 
 Tr rtink' nf '• ' '""''"''r' '^"^ with on"e:;Ld 'r! 
 Ana I think this is enough to convin^p vnn nf fv.^ 
 
 justf.., ,r our mother's ir^unctions^thatC stt 
 no m;u .y any man, how religious soeverlie ^ 
 m*^^. H. was of the same opiiiion in^i^ Sf 
 ou.>.] -..,^; or, as I observed above, that SZa tt^ 
 
 ?oX'r. ' """" "■" "" """ "■i8'"f --Set' 
 
 thp fr«iiH if ♦i,z.iL ® x-apisis , and to discover 
 
 left off now! ''' ''*' ''"^ '• y^'^ «^« t'^^ P'-a<^t«e is 
 
 Md. I know it is left off, since other and lesser 
 differences among Protestants have made inutual 
 communion more difficult ; but I think the reason of 
 the thing remains, viz. that every couole should 
 know wliat communion they are of and sboidH hi 
 always, if possible, sincere an^d without con tS of 
 the same communion with one another '''*""'^**"' °*^ 
 
 iiist. I rather think 'tis left off, because it U nnf 
 
 fof Ihen!" "" '' ^ ""^'* "^'"«"^' ^« 'h^y tUu^hJ 
 
 fasS K !J *''*; because religion itself is less In 
 lashion than it used to be, which indeed is too true • 
 also marriaKcs are now wholly taken up with m^rth' 
 and gay things; but in those days ^atrfmony sterns 
 to have been understood, as it reaUy S in ftself a 
 solemn and serious thin^r : not to h- !. l"!., ^? 
 ruahly, considered of slightly, "r performed wilS' 
 
IP. [PARTZX. BIAUl.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 173 
 
 lies on this part, 
 at there is, that 
 e opinion in reli- 
 ippointed, with 
 Hunion be ((iven 
 ddii'K; that it 
 tb made a pro> 
 that thev both 
 principles, and 
 union with the 
 th one another, 
 nee you of the 
 hat we should 
 loever he was, 
 t religion with 
 lat, as was the 
 : communicate 
 
 illy to prevent 
 ind to discover 
 the practice is 
 
 iher and lesser 
 made mutual 
 the reason of 
 couple should 
 and should be 
 ; constraint of 
 
 ause it is not 
 they thought 
 
 tselfisless in 
 d is too true J 
 p with mirth 
 •imony seems 
 is in itself, a 
 ventured on 
 formed with 
 
 I 
 
 levity and looseness: 'tis a transaction of the irreatest 
 weight, attended witli circumstances of the greatest 
 importance, and consequences of the utmoHt concern 
 to our welfare or misery: the happmess of life, the 
 prosperity ot tamilcs, and indeed the interest of the 
 •oul, IS exceedingly dependent on the good or bad 
 conduct of both piirties in this affair : and to run 
 Headlong upon it, is rigfitly compared to a liorse rush- 
 ing into the battle, ai,d arf^rues a miseiable thouuht- 
 lessness ot vvJiat i-* before us. 
 
 Sitt. Dear sister, you terrify me with talking thus : 
 what IS It you would have me do ? 
 
 mid. I would liave you talce some measures, such 
 an opportunity will not fail (in your conversation 
 with this gentleman) to present vou with, that you 
 may know not only negatively, that he is no hater 
 and despiser ot God and religion, but positively what 
 ins pruiciples in religion are; you may go as far 
 lurther as you see room for it, but less than this you 
 can never answer it to God, to yourself, to your 
 mothers dymg injunctions, nor to your children, if 
 y?" 8'"^"'a ^'ave any, to venture upon marrying him 
 
 SiJt. If Mr. . heard your discourse, he would 
 
 think you were very much his enemy. 
 
 Md. If he was in his senses, he would think me 
 very much his friend. 
 
 ^t. No, no, quite the co-itral-y, I assure you. 
 
 mid. Pray, my dear, let me ask vou one question ; 
 for 1 must own to you this is one o'f my great suspi- 
 cions ; has he inquired nothing after your religion, 
 the profession you make, or the opinion you are of? 
 nas^he asked you no question about it neither ? 
 
 but. No, not a word, he knows better: he knows 
 1 would give him but a short answer, if he w(mld ask 
 me any thing about my religion : what, do you think 
 1 11 be catechised already ? no, no : it is uot come to 
 that neither. 
 
 £!ld. This is one of the strongest grounds of suspi- 
 
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174 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part ix. 
 
 cion to me, and assures me that he has vi>rv i:f*i 
 gard to religion in ceneral tl.«t >.^ L ^ ""^® ^^' 
 
 lZTCr^^''''''r' '^'^ "'an can' hav/no Sa? 
 
 as much on tlie'one si3^ a o^n ttVttr IK 
 
 18 any serious consideration at bottom? ' ^'"^ '^"'^ 
 
 inst. We liave had no discourse about it. 
 
 Jiia. It seems you are pretty well affrP^H . *u^4. • 
 
 r^t!rc',ii•^.ff•aS£ 
 
 of rav opinion T will h^ "i" "o'^ee , lor it he is not 
 will nev^^IJa;;, any strife^ ^'' '^'"•°"' «"^ '^ ""^ 
 
 be a Papist? ^^^ ' *o^ example, suppose he should 
 w|^^^2i^^^?l?E— bathing; I 
 
 ^ist What fashion's that, sister ? 
 
 ^K^/^ mi ""^ *** '""^'' compliance. 
 I confess S^ S'tf' ^' «o'netlnng of forecast in it, 
 
3HIP. [PAETIX. »^AL. I.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 has very little re- 
 he cen pretend to 
 you are a Heathen 
 eligious person, a 
 Jan have no great 
 !oncerned whether 
 the thing to weigh 
 »ther, where there 
 )in. 
 
 ibout it. 
 
 11 agreed: that is 
 your heads about 
 ill be a dreadful 
 
 a way to prevent 
 is, a8 I told you 
 ; for if he is not 
 uion ; and so we 
 
 this ; for I take 
 uppose he should 
 
 such a thing ; I 
 
 in the fashion of 
 )rit. 
 
 ice of principles, 
 usbands shall be 
 
 ' custom, sister, 
 lemen owe them 
 
 offorecast init, 
 
 posture to take 
 
 •thing of serious 
 
 ?ood humour in 
 iligijus disputea 
 
 i 
 
 175 
 
 SrbShel'"' ' ^'^^ *^ »- *^« --t kind Of fa. 
 
 haSm^ui^7ti'r;Tp:^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 beini unequally yoked" '"""""S the miscluefs of 
 
 her what reliifTon she „., of" „, h /"""'P'™' '"' 
 ludy, when she wL cour ed Van vtemL™ >""'"! 
 
 exwpt, as I say, my surly sister ? ''^' 
 
 >£"; dMe"er a"?™;;' kd^T^rn"" " I"""™. 
 
 coming out of Italv from thll ^u ^^^^^S^ person 
 know what religion he wa oVorXS he «f.''" 
 
 .t^rr-n'ora^AVhtt'^'"''-''-"'^^^^^^^^^ 
 joJtij^orrrrs^Xn-E^^^^^^^^ 
 
 ti£,^i' i^*'" propose what I cannot so much as m^n 
 
 was done in the world ' ^ ^^^ *^^"» 
 
 — rteu IB J cuuaxu ; did iie not enter into a molt 
 
 i 
 
176 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part ii. 
 
 serious, pretty discourse with her about reh'eion. 
 when we were at table with them ? and don't you re- 
 Wf^mber we all said Ay, and you too, sister, wlien you 
 heard it, that he did it with so much modesty, and so 
 handsomely, that nothing- could be more becominir' 
 and did not you, as well as I, call her a thousand 
 tools tor pretendinjT to be distrusted at it ? 
 
 S^ist. But she took ill his public manner of doinir it 
 Which I think was wrong- too. 
 
 £:id. But I find you don't know, or don't remem- 
 ber the rest of the story : she exposed herself to the 
 last degree by resenting it. Tlie case was this : the 
 genWeraan bad courted her some weeks, and liked her 
 nav, loved her very well ; but was ereatlv perplexed 
 to hnd out what taste of religion his mistress had ; he 
 was loath to fall point-blank upon her with the ques- 
 tion, just as you s>iy in your case, yet he was not 
 Willing to be satisfied with a second-liand relio^ion 
 neiUier ; but one day we were all together at my cou- 
 sin s, tlie young gentleman supped thf>re, and after 
 supper her mother and he and I entered into a dis- 
 course together of several ma^* -s ; at last we began 
 to talk ot religion, and p alarly of religious 
 matches, when we were agre. y surprised to hear 
 him talk for nearly half an hour wholly upon that 
 subject; you were not there just when he talked of it. 
 but we all gave an account of it. 
 
 Sist. I was not there; I supped in London that 
 night, and came xo you next day, I suppose. 
 
 Md. You did so ; but it would have pleased you 
 to have heard him talk. He began with the mean- 
 ing and nature of religion, how it consisted chiefly 
 in natural duties, the effects of the knowledge and 
 acknowledgment of God governing the world, to 
 whom we owed the homage of our lives, and of all we 
 enjoyed, and must account for the use or abuse of 
 them . then, he observed how pleasant and agreeable 
 a religious life whs, how it was religion alone that 
 made life happy, families pleasant, .society agreeable, 
 
IIP. [part n. 
 
 • about religion, 
 ind don't you re- 
 1 sister, when you 
 I modesty, and so 
 more becoming? 
 lier a thousand 
 at it? 
 inner of doing it, 
 
 or don't remem- 
 !d iierself to tlie 
 se was tins : the 
 :8, and liked her, 
 reatly perplexed 
 mistress Lad ; he 
 sr with the ques- 
 yet he was not 
 d-liaiid religion 
 ;ther at my cou- 
 there, and after 
 ered into a dis- 
 it last we began 
 'ly of religious 
 irprised to hear 
 lolly upon that 
 ti he talked of it, 
 
 n London that 
 ippose. 
 
 ive pleased you 
 with the mean- 
 Jnsisted chiefly 
 knowledge and 
 the world, to 
 (s, and of all we 
 se or abuse of 
 t and agreeable 
 non alone that 
 ;iety agreeable, 
 
 4 
 
 DIAL. I.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. I77 
 
 l>ut Where was she all this while? 
 ny pleasant stories of families that ]^hJ t 
 
 u^.5oL°^i^„-hrrh!;p^ra^^ 
 
 JSId. No, "o she ooM^'!,','"P'!'''"'»''«''>»kitso. 
 that were mar?^'/"nH^ "\* ^°u"^ '^^''^ o*a couple 
 
 i.gio'n,ii?„'ers'o^ roth:? .loro?ihr ^" ^^- 
 
 to another? one n mveS tS PoH*- '""'"'^^'P' ^"'^ ""« 
 J'ou9e,andoneinanSr w."^ '" ""''? P"''^ *^^ the 
 to the same n .?i r f ^^^y' ^''^^ ^^ *^'«y PJ-"' ed 
 
 mem to have prayed together: So far from 
 
178 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part ll. 
 
 that, Madam, says he, that thev not only never nr«v 
 
 Tliis was a sad family. Sir. said T • hi.t t i,^ xl 
 
 teac, L w aroliasilnteVe'^if ,r LsTs^ t^^^Jr 
 religious wives, and to take care to be a?rreeable h, « 
 bands them, when we have them ° ^^ ^"*" 
 
 deed orthi'JiMll^ * ^'"*' ™«">' handsome things in- 
 
 one anotlier, bearing with one Another, vSfnffas 
 much as possible to one another, and tl e like tl.f 
 
 hinderer^'"" ^'^'^^^ ^^^ P-^- mightn't 
 
 nof hke r'"' ^""^ ""^^ ""' "'" ^^^^^^'-^^ that «he did 
 
 K^^'^/.*™ ^"''® her mother and I liked it • biit«hp 
 behaved herself so simply about it the next H«v If * 
 
 r 
 
 II 
 
rsHir. 
 
 [PART ri. 
 
 lot only never pray- 
 e they scarcely ever 
 "es, but looked upon 
 ihcaus, and such as 
 
 I ; but I hope there 
 
 where religion is so 
 
 tn, says he, it may 
 
 r U8 to se^k out for 
 
 obeairreeablehus- 
 m. 
 
 andsome things in- 
 enerally took upon 
 us wives, or to see 
 irried were not too 
 nd especially that 
 ivoinen had religi- 
 
 as much as lay* in 
 lions to agree with 
 other, yielding as 
 ind the like, that, 
 era might not be 
 
 ourse that she did 
 
 liked it ; but she 
 benext day, that 
 
 and he declined 
 !ount ; for, as he | 
 iscovered such a i 
 leral dislike of a 
 Yf that made him 
 
 ie, if he was so ,-A 
 rae no better than © 
 
 when you cannot i 
 when you heard 1 
 
 '>"^M RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. ,79 
 
 t5o1f^'h,a'nttitt:atX/' ^^ "^ P«^^- 
 of necessity of giving an aSnto?'i^'"^ ™ •*' ^ ^'"'^ 
 ther I would or no. account of my opinions whe- 
 
 buf llhKo WrirS '"'^ '^°«' I k"ow not ; 
 liked such a pSl Z h/f" "?' '^""^^ ^^ve dis^ 
 showed her thSt he wL a mL'S"^"^.'' P^«'"'y 
 cipa felicity of his lifruJo?havin^ l^r%^'^' P""' 
 a religious conversation iVhi« S^ religious wife, 
 government of it as itTniJeJ^td ""^^' '"^ * '^"«'«"« 
 
 have''Ld'^.t'wi?Lu't'lt'Vn*;f r'-PP'-e^ ^^^ ^o«ld 
 ofitafterwardr ' *"** he might have talked 
 
 ' it,S was 'hJr'folly^. Zit':'' '''' ^- -ithout 
 I not have her without'it and C '"'"'r.^ ^« ^^«"Jd 
 and there was an absol..r« n - ^'^ '"» ^'sdom ; 
 
 his own finishing, wfierp ».«?/'m"u **^®" » *ool for 
 . £!fd. Well, ai^d he dIS Jo a"ni ^^^«J«""d her. 
 ried afterwards a very sens jblpJi^" ^"°^ ^« »"- 
 woman, and they ar?a veri l^n„l^^^^ ^l''^ '«"^'0"« 
 know; whereas/our foolLhLS^ ^"""^^ ** «"y I 
 ned a rake ; a fellow of no rdSn'.^«"/-^' ^"*'"«'" 
 able almost as it is oosiihi- ?«/ " ' ^"♦^ " »» miser- 
 
 • rale, M lie has doiie'^ if ??,,"'" f °'°S '<> marrv 
 would Mon clear myKlf' ' ""ought it was so, I 
 
 ■»anf ka°„°rfe„V,''r "f «" ; "" '"ere are 
 «».«r.ble, besides rito that » ' » *"«' "»"'«» 
 " u^n that accountla ^fiJ ^."^t/°" ' "-" "»• 
 *>w. v» nat, difierinrr in r.^V.- •'"" '"^ story. 
 
!«■■ 
 
 180 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. (PART XX. 
 
 !•■ I 
 
 and run it up, I say, too high. I can give many in- 
 stances where sucli matters do very well. 
 
 Eld. Pretty well, you should have said ; and I 
 know where you are going to name a family. I sup- 
 
 Sose you mean our cousin Martha , and our friend 
 ames ; one a strict churchwoman, and the 
 
 other a Quaker. 
 
 Sist. Well, suppose I did mean those; they live 
 very comfortably, and love one another very well. 
 
 Eld. I am ^lud you have named them, because I 
 would argue from the best example you can give. I 
 allow they live as well as it is possible for two so 
 wide and irreconcilable principles to do, and it is ow- 
 ing to a world of good humour, affection, and charity 
 in both of them ; hut if you think there is not some- 
 thing wanting between them, which ought to be be- 
 tween a man and his wife, something essential to what 
 we call happiness, something they would give half 
 their estate to have, and the want of which robs 
 them of the sweetest part of relation, and of the best 
 and most solid comfort of a married life ; or, if you 
 think that they are not both sensible of it, you are 
 greatly mistaken. 
 
 Sist. I do not converse much with them, not I, but 
 I know they are a very loving couple, and every body 
 takes notice of it and admires them for it. 
 
 Eld. Before I go on where I was speaking, let me 
 take notice to you, that your very last words now are 
 an argument on my side. It is true, they are ad- 
 mired for their kind and pleasant way of living one 
 with another ; and why is it, but because it is so sel- 
 dom, so rare, so wonderful indeed, to find two of dif- 
 ferent opinions agree so well, that all people v/onder 
 at these two : and shall any young woman, that va- 
 lues her peace, and lays any stress upon the happiness 
 of an agreement with which it inust needs be next to 
 a miracle, if she has any such happiness ? 
 
 Sist. You do not " 
 mofK euch. 
 
 ;now but there may be many 
 
 I 
 
HIP. (PABT H. I '*'^^' '•] HELIQIOUa COURTSHIP. 
 
 ;an jjive maiiy in- 
 ' well. 
 
 lave said ; and I 
 I a family. I 8up- 
 — , and our friend 
 woman, and the 
 
 those; they live 
 ither very well. 
 1 them, because I 
 ! you can give. I 
 )ssible for two so 
 9 do, and it is ow- 
 3ction, and charity 
 there is not some- 
 i ought to be be- 
 i essential to what 
 f would give half 
 nt of which robs 
 )n, and of the best 
 ?d life ; or, if you 
 ble of it, you are 
 
 th them,notI, but 
 le, and every body 
 1 for it. 
 
 a speaking, let me 
 last words now are 
 rue, they are ad- 
 way of living one 
 tecause it is so sel- 
 to tind two of dif- 
 all people v/onder 
 ■ woman, that va- 
 upon the happhiess 
 St needs be next to 
 3iness ? 
 re may be many 
 
 181 
 
 mi. Well, but I'll keep to your own examnlp onj 
 I will convince you, sister tiiat Pv^n fn tT^ ' f "** 
 
 thei fi3 '"^"■?.^ "'"'^'^"^♦^ «»• tilings, yet -I'sav 
 
 soul, won't worship with me ? itbriuk^ ^^f "^ ""^ 
 
 all the rest of the l^^J ^''^^'^Y' ^'^'^tever we do 
 
 sounaiterruDted th«Mt^ ''''^'''?' *"*^ ^^^'^ i'^^e is 
 •uieirupiea, tnat it does make up abuudai 
 
 nee of 
 
w 
 
 (1 I 
 
 182 RBLIQIOU8 COURTSHIP. JPABT IX. 
 
 Other things : yet here, I say it makes up no inter- 
 vals I can assHre you of it ; nay. I think Eerily "that 
 affectioru which it is confessed they have for or.e ant 
 ther, and tor which they are both so admired, niakw 
 it worse; at least it males it more grievourto bear^ 
 and the part I am telling you will p*rove i?* prayTet 
 me go on w.rh it: I came back with her aJdlned . 
 and after dinner honest James takes up his g lofes 
 
 to go to the quaker-meeting. She could hold no 
 onger then, but burst out into tears; he w^ ej! 
 treiiiely anxious to know what ailed her, but she 
 could not speak ; she was unwilling to gheve him 
 and unwilling to say any thing that was unkind -he 
 pressed her a long time, and said a thousld tender 
 kmd things, that I hardly expected from him; but 
 that made her cry the more. At last, I said to him 
 frilling, I know what troubles her, but you won't re- 
 lieve her. Won't I, says he, a little moved! Why 
 dost thou say so ? I would let out mv blood to do her 
 dK'^/ 'w»'^' ^"°T' ' ^'" '''^ at nith1ng\'o' 
 her te'. V'^' '*?" ^> y^" ^°"'' *«rve God with 
 hlL. ^-^u^ ^' W ''«' y««' I would with all mv 
 5!?."' ' '^^ '"''" '^ ^^* ™«- This I found laid a fouT 
 dation for some disputes about their principles ; but 
 she wisely avoided that and I perceived it,^o I pSt 
 
 now A r f ' .^°? ""r '^ ^"' ^^ *° ^'^"••ch with her 
 now. At that she burst out, though full of tears- 
 Ay, says she, I would give him back my iointur; 
 
 with all the tenderest expressions that he was capa- 
 ble of, endeavoured to pacify her, and put an end tr> 
 
 finlfiMH., "^ ^^^^ ''"".^'^ "°^ ^*«P"t« about without 
 rtnni?"'''\*'"'^.^*l''""i^'''^ ^^"^'-^'^ be avoided: but 
 U took up the whole afternoon to restore them to one 
 
 fn ?!.»*'' ^"•*^ ^^^ "^Z'^'^'' ^'^"t to the church, nor he 
 Z^tlr^^^^.} »*'?^ y«t here was nothing? but kind- 
 aess aiiu uuucuoa oeiweea tiiem ail this wiiile. 
 
HIP. [PABTH. WAt. I.J RRLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 akes up no inter- 
 tiiink verily, that 
 liave lor one ano- 
 
 admired, makes 
 i;rievous to bear; 
 prove it ; pray let 
 tti her and dined ; 
 (es up hid gloves 
 tier, and prepares 
 tie could hold no 
 ars; he was ex- 
 led her, but she 
 g to grieve him, 
 
 was unkind ; fae 
 thousand tender 
 
 1 from him; but 
 St, I said to him, 
 )ut you won't re- 
 tle moved, Why 
 y blood to do her 
 ick at nothing to 
 t serve God with 
 uld with all my 
 3und laid a foun- 
 ' principles ; but 
 ived it, 80 I put 
 
 1 Rive all she has 
 uhurch with her 
 h full of tears : 
 ick my jointure 
 a his arms, and 
 lilt he was capa- 
 iid put an end t^> 
 3 about without 
 be avoided : but 
 ore them to one 
 ! church, nor he 
 >tbins; but kind- 
 his while. 
 
 I 
 
 183 
 
 Sift. I never beard any thing of this before. 
 
 f '«• But I have heard a great deal more from her. 
 
 and from him too ; thouuh she loves him to an ex- 
 
 Jremity ; and, to give him his due, merits all her af- 
 
 jection ; yet, as she is a very sober religious woman. 
 
 what a hie she lives ; she can scarcely ever talk to 
 Imim T^ -w "f ^''^' IhsLyini^ been soraethi,,- more 
 mtimatew.th her on those occasions than ordinary. 
 
 kind husband ? And does he not give her all the li- 
 berty and freedom in the world ? Does she not go as 
 fine, and dress as well as she pleases ? Does hi not 
 keep her a coach, and give her leave to give her own 
 liveries, and go where, and do what she will ^ Does 
 
 V"/^' «^ ^'^*' * 9"^^" • ^*^"* c**" she complain of? 
 
 Jild. Her case, in a word, sister, is the very case 
 our dear mother warned us'of ; and it is not £rd o 
 tell you what she has to coraplait. of; she is a very 
 sober, religious woman, that serves God night anS 
 day, with a sincerity and devotion, not easily to be 
 found among women,as the world goes now ; ind I'll 
 n}7u I^'^} grieves her, and what she complains of. 
 Her husband is as religious too in his way as she is 
 n her 9 : but, as there is no harmony or concurrence 
 in their principles and ways of worship, so there can 
 
 with'hP;r^l;''f'*^ ^'^""'^' "^''^' «« doe« notjoiS 
 with her, nor she cannot join with him : so allthe 
 
 s'tS«nHl*"™"y/^"^i4' ^''^ glo'-y o*' a marred 
 state and the comfort of family society, is entirely 
 
 ir^'un'JlfidS''"'!^".? ^'^' ungo>erned,VchiK 
 she h»?^n "^.^f,""* ^^'^'^ «.^?'" •« ^^' &"ef doubled, 
 man n? /''"' ^'^i^^ r""^' cimreii. It is true, he is a 
 man of too good a humour to deny or restrain her in 
 
 tohe'r^Jo'h^nhf ^'^^^-^^'-^^^ ^"' '' '« a sad thinS 
 to her to be obliged to instruct and caution her chil- 
 
 n.ij;.?f' k'^J**? ^^^'""^ °*' '^«'«" <"ather, whose life 
 ought to he their pattern, and his practice th^ir ijc- 
 ampje. O sister ! if ever you come to look into such 
 
T 
 
 I'i 
 
 184 KELIQJOUS COURTSHIP. [part xI. 
 
 a condition, with a feeling sense of it as your own vou 
 will find ,t is not all the ten.ierness of theultl'iT- 
 tiouHte husband in the world, can make up the loss 
 othese things. On the other hand, he has Is du! 
 8at.stact.on too ; he is as sad on account of her dif- 
 ference from him as she is for his difrcrencrfro la 
 
 S'lJ'Tr'' '".''•?.'''/''" "nhapniness is mutual " 
 
 Hist. They shou d have considered and prevented 
 
 these thniKs beforehand. I'reveniea 
 
 oii^'"''/^"^'^ *'*"^' '"'^^'■J ^^f' ^^at's the reason of 
 all ray discourse to you ; that's my j.roposal to vou 
 and he reason why I press you so muct to come to' 
 
 ♦fn?T'^ Z'^'''^'^'"'^'- Y"" ^*J' »'«ve sad reflec- 
 tions hereafter, when it is past remedy. 
 
 iiist. I am not so nice in the point : I told vou mv 
 
 remedy for ,t ; if he can't come up to me, I ca^n come 
 
 nnt.Av ^.°"' ^''*!T ' r" ^«" »nake light of it 
 now ; I believe he is no Quaker, but he mav be worse • 
 and you are not sure he will equal thatQuaTer In 
 goodness of humour kindness, and affection, ti^ewai" 
 
 n h'Ir-'n' ^ Til '"" y*^"' ^'^ ^"^ke the want of ?he 
 other so ranch the worse to bear. 
 
 A^/«<. Well, I must run the venture of it, I think • 
 it 18 gone too far to break it ofl' now. ' 
 
 -E/f I have not been persuading you to break it 
 off sister ; you mistake Tne ; I am^ only arguh.g, or 
 rather persuarimtr you to inform yourself of tl.inffs 
 and know beh>reliand what you ari j,oing to do Zt 
 you may not run into misery blindfold, and mak.' your 
 
 ISYKark!' "' "^ ^'^^'' '''''^ "^" ^''' •^^^^'^' ^ l'"p 
 
 one^Speclt" aifoLr"'^' '' " '^'^ '" *^" ^"^^> ^" 
 m^!L ^^.*^"v8'?te^.if it be so, it should not be so in 
 ?hf/ IL n^ 'iF'"",' ^" ^vhatever other case it is so; 
 that should be clear, whatever is doubtful- that 
 should be examined into, and perfectly d "covered 
 Whatever is omitted; the' mistaks in this are fltal 
 
SHIP. [PAKT II. DIAL. I.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 it as your own, vou 
 5 of the most arfec- 
 mako up the loss 
 id, he has his dis- 
 account of her dif- 
 tiis difference from 
 Jness is uiutual. 
 Jred and prevented 
 
 lat's the reason of 
 y proDosal to you, 
 much to come to 
 II have sad reflec- 
 ledy. 
 
 nt ; I told you my 
 ' to me, I can conie 
 akcr. 
 
 n make light of it 
 t he may be worse ; 
 il that Quaker in 
 affection, the want 
 te the want of the 
 
 are of it, I think; 
 
 V. 
 
 ? you to break it 
 1 only arguing, or 
 ourself of things, 
 ! jioirig to do, that 
 >ld,and makt; your 
 his death, A leap 
 
 ap in the dark, in 
 
 hould not be so in 
 her case it is so ; 
 s doubtful; that 
 fectly discovered, 
 i in this are fatal 
 
 185 
 
 q'^u'^tSal"' °''^° ^"«t'-vable, and the conse- 
 ^ut. It is all a hazard, and that amonjrst the rest 
 
 anf M.i^"' ■?>"' '^''''''} «™ «••'" in '"y opfnion ; you 
 mv riinr "^Z?" "'•^^"^d it when you seerned ti'be of 
 
 Jiut. Why, I am not running the risk of mv own 
 '«^^''on. though I do not know his. ^ *'''" 
 
 young women change their opinions, na" c hanl thp 
 
 iX/* )rf /' "'"^ '* ". ".°' ^^'•y we" to do so ? 
 th^Hn n'*"" P""C'P'«8 were ill-founded before 
 they do well to change them, to be sure • but /m ir nS 
 o tener that they rather abandon principle than ..' 
 change ,t; lose the.r reliction than ncrease it" inl 
 cZV.Xf '"^^-'^^ '""^'^^^ ^''« wimn who have 
 
 the^vomfn hi;? f '^ '^'^?°'^' '^'^^^^e w?oSg; for 
 
 eives nn hi. ^e^i79band; loo&es her religion, and 
 
 I.r better ' P''""'^^*^' '""'^'^^ '^ exchangilg"lhJS 
 
 <Sw^ There may be some compliances surp mUh 
 
 "£3^g|^ •»«««„,.. „ 
 
166 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. Ipart XX. 
 
 example ; suppose she, in compliance with him, for 
 you know she has affection enough to do any possi- 
 ble thing to oblige him, should turn Quaker, would 
 She not retain a sting in her soul, that would destroy 
 ai! her inward peace ? 
 
 Sist. I don't know what to say to that : Quakers 
 are Christians, I hope. 
 
 Md. I won't enter into that ; I'll allow them to be 
 Christians too; but take it of him as well as of her • 
 suppose him to change then, and come over to her' 
 then It would be the same in him ; which is all one' 
 to the case in hand. Pray where is the felicity of such 
 a match, where one or other is supposed to act with- 
 out conscience, or against conscience, all their days 
 tor conjugal peace, and to sacrifice principle to aiiec- 
 tion ? are not these still invincible arguments for what 
 I am persuading to? 
 
 Sist. I scarcely know what you are persuading to, 
 
 Bid. Yes you do, sister, very well; however I'll 
 repeat it as often as you say so ; I am arguing the 
 absolute necessity oi young people comparing their 
 religious principles and opinions before marriage • and 
 seeing that they agree, at least so far as to lay no 
 toundation of a religious breach in the family after 
 marriage ; that they may worship God together • 
 join in family precepts, and support family religion ; 
 that they may agree in their nistrucrions to their 
 children ; and that there may be no disputings or 
 aividings against one another, but a mutual har- 
 mony in the propagating their own eternal interests, 
 and that they may go hand in hand in the true way 
 to heaven. '' 
 
 Sist. And cannot this happen to them without set- 
 tlement, of circumstances beforehand, that we m ist 
 capitulate about religion as we do about jointures, and 
 settle principles, as we do fortunes, always before- 
 hand ? "" 
 
 £ld. That it may not or cannot happen so, I will 
 
PSHIP. IPART IX. 
 
 iance with him, for 
 ^h to do any possl- 
 »rn Quaker, would 
 that would destroy 
 
 ' to that ; Quakers 
 
 'II allow thera to be 
 I as well as of her ; 
 come over to her, 
 I ; which is all one 
 i the felicity of suck 
 jposed to act with- 
 nce, all their days, 
 5 principle to affec- 
 irguments for what 
 
 are persuading to, 
 
 well; howeyer I'll 
 I ain arguing the 
 e comparing their 
 fore marriage ; and 
 far as to lay no 
 n the family after 
 p God together ; 
 rt family religion ; 
 truer ions to their 
 no disputhigs or 
 It a mutual har- 
 i eternal interests, 
 d in the true way 
 
 thera without set- 
 id, that we m ist 
 >out jointures, and 
 5, always before- 
 
 iiappen so, I will 
 
 mAUl.) RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 187 
 
 not say; but it' you will take the world at Urze as it 
 IS now stated, between those that have no rel'ion at 
 all and those whodiifer from others, you must aflow 
 sister, ,t 19 a lottery of a thousand blanks toone pr r.' 
 
 the^dSs /^'' '"^"'' '^'''' **^" P«*««' would :S"ure 
 
 §f!,' lu ^"®T®i ^ ^^^^ venture for all that. 
 Jita. Then eitlier you have no principle now sistPr 
 marHed" '" °°^ '"' ^^^ ^'^«^' up'wliryCar'i 
 Sut. Perhaps you may be m»...ken in both. 
 
 ♦« i 1 f ^ *"*♦ ^^^'^ '8 » ^h'r^i' which, I was eoin? 
 to add, but restrained it in respect to you in whT^h^ 
 I beheve I shall not be mistaken. ^ ' "'*'* 
 ^t. Let us have it, however. 
 Md. If you will have it then, it is this- that ftn 
 repeat the former) either, as I sa d vou hav^ no prin- 
 ciple now, or will give up your principles when^oJ 
 are married, or will be very miseVable in JcollnZ 
 family strife to maintain them. """"uai 
 
 Slit. It must all be ventured, sister; I see no re- 
 tTedayT"'' ''' '' "° ^°'"^ ^^""^ ^'^^i« «i^«^f 
 
 r J^*t^' *^"* discourse, the eldest sister, seeinff her 
 reso ute gave it over, and the young lady was al 
 good as iier word ; for she put it all to the venture! 
 as will appear m the following dialogue.] '^*"'"'®» 
 
188 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part k. 
 
 1 ' 
 
 i; 
 
 DIALOGUE II. 
 
 i^^nnri!?^''''^^^' ™^"t'0"ed in the foregoing dialogue. 
 w.«? /?/^ T''*''^ "' ""^'h*^"- statiSnof life. 8he 
 was not altogether 90 thoughtless of her circun stance 
 
 onZ "f 7'^-«'-n^d as she seemed to be by her dTs-' 
 course to her sister about what was before^hef 'but 
 
 rJrr^? ""V^'^ T^"«' «>• resolution of her sfsters to 
 carry her through: however, she did take one TtPn 
 sufhcent to leave a 8ad example of a 1 Jher nerfeetl J 
 cSeTS ^""T '\' '^"«^"« settTeS of 'i^ 
 Sf hlscaVr '"^ '^' ^^^'^ °^ their souls no pa^t 
 
 hJdZu ^"iV'''^ ^^y^ ^f^er the discourse which she 
 
 to'be'nS^^'u' -^ ^"PP°'^ your ceremonies begin 
 th!« h.P- ^ ."^^^ °^^'' "'^^ • when are we to brhur 
 this business to a conclusion ? ^ 
 
 />«. I urn in no haste, Sir. 
 
 -„;/.• ^^"' but Mr. is in haste: you mav be 
 
 Bure he would be willing to have the inconveniences 
 of conung and going tnus late over; and as 1011^89 
 
 sustnt? ''' ''''''^'''' ^''y «^°"'«i '^^ keepS ?n 
 
 Fn' iciu "?,! ^^^P,^'"" in suspense, Sir. 
 
 ra. Well, then, if you are agreed Ipf no nnf o« 
 
 end to it, my dear anil tell me S day you SSu be 
 
 married and j 11 make the appointment.^ ^ ^' 
 
 Da. Agreed, Sir! I have agreed to nothinff it is 
 
 all between him and you. ■ "'"'S' " " 
 
 Fa, Kow do you mean, child, he has now waited 
 
 't(/'.*,mw»it«,%«*»*«w it, , 
 
 ^r^-^-^.^'*'-' 
 
SHIP. [part is 
 
 DlAi. II.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 189 
 
 foregoing dialogue, 
 itatiori of life ; she 
 flier circumstance, 
 to be by her dis- 
 as before her ; 'but 
 ion of her sisters to 
 did take one step 
 ' a father perfectly 
 settlement of his 
 their souls no part 
 
 iscourse which she 
 ather and she had 
 
 after the gentle- 
 way: her father 
 
 her to hirn, and 
 
 ceremonies begin 
 I are we to bring 
 
 •te ; you may be 
 le inconveniences 
 ■ ; and as long as 
 i we keep him in 
 
 e, Sir. 
 
 d, let us put an 
 
 b day you will be 
 
 ent. 
 
 to nothing, it is 
 
 '■ has now waited 
 
 
 on you these six or seven weeks ; I hope you know 
 one another's minds before now. 
 
 I>a. We have spent six or seven weeks indeed in 
 his visits, talking and rattling of things in general- 
 but I am not much the wiser for it. 
 
 Fa. Why, you are a little better acquainted, I hope, 
 than you were at first, child, do you like the gentle- 
 man, have you any thing to object ? 
 
 Da. Sir, I don't trouble myself much about objec- 
 tions ; Sir, I leave it all to you; I resolved to do as 
 you will have me to do : I won't do as my sister did. 
 
 /•a. Well, you are in the right there; but I hope 
 there is no occasion neither : this gentleman is a man 
 of sobriety, and of a good character. 
 
 Da. I hope. Sir, you have informed vourself fully 
 of that : for I leave it all to you. Sir ; and about his 
 rehgion too. 
 
 Fa. I have known him a great manv years, child • 
 he IS a very honest good sort of gentleman, I assure 
 you. 
 
 J^a. I hope you have good grounds to be satisfied, 
 Sir, tor I depend upon you, Sir, for every thing : I 
 know you would not propose him to me, if he was 
 not a very sober good man. 
 
 Fa. I am fullv satisfied of that, ray dear. 
 
 Da. And of his being a religious person. Sir? you 
 know what my mother obliged us to on her death- 
 bed ; I hope. Sir, you have a good account of his 
 being a sober, relijrious man, I leave it all to you Sir. 
 
 Fa. Yes, yes, my dear, he is a very religious good 
 man, tor aught I know, I assure you. 
 
 Da. He is a Protestant, Sir, is' not he? 
 
 /'«. A Protestant, child ! yes, yes, he was always 
 a Protestant all the while I traded with him ; I have 
 had an account of it from several people. A Pro- 
 testant ! yes, yes, you may be sure he is a Protestant ; 
 1 dare say he is. 
 
 Da. Well, Sir, if you are satisfied, I have no more 
 to say. 
 
jj-r-"-' 
 
 h i 
 
 190 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PABT ll. 
 
 n.p^^' uf^* ^f "'^ '^^'y ^^^^ *''o» P"t it 80 all upon 
 
 wiH. fn 'f '""' *'^ '' '. ^ •^V "*^^ ^"t^*- '"^" those h Z 
 1 ^t^\r^^y .°"*^ * '■'^''tf '«" '« to himself. ^ 
 
 tied!"toKre;' ^^ ^'" ^'' ^"*'^«^'^' ^ -"''^ »>« •-«- 
 
 Fa. Nay, I would have you be satisfied too. child • 
 
 cannot you ask him what Jeligion he is oP ' ' 
 
 it ^t up^^f m;S:r "•^^ ^ ''"^*^ "»-"»"'» to have 
 iJa. 1 cannot ask him such a question, not I • be- 
 
 Fa Wt ^'°" "f 'V''^'"^^ ^ ^''^^ ^^^J' no farther. 
 Ja. I ksjow not what occasion there is to be so 
 
 scrupulous; you see what ridiculous work vour sTste? 
 nmde ot it, and yet married the same man'two yeTrs 
 
 i>a. Sir, I do not make anv scruples not I if vnu 
 are satisfied ; I shall do as you would l.veriie /So 
 1.0 suppose you would have me have him, Tho was 
 nota very sober man. [She has nothing in her butX 
 
 Z: £ dtf "' ''"^ ''''' '""'"'^ ^'^ father wouW 
 Fa. I tell thee, child, I dare say he is a very sober 
 good man, and will make a very kind husband I 
 can say no more to thee. "usoana , i 
 
 t.£\ ^y } *^*'*'''® t° ^"0^' »9. t'lat he is a Pro- 
 testant ; I hope you are sure of that. Sir -^ 
 Jui. Dear child, what makes thee talk so ' 
 Ua. He has lived a long while in Italy, Sir. where 
 they say they are all Papists. ^' ' ® 
 
 i-tt. Why so did I, chifd, when I was a vounir man 
 but never turned Papist ; I dare say, Mr ^ ?' 
 a^Pn>testant; I never heard any o'n'e su^ect him 
 
 It may be seen by this dull and empty discourse on 
 
 coves, like the ox to rh** <> a!!eJ'*-r r\cf h • 
 
 «o„,ideri„,, ,l,at i. «, for i?i"!""st"rlt';d'2h« 
 
 
SHIP. [PART II. 
 
 put it 80 all upon 
 drelijfious enough; 
 ive not u,ske»l hiui 
 T into those things 
 
 hinijielf. 
 d, I must besatls- 
 
 itisfied too, child : 
 
 fie is of? 
 unwilling to have 
 
 estion, not I ; be- 
 ll look no farther, 
 thf^re is to be so 
 18 work your sister 
 me man two years 
 
 pies, not I, if you 
 Id have me ; 1 do 
 ve him, if ho was 
 ling in her but the 
 her father would 
 
 >e is a very sober, 
 kind husband; I 
 
 liat he is a Pro- 
 
 ,Sir? 
 
 talk so ? 
 
 Italy, Sir, where 
 
 'as a young man, 
 
 ly, Mr. is 
 
 one suspect him 
 
 1 pty discourse on ;„ 
 k^ent on tanquam |i 
 
 not knowing or 
 ! resolved all her 
 
 BIA1.II.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. IQ] 
 
 scruples into that weak way of answering, I leave it 
 all to you, b.r ; I hope you are satisfied, SiV: and I'll 
 do as you would have me, Sir; and the like • nof 
 considering that she had a fati/er that laid no stress 
 upon any thing but the money ; his whole care was 
 for the sett oment and the estate, not inquiring i^?o 
 
 are Kll? fo?L' ' '.r'*'*""'."''? '^erefore^is a.fsw" ^ 
 are as sjiiy lor a tather, as her's were for a wife vi- 
 That he dare say the gentleman was a ve^y Kood* 
 sober man ; that Ije has known him a long time ? and 
 did not question but he was a Protestant ami t e 
 ;ke In a word, the girl left it all to the fatC and 
 
 ^l n ^» V?''>. In'^'ff^'-e'-t as to matters of 'rdi- 
 gion, lef It out ot his inquiry. And thus they were 
 r;"Mlf-/\1 ^«": ^^f^ks aLr,and abunda.ice ot Wh 
 andjolhty they hud; which covered all the appear- 
 ances ol other thmgs for a great while *^ 
 
 ^if^' '*".'^*k' ^^^ ^ •'^y '*'^"' ^o"* to her house in the 
 c y, which was magnificently furnished. Amon^ 
 other rich turniture, the rooms were exceed "kI? 
 stored with a noble collection of very fine paSs^ 
 done by the best masters in Italy ; the part^I alv 
 v«;here this gentleman had lived,^i/ Z dUe of 
 Tuscany's country, being particularly eminent for 
 choice picrures. It happened after sheTrbeen 
 some tune at home, had settled her house, and finish- 
 ed the decorations of her rooms, that h^r huSid, 
 bringing some pictures home, which were newly ar- 
 rived from Italy, had, among others, three very cLice 
 Pieces hung up in their bed-chamber; whereof one 
 luSlfi^i"" ""l '*'" crucifixion, and ktremei; v"! 
 the bed.s?de • '°"'"''^ '° ^^"^ '' ^""« "P »>y 
 His wife, not used to such things, perfectly imio- 
 rant ot the design, not at all acquainted wkh thfSse 
 made ot them in Popish countries, took no manner of 
 notice of It at first, taking it to be only brouT/f* 
 inere, as it was a most noble piece of paintine'*-"and 
 that her husband thought it was the K thing ?ie 
 
 •r 
 
 m 
 
r 
 
 192 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part XI. 
 
 I 
 
 ii 
 
 ^ I 
 
 .J' 
 
 could gTftce her chamber with. It happened, lier 
 two sisters came together some time after, as is usual, 
 to see her house, and to see the fine collection of 
 paintings, which they had been told so muclj of. And 
 alter some time, their sister and their new brother 
 led them through all the apartments, which were in- 
 deed extremely fine. The brother-in-law, as wiiat 
 he took great delight in, made it his business to tell 
 them the design of the several pictures, what places 
 or fine liouses such and such represented, what sto- 
 ries and what faces others were drawn for, and the 
 like. And, being his wife's sisters, he treated them 
 with all the freedom and kindness imaginable. 
 
 When they came to the crucifixion, which hung by 
 the bed-side, he told them, there was one of the finest 
 pieces of painting in England ; told thern the name 
 of the painter that had drawn it, who, he said, was 
 one of the best masters in Italy ; and I'll assure you, 
 sister, says he, this is counted a fine thing hi Italy. 
 
 But why must it hang in your bed-chamber, bro- 
 ther ? says the other married sister, not suspecting 
 any tiling ; for her eldest sister had not told her anv 
 thing of what she had said to her sister. O, Madam', 
 says he, they always have these things in their bed- 
 chambers in Italy on a religious account. Well, says 
 the sister, but as we do not make use of them that 
 way, methinks they are better any where else. Why, 
 sister, says he, our bed-chambers are places where 
 we are, or ought to be, most serious. Why, says she 
 again, but we that are Protestants do not make a re- 
 ligious use of them. Not so much, perhaps, says he, 
 as the Romans do ; but I cannot say but they may 
 be useful to assist devotion. Not at all, says the 
 sister. At least. Madam, says he, they can be no 
 disadvantage to us; we want all possible helps in 
 our adorations. We have the promise of the Spirit 
 of God to assist us, says the sister, very warmly, and 
 need no idolatrous pictures. He saw she wfts tart 
 and seemed to be forward to dispute, which he avoid- 
 
it 
 
 [IP. 
 
 [PAKT It. , DiAt. 11.3 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 _-j . 1 „.j . -- , . 
 
 t happened, lier 
 after, as is usual, 
 ine collection of 
 so mucii of. And 
 leir new brother 
 > which were in- 
 ■in-law, us what 
 s business to tell 
 res, what places 
 inted, what sto- 
 iwn for, and the 
 he treated them 
 ciaginable. 
 , which hung by 
 I one of the finest 
 
 them the name 
 iio, he said, was 
 
 I'll assure you, 
 ! thing in Italy, 
 l-charaber, bro- 
 , not suspecting 
 not told her any 
 ter. O, Madani, 
 itrs in their bed- 
 mnt. Well, says 
 ise of them tliat 
 here else. Why, 
 re places where 
 Why, says she 
 ) not make a re- 
 lerhaps, says he, 
 y but they may 
 at all, says the 
 
 they can be no 
 •ossible helps in 
 ise of the Spirit 
 ery warmly, and 
 aw she was tart, 
 
 which he avoid- 
 
 193 
 
 e.l : so he called them to look on another picture 
 and that passed off the discourse. Picture, 
 
 After they had gone through several anarfmnn*a 
 am Imd adu.ired the fine pXtnZ7^l Ed J !? 
 well deserved, they came to his closet. He would 
 have avoided going in, and told them i was 1,^- 
 usion and not worth their seein<r • but hirw.T hn^ 
 h.g told them it was her husbancPs' ell tl7ev woaW 
 not be denied When they went in, thev werlsui^ 
 prised with the most charminff nicturM twM^ 
 eyes ever.had beheld, with'a^u.^'a n^ce o 't k^^^^^ 
 which their new brother, being very curious 3 
 picked up in his travels; and, in a litfJp rTnm ^ 
 one side.of his closet, upon a 'table covered wi'th 2 
 carpet of the finest work they had ever seen s^ood a 
 p.x, or repository of the host, all of goirand above 
 It an altar-piece of most exquisite pain ing He wis 
 indeed jealous of being betrayed bv^those t^ in" bu? 
 t ere being none but the ladies, who had nevef 'seen 
 such things before, and knew 'nothing by the form 
 they retired without so much as discovering what^t 
 
 rant that she was easily imposed upon. ^ ^ 
 
 They passed from this place to the other sideof thp 
 close , where were abundance of very fine pfeces • bu? 
 here the elder sister could not forbear obseS 'that 
 al the pic ures on that whole side of the room we?e 
 rehgious pieces, and, though still without much Tus! 
 p cion, she said to him, I observe, brother/you gen- 
 tlemen that have lived in Italy, are so in iJve S 
 popish customs, that you are always f^llTthese 
 church paintings; here's nothing tut representatS 
 Of Christ and the Virgin Mary,'in one shape or ano- 
 ther, m every room of your house. SJie went on iW 
 ingly for^ome time till she came to the upper end of 
 
 ^IwZ', 'tw^rn ^^'^'' ^""^ J"«^ o?e'r an easy 
 tiiair, and which had a curtain drawn over it -hi 
 
 thought die would not imve let her curiosity outruS 
 her^good manner^ • and so did not apprehenS he? 
 
 i 
 
 [1,1 
 
rr'r 
 
 194 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part n. 
 
 i' I 
 
 n 11 
 
 opening it ; but she made no scruple of offering to 
 ning back the curtain ; but soon found it would not 
 run baclc, being, as she found afterwards, to draw up 
 in festoons with pullies : however, she discovered by 
 what she had done, that the picture was the same 
 with tliat in the bed-ciiaraber, m.z. a large crucifix 
 or picture of the crucifixion. * 
 
 She said no more, but hastened to view what was 
 farther to be seen, yet so as that it was easy to 
 discover she was in no little disorder. Her sister 
 that came with her discovered it first, and asked 
 what ailed her ? Then tiie new married sister, whose 
 house she was in, came to her with the same ques- 
 tion: she owned to them she was not very well, 
 and that presently gave her an excuse to withdraw 
 into the women's apartment, wliere she had some 
 time to recollect herself. However, she took care 
 not to give the least cause to suspect what ailed 
 her, till she got an opportunity, when nobody was 
 m the room with her but her youngest sister, (she 
 who was first married) and then burst out into 
 tears, and taking her sister about the neck, with 
 the greatest passion imaginable ; O my dear sister, 
 says she, this poor child is utterly undone. Un- 
 done ! says her sister, what do you mean ? I think 
 she IS nobly married. O sister ! I tell you she's 
 undone ! the man's a Papist ! somebody came into 
 the room just as she had said this, so that her 
 sister had no time to ask her any further : and she 
 to prevent it, added, I'll tell you more by and by : 
 so they passed it over. 
 
 You may be sure it was, after this, a very un- 
 easy hour the two sisters spent in the ceremonies 
 of their visit, both longing earnestly to be at liberty 
 to talk together, one to disburden her mind, which 
 was oppressed with what she had formerly sus- 
 pected, and now found confirmed : and the other 
 to hear the particulars of what she was so much 
 surprised at. 
 
IP. [PAHTII. R WAI-n.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 le of offering to 
 ind it would not 
 irds, to draw up 
 le discovered by 
 3 was the same 
 I large crucifix, 
 
 view what was 
 
 it was easy to 
 
 er. Her sister 
 
 irst, and asked 
 
 ed sister, whose 
 
 the saiue ques- 
 
 not very well, 
 
 se to withdraw 
 
 e she had some 
 
 , she took care 
 
 •ect what ailed 
 
 ten nobody was 
 
 jest sister, (she 
 
 burst out into 
 
 the neck, with 
 
 my dear sister, 
 
 undone. Un- 
 
 mean ? I think 
 
 tell you she's 
 
 pody came into 
 
 is, so that her 
 
 irther ; and she 
 
 ore by and by ; 
 
 lis, a very un- 
 the ceremonies 
 to be at liberty 
 er mind, which 
 formerly sus- 
 and the other 
 I W83 80 much 
 
 1 
 
 195 
 
 It was not long before they rrot away and »a 
 soon as ever they were in the cSach the mar nprf 
 
 wh^wSl'.' ""''l ^'''' ^"" havTso%u;prSi"me 
 with what you told me just now, that I thouJh? 
 
 X^ab'o'uUt'.TLTH" ' ^V^^^' thati mi|h 
 as you do? ' ^°" ""^^^ '"^^"^ ^^^^ talk 
 
 it fam*';„?.' S'-''- ^ r *°° ^^" ««tisfied of 
 hlf^ri ♦^ ^^ *' '* ^°- I suspected it all alons 
 
 hU mass "" '"'■' '* '^ '''' '^ ^ *'^d «««» him at 
 
 [Hci-e she tells her what she had observed unon 
 his pictures and crucifixes.] "»crveu upon 
 
 rea^m wi:j- Itt' ''' ' ''''''' ' ^"" ' ^"^ °« 
 
 shi^T^hll' ?"* ""i^y ^'** y°" "«t ^arn her of it? 
 She ought to have known it : certainly she wmilH 
 "ever have married him if she had &„ it! "^r la? 
 was very unkind not to warn her of it. 
 hnt.: Tu i '^'^ ''^'■y ^'^^^"^y tell her my suspicions • 
 mde verv 'Ir .^••°""'^.t« fasten it upon Eim° It' 
 
 Zny Ia?it wlsso?'''"'" "^'^ '^'' "°^ *^°"^<^ ' 
 J^ar.sist. Well, I would have pressed her to a 
 
 rerTu"in"TL^"H '.'u y«".™'ght^ave prevemed 
 i er ruin, it you had done it in time ; now she is 
 
 S"tV?Stl^' '^ ^ ^°" ^^>' '^"^ ^^'- ^- 
 
 cerf^t/'?" ^^" ''^^^t think Lhad so little con- 
 to use aMthL t" "^^ ^ H" ^'' "^y suspicions, and 
 snarfao i *^^ are^u^ents I was capable of, to per- 
 £? f^P^"^'^ ^"'th her to inquire into his prifici- 
 
 fe in ^ItafyZg^hTdo"^" ^'^' ^^^ ^^"^"^ ^^y 
 [Here siie recites to her the particuiars of the 
 
 i' 
 
.r-r 
 
 lOG 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part II. 
 
 \ 
 
 whole dialogue foregoing, between her and her 
 younger Rister.] 
 
 Mar. si«t. Poor child ! She is ruined indeed. She 
 nas leaped head-long into it in spite of good ad- 
 vice, and her ruin is of her own procuring But 
 what wiH you do now, sister? will you let her 
 
 Md. gist. No, no, I won't be the messenger of 
 her sorrows, she'll find it out soon enough : the thintr 
 will discover itself too soon. ^ 
 
 Mar. sist. Dear sister, what does my father sav 
 to If.; does he know it? ^ 
 
 mi. sist. You know, sister, niv father gives 
 linnselt very little trouble about sucirthings. I dare 
 say lie never inquired into it, or concerned himself 
 
 JUar. sist. Does he know any thing of it now'' 
 
 Jild.si.it. Truly, I do not know: but I know'that 
 alter 1 Imd pressed her so earnestly about it, she did 
 mention it to my father once at a distance in their 
 discourse, as that she did not question but he was a 
 good, sober man, or else he [iny father] would not 
 Have recommended him ; and added, I hope he is a 
 Protestant, Sir. ^ 
 
 Mar. sist. Well, what said my father to that part? 
 
 JiiU. stst. He answered after the same slight way 
 as those who do make the main part none of their 
 care. \es, yes, child, a Protestant! I dare say he 
 18 J he was always a Protestant when I was in Italy 
 with him, and every body knows he is a Protestant : 
 yonjiiftid not question that, I dare say. 
 
 Mar. sist. Poor child ! she had no sincere concern 
 upon her aJbout it : if she had, she would not have 
 peen f)ut off in a matter of so much moment, with a 
 bare position : taking it for granted, or, I dare say. 
 It is so, without inquiring into it. 
 
 £Jld. sist. It is too true ; she has not made it much 
 lier conc«irn, and I am so much the more afraid for 
 iier aow. 
 
[part II. 
 
 ler and her 
 
 indeed. She 
 
 of pood ad- 
 
 •urinfr. But 
 
 you let her 
 
 messenger of 
 b ; the thing 
 
 y father say 
 
 ■ather gives 
 nga. I dare 
 rried himself 
 
 it now? 
 [ know that 
 it it, she did 
 nee in their 
 tut he was a 
 ] would not 
 ope he is a 
 
 Bthat part? 
 f slight way 
 ane of their 
 dare say he 
 vas in Italy 
 Protestant ; 
 
 ere concern 
 d not have 
 ent, with a 
 I dare say, 
 
 ide it much 
 ! afraid for 
 
 l>IAI..n.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. I97 
 
 afS^fti t^:;;^^ ^l^^^^y yo^ ■• -J-t are you 
 whf^lntisJe?^!'.^:^:;^ n.'^toTC'"^" ' ^'''' ^^^ 
 
 is not all my concern neither ' ^"** ^''' ^^'«' 
 
 Mar. sist. What is it then ' 
 
 answer his reasonings. ^ ^""^ **^'^ *« 
 
 Mar. sist. I confess it is hard to resist the foroA 
 of those persuasions, the reasons for which wplln 
 not rid our hands of by argument aL «« ' • *'*"' 
 
 testants, we know not why • a ^9v^u^u^*7^? ^' 
 
 Christmns, we know r7ot why a^d an Athpir "'^ 
 tell us we are religious, we n^t why, 'andl^o on ' ""^ 
 
 Eld. sist. And that which is yvurJiethi.L • 
 breaking the thing to her a7k to her of k 'f ".:! 
 anticipate her misfortune . Perhaps he desil'n, t^ 
 conceal it from her for good and all and It fZ •? 
 jnay be a great while b4re he discovers it and V" 
 sS'Sbfils^^^: '''''' ^" - tSfngM 
 
 will endeavour to conceal it from u- ^^ 
 
 ^-' ,-r*H». . *,j. , 
 
108 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. Tpart ir. 
 
 or endeavouring to fortify her against the insinuations 
 or any to turn her to Popery. 
 
 fath?'* *"'' ^"' ^ ^ ^® ^^^^^^ ^'■^^^ ^* *° "y 
 
 £/rf. titt I know not what to gay to that I am 
 
 afraid his uidifforeiice in the thing should be a means 
 
 otlier wiu'"*' to I'^^r, and bring some inconvenience or 
 
 .. .^"r- :""*'• ' <^o "ot see any danger of that • but I 
 tbink It IS fit he should Icnow it on many accounts. 
 
 Ji.ld.8ist. I acknowledge I think he should know 
 !;'. VI "^7^ Possihie to engage him not to disclose 
 It ; but unless it can be done so, I would not have any 
 
 r"A.'", *'".'"'^ '' ^'''"' "PO" ^"y account whatever. 
 
 [Vyiule they were in this dilemma, and doubtful 
 what to do m It, as to telling their father, they were 
 delivered from it, by their father himself, as will ap- 
 pear in the following discourse. As soon as theV 
 came home, their father began with them, for he was 
 more impatient to open his mind to them, than thev 
 were on the other hand doubtful about consulting 
 with hira upon this unhappy case : both sides beinS 
 therefore wilhng to talk of it, they could not want aS 
 opportunity; and the father, after supper, began it 
 with his new married daughter thus : j ^ 
 
 /'a. Well, Betty, vou have been to visit your sister 
 in her new house, I find. How do you like things ' 
 
 Mar. mt. Sir, she is nobly married to be sure, she 
 has a house like a palace. ' 
 
 md. sUt. I think there is tht ..i)er,t. paintings that 
 ever I saw ui my life. He h:*s iuiJ. oav, vast su.J 
 sure m pictures. 
 
 Fa. He always had the finest collection of paint- 
 ings of any merchant in Leghorn. He is a great lover 
 ot the art, and has a nice judgment, which are the 
 two only things that can make buying so many nic- 
 tures rational : for his pieces are so well chosen, that 
 he may sell them when he pleases for above a ihou- 
 sand pounds more than they cost. 
 
IP. fPART II, 
 
 the insinuations I 
 
 break it to my j{ 
 
 to that. I am 
 •uld be a means 
 iconvcnience or 
 
 of that; but I 
 my accounts. 
 >e should Icnow 
 not to disclose 
 Id not have any 
 int whatever. 
 , and doubtful 
 her, they were 
 lelf, as will up- 
 ) soon as they 
 em, for he was 
 lem, than they 
 out consulting 
 >th sides being 
 Id not want an 
 pper, began it 
 
 isit your sister 
 
 like things? 
 
 to be sure, she 
 
 {Huntings that 
 OM vast su.iiS 
 
 Jtion of paint- 
 is a great lover 
 (vhich are the 
 so many pic- 
 11 chosen, that 
 above a thou- 
 
 DIAL. n.| RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 100 
 
 Eld. gist. I like his fancy to pictures verv wpII • 
 but mcthinks I don't admire l.is iravingoSyci: 
 cUiXi>3 and church pieces among them ^ 
 
 have"them" "" '"''"'" "' ^"^^^^ "''*'^ ' «" P^^ple 
 ^W. sist. That is, because they make a n'lieious 
 use 01 them But I think Protentants should not be 
 8u tond o the^, who u.ake no such use ofthem It 
 looks so hke Popery, that if the mind was rm? fur- 
 nished agauist thetii, it seems to give a lift that wav 
 and then I observe he hangs them ali just vXy dJ* 
 His crucifixes and passioif pictures hing all b7 the 
 bed-side. His alf^ir-pieces, just at the upper end of 
 the room, or on the east side. 1 cannot i agine whv 
 Protestants U tl.ey will have the pictures? sho^uJ 
 just hang them in the same plac.s" and mimic t^he 
 Catholics in the appearances, as long as they do not 
 make the same use of them. 
 
 [Tills discourse touched their father to the heart 
 and, as he said afterwards, he could hardly forbeiir 
 
 t w!*« ^"1 ''tl^ '' '" ^ ""'^ ^^"^«''' a"d repfied, tha 
 ^T"8"nly the custom of the country, and they 
 
 ^ f hi h'"^^"° ^"'■'" " ''' ^"•^ «° being willing tS 
 Saii'lftertht :]"'''' '"'"' '''"' '" ''' "'""'^ 
 
 drotlier : tor you never saw him before, or at least 
 never to converse with him. 
 
 Mar. mt. He is a very fine gentleman, Sir. I 
 T^'as going to wish you joy. Sir, and to sav I was very 
 
 Feveutefm™^ ''''"" '° ''''" "^"'*^ ^ but something 
 
 [Now the father could contain himself no Ion- 
 ger. I 
 
 ta. I know not what prevented you, but I believe 
 It was the same that forces me to tell you both I have 
 no joy in it at all : your sister is undone. 
 
 iUar. 5ij£. Ur.done, Sir! What do you mean' 
 What can be the matter ? 
 
 ii' 
 
 H 
 
 I 
 
 i\l 
 
 ""it^*.-,» 
 
m. 
 
 ) 
 
 Ml 
 
 1 
 
 •' . 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 : 
 
 ^ ' 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 200 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. fPABT II. 
 
 Fa. She is undone indeed, child; and more than 
 that, I have undone her ! the man's a Papist. 
 
 [The father burst out into tears as soon as he had 
 spoken the words, and the daughters stood, as it were, 
 speechless for some time, looliinf? at one another; at 
 last the married daughter spoke.] 
 
 Mar. sist. Are you sure of it, Sir? 
 
 Fa. Ay, ay, I am too sure of it ; I have lived in 
 Italy, and know sometliing of the manner of such 
 things; I presently discovered it. 
 
 Eld. sist. Will you please to tell us how you dis- 
 covered it ? for we have had the same thoughts, but 
 we durst not speak our minds about it. 
 
 Fa. Child, it is impossible for any one that has 
 lived in Italy not to discover it as soon as he sees his 
 house. 
 
 Eld. sist. What from the crucifixes and church 
 pictures I spoke of? 
 
 Fa. No, no, child : but was you in his closet ? 
 
 Eld. sist. Yes, Sir. 
 
 Fa. And was you in an inner-room that you went 
 to through his closet, and through another room be- 
 yond it ? 
 
 Eld. sist. Yes, Sir, we were both there, but we saw 
 nothing there more than ordinary, only still more 
 church-pieces, as that of the Passion, the Salutation, 
 the Ascension, and the like. 
 
 Fa. It is oecause you have not been used to such 
 things, child : why, it is his oratory ; it is a little 
 consecrated chapel, and there stands an altar and an 
 altar-piece over it, with the crucifix, and the Ascen- 
 sion painting above that; on either side these are fine 
 paintings, one of the baptism, and another of the as- 
 sembly at the feast of Pentecost, and the Holy Ghost 
 descending in flaming tongues, and the like. But 
 that is not all, for upon the altar isa pix of pure gold, 
 covered with a piece of crimson velvet, which is the 
 repositofy, as they cull it, of the host. 
 
 aiAL. 
 
 I things 
 I Fa. 
 closet 
 me inl 
 tiling 
 be fin( 
 Eld 
 unders 
 sister 1 
 on of 1 
 pictun 
 with a 
 Fa. 
 certain 
 not der 
 had be( 
 Mat- 
 he own 
 she wil 
 
 Ijunctioi 
 herself 
 Fa. ; 
 I have 1 
 Mar. 
 inquirec 
 given h( 
 Fa. I 
 me upor 
 Protestj 
 ProtestE 
 Mar. 
 tively, t 
 that you 
 Fa. I 
 that I tol 
 it all to 
 have be I 
 sold my 
 
 
tIP. 
 
 fPAHT XI. 
 
 than 
 
 and more 
 L Papist, 
 soon as he had 
 tood, as it were, 
 one another ; at 
 
 I have lived in 
 manner of such 
 
 s how you dis- 
 
 e thoughts, but 
 
 It. 
 
 y one that has 
 
 >n as he sees his 
 
 es and church 
 
 his closet ? 
 
 i that you went 
 lother room be- 
 
 lere, but we saw 
 
 only still more 
 
 the Salutation, 
 
 n used to such 
 i ; it is a little 
 an altar and an 
 and the Ascen- 
 ie tliese are fine 
 )ther of the as- 
 the Holy Ghost 
 the like. But 
 >ix of pure gold, 
 t, which is the 
 
 DIAL. II.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 201 
 
 ,, P^' ?j.\*' ] wonder, Sir, he would let you see these 
 things, 1 he designed to conceal his profusion 
 
 i'a..It was all by accident ; for when I was in his 
 doset he was called hastily down, and iir wife le 
 me into these two rooms! but, alas! she knovvs no- 
 
 JSelt^lLrrSs"^ ''-''> ''' ^"^^ '^^- ^'^^^o 
 
 unStot^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 sister knows, I presently entertained the'same^oniS^ 
 on of h,s religion as you do now ; but it was frmn t e 
 picture of the crucifixion tlmt hung by his bed-s de 
 with a curtain over it. ^ ^ ® 
 
 cer^SntT'" Whin'/7" ^:;«.«"«Picions, mine is a 
 certainty. When I charged him with it, he could 
 
 E«ih'"^•*•^^"^''"":^^«"'•P••'«ed when he found I 
 had been m his chapel. 
 
 Mar. sisL NHy,it is then out of doubt, it seems, if 
 
 she will have reason to see how just my mother's in- 
 iunctions were to us all; I fear she will reproach 
 herselt with the neglect of them. ^proacn 
 
 Fa. My dear, she must reproach me with it • it is 
 I have ruined her ; I have given her up. ' 
 
 iJ-A^^i' ^""^ ^''" ' ^ ^^»"k it lay upon her to have 
 
 ii?eTherTp*rf n'^^PVr'P^^^ "^ religiL,We she had 
 given herself out ot her own power. 
 
 Fa. My dear, she came to me, and questioned with 
 me upon this very point. She asked me if he w^s a 
 
 Sotslant' Tnd I ^"^^"'•^f d her, told her he wa a 
 
 ?^ ' * ^^""y o^od man. 
 
 tiv'pfrVhif • ^ '"PP°''' ^''•' y"" ^'^ "Ot 8av posi- 
 JK'y'outlieCdr ^"" ^" wasa Protestant,\ut 
 
 ihf*''i}^^A^'''^V'^'' '° ™"«h of its being rav opinion 
 it n I t!?^** her she need not fear it; andihe agSn left 
 , It all to me, and depended upon me : «nH it r- r ♦ hJ 
 nave betrayed and deluded her. in"short"l'hav1 
 sold my child, and the peace of LermCJor'thetJys 
 
 
liif 
 
 202 
 
 I 
 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [pakt n. 
 
 and fine thitifrs of Italy. I Imve undone her : it is all 
 owmp: to my being unconcerned for tiie better part. I 
 
 it 
 
 £!ld. sixt. Dear tath«T, do not take tl 
 
 le weight of 
 
 so much upon yourself. My sister knows it was 
 her duty to have made a farther search into it, and I 
 pressed her to it in time, and witli all possible imoor- 
 tunity. ^ 
 
 Fa. Child, you did right; and I believe she de- 
 signed to follow your directions. Hut what assist- 
 ance did I <nve to her? Jiow did I damn that resoU 
 tion, when I stopped her mouth bv telling her, ti-at 
 I dare say he was a Protestant ? She trusted to my 
 assurance, nay, she told me that she did so. 
 
 [Here the father repeats to her the discourse 
 between him and his daughter, mentioned at the 
 bt'ginning of this dialogue, continuing to reproach 
 himself \vith betraying his child ] 
 
 Eld. sist. But, Sir, notwithstanding this discourse 
 (for she told me every word from time to time) I 
 urged her a great many times, and told her my 
 thoughts : for I suspected him from the beginning, 
 and I laboured to convince her that she ought to see 
 with her eyes, and to talk plainly and openly to him 
 of it. 
 
 Fa. Did she not tell you that her father had 
 assured her he was a Protestant, and that she trusted 
 to that ? 
 
 Eld. sist. She was more just to you, Sir, than to 
 say that you assured her of it ; but she repeated your 
 very words, that you said you believed it, and dare 
 say he was ; and I told iier plainly, that it was 
 evident from your words, that you only spoke your 
 opinion, and that she ought not therefore to call that 
 a positive assurance to be depended upon. Indeed, 
 Sir, I was very plain with her; she has nobody to 
 blame but herself, I told her. 
 
 [Here she repeats all her former discourse with her 
 sister, 1 
 
 Fa. She has herself been to blame for want of re- 
 
 I 
 
 i..jt,. ..tu 
 
 -V*»*»' 
 
 ■-'•-•^»x*^*.-n"t^ ^. 
 
p. [I'AKT XI. 
 
 ne her : it is all 
 a better part. 
 ? tlie weight of 
 r knows it was 
 h into it, and I 
 uossible inipor- 
 
 •elieve she de- 
 it wliat assist- 
 in that reso!*! 
 'lling her, tisat 
 trusted to my 
 d so. 
 
 the discourse 
 itioned at the 
 ig to reproach 
 
 this discourse 
 me to time) I 
 1 told her my 
 the beginning, 
 e ouglit to see 
 openly to him 
 
 er father had 
 lat she trusted 
 
 J, Sir, than to 
 repeated your 
 1 it, and dare 
 r, that it was 
 ly spoke your 
 re to call that 
 pon. Indeed, 
 as nobody to 
 
 turse with her 
 
 )r want of re- 
 
 DUL. ii.J RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 203 
 
 flection upon your seasonable persuasions, mv dear 
 
 L"* ^/?"r w^^'l " ^*'*.!'*"' P"""* ^'^ ''*^''- »"t had I been 
 as faithful to her, who was obliged in duty to have 
 done It, and on vvhom she depended, as you were, who 
 had no obligation but from your affections, I had 
 delivered my child from ruin. 
 
 Eld. mt. I cannot say, Sir, you had delivered her • 
 she seemed resolved to have him ; her eves were 
 dazzled with the gay things she expected, and unless 
 you had positively refused your consent, I fear reli- 
 gion had not hold enough on her thoughts to have 
 balanced her love of vanity. 
 
 Fa. But I have been p'erfectly careless of it, and 
 have not done the duty of my place ; I outfht to have 
 inquired into tlie circumstances of the person myself 
 and have restrained her. ' * 
 
 Eld. sist. I am sorry for her, but I think you 
 reflect on yourself too severely. Sir; to be sure, you 
 did not know that he was a Papist, neitlier had you 
 any suspicion of it; but she hadj for I put the sus- 
 picion into her head, and earnestly pressed her to 
 satisfy herself about it from himself. 
 
 Fa. My dear, I have been alwavs too careless in 
 these things. I remember the case of your sister 
 here, and cannot but reflect how, when in a passion, 
 1 told her it was none of my business, my own heart 
 struct: me with reproach; for I knew it was mv 
 duty. I wish this poor child had been as strict and 
 as nice in that matter as her sister was, though I 
 took It 111 .then, I see now she was in the right of it. 
 _ Eld. sist. You afflict yourself, Sir, for a case that 
 issued well ; and wliere, if you were in the wrong, 
 there were no bad consequences ; whereas, in this 
 case, where the bad consequences have happened, 
 you are no way the cause, it is all hpr own doiiig. 
 
 i^tt. But as It is an affliction to me, and that you 
 may be sure it is. providence apem« to «!«""' — 
 my sin by my punishment. I acknowledge I was' in 
 the wrong before, and it is not owing to my prudence 
 
 M 
 
 •^r*' 
 
I 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 204 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [pakt II. 
 
 or concern, that your sister was not ruined. Besides 
 every tatl.er ti.at has a due concern for the fouls of 
 Inschidren, will certainly inquire narrowJy „totl?e 
 theraTo''' "' '' ''' '""'"'''' ^*' '''" P'-^''''^"^ ''^^y "'^t'h 
 [In a word, the father afflicted himself so much 
 and 80 ong upon this matter, that his two dan-rhters 
 were ob .ged to drop their concern for thei s ter 
 and apply all the skill they had to comfort IheirfkJ 
 l.Y,n''*.nt ' T' ''' ^^t'rwhelmed with it that it threw 
 Imn mtoadeep melancholy, and that into a fit of 
 sickness; wh.ch, thou-rh he recovered, yet he did not 
 in a long tnne thoroughly enjoy hinfself ; a hvavs 
 fi T 'f T"^ r^Proachincr himself with having ruined 
 h.8 child, having regarded nothing but the outsTof 
 things, and referring all her happiness to a p e tlf u 
 fortune, and a gay, extravagant way of living 
 
 rhis went on some time. The eldest dan^htpr 
 Who was left with the father, ma^mge i th nls so 
 prudently, that no notice of these things was tfken 
 in the family, and her father readily agreed with both 
 
 th'pir «i ?*''T' "'^^ '' T« '^y "° ™e«^'« proper toTet 
 iil ?h. t'whr ^^''^^'"'.y.J'^d di^^covered ; conclud- 
 mg, that whenever she discovered it herself she 
 would come home with a sad heart, at d make her 
 complaint to them fast enough. ^ 
 
 But they were all mistaken in their sister: for 
 though she discovered the thing, and lived a melan-' 
 choly hie with her husband upon that occasioT yet 
 m eight years that she lived with him, she never 
 complained, or made her sorrows known to any ot heJ 
 relations ; but carried it with an even, steady tem- 
 per, and bore all her griefs in her ovvn breast'^ 
 shall be seen at large in tiie next dialogue.]' 
 
 died 
 
 SlOQS, 
 
 M 
 
p. [part U. 
 
 ined. Besides, 
 or the souls of 
 rowly into the 
 >ns tliey match 
 
 nself 80 much 
 two riauffhters 
 )r their sister, 
 nfort their fa- 
 that it tlirew 
 t into a fit of 
 yet he did not 
 •self; always 
 having ruined 
 the outside of 
 to a plentiful 
 living. 
 
 'St daughter, 
 ed things so 
 gs was taken 
 Bed with hoth 
 proper to 1st 
 ed ; conclud- 
 herself, she 
 nd make her 
 
 sister : for, 
 ved a melan- 
 )ccasion, yet 
 1, she never 
 to any of her 
 steady tem- 
 n breast: as 
 e-1 
 
 DIAL, nr.] RELIGIOUS OOURTSHir. 
 
 DIALOGUE III. 
 
 205 
 
 TiiK new married couple, of whom we have been 
 speuknig, lived in all the splendour and greatness, 
 tiuit thy highest degree of private persons admit of. 
 and which a family possessed of an immense wealth, 
 could he supposed to do. He was not only very rich 
 when he married her, as might be supposed by the 
 noble turniture of his house, and liis very valuable 
 collection ol pictures and rarities, and the like, of 
 which mention has been made ; hut as he fell pri- 
 vately into a great affair of remitting money by way 
 ot lingland to Genoa, for supply of the French armies 
 m Italy, he got that way a prodigious sum of money ; 
 and yet acting only by correspondents at Amsterdam, 
 lie was liable to no resentment or objections from the 
 government here. 
 
 After he had lived thus about eight years, and in 
 that time had six children by this young lady, he 
 died ; she had four of her six children living. But 
 their lather, alter having in vain tried all the persua- 
 sions, arguments, and entreaties (for he was too good 
 a husband, and too much a gentleman, to use any 
 other method) to bring his wife over to the RomisU 
 church, lett her, however, under this terrible afflic- 
 tion, tliat having disposed of his vast estate in a very 
 honourable manner, as well to her as to her children, 
 yet he took the education of her children from her 
 leaving them to the tuition of guardians, to brinir 
 them up in the Romish religion. Njr was this the 
 ettect ot his unkinuness to her; for, except in disputes 
 about these things, they never liad any difference 
 worth the name of a dispute in their lives ; and, at 
 -i- ..,„,.! J „e le^E lu ucr own uisposai aoout six times 
 the lortuae ehe brought him ; but this of his children 
 
 il 
 
 'U 
 
 I I 
 
 i : 
 
 If 
 
206 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PABT n. 
 
 P 
 
 was a mere point of conscience to Lira, which he could 
 not dispense with. Tliis was an inexpressible grief 
 to her, and that such, and so heavy, as it is impossi- 
 ble to represent it in this narrow tract, so as to say 
 how far it afflicted her, or wliat ill consequences at- 
 tended it J the drilt and desijrn of this work lying 
 quite another way, viz. To show the manner of life, 
 which naturally attends the best matches, where the 
 religious principles of the husband and wife are not 
 the same. 
 
 The elder sister was now married also, and married 
 very happily and comfortably ; the principles as well 
 as practice of her husband not only concurred entirely 
 with her own, but answered in a most agreeable man- 
 ner to the character which was given to her of him, 
 viz. that he was a person truly religious. 
 
 Their father, now grown old, had been a true peni- 
 tent for his mistakes in the past conduct of his chil- 
 dren, and had fully made up his want of care in his 
 middle daughter's match, by his difficulty in being 
 pleased for his eldest. She needed no concern for, 
 or to show any nicety in examining into the person ; 
 for the father was so very nice for her, that scarcely 
 any thing could please him ; he rejected several very 
 good oft'ers, merely on account of religious principles, 
 and put them off without so much as naming them 
 to his daughter, till at last, fixing upon a merchant 
 in the city, who for sobriety, piety, opinion in reli- 
 gion, and estate, suited every way both his desires 
 and his daughter's judgment; the match, under such 
 circumstances, was soon made. The uninterrupted 
 felicity this young lady enjoyed, in having the best 
 husband, the best Christian, and the best tempered 
 man in the world, all in one, made her the happiest 
 woman alive ; and indeed recommended the caution 
 she had always used in her choice, by its success. 
 
 The father" lived with his daugiiter, when he was 
 in town, but otherwise lived in Oxfordshire, with his 
 
 own sister, lady 
 
 widow of Sir James 
 
 of 
 
 DIAL. II 
 
 whom r 
 
 he lived 
 
 settled ; 
 
 the one 
 
 might n 
 
 but thai 
 
 the rich 
 
 lived in 
 
 teemed 
 
 sense shi 
 
 He wi 
 
 house, hi 
 
 when, w 
 
 from the 
 
 with he I 
 
 band, aft 
 
 was dead 
 
 Uiuch as 
 
 being a p 
 
 ried him 
 
 the lettei 
 
 from the 
 
 delivered 
 
 ters got 1 
 
 saw the 
 
 what the 
 
 about sud 
 
 and thre\ 
 
 again all 
 
 excepting 
 
 made pub 
 
 all. 
 
 I purpo 
 be supposi 
 casion ; su 
 conce 
 ', the ( 
 her auair; 
 account si 
 
•. [part h, 
 
 rhich he could 
 iressible grief 
 it is iinpossi- 
 , so as to say 
 sequences at- 
 is work lying 
 nanrier of liPe, 
 les, where the 
 d wife are not 
 
 ), and married 
 iciples as well 
 lurred entirely 
 greeable man- 
 to her of him, 
 us. 
 
 en a true peni- 
 ct of his chil- 
 of care in his 
 culty in behig 
 o concern for, 
 to the person ; 
 , that scarcely 
 d several very 
 0U3 principles, 
 naming them 
 on a merchant 
 )pinion in reli- 
 )th his desires 
 ch, under such 
 uninterrupted 
 iving the host 
 best tempered 
 r the happiest 
 id the caution 
 its success. 
 , when lie was 
 Ishire, with his 
 
 lames 
 
 of 
 
 DIAL, in.l RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 207 
 
 
 whom mention is made in the first part of this work • 
 sPttlZf'^ y^'T easy, having thus seen his family all 
 settled ; for his two sons were very well fixed abroad 
 t^.e one at Leghorn and the other^at Cadfz ; and he! 
 
 X^ ?^hnrn -^ '^ '• M,*" '^'V'° ^"^'^ti^" •" the world 
 but that of his middle daughter, who, though by far 
 
 the richest and most prosperous in circumstances! and 
 
 lived in the most splendour of all the rest, yet he es- 
 
 seTelhe^^ar"^ "^'''''^''^ = ^^ - '"^''^' - -e 
 
 He was at dinner one day at his eldeot daughter's 
 
 hoiise, his your^^est daughter being casually there also, 
 
 when while they were both at table, a letter came 
 
 w?th tl ?"' '' Z^'^'' ^''' ^"'•^^^^ '^'^"^ht^'- -^^^toZ 
 h«n,i off *^"»'»«"d, to acquaint them, that her hus- 
 band, atteran indisposition of no more thantivedavs 
 was dead. It surprised them all; for he had nK 
 much as heard that he was ill /and his distempe? 
 ^!l1\ffT''^' '^ "^^^ exceedingly violent, and cSr- 
 [ h^lillr^f ""^'^ '1"'"'''^; ^^''^" their father read 
 frL i! ; u^ T' f.V^'^^^y surprised, and rising up 
 from the table has ily, poor child! said he, God haS 
 
 J.rfcfn?'^ ^^l' ^"V*, i' ^y * '^^ stroke. His daugh! 
 S^hi'i^ ^'T ll^^' \^''!^^y ^"-hted, when they 
 saw the disorder their father was in, not knowing 
 Ik* the matter was ; but he perceiving it, turned 
 
 about suddenly and said. Your sister ^is a widowi 
 
 and threw them the letter; at this they sat down 
 again all surprised, and indeed sensibly affected • for 
 excepting their religion, which was not all that while 
 made pubhc, he was a most obliging relation to them 
 
 I purposely pass over here the incidents that may 
 be supposed to happen in the family on so sad an oc- 
 casion ; such as the lady's coming up from the Bath : 
 the concern ol the father and the sisters to comfort 
 her ; Uie disposal of herself, and the management of 
 fter afiairs; Hastening to tJie main story, viz. The 
 nccount she gave ot her life past, and of what she had 
 
208 
 
 RBLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PART II. 
 
 P 
 
 pone throuffh in tlie eipht years of her married state, 
 upon tlie particular occasion of her husband's being of 
 a different reli<?ion. 
 
 It was some months after her husband's death, and 
 when all her aftairs were in a settled posture, that 
 she went to divert her thou^'hts a little, and unbend 
 her mind ironi the sorrows she had been under, for 
 she was a sincere mourner for her husband ; I say, it 
 was some months after his death that her youngest 
 sister, havinu' invited her down to her seat in Hamp- 
 shire, she went thither, and her father and eldest sis- 
 ter, at her request, went along with her. 
 
 Here, upon casual discoursing of things past, her 
 father, who was almost ever bemoaning his neglect 
 in exposing his children, threw out some words which 
 first gave lier to understand that both he and her sisters 
 knew her husband was not a Protestant, at which she 
 seemed very much surprised : but, as she found it was 
 known, and that however it was still so far a secret, 
 as that it had gone no farther than their own breasts, 
 she was soon made easy ; she then made a confidence 
 of it, earnestly entreating them that it might go no 
 further, which they willingly promised for her satis- 
 faction. 
 
 But this opened the door for a variety of conferences 
 among them ; as particularly her sister told her, how 
 they discovered it first, and afterwards their father ; 
 and repeated all the discourses they had about it, and 
 how, and for what reason tiiey had resolved never to 
 mention it to her, unless she spoke first of it ; conclud- 
 ing, that, perliaps, he might conceal it from her, and 
 tliey would be very loath to discover a thing to her, 
 which they knew could have no other consequences 
 at that time, hut to ruin and afllict her; alas, sister! 
 says she, I discovered it within a fortnight after I 
 came home. 
 
 Ay ! says her youngest sister, you had a good go- 
 vprnrnent of yourself to refrain unbosoming to some 
 of U8 i especially considering my sister here (meaning 
 
p. [PART II. 
 
 married state, 
 bund's being of 
 
 id's death, and 
 I posture, that 
 le, and unbend 
 len under, for 
 )and ; I say, it 
 i her youngest 
 seat in Hamp- 
 and eldest sis- 
 r. 
 
 ings past, her 
 ig his neglect 
 e words which 
 and her sisters 
 tf at which she 
 le found it was 
 
 far a secret, 
 irown breasts, 
 le a confidence 
 t might go no 
 i for her satls- 
 
 of conferences 
 
 told her, how 
 
 5 their father ; 
 
 1 about it, and 
 alved never to 
 >f it ; conclud- 
 fromher, and 
 I thing to her, 
 
 consequences 
 ; alas, sister! 
 tnlght after I 
 
 ad a good go- 
 rnirfg to some 
 here (meaning 
 
 DIAL. III.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 209 
 
 her eldest sister) had been so serious with you upon 
 that very head before you were married. 
 
 Dear sister, says the widow, to what purpose is it 
 for any woman, wJien she is married, to coraplaiu of 
 her disappointments, which she knows she cannot 
 mend ? 
 
 Yo. sist. That's true, my dear; but who is there 
 can deny themselves that ease to their grief? 
 
 Wid. Alas ! complaining is but a poor ease to such 
 sorrows ; it is like sigliing, which relieves the heart 
 one moment, and doubly loads it the next. 
 
 Yo. Well, sister, seeing you had so entire a mas- 
 tery over yourself in that part, and you brought the 
 dominion of your reason over your passions to so per- 
 fect an exercise, which is what I confess, I must ad- 
 mire you for; I say, seeing vou mastered yourself so 
 well that way, I am obliged to think vou mastered 
 yourself as well within doors; and with'good conduct 
 perhaps you made it no inconvenience to you. I 
 wish you would let us hear how you managed, that 
 we may see, perhaps differences of opinion may be so 
 managed as to make no breaches in a family, and it 
 might be as well as if it had been otherwise. 
 
 Wid. No, no, sister, do not fancy so ; our dear 
 mother was wiser than so, and you were all wiser 
 than I, to lay so much stress upon it as you did ; I 
 am a convert now to my mother's instructions, though 
 It be too late to help it. 
 
 Yo. Why Mr. and you lived mighty easy : 
 
 you were always mightv well with one another, I 
 thought. 
 
 Wid. It was impossible to be ill \vith him, he was 
 of so excellent a temper ; but this makes my case 
 perfectly instructing to others, and proves effectually, 
 that no goodness of the disposition, no excess of af- 
 fection, no prudent compliances, though they make 
 the case rather better than worse, can yet make it up, 
 no, not in the least, or any way balance the inexpres- 
 22 p 
 
 1' 
 
 f 
 I 
 
 t 
 
210 
 
 UELiaiOUS COURTSHIP. [part ii. 
 
 Il 
 
 E- « 
 
 fiible (leflcienoy that such a breach in relieious mat- 
 ters inokes in a family. * 
 
 Fn. Ay, ay, my dear, I see it now, with a sad 
 Heart, but it was fur from any of my thou-'hts then 
 you owe all the misery of it to my neglect. 
 
 Wid. I dare say you did not mistrust it ; I re- 
 member you said, he had always been r Protestant 
 vvlieu you was at Leghorn, and that you knew he was 
 bred so. 
 
 . ■''V- ^y; '^y <^ear ; hut it was my business to have 
 inqiiirod farther into it ; I mij(ht easily have known 
 It It 1 liad inquired ; for several merchants told me 
 Mtterwards of it; but I laid no stress upon it- in 
 sliort I did not consider the consequences. 
 
 Ko. Tiiere is no need to afflict yourself now. Sir, 
 about It : my sister is delivered another way, Sir and 
 the thiiif? 18 over. 
 
 Fa. liut I am a warning to all parents, that have 
 tiie ^'ood of their children at heart, never to make 
 iJg It ot such things, but search them to the bottom • 
 and the more their children depend upon thera the 
 greater is their obligation to be very careful. 
 
 TxrJ^r^^' '"^ '^^^^^^ '^ delivered from it all now. 
 
 Wid. It IS a sad deliverance, sister, and it is a 
 dreadtu case to be so married, as that the death of a 
 Jius band sliould be counted a deliverance : and esne- 
 cially a good husband too. ^ 
 
 Yo. I do believe he was a good husband indeed, 
 that one particular excepted ; but that was a terrible 
 circumstance, and would have made tJie bestliusband 
 m the world a bad husband to me. 
 
 Wid. Ay, child, and so it did to me in some cases, 
 though he was otherwise the best humoured man 
 and tiie best liusband imaginable. 
 
 Ko. No question, there was some uneasiness at 
 nrst ; but it seems you got over it. I wish vou would 
 tell us, sister, liovv you managed the first 'discoverv 
 between ynu. "^ 
 
 \yiiL Truly, sister, the uneasiness was not so much 
 
. [part II. 
 
 :ligiou3 mat- 
 
 , witli a sad 
 
 oughts then, 
 
 ft. 
 
 8t it ; I re- 
 
 r Protestant 
 
 knew he was 
 
 nes9 to have 
 
 havt) known 
 
 nts told me 
 
 upon it; in 
 
 3lf now, Sir, 
 'ay, Sir, and 
 
 DIAL. iii.J IlKLIOIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 211 
 
 J, that liave 
 er to rriake 
 the bottom ; 
 n them, the 
 ful. 
 
 t all now. 
 and it is a 
 a death of a 
 J and espe- 
 
 and indeed, 
 IS a terrible 
 est husband 
 
 some cases, 
 oured man, 
 
 easiness at 
 I you would 
 t discovery 
 
 lot so much 
 
 
 at first as at last, and had we lived lonpfer tojjether, 
 it must of necessity have grown worse, especially as 
 the children ^'rew up. 
 
 Yo. indeed there you might have come to clash in 
 matters very essential to your peace. 
 
 WicL Might have clashed, do you sav ! ideed, sis- 
 ter, we must have clashed, it 'was unav. dahle : it 
 could not be, that I could be easy to have the chil- 
 dren bred Papists, or that he could have been easy to 
 have them bred, as he called it, heretics. 
 
 Yo. It was impossible indeed ; and the more you 
 were both settled and serious in your opinions, the 
 more impossible it would be for you to yield t!mt 
 point to one another. 
 
 Wid. Why, you know, sister, Mr. was a very 
 
 serious grave man ; and I assure you, in his way, he 
 was very devout ; and this made his yielding to me 
 sometimes to be very diiiicult to him. He had very 
 strong struggles between his principle and his affec- 
 tion. 
 
 JEld. sist. Dear sister, it is always so where there 
 are differing opinions between a man and his wife ; 
 the more zealous and conscientious they are in their 
 several ways, the more difficult it is for them to 
 yield those points up to one another, which kindness 
 and affection may incline them to give up. But pray 
 give us a little account of your first disputes about 
 these things. 
 
 Wid. It is a sad story, sister, and will bring many 
 grievous things to remembrance. 
 
 £Jld. I should be very unwilling to impose so irk- 
 some a task upon you : but I think it will be very 
 instructing to us all. 
 
 Wid. Why, it was not much above a fortnight 
 after we came home, as I observed to you, before I 
 discovered it ; and the manner was thus : I wondered 
 that every sabbath-day my spouse contrived snyne 
 excuse or other to avoid going to church with me. I 
 had taken some notice of it before we went home ; 
 
212 
 
 RKLIQIOUS COURTSHIP. [PART 11. 
 
 but the srcond sabbath-dfiy I took upon me to desire 
 him to go. He seemed not to deny me, and went into 
 the coach with me, but pretended a sudden thoufjht, 
 he wasoblit^ed to go up to St. James's ; and having 
 ■verv civilly handed rae out of the coach, and gone 
 with me to the very place, made a slight bow, when I 
 could not stand to persuade, and went hack. 
 
 Eld. What! did he take the coach too, and leave 
 you to come home ow foot ? 
 
 Wid. No, no, he never showed me so little respect 
 as that. He went but as far as Temple-Bar in the 
 coach, and sent it back, charging theeoa(!hman to go 
 and wait for iiis mistress, which he did. Tliis how- 
 ever troubled me a little, an»i I began to be uneasy, 
 though I knew not for what. 
 
 Etd. Why, my dear, did nothing occur to your 
 thoughts, as it did to ours, about his pictures^ his 
 crucifixes, altar-piece?, and such things ? 
 
 Wid. No, not at all. I have heard my father say 
 It was the fashion in Italy ; and it being so remote 
 from my thoughts to imagineoany thing of what was 
 the real case, I had indeed no thoughts at all about 
 it, till the following affair alarmed me. I was with 
 him one day in his closet, and viewing his fine things, 
 the pictures, the imagery, and other rarities, of which 
 he had abundance, and some pieces of antiquity, that 
 are of very great value ; he was mighty busy, and 
 pleased in showing me things, and telling me what 
 they were ; for then they were as new to me almost 
 as they were to you. At last I went into the little 
 room within his closet, and looked upon all the fine 
 things there, where you know, sister, there are abun- 
 dance of valuable pieces of paintings. 
 Eld. Yes, indeed, it is a charming place. 
 Wid. Upon the table there stood two fine silver 
 candlesticks gilded, with large wax candles in them. 
 My dear, says I, like an innocent fool, these candle- 
 sticks are v«ry fine, I think thev are much firspirthan 
 any we have about the house. My dear, says he^ if 
 
 
[part 11. 
 
 me to desire 
 md went into 
 len thouffht, 
 and having 
 h, and (;one 
 bow, when I 
 ick. 
 ), and leave 
 
 it tie respect 
 
 -Bar in tlie 
 
 fljiuiin to go 
 
 TItia liow- 
 
 be uneasy, 
 
 ;ur to your 
 icturesj his 
 
 r father say 
 f 80 remote 
 f what was 
 at all about 
 I was with 
 fine things, 
 c'S, of which 
 iquity, that 
 
 busy, and 
 g ine what 
 
 me almost 
 the little 
 ill the fine 
 e are abun- 
 
 fine silver 
 es in them. 
 ise candle- 
 
 I fiTiQi» ♦■lion 
 
 says he^ if 
 
 DIAL, lli.l IIKLIGIOUS COUIITSHIP. 
 
 !13 
 
 you had rather have them in your closet, than to let 
 them stand here, they sliiill hi'VeuKivt'd. No, niy dear, 
 said I, if we should want tiicin u|ir)n an extraordinary 
 occasion, it is but borrowing; tli»'iu of you. We said 
 no more of that then, but the next day he sent me in 
 from a {fohlsmith's in Drury-Iane, two pair of very 
 curious workmanship, and all the embossed work 
 double gilt. 
 
 Yo. So you had no need to grudge him those he 
 used in his closet any more. 
 
 Wid. No, indeed. But to go on ; after I had done 
 speaking of tlie candlesticks, I laid my hands upon a 
 large piece of crimson damask, which seemed to cover 
 something that stood upon the table, and standing up 
 about seven or eight inciies high in the middle, looked 
 as if tliere were several thinys togetlier ; and going to 
 turn it up, I said, what is under here, my dear ? Jiut 
 added, with a smile, and tlunking nothing of the mat- 
 ter, may I look? he smiled a little, but laying his 
 hand upon it too, I had rather not, ray dear ; they 
 are things I brought from Italy, but notliing of orna- 
 ment. Well, well, says I, let it lie ; I don't desire to 
 look, not J, and immediately turned to look at a pic- 
 ture that hung near me ; and all this while I was so 
 dull as to perceive nothing. 
 JUld. Your curiosity was not much, it seems. 
 
 Wid. Innocence suspects nobody : but a strange 
 turn in his countenance gave an alarm, which I was 
 not aware of; there was a visible hurry and confusion 
 in his face when he laid his hands upon the piece of 
 damask to prevent ray taking it up ; and on a sud- 
 den, when I so easily and unconcernedly passed it 
 oft', all that chagrin went off" his countenance in a 
 moment, and he was as bright and as good hu- 
 moured again as ever ; and this made me think again 
 afterwards that there was something in it more 
 than usual. 
 
 Md. Yn!i must })ave bsen very dull, if you had not, 
 seeing you perceived such a double alteration ; and 
 
 
 fii 
 
214 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PAHT XI. 
 
 tiler Tmo^ have heightened ray desire to inquire far- 
 
 Wid. Perhaps it did so too in me : but I saw evi- 
 dently he was concerned : and why should I make 
 h„„ uneasy ? I could have passed un hundred such 
 tnmjrs by, and have restrained my curiosity while I 
 had no suspicion. ^ 
 
 B/d. Well, but what was this to the case' it 
 seems here was no discovery then. 
 
 yVid. Yes, here was a discovery too, as it nrp- 
 pared for farther observation ; I tJld you the ifext 
 day he sent me home two pair of candlesticks, which 
 were indeed very fine; and as I was admirin-rem 
 I desired to have the other fetched down to com S 
 them with ; upon which he made some difficulty 
 and said, he could not trust a servant to go into 
 Jhnn'i^^'lf f ^''"^' r''"""^ ^*^'""^ «^' consequence lay 
 mat"{/them: "^ ^'''*' '^^' '"' ''' '^"^ ^^ "P ^"^ 
 
 £/d. Well, that reason was just enough. 
 «i I u . ^'^^.soj and I went up with him to his 
 closet but not into the inner room; but I observed 
 just when he stept m, he made an extraordinary low 
 
 stood Tn5 '/'f . P^'" ""^'-'^ *^'« candlesticlcs 
 stood. Indeed, I took no notice of it at first, for 
 
 I verily thought he had stooped for somethinff • 
 
 but when he carried the candlesticks in again, he did 
 
 th.^same, and that gave me some thought. 
 
 J^: That was a discovery indeed. 
 
 Wtd. No, really it was not yet ; for I was a per- 
 fect stranger to any of their Popish ceremonies ; I 
 scarcely understood it when I was told : but how- 
 ever It gave me some idea of this being an extra- 
 ordinary place, though I did not know what : and I 
 very innocently asked liim this foolish, laugliing 
 question: My dear, you are mighty mannerly to 
 ?hT/"i?*y rooms, you bow as if the king was 
 there. He put it off with a smile, and an J.»vve. 
 thut was indeed according to Solomon, Answer a 
 
[part II. 
 
 inquire far- 
 
 1 1 saw evi- 
 uld I make 
 iiidred such 
 •sity while I 
 
 lie case? it 
 
 > as it pre- 
 )u the next 
 ieks, whicii 
 iring them, 
 to compare 
 difficulty, 
 to go into 
 juence lay 
 go up and 
 
 him to his 
 I observed 
 dinary low 
 indlesticks 
 t first, for 
 omething; 
 aiu, he did 
 
 vas a per- 
 monies; I 
 but how- 
 an extra- 
 at; and I 
 laughing 
 nneriy to 
 king was 
 in answer 
 Answer a 
 
 DIAL. Iii.j RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 215 
 
 fool in his folly ; my dear, says he, it was our 
 custom in Italy. 
 
 Eld. He was no fool ; what he said was very true. 
 
 Wid. Well, even all this while, and further, I was 
 still blind ; for, a little while after I pushed into 
 the same place with him, not out of curiosity, but 
 merely l)y chance ; but though the piece of damask 
 crimson lay upon the table, yet there wsis nothing 
 under it, nor did he make any bow as before. 
 
 Yo. My dear, tliere was no need of it tlien ; for, 
 to be sure, the idol was removed. 
 
 Wid. Well, liowever, as that was more than I 
 knew, it caused all my former hesitations and ob- 
 servations to vanish, till they were renewed again 
 upon the following occasion : He was taken ill one 
 evening in a manner that alarmed me very much, 
 and we were obliged to get him to bed with all 
 speed : but just as he was undressing by the bed- 
 side, he started up in a kind of rapture, and, pull- 
 ing a string which drew back a curtain, he cast up 
 his eyes towards a picture that hung there, and 
 said some words which I did not understand, and 
 I perceived he crossed himself two or three times 
 on the breast, and then stept into bed. 
 
 Fa. To one that had lived in Italy, this had been 
 no novelty at all. 
 
 Wid. No, Sir, I understand it well enough now, 
 but I did not then ; however, it was so plain then, 
 that it needed no explanation to me ; but it was 
 such a surprise to me, that I thought I should have 
 faulted ; my heart sunk within me, and with a sigh, 
 said I to myself, O Lord ! I am undone ! I thought 
 I had spoken so softly, that nobody could have 
 overheard me ; but yet so unhappy was my passion 
 that he heard the last words, and raisuig his voice. 
 My dear, said he, hastily, what's the matter ? what 
 art thou undone for ; I made him no answer, which 
 increased his eagerness to know what ailed me ; 
 but I declined it. At lust, pressing me still, I 
 

 216 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part ll. 
 
 answered, my dear, excuse me for the orespnf T 
 
 be I, that I used to ring for my woman an/aJf 
 being but in the next room, came^unnl'g'ir?"Vbid 
 her ietch me a little bottle out of my closet and 
 taking a few drops rather by counterfdUl Iness'than 
 
 tVaTeir '"' " "' '' '•'" '"^"^^^' andTot him 
 
 A indtat'rtrd atffio?Tr<S!.t L^T; 
 cheated and deluded mo ^ ^' *^"* ^^^^ 
 
 ment, but n,y affect"" st p ''^"tt'tv „7.7?.'" 
 sentment ; I loved hin, tenderly and 'besidil 1; 
 
 a3tr.J'htt\£^n,^,at'a'!ld"?3r'"'- 
 taste of the same distemper that did at la?rk?n 
 h,m fur ,t was a pleurisy ;'^and after he had slept L 
 
 ' s°rr,' ?."." "f"'" let hL bLr"" '" '""" 
 
 w6 Well that relieved him, I hope. 
 
 cuSje'^ihtraiteSJ TV^ilt T ," »"" 
 an old man, an Italian, whom hralwavskent }^T 
 
 z.i„:t-sp[„\-s«,,-a^^^^^^^^ 
 
 call upon the old Tt-iiian wu ' i_ ^° "^") to 
 
 meantLs'hoKt" m M»^^™t™»■!'', "!"' •■« 
 Uiately the old -an called lor^hTg; ^Jli^iVa^Tf 
 
 DIAL. III. 
 
 found he 
 he had bt 
 let him b 
 he openec 
 verc'd son 
 
 Fa. I'] 
 is a priest 
 
 Wid. ' 
 after. 
 
 Fa. Ai 
 he not be 
 nities, mv 
 
 Wid. 
 usual : h 
 but with 
 good sort 
 verv mar 
 table (tor 
 him sup 
 cheerfully 
 to his ma 
 that he d 
 whicli my 
 think the 
 it is aboul 
 must tell 
 unrnanner 
 do not un( 
 says? W 
 genius as i 
 the pale ( 
 was telling 
 to observe 
 he repeate 
 and eiid s 
 ance of st 
 Christ to 
 
 scriUUsiy I 
 
 Yo. thi 
 
[part ir. 
 
 DIAL. III.} RRLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 217 
 
 present, I 
 g9 a little 
 1, and she 
 r in : I bid 
 Jlosef, and 
 liness than 
 d t?ot him 
 
 it down- 
 f, that had 
 
 I was op- 
 isappoint- 
 of all re- 
 •esides, it 
 y very ill, 
 a spice or 
 last kill 
 d slept a 
 tion, tL:it 
 d to fetch 
 
 ^ou a cir- 
 the house 
 jpt in the 
 rislate his 
 ess as he 
 Jtor: the 
 not come 
 sperately 
 when he 
 J (for he 
 D bad) to 
 
 into the 
 t it with 
 
 that he 
 i, imme- 
 r, and I 
 
 found he had a lancet hi his pockft. I asked him if 
 he had been used to it ; lie said, Yes, Madam, I have 
 let him blood several times before now. In a word, 
 he opened a vein, and it gave him ease, and he reco- 
 vered soon after. 
 
 Fa. I'll lay an hundred pounds, then, that doctor 
 is a priest. 
 
 Wid. Yes, Sir, he is so; and I knew it quickly 
 after. 
 
 Fa. And after he knew that you understood it, did 
 he not besiejre you with his discourses and importu- 
 nities, my dear, to turn ? 
 
 Wid. No, really, at least not so, as I believe is 
 usual: he frequently let fall some words about it, 
 but with great modesty ; for he was really a very 
 good sort of man, exceedingly retired and devout; 
 verv mannerly and respectful : he spoke once at 
 table (for sometimes my spouse would ask me to let 
 him sup with us) and we had been talking very 
 cheerfully, when the doctor said something in Italian 
 to his master, that gave me plain reasons to know, 
 that he desired I should know what he said; upon 
 whicjj my spouse said to me, My dear, what do you 
 think the doctor says ? I do not know, but I am sure 
 it is about me. Yes, says he, so it is, and he says I 
 must tell you what it is ; or else you will think he is 
 unmannerly, to speak any thing in a language you 
 do not understand. Well, pray, said I, what is it he 
 says ? What a pity is it. sjiid my spouse, such a fine 
 genius as my lady, your wife is, should not be within 
 the pale of the Catholic church ! While my spouse 
 was telling me this, he looked very-earnestly at him 
 to observe wlien he repeated the words, and just as 
 he repeated them, the good old fatherlifted up his eyes, 
 and tf iid some words softly, but with great appear- 
 ance of seriousness, wliich it seems was to pray to 
 Christ to convert me ; and my spouse looking very 
 seriously too, crossed himself, und said. Amen. 
 Yo. This was dangerous work indeed, eister; for 
 
 W 
 
218 
 
 RBLIOIOU8 COURTSHIP. [part n. 
 
 the more serious they were in it, the more it would 
 have affected ine. wuiiiu 
 
 Wid. Indeed so it did rae ; I answered my husband. 
 My dear, I hope I am ; and if I thought I was not I 
 would not sleep till I was. At which the doctor rav 
 spouse repeating the words to him, shook his head 
 and said No no! signifying, that to be sure I was 
 iJot ; and added, he hoped God would hear his 
 prayers for me; but this was the most that ever he 
 offered that way. 
 Fa. Well, that was nothing but what any man 
 
 mo2es;?;?oo.^'™''" '" ''' "«''' ""^''^^ ^^> «"^ ^^'^ 
 
 mrf. Indeed he always kept himself rather at a 
 greater distance than we desired. 
 
 ^ Well, but pray go back to the story. 
 
 Wid. Why, I told you my husband recovered from 
 his illness; but it was otherwise with me: for, beine 
 now fully satisfied that my spouse was a Papist it 
 cast me down to that degree, and overwhelmed mv 
 spirits, that I was scarcely able to bear it, and espe- 
 cially for want of somebody to lodge my thouglits 
 with, and open my soul to. ^ 
 
 , , ^l^: ]^^y> did you not charge him with it point- 
 
 wi "°' perceive your disorder ? 
 
 Wid. He did to be sure, and pressed me with the 
 utmost tenderness and importunity, to let him know 
 what grieved me. 
 Md. Ay, and I should have told him of it in his 
 
 Wid. Dear sister, you are too tender a wife your- 
 self not to know, that where there is a sincere affec- 
 tion, even the highest resentment expresses itself in 
 the softest terms. I could afflict myself freely, but I 
 could not think of afflicting him; and thougll I do 
 acknowledge I thought myself ill treated yet I could 
 not use him ill in return. 
 
 Yv'P^^i^* '^" "^ ^^** yo" said to him- 
 
 nta. vVhy, wiieii itu pressed me to let him know 
 
 DIAL. III. 
 
 what disi 
 grief thai 
 knew wli 
 I bejrged 
 having b 
 wliy are ; 
 mhie ma^ 
 bear with 
 putes? b 
 Tears sto 
 an open 
 would fai 
 there was 
 "When lie 
 and took 
 it is poss 
 says he, 
 expect to 
 that is p 
 indeed if 
 or do coul 
 was possi 
 woman fo 
 from a m 
 every thii 
 tions : in 
 desire mo 
 
 Md. W 
 it fully n 
 be happy 
 two opini( 
 perience c 
 the advar 
 us, is it ] 
 plete? wa 
 
 Wid. 1 
 cause I k; 
 June Lions 
 it 3 but I 
 
[part II. 
 
 re it would 
 
 ly liusband, 
 was not, I 
 doctor, my 
 k hi8 head, 
 sure I was 
 hear his 
 liat ever he 
 
 any man 
 ), and very 
 
 ather at a 
 
 I'ered from 
 for, being 
 Papist, it 
 lelmed my 
 and espe- 
 thoughts 
 
 » it point- 
 
 5 with the 
 liim know 
 
 >f it in his 
 
 irife your- 
 ere aiFec- 
 3 itself in 
 ely, but I 
 ugh I do 
 Jt I could 
 
 im know 
 
 DIAI. in.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 219 
 
 what disturbed me, I told him, I had rather bear my 
 
 frief than complain to him ; that I was too sensible he 
 new what I meant, when I said I was undone ; and 
 I be^^ged him not to oblige me to blame hitn, for 
 having been unjust to me. Why, my deer, says lie, 
 why are you undone ; if your opinion in religion and 
 mhie may difl'er, must it aftect our love? cannot we 
 bear with one another without entering into any dis- 
 putes 1 but I did reckon myself undone for all that. 
 Tears stopt my very breath for a while, for this was 
 an open acknowledgment of his profession ; and I 
 would fain have flattered myself so much, as to hope 
 there was yet room to have thought myself mistaken. 
 When he saw me so overwlielmed, he came to me, 
 and took me in his arms, and said all the kind things 
 it is possible to think of, to pacify me : My Jear, 
 says he, though you may think this a grief to you, 
 expect to have it made up to you abundantly, by all 
 that is possible for a man to do to oblige you : and 
 indeed if all the affectionate things a man could say 
 or do could make it up, it was made up to me; if it 
 was possible for a man to do any thing to make a 
 W'oman forget her disappointment, he did it ; and this 
 from a man too, who had a perfect understanding of 
 every thing that could oblige and engage the affec- 
 tions : in a word, no man could do more, or woman 
 desire more, to make up the loss. 
 
 Md. Well, sister, and pray tell me, did it do ? was 
 it fully made up to you? is it possible that two can 
 be happy in the condition of man and wife, where 
 two opinions in religion differ? you iiave had the ex- 
 perience of it to be sure i.i its best fortune, with all 
 the advantages imaginable : now be plai.i, "d tell 
 us, is it possible the conjugal felicity can be com- 
 plete? was our dear mother in the right or no, sister ? 
 
 Wid. Indeed, sister, you put hard upon me, be- 
 cause I know, I too much slighted my mother's in- 
 junctions f and I reinenibcF I jested wilu you ubout 
 it ; but I paid for the experiment. 
 
220 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part II. 
 
 Eld Dear sister, those thin{?3 are forgotten long 
 ago; I (lid not intend to reflect upon them • but I 
 ask upon a serious account, I assure you ' 
 ^ Wid.Wh^ truly, sister, I must acknowledge it is 
 impossible : I oay a-ain, I find by sad experience, it 
 18 impossible : no kindness, no tenderness, no affec- 
 tion can make it up; the condition can never be hap- 
 py, God faithfully served, children rightly educated. 
 
 tf^^^u P^'l-''^^ ?^'y.' "°'' t^^ •^"^y «f ^he relation 
 differ ^''''**'"^^'^' w*'*=^e the opinions in religion 
 
 Md. I ana of opinion also, hat it would have been 
 the same, though your differences had not been so 
 great as that of a Papist and Protestant. 
 J^td. Ay, ay, all one! for we never entered into 
 the question about our principles : I resolved it from 
 the beginning to avoid bringing on any thinff that 
 might be unkind or disoblighigVtweeJus a^nd he 
 approved it and d d the same for the same reason^ 
 8o that I never, after the first discourse, so much as 
 inquired what his opinion was : it was 'sufficient ?o 
 have the grief that we could not worship God too-e- 
 ther, either abroad or at home ; we could not think 
 o tone another with charity, but as deceived persons, 
 out of tne way of eternal felicity, out of God's bles- 
 smg and protection; we could not look upon one 
 another but with sighs and sad hearts. Again, we 
 could never converse with one another upon reli-ious 
 subjects, for we could not enter upon the least seri- 
 ous thing but It led us into contradictions and wild 
 distracted notions, which we were immediately forced 
 to take the help of our affections to suppress, that 
 we might not break out into indecencies to one ano- 
 
 Yo. Well, sister, and what became of your smart 
 answers to my sister—-, when she and you talked 
 of these thmgs viz. That if he was not of" your opi- 
 mon, you would be of his ; that if he was a tlhristkm 
 
 DIAL. III.] 
 
 Catholic, 
 would ha' 
 Wid. \ 
 consider i 
 least susp 
 far have 
 abundanc 
 deal of Ic 
 disputes 1 
 but a neg 
 quarrel, ' 
 is this to 
 ourchildi 
 educated, 
 shipped ? 
 tory or cl 
 my cham 
 continual 
 tliat som 
 from me, 
 have beei 
 other irre 
 though I 
 opinion, 
 ping, aj( 
 serving fi 
 not in th{ 
 Yo. Vf 
 Wid. ] 
 is but an 
 such mai 
 couple th 
 no jars al 
 difierenci 
 is so littli 
 with a hi 
 where a 
 to comp 
 families? 
 
[part ir. 
 
 rotten lonpr 
 im; but I 
 
 i^Ied^e it is 
 erience, it 
 , no affec- 
 er be Imp- 
 ed ucated, 
 le relation 
 n religion 
 
 have been 
 >t been so 
 
 tered into 
 ed it from 
 tiing that 
 3, and he 
 e reason ; 
 > much as 
 ficient to 
 jrod toge- 
 not think 
 I persons, 
 od's bles- 
 ipon one 
 gain, we 
 religious 
 east seri- 
 and wild 
 sly forced 
 ess, that 
 one ano- 
 
 ur smart 
 >n talked 
 'our opi- 
 ^hristian 
 
 DIAL. III.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 221 
 
 Catholic, you was a Catholic Christian : and so you 
 would have no difference about that 1 
 
 Wid. Why, truly sister, I was young ; and did not 
 consider what I said ! and besides, I did not in the 
 least suspect what my sister suggested : and yet so 
 far have I kept up to it, we have, by the help of 
 abundance of good humour on his side, and a great 
 deal of love on both sides, avoided differences and 
 disputes upon that subject: but alas! sister, that is 
 but a negative, and it can only be said we did not 
 quarrel, which is a great deal to say too : but what 
 is this to a happy life ? how was our family guided, 
 our children educated, and how would they have been 
 educated, if he had lived ? and how was God wor- 
 shipped ? he and his priest at their mass in the ora- 
 tory or chapel ; I, and my little unhappy babies in 
 my chamber or closet, where I mourned over them 
 contiimally (rather than prayed over them) to think 
 that some time or other, they should be snatched 
 from me, and brought up in Popery ; nor would it 
 have been much otherwise, if he had been of any 
 other irreconcilable opinion ; for, as I told you before, 
 though I knew his opinion, I never asked it ; for any 
 opinion, where there is not a harmony in worship- 
 ping, a joining in public prayer to God, and in joint 
 serving him in our families, is the same thing, only 
 not in the same extreme. 
 
 Yo. Well, but had you no private breaches about it ? 
 
 Wid. No, never ; we carefully avoided it ; but this 
 is but an evidence of the dreadful consequences of 
 such marria,|es in general : for, , where is there a 
 couple that can say, as we could, that they have had 
 no jars about it ? And what breaches have religious 
 differences made in families ? But, if the happiness 
 is so little, and the evil consequences so many, even 
 with a husband so exquisitely kind and obliging, and 
 where a woman cannot say she has any other thing 
 to complain ot^ what mudt be the case in other 
 families? 
 
222 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part ir. 
 
 Yo. But, sister, vou hint that the longer you lived 
 the worse those differences jjrew. ^ * 
 
 IVid. Why, it was impossible, but a^ we erew for- 
 ward, these things must have corae more in our wav • 
 
 we have four children, and Mr. was not a maii 
 
 !L'"f£^''^"^ }" ^f religion, as to be more careless 
 «nSl^''^T^^ f t" children, that I assure you : 
 and though he left theiu entirely to ray management, 
 when they were little ; yet he would hint sometimes 
 that he hoped I would leave them free, when thev 
 grew up to choose for themselves, as God should en- 
 lighten them; and that at least we should both stand 
 
 Fo. What could you say to that ? 
 md. I told him, I could not tell how far I could 
 promise that; for, if I thought myself in the right 
 way to heaven, I could but ill answer it to him that 
 gave me ray children, to stand still and see them ao 
 wrong, and not endeavour to persuade them (at leasts 
 to choose better for themselves. He told me, that 
 was an arguinent just as strong on his side, as it was 
 on mine ; and he added, smiling, How shall we do to 
 agree, my dear, when it comes to that? I hope we 
 shall not love less than we do now. I told him I 
 had a great many melancholy thoucfhts about it- 
 and thus at last we were always fain to drop the 
 discourse; but to this hour I cannot conceive how 
 we should have done to have divided our children's 
 instruction between us, if he had lived to see them 
 grow up. 
 
 Fa. Well, my dear, God has otherwise ordered 
 It : and I hope the children will have the benefit 
 ot a good mstruction now without that interrup- 
 
 l^id. Alas ! Sir, I perceive you do not know their 
 case yet ; and this is a remaining grief to me that I 
 have not mentioned. 
 
 Fn. What's that, child ? 
 
 M irf. Why, Sir, by hie will he has appointed the 
 
 DIAL. III.] 
 
 old priest 
 two sons, 
 the truste 
 deal of liii; 
 robbed of 
 
 Fa. I II 
 word of i 
 dausrhters 
 
 Wid. t 
 
 Fa. Di( 
 discourse i 
 
 Wid. Y 
 temper w^ 
 argued, as 
 would alio 
 burst whil 
 I loved as 
 my childn 
 it was to r 
 upon it. 
 
 Sid. It 
 what said 
 
 Wid. h 
 told me it 
 but his coi 
 not die in 
 provide foi 
 
 Fa. Wh 
 pass he dii 
 
 Wid. W 
 their govei 
 dear, says 
 you, and i 
 it, let the 
 church, an 
 hope you 
 self. 
 
 Yo. Wh 
 
 Wid. I i 
 
[PART IX. 
 
 you lived, 
 
 p:rew for- 
 our way : 
 ot a man 
 e careless 
 lure you : 
 lagement, 
 imetimes, 
 'hen they 
 hould en- 
 •oth stand 
 
 r I could 
 the right 
 him that 
 them go 
 (at least) 
 me, that 
 as it was 
 we do to 
 hope we 
 !d him I 
 bout it; 
 drop the 
 live how 
 hildren's 
 ee them 
 
 ordered 
 ! benefit 
 aterrup- 
 
 3w their 
 i that I 
 
 ited the 
 
 VIAU IIlO RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP, 
 
 223 
 
 old priest, whom I named above, to be tutor to my 
 two sons, and has settled his estate so, that, unless 
 the trustees bring them up Roman Catholics, a great 
 deal of liis estate goes from them j so that I am to be 
 robbed of my children. 
 
 Fa. I am surprised at that : why I never heard a 
 word of it! And what has he done with Lis two 
 dauerhters ? 
 
 Wid. He has left them to me. 
 
 Fa. Did you know this before, child ? had you any 
 discourse about it before he died ? 
 
 Wid. Yes, Sir, as much as the violence of his dis- 
 temper would admit : I entreated, I persuaded, I 
 argued, as much as tears and ray oppressed thoughts 
 would allow me ; for I thought my heart would have 
 burst while I talked to him, to see his condition, whom 
 I loved as my soul, and to think what was to befall 
 my children ; you can hardly conceive what a time 
 it was to me, it wounds my very spirit to look back 
 upon it. 
 
 Eld. It was a very bitter thing, no doubt; but 
 what said he to you ? 
 
 Wid. He begged of me not to importune him : he 
 told me it was far from being an unkindness to me, 
 but his conscience obliged him to do it, and he could 
 not die in peace, if he did -not, so far as in him lay, 
 provide for the souls of his children. 
 
 Fa. Why, if it was his conscience, how came it to 
 pass he did not do the like by his daughters ? 
 
 Wid. Why, he said, he thought I had a right to 
 their government, as a half of the family ; for, my 
 dear, says he, we are partners ; but; says he, I entreat 
 you, and as far as I am able to do it, enjoin you to 
 it, let the poor innocent babes he reconciled to the 
 church, and brought up in the Catholic faith ; and I 
 hope you will, in God's due time, embrace it your- 
 self. 
 
 Yo. What was you able to say to hirn ? 
 
 Wid. I bless God ! I made no promise about my 
 
224 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part ir. 
 
 children ; nor indeed was I able to speak to him for 
 grie! ; tor he was in such agonies, that rav lieart 
 could not, hold to stay by hira ; and the nexf niorn» 
 inpf he died ; and now I am a dreadful example of the 
 niiserublw condition of a married state, where princi- 
 ples ot relitfion differ, though with the best husband 
 in the world. 
 
 Fa. I3ut,iny dea", do not afflict yourself now about 
 your sons. 
 
 Wid. AfRxct myself, Sir ! Is that possible ' 
 la. Ye-), yes, they shall not be bred up Papists. 
 1 11 assure you, for all that lie has done to bring it to 
 
 ^^ITirf. Alas ! Sir, they shall be taken away from 
 
 Fa. Ifo, no ; nor shall they be taken away from 
 you neither ; our law gives you a right to the brins- 
 ing up of your own children : and as for the doctor, 
 1 11 engage he shall give you no disturbance : he 
 -iISw b' 'VT circumstances J and I'll take care he 
 fliiall take it for a favour to be concealed here, uud 
 leave all to you. * j - •« 
 
 too^*^' ^"' ^'*^" ^^'® ^****® ^'" ^° ^'*°™ ™y children 
 
 /'a. Perhaps not neither; but if it should, you have 
 enough tor them. ^ 
 
 Wtd. Well, that's none of my care, let me but keen 
 
 «orw ?'n*''"^°"^.f.'^"^'**'°"' I'" willingly leave that 
 part to tall as it will. 
 
 Yo. But, doar si.ster, did Mr. never try you bv 
 
 a»'?»n?ent8, to bring you over to hira ? ^ 
 
 Wtd. Only by all thai he could ever advise ; ex- 
 cept as I said before: for I must do that justice to 
 hw memory, that lie never offered any thins that was 
 rough or threatening, or limifing, or unkind : but all 
 the contrary to the hijrliest extreme. 
 
 Yo. That was the effect of his extraordinary good 
 brmling, and his beino so mucli a soiitleman. ' 
 
 nid. Not that altogether, sister, though that 
 
 
[part ii. 
 
 to him for 
 ray lieart 
 ext raorn- 
 mpleofthe 
 ere princi- 
 )t husband 
 
 now about 
 
 )le? 
 
 p Papists, 
 
 )ring it to 
 
 way from 
 
 way from 
 fhe bring- 
 tie doctor, 
 lance; he 
 :e care he 
 here, uud 
 
 f children 
 
 you have I 
 
 '■ but keep 
 eave that 
 
 py you by 
 
 vise ; ex- 
 ustice to 
 that was 
 ; but all 
 
 ary good 
 
 n, 
 
 igh that 
 
 DIAL, in.] RELIGIOUS COURTSIIIl'. QO'j 
 
 mlerht join ; but it was the effect of nn excellent dis- 
 position, and of an inexpressible afF.-ction to nn^ in 
 particular ; for otherwise he was tlie most realous 
 man in Ins way that ever was heard of, and thuu-l,t 
 every hoi y an enemy to him that would not be of his 
 own opinion. 
 B'd Did he never go about to bribe you fo it ' 
 Jtirf. O sister! very frequently ; and that with all 
 tie subtiltyot invention in the world ; for he was 
 always giving me presents upon the very account 
 
 /a. Presents to a wife! What do tLev siLrnifv ' 
 It 19 but taking his money out of one fiocket and nut- 
 t.ng itirto theotlier; they must all be appraised 
 cliild, in liie personal estate. i'l^aweu, 
 
 Wid. It has been quite otherwise with hira indeed 
 bir : for he has made it a clause in his will, that all 
 
 he presents he gave me shall be my own, to bestow 
 how I please ; besides all the rest he has 1 Jt me ino e 
 than he was obliged to do. 
 Bid. I suppose that is your diamond cross. 
 VVid. Jt IS so; lie brought it home in a little 
 case, and coming into my room one mornin-r before I 
 was dressed, hearing I was alone, he toid me, smiling 
 and very pleasant, he was come to sav liis pravers to 
 me I confess, I had been a little out of humour jus? 
 at that time, having been full of sad thougiits all the 
 inorning about the grand point, and I wJs goino- to 
 have given him a very unkind answer; but his looks 
 had so much goodness and tenderness always in them 
 that when! looked up at hira. I could retain no more 
 resentment : indeed, sister, it \ya3 impossible to be 
 angry with hini. *^ 
 
 Eld. You might well be in humour indeed, when 
 01 nA^ ^°" * present worth above six hundred 
 
 Wid. But I had not seen the present, when what I 
 am tei.iii,^ you passed between us. 
 ^d. \N\:[\^ i ask pardoa for interrupting you ; pray 
 
22ff 
 
 KELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part. II. 
 
 Jfo on where you left off, when he told you he was 
 come to say hi» prayers to you. 
 
 ^'[f- } told him, I hoped he would not make nn 
 idol ot liM wife. 
 
 £:/d. Was this the ill-natured answer vou wiis 
 ahout to frive him ? j < » 
 
 Wid. No, indeed ; I was goiner to tell him, he 
 needed not worship me, he hud idols enou-rh in the 
 nouae. ® 
 
 Uld. That had been bitter and unkind indeed : I 
 nope you did not sav so ? 
 
 Wid Iruieed I did not ; nor would I have said so 
 for a thousand pounds ; it would have urieved me 
 every time I reflected on it afterwards, as long as I 
 nad lived. ® 
 
 md. It was so very apt a return, I dare sav I 
 Sliould not have brought my prudence to have mas- 
 tered the pleasure of such a repartee. 
 
 Wid. Dear sister, it is a eorry pleasure that is taken 
 in grieving a kind husband ; besides, sister, as it was 
 ray great mercy that ray husband strove constantly 
 to make this difference in reli^non as little trouble- 
 some and offensive to me as possible it would very 
 ill have become me to make it ray jest; it had been 
 a kind of bespeaking the uneasinesses which it was 
 my happiness to avoid. 
 
 £:id. Well, you had more teraper than I should 
 liavehad, I daresay; but I must own vou were iu 
 the right. Come, pray, how did you go on ? 
 
 yyid. Why, he answered, he hoped he worshipped 
 no idols but me ; and if he erred in that point, who- 
 ever reproved him, he hoped I would not. 
 
 £ld. Why, that is true too ; besides, it is not so 
 otten that men make idols of their wives. 
 
 iVid. Well, while he was saying this, he pulls out 
 the jewel, and opening the case, takes a small crimson 
 string that it hung to, and put i* about my neck, but 
 Kept the jewel in his hand, so that I could not sep it • 
 uHd then taking me in his firms, Sit down, iny dear,' 
 
. (part. II. 
 
 you he wan 
 
 not make nn 
 
 wer you was 
 
 tell liim, he 
 inoiigh ill the 
 
 id Indeed; I 
 
 have said so 
 
 jirieved ine 
 
 as long as I 
 
 [ dare say I 
 have mas- 
 
 that is taken 
 er, as it was 
 e constantly 
 ttle trouble- 
 would very 
 it had been 
 i'hich it was 
 
 an I should 
 you were iu 
 an? 
 
 worshipped 
 point, who- 
 
 it is not so 
 
 he pulls out 
 nail crimson 
 IV neck, but 
 
 ri nnf ctia if • 
 
 1, my dear, 
 
 WAt.. XII.] KELIOIOU8 COUIITSIIIP. O07 
 
 fi tTi''^' ,''''''^''. ^ '!''' "'•"" a little stool 
 J Kneeled down intt h..c,>.... ... . ' 
 
 
 let it 
 
 K<>, HayiiiK soiiietliing' in I tali 
 
 uiiderstaiwl : and then lo.ik 
 
 j« , 
 
 HI wliich I (lid not 
 
 "iR up ill i„y face, Now 
 
 ^/(t. \\tn, 5.i»f«.r, it IS w.'ll he is dead. 
 iViU. Dear sister, how can 
 
 me 
 
 you say such words to 
 
 last 
 
 ma. lie would certainly have conquered 
 
 you at 
 
 ma. If the tenderest and most engacinir temner 
 the sMicerest and w. raiest affection i,T nature could' 
 
 %' ' T 'I'f'" T"''' ''r« ^""•^ '^ that's certahi 
 
 J^ht. And I make no doubt but t ley are the most 
 
 dangerous weapons to attack a woman's prh^ciDles 
 
 I cannot but think them impossible to res^ C 
 
 8.0ns nnkimlness, and all s.i-ts of conju^'a v olencl 
 
 ot which there is a -rear variety in i married life' 
 
 are all natlaing to the You re.Lmber stst^r some' 
 
 Imeson another occasion, but very much'to the £e t 
 
 Fore, may iruli^.,1 the heart Invade, 
 uut kiiiUiicss only uni persuaUe. 
 
 Wid I grant that it is difficult to resist the influ- 
 ence ot so mu<h affection • and every thing that came 
 from so sincere a principfe, and to a miij prepos^e ! 
 
 rol!I,'ll t" '*" '''"'''T' °!' tenderness anS kZnll 
 t?«nk r d ' f nrtissed, made a deep impression : but 
 tliank God I stood my ground. 
 
 M(l. Well well, you would not have stood it lone 
 I am persuaded ; and thisisoneof thegre^tt hazards^tl 
 woman runs m marrying a man of a different reSon. 
 or a different opinion Irom herself, viz. That her af- 
 fection or her husband is her worst snare nd so 
 
 ™«H7th"^' '\^f ^"'y ^"•^ ^'' g^^atest happiness, is 
 made the most dangerous gulf she can fall i ito. Well 
 
 oT&ro^Llt" ^'^^^ "« '^'^ --^^"^ -" 
 
 ^vid. It 13 very true, I acknowledge it • mv love 
 wa» my temptation, my affection to my husbanS wen? 
 
 fi 
 
 1 f 
 
 /H 
 
228 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part li. 
 
 L 
 
 f 
 
 always nearest to stamper my resolution ; I was in no 
 dansier upon any other account. 
 
 Yo. W ell, but pray go on about the jewel : what 
 said you to him ? 
 
 \^ld. Dear sister, let me confess to you, fine pre- 
 sents, flattering words, and the affectionate looks of 
 80 obliging, so dear, and so near a relation, are dread- 
 ful thhigs, when they assault principles ; the glittering 
 jewel had a strange influence, and my affection began 
 to be too partial on his side : O let no woman that 
 values her soul, venture into the arms of a husband 
 of a different religion ! The kinder he is, the more 
 likely to undo her ; every thing that endears him to 
 her doubles her danger ; the more she loves him, the 
 more she inclines to yield to him ; the more he loves 
 her, the stronger are the bonds by which he draws 
 her ; and lier only mercy will be, to have him bar- 
 barous and unkind to her. 
 
 Yo. It is, indeed a sad case, where to be miserable 
 is the only safety ; but so it is, no doubt; and such 
 IS tlie case of every woman that is thus unsuitably 
 matched. If her husband is kind, he is a snare to 
 her ; it unkind, he is a terror to her : his love, which 
 is his duty, is iier ruin ; and his slighting her, which 
 is hix sciuwiivl, is her protection. 
 
 WUL It. is \\\s case, dear sister ; such a jewel ! such 
 a husband ! liow could I speak an unkind word ; 
 every thing lie did was so entraging, every thing he 
 said was so moving, what could I say or do? 
 
 Eld. Very true ; and that makes me say, he would 
 have conquered you at last. 
 
 Wid. Indeed I can't tell what he might have done, 
 if he had lived. 
 
 Yo. Well, but to the jewel : what said you to him ? 
 
 Wid. I stood up and thanked him with a kind of 
 ceremony, but told him, 1 wished it had been rather 
 ni any other form. Why, my dear, says he, should 
 not the two most valuable forms in t!ie world be pla= 
 ced together ? I told him that as hie placed a religious 
 
 it: 
 
?. [part II. 
 1 ; I was in no 
 ! jewel ; what 
 
 you, fine pre- 
 )nate looks of 
 on, are dread- 
 ; tlie glittering 
 flection began 
 • woman that 
 of a husband 
 is, the more 
 idears liim to 
 oves liim, the 
 more he loves 
 ich he draws 
 ave him bar- 
 be miserable 
 bt; and such 
 13 unsuitably 
 is a snare to 
 s love, which 
 ig her, which 
 
 I jewel ! such 
 
 II kind word ; 
 ery thing he 
 •do? 
 
 ay, he would 
 
 it have done, 
 
 you to him ? 
 til a kind of 
 [ been rather 
 's he, should 
 (rnrld be pla= 
 d a religious 
 
 »^^Ar. in.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 529 
 
 «?uce "^H^'V.^" Should have it rather in another 
 m?j!;.^'''t'^ '"f' '"5' ^'■^ast should behis alrar^ 
 and so he might adore with a double delist ItJd 
 
 upon It, and give me the liberty. I told him t \« 
 ped I should not undervalueit aThisoresent ff hi rJ 
 not overvalue it upon any other LeounT He re urn 
 ed warmly, My dear, the last is imposs blf anJ Jhr' 
 \Lt'Y ",^'"^u'''' S»^« " b'»t ieave to han^where 
 
 a sJ::n^Mgl?n U%'or^^°" "^"^^ "^'•^-y^ i^ 
 
 if y^f ha^/^f;a 
 
 w?:/^w[?"^'J™*^''"® w^at consequence you mean 
 
 m- /^iVi.' ^**"^^ *'^ «*«an by that ! 
 fi.o; I * "^"y' ^® '**'^» ^*e was sure that blessed form 
 
 nfluence some tune or other, and I should be brouffhJ 
 
 I^ag^ia «" that, and 
 
 if . «„ L --—...„ isadgiiic wiiut stress he lai«l nn 
 
 but nn^^.t^'^' ^^^7 S^""^ Catholic that saw me 
 but pass by them, would pray for me; and every due 
 
t 
 
 I 
 
 ( 
 
 f^ 
 
 ? 
 
 k 
 
 230 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part ii. 
 
 passion 
 
 in particular would exorcise nie i 
 Clirist out of the cliains of heresy. 
 ^; What said you to him ? 
 
 fnii T PV* i^ °^ ^^'^^ a smile, but mv heart wm 
 full, I scarcely knew how to hold • amUio «I, 1 
 
 It easily, and Woke off the talk V ifttfe bStK? 
 when'K";' 'i'' ''".^^u^r the tears stood in^ eyes 
 
 fTtrf. No sister, you would not have doTe «o T o«, 
 sure ; neither was it my business to dn «n ' u ^™ 
 
 ' Pm"'? being uneasy about mine. ^^^ ^"' '° ^^^^ 
 
 W^irf. Nay, sister, that's expressly contrArir fn fi,« 
 
 her not leave him." 1 Cor vi 1 3 ^^'' ^^' 
 
 inS.^but i? wT '"'^"'^ r^ ^P^^« '•««hJy' sister, 
 
 S^i''"^*'''* had been very disobliging. 
 t-r—j ^^ i ahueiaiarid, tne^ never go by a cross. 
 
•• [PART II. 
 
 he passion of f 
 
 my heart was 
 lie perceived 
 
 J: but he fell 
 in my eyes, 
 
 d rae aprain; 
 
 id then kissed 
 
 r three times, 
 
 I should not 
 .jewel in his 
 foot on it. 
 lone so, I am 
 o ; my busi- 
 nd about his 
 hut to keep 
 
 patience : I 
 think it had 
 
 itrary to the 
 the plainest 
 fiath a hus- 
 'ith her, let 
 
 shly, sister, 
 lo not know 
 lid not have 
 
 ve forborne 
 ed them oo 
 
 ot to be a 
 es, that are 
 by a cross. 
 
 DIAL. III.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 251 
 
 vyhether it he on tlie road, or on any building bur 
 tiie^ pull off rheir hats. ^ uuimmg, but 
 
 I' a. So rliey do, my dear, and often kneel down, 
 tho,M^h , l,e m the d.rt, and say over their prayers. ' 
 
 I 1 ff V .1 't V • P?'*^'''^ ^? ^^" >°" ''«w many attacks 
 1 liad ot that kuid when I wore this jewel 
 
 Fa. I do not doubt of it; especially if he brou^^ht 
 any stran^^ers into the room ; Ijow did you do, ciilld 
 wiien the Veiietian ambassador dined at your house ^ 
 hud you It on then ? ' " 
 
 Wicl. V.S, oir, my spouse desired me to put it on, 
 
 hoi t "''' r^^ .'^''"•' l"'"' ^'""^ ^ ^'"^ "Ot know 
 
 now t - ,^ve; lor the ambassador and all ids re- 
 tinue paid so many bows and homages to me, or to 
 tne cross, that I scarcely knew wJiat to do with 
 myself, nor was able to distinguish their ^ood man- 
 ners from their religion ; and it was well I did not 
 tlien understand Italian; for, as my dear told me 
 atterward tliey said a great many religious thino-s 
 that would liave yiven me offence. 
 
 Fa. Tnose tilings are so frequent in Italy, that the 
 Protestant ladies take no no!ice of them, and vet 
 liht ^^*''''' *^''**'*®''*^' ^^' sometimes put them out of 
 
 Wid. 1 did so afterwards, I lengthened the strinff 
 It hung to, that It might hang a little lower, but it 
 was too big. It It went within my stays it would hurt 
 
 string, he knew the cross was there, and it was all 
 
 tinJ^*?* ^'^ ^^ "^® *"^' ceremony "to it after the first 
 
 Wid. Always, when he first came into any room 
 where I was, he ^yas sure to give me his knee with 
 
 iS'/T't" , ^"** ^*'^ c''"'** »8 well as his wife. 
 
 Jifd. I should never have borne it. 
 
 Wid. You would never have resisted if. anv «.,.« 
 ihun 1 for I did what I could ; but his answ'^er'was 
 Clear; My dear, says he, take no notice of me, let ray 
 
232 
 
 RRLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part u. 
 
 can- 
 your 
 
 civilities be to you; take them all to voiirself, I 
 not show you too much respect ; believe it is all 
 own ; and be easy with me. 
 
 Eld. How could he bid you believe what you knew 
 ^ to be otherwise ? Why did yoa not leave it off, and 
 reproach him with the difference? 
 
 Wid. Dear sister, I did so for months together • 
 but then he doubled his ceremonies, and told me' 
 1 only mortified him then bv obliging him to rever ' 
 ence the place where once the blessed figure had 
 been lodged, as the iioly pilgrims worshipped the 
 SL'pulchre. '^^ 
 
 ^M' ?® ^^* **^° ^^""^ ^°'' yo" e^erv way, sister. 
 Wid. Ay, and would have been too' hard for vou 
 too, il you had had him. ' 
 
 ■S4 «r*„'"y '^^""^y ^^^^ I ha'^ hJm not- 
 
 Wid. Well, it was my mercy too, that I had him. 
 
 I had less inconvenience with the unhappy circum- 
 stance than I must have had perhaps with any other 
 man of his principles in the world. 
 
 Eld. That's true, only this I must add, viz. that 
 those engaging ways would certainly, first or last 
 have brought you to Popery. ' 
 
 Wid. I hope not, sister': but I cannot say, when 
 I seriously reflect on it, how far I might have been 
 
 Fa. My dear, let me ask you a question or two 
 about that : I know the first method they take in 
 such cases, is to let you see that vou have been mis- 
 taken in your notions about Popery ; that the differ- 
 ence is not 80 great as has been suggested to you • 
 that we are all Cliristians ; that we worship the same 
 (iod -, believe in the same creed ; expect eternal life 
 by the merits of the same Saviour ; and the like- and 
 by this method they bring us at first not to have such 
 trighttul ideas of the Roman Catholic religion as we 
 had beforo. 
 
 Wid. That ia true; and this I had frequently in 
 
p. [part II. 
 
 '^oiiMelf, I can- 
 ve it is all your 
 
 tvhatyou knew 
 Jave it off, and 
 
 Qths together: 
 and told rae, 
 him to rever 
 Jed figure had 
 worshipped the 
 
 r way, sister, 
 hard for you, 
 
 not. 
 
 »at I had him. 
 appy circurn- 
 ith any other 
 
 add, viz. that 
 , first or last, 
 
 lot say, when 
 jht have been 
 
 estion or two 
 they take in 
 ave been mis- 
 mt the ditfer- 
 ested to you ; 
 ship the same 
 it eternal life 
 the like; and 
 ; to have such 
 •eligion as we 
 
 roquently in 
 
 DIAL. HI.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 discourse ; and, I confess, such disco 
 
 233 
 
 efleot 
 
 on me 
 
 urse had some 
 
 doubt " ^'''""""^ *''^ ^'^'^'^^ y°" ^^^ t« tJ»eni, "o 
 WiiL It is true, they became not so friirhtfiil tn 
 me as before j but they had another arg,Swhic^ 
 my dear o ten ased to me, and it was tlS My dear 
 says he all you" own divines, and all rhi' h ve writ-' 
 tenon the subject, own that a Papist as von Si 
 us, may be saved; that it is possibTfl; i"s t^o 1 to 
 heaven: our church have no reason to bell e so o^' 
 
 us, snouid vou not jom witli us^ ° 
 
 to tit. ^ ^"''"' "°^ ""^^^ ^"'^•"''' ^ ^^'^"W have given 
 
 b.err"hrf r.Tt'ir' "^^^i your answer would have 
 Mperi, but 1 11 tell you what mine was : I told hiin 
 Id.dnotknow but it might be so; and I wa wi 1- 
 Uig to have as much charity as I had affection for 
 nn ; but as for myself, I was sure I c3 not ^o 
 n;'o\riU;r.'"^^'''^^*^^^ ^ -ustnotactagl^s? 
 
 hesa^JJYr!''^'*^^*'"^*"''^^'''"'^^^^^ what could 
 Wid. Then he told me he would prav for mp thaf 
 I might be farther enlightened : and he^d 3 nrdonSJ 
 do th^J'"^^ ^ ^'?^"^«^ hirn and told, 1^1'^^Sfa 
 do the same for him ; and that though perhuns it 
 might not be with so strong a faith 1™../^^ -f 
 would be with as earnest a fesU'' ^ ""'' ""'' '^ 
 ro. Well, you stood your ground nobly sistpr • 
 but 'tis a mercy to you, that your perseve ance was 
 
 SanL"'' ^''''^''''' '''' « dreadfu/th ng to Save so 
 dangerous an enemy so near one. 
 
 i'Vid. It is true; there lay my danger- for I mimt 
 smgUiar effect, and sink de^no-" nn *h .—^ -> 
 
 
 !f 
 
 
234 
 
 RKLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part ii. 
 
 Bid. Why, sister, do you tank in time his ten- 
 uerness, and his affectionate way of treatiiiff vou 
 would not have abated. s .> '" 
 
 Wid. I often feared it, but indeed I never found it • 
 sometimes I su-gested it to him, that I feared it! 
 and one day I told him, that if I did not turn, I was 
 afraid he wouK He guessed what I mcalit, but 
 would have me explain myself: Why, my dear, says 
 I, when I reflect what your thoughts are about Pro- 
 testants, that they are out of the pale of the church 
 and m a condition that they cannot be saved, I can- 
 not but apprehend, that if I do not come over to 
 your opmion, your love to me will abate, and at last 
 turn uito a stated aversion and hatred : how can vou 
 love an object whom you think God hates? My dear 
 says he, taking me very affectionately in his arms, I 
 will prevent all your fears, by telling you, that were 
 what you mentioned possible, it could not be, till I 
 utterly despaired of your ever being brought over to 
 the church : and I shall never be brought to believe 
 but God will open your eyes first or last : and, be- 
 sides, my earnest desire to persuade you, and win 
 you to embrace the true religion, will teach me to do 
 It by all the tenderness and love that ^«« possible for 
 me to show you j for, *o be unkind to >ou, would be 
 the way to drive you farther off: but, be it as it will, 
 I can never abate my affection to you ; and, my dear 
 says he (with the most obliging passionate air of con- 
 cern, that It was possible to show) that I hope, to 
 love you tenderly and violently, is not the vvay to 
 keep you at a distance from the church, but rather 
 to draw you, to engage you, and let you see, that 
 peace, love, charity, and all the virtues -f a Chris- 
 tian, are to be found among us, and not that we are 
 tunes and tyrants, as we have been represented. And 
 when he had said this, holding me still in his arms, 
 fie kissed me several times, and went on : My dear, 
 says he, let God alone chanare vour lieart hi« nw.' 
 way ; I'll never take any metuod, but that of fovhig 
 
IP. [PART n, 
 
 n time his ten- 
 'f treating you 
 
 [never found it; 
 lat I feared it; 
 not turn, I was 
 t I mr<ant, but 
 , my dear, says 
 are about Pro- 
 e of tlie cliurch, 
 >e saved, I can- 
 t come over to 
 ate, and at last 
 1 : how can you 
 ates? My dear, 
 i^ in his arras, I 
 you, that were 
 d not be, till I 
 Jrought over to 
 ught to believe 
 last : and, be- 
 5 you, and win 
 teach me to do 
 t is possible for 
 >( -i, would be 
 be it as it will, 
 i and, my dear, 
 nate air of con- 
 hat I hope, to 
 lot tlie way to 
 ch, but rather 
 you see, that 
 les ^f a Chris- 
 ot that we are 
 (resented. And 
 11 in his arms, 
 on : My dear, 
 lieart his own 
 that of loving 
 
 WAL.m.J RELIGIOUS rioURTSHlP. 235 
 
 Snglo? yVulvrateir^'^ ^^^/« ' ^'-' and 
 8uid thfe, With suc^an inexpressirr ^!'''^"- «« 
 I could not hold from !lfarrb,'ll / ^'"*''^ 
 with me yet; for, while hPh.M ^-^'"''^ "°* ^^"e 
 put his othe/in h s pScket andlr "' °"l'*'"'"' ^e 
 et-book, he bid me odph iV ?ii^K '"' "J"^ ^'^ Po«k- 
 paper, doubled prettTthiek which"A'^''eP' "^°*>«« 
 he, put it up, you shill ave Zedt U ? "^ ' ^^^^ 
 ance of my aftection to you^ Sh^r '''^ ^"V*'""" 
 your opinion or no. I opened'it hn nn. i^°" "^''^^^e 
 little of it, for I hm] nJ,«i!; i. ' °"' ^°"'*^ read very 
 What is it, my dear' a^ /^"rV" ^'^'^. ^^«»^"^ 
 
 trust for you, andlo^Z^t^u IVTst^^T^a^^ 
 
 ani^^otSJlttdy ' Idt^'^tJ 'f *^H ^^-^ to 
 marryin- a Roman. *' '" '''® ^^^^^ 'danger of 
 
 what I have said brfore to vo'„ fl "' > •"'r' ''•'P'M 
 -y vef,?„tr' '^^'^ "">' « "»«!. sifter, it wound, 
 
 break off the discourse "''^ ''^' ^ «"8t 
 
 distanci you can! ir'suSSSl/^lf ' *' '^' ^^™«*««" 
 
 vo!:!/i ,- ,„ , . » "* suppose it to be nnv KaHit'o 
 
 ^oulu yuu advise any other person that-'h^ad JiTcK 
 
230 
 
 RKLIGIOU8 COURTSHIP. fPAKT n. 
 
 would you advise tl.ern to marry such 
 
 offer, I say, 
 another? 
 
 Wid, No, not to be a princess. 
 
 anlif1.^r:^Xtutto7:f r r 'T ^^P'^^^' 
 openly and avovvX tJmf T. "*■ 1°. '^ beforeiiand 
 the reflection of doi S 1 nn „ ^ ""'^'^^ "«* be under 
 compulsion. ^ '^ *"" * ^^^«« account, viz. by 
 
 him?tha?are^eIS t^oT '"'^ ^^"'^"y '^'"^^ of 
 affection, but eve fo the adnZTin"^ I?'"*' "^' ^° *»>« 
 ««n you%av to persuade aniv^" ^'^ *"y ''"^' ^^^»^t 
 think that -you vvere very hJnJr"^r'""° "«' *« 
 
 with Idm^'/^,^"/ -/.P "«^«"^'&pt that I was happy 
 -l-^ra^yrt^hll^/^Kj^S-^-as^ 
 
 wherein the ^h'appines o?P]ui".'° ""^ ""^. *''^^ ^"^^^ 
 wanted nothiuj^ i jfved n tlTT'-J^'' *^"«' ^ 
 things : I had tliP h^«t K *^'? abundance of all 
 
 and Ir^ tl at Joved ^if. "T''^^. '^"'^^"^ "" ««^S 
 not our case indeed ciLifn ^^*''«"'«; which, haj 
 ther way, would hivei'een^'sh. "'iS' "fi'^^^io" ano- 
 
 "S^i^^^!r^-''«^^ir^ 
 
 gentlemen of tWs a^e ^hpv"" ^"f?""^ ^*" '* *« the 
 writing the characte/ola^?^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^-'"^ 
 
 a^dmt;etoo^"L"i{•thad h"'^ '1"^^ ^"'^ ™-cy 
 'en the miser&st c ^.J^^^^^^ ^« 1'"^ 
 
 enough as it was ,"SXth«fl.^' " ^''« ''ad 
 that he was no fooi ^"^"^ ^'"'' W'^' grant 
 
 ^'' ^"' ^^^'^'^ ^« y°" think then would have been 
 
'HIP. fPART n. 
 !m to marry such 
 
 9t own, I should 
 
 to turn Papist; 
 do It beforehand, 
 rht not be under 
 account, viz. by 
 
 many thinprs of 
 t him, not to the 
 0^ any one, what 
 ? woman not to 
 
 him, and that 
 luch {another ? 
 lat I was liappy 
 i as it was pos- 
 lad a good hus- 
 
 > of that? 
 one that knows 
 8 : it is true, I 
 undance of all 
 band on earth, 
 2; which, had 
 affection ano- 
 in a word, he 
 is wife. 
 
 ™t of it to the ] 
 say you were 
 
 as his mercy 
 •wise, we hud 
 ; it was bad 
 m, will grant 
 
 lid have been 
 
 DiAi.. m. 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 237 
 
 wl!r!^rTZ^'^' '^'.^' ^'^^ '""y' ^'^ '•'-''J Joved you less ^ 
 fe vvr'-^'"" ''"^'^»^P«" miserable? ^°"'^''- 
 
 . . ■*^<^- /^"y> sister, you know there's Mr P nn,i 
 
 3 taken away, in is hard to te 1 whet le? either^ 
 
 ^P'Tlr}^'^^ '' '"'' '^'^ c««« ^ve are speakin^ "f ^"^ 
 vpn , f' ^ 'J' ^"'^'''■' ** rp''ifiou3 life be the onlvh^a- 
 
 Ju;l;:tthaSn;u^i?;^.^l-;f;^^ 
 
 heaven, but turn back to bLk a ?o t"^ wa'. fiSl!? 
 
 and"if no^'Tr "Ir ""' '''"'''^ between ti't^stse^' 
 hpll ' *'^^" .they are mutually deprivf-d of that 
 heaven upon earth which, as vou and I a-ree is a nnp 
 to be found in a religious life. " ' ^''^"^ 
 
 m.^it,^^'''\'V'''^ ' '"^t then in such a case the en- 
 
 
238 
 
 RKLIQIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 [part ii. 
 
 iif^t «S,i"j,',JJ '^-VS/ "- "o. spiking f„, 
 
 have turned liim ; buTS li 17',"'?'^ •■'• ' ■>>'«l't 
 
 was, he inust have tur„Brf „. -. t'"' '«"«'»■" as h« 
 
 •Ir^dful life wili, him ""• "' ' "■"*' '""<' lived a 
 
 0. I fl„d he „., a eighty religious man io hi, 
 
 pies, yet 1^" w","'.'i;;"„';:erber£''r '\'"' P''"<='- 
 
 Jiu«band. certainly made him the worse 
 
 jnore devout and serLii the ner^olI^P"?"' u'^'^' ^^e 
 the worse husband. P^'^^^" " '» hJ3 way, 
 
 own<;p1n.^n?rke^-,t'"^^^^^^^^^^ ^^--^n their 
 .tientwith their wives teazln^-n^K^-^-^ *"*^ ^"P^" 
 "npertinent disputes, kndltenSnv^""!?^ ^^«™ ^'th 
 of restless in.portunitierfwh.V.h T'V^^™ ^y ^^'^e 
 worst sort of persecu ionVSi aVnJ^ '^v ""^^^ '' the 
 
 «a.^VatTe7;L^en^- S f ^^^^^^ you 
 
 protection fro^&rpo^ruS;: y^^ ^el^J 
 
HIP. [part u. 
 fort of a religious 
 » not speakinjf for 
 
 ^\')ieth(T with 60 
 
 ight not be othcr- 
 
 . as I said before, 
 ini bear with my 
 >ad the same ten- 
 •uiciples, I might 
 ted that tender- 
 is religion as he 
 mst have lived a 
 
 ious man in his 
 
 iginable devout, 
 
 n in his princi- 
 lore honest, and 
 
 good raan. 
 ^lout doubt, the 
 r the restraints 
 
 him the worse 
 
 7ing a man of 
 >po8e, that the 
 w in his way, 
 
 e zeal in their 
 sy and impa- 
 ling them with 
 them by force 
 '? way, is the 
 liance. 
 
 ut, sister, you 
 ave was your 
 ^ou were yet 
 
 DIAL. III.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 339 
 
 unjiappy, and could not be able to lead a religious 
 
 Wid. No, sister, I did not sav so • I saM u,.. « 1 1 
 not have a religious familv • all so.'iMi ? r '^""''^ 
 lost: mutual htip nnc Sr "nL in l^^^^^ ^"« 
 
 jvantir.g; public worship God j^h^fe 
 Vase, could not be st t up ; edi.ca io.. In? 'Z"' * 
 tion of children, was all destroyed ex^umlfn'"""" 
 vants and it,feriorH all spoiled •nothhfr'^Mu '''''; 
 reUuaon, but what was Xefy' JeSli^TL "r jred '' 
 fS n ' indeed vou are right, niece. ' 
 
 t..tnL;^rCinf;t';:^.!;:;;n^i^i;:t 
 
 rdigious, or at least r" ligiously i cli e LTi 
 would have a religious fainily should !fc ^ ^''*,' 
 care as possible to have re4;usrr''a;St'' '""' 
 mv St "^'■'' ""''^ y*^" ^" '^'^'> "'^ ^--^> ^ith all 
 
 the^ame opinions too in religion'as ours" 1 "s.'' *" '' 
 vvia. 1 have not so much considered tinf nnrf ;« 
 
 owl! "per'i et" ' ^" "'="> '" ""^ '" *" from my 
 
 as worshin P«5 r. ' "' entertain none but such 
 P?r 1^ 1 r , ^^\ **"*e way as I worsliip him 
 
 n^J^:^ «° '^^fo'^ yo" took them ; \ Z,e,or, 
 ^Vid. Yes, indeed, I do mean so too. 
 
 dm 
 
 IL-i 
 
 
'240 
 
 UKMGIOUS COURTSHIP. [i-abt n. 
 
 jM^. e, for I Lave a great deal to say upon tifat S' 
 
 4^?''; ^J!'^*' all my heart, Madam, 
 to wii:/; whVi-; om "''^'"^''"'' ^^"'•^^ ^^^ "« g« now 
 
 Jiorr " P«'''^':^«c«ne of confusior,, o set ow r. i- 
 
 mature ,1 Iw"/^ "'"" =?" "^ « '^^"»""" "'<= P«or 
 
 gotten a great deal of knowledge of relioion • but wna 
 nerely snopt ia his search after^fuXr ^ar iculars hv 
 
 Gnf j'f f "^' '»'" : both told him he must believe a 
 m" 0? o dJ^nf"''' f 'r ^f "' '-^ ''^»' a resurrec Ion to 
 deem/r T» ' ""^ ''*'' ^'^ •""•''^- ^'^^ saved by a Re- 
 tl^eTovsof .Sn^Tr?^ '^'''^y '" tlieir desoripiion of 
 tiiaffit fh K^i^-^^' H»e torments of hell, and par- 
 ticularly they had joined in giving the poor ncg?o a 
 
 i 
 
 fri^ 
 
 don 
 
 ; enei 
 
 ? pra; 
 
 5 loii 
 
 JJ 
 
 f>trm 
 
 as Ji 
 
 read] 
 
 to fl 
 
 Itilii 
 
 he.itl 
 
 I'll I let 
 
 dil n 
 
 Italia 
 
 Suvio 
 
 hadaj 
 
 else. 
 
 reJiirio 
 
 to Go( 
 
 iie bel 
 
 take li 
 
 Jt; bi 
 
 i'f'ijit, 
 
 of rile I 
 
 fr I i,e 
 
 therin i 
 
 saw the 
 
 ter saw 
 
 low can 
 
 i'is nnis 
 
 What 
 
 so they 
 
 Ma. \ 
 
 cry abou 
 
 Ma. \ 
 
 sot there 
 
SHIP, IvAAT II. 
 
 on, niece, there, in 
 
 tliat may coino into 
 
 to be instructed in 
 
 ' that part, because 
 mistress. 
 
 of this by itself, 
 iy upon that sub 
 
 n. 
 
 iid, let us go now 
 
 n in our house as 
 Jr circumftHuces ; 
 and pursued it in 
 the manner; and 
 , to see how reli- 
 tie servants were 
 3me Pagans: for 
 one negro among 
 were every now 
 It persuading the 
 ptized, but could 
 hristian the poor 
 an Italian, would 
 ther would have 
 or negro was so 
 u!d not tell what 
 jquisitive fellow, 
 s on both sides, 
 iligion : but was 
 r particulars, by 
 ntswJiopretend- 
 3 must believe a 
 a resurrection to 
 saved by a Re- 
 ir description of 
 )f hell, and pur- 
 ine poof negro a 
 
 WAL. in.] 
 
 RRLJOIOUS COrjRTSHlP. 
 
 241 
 
 I 
 
 fr/ghtful apprehension of hell «. fi 
 ^oiHg wickedly, andof the ''.,"*''' '"r*'"'' oHiis 
 enemy, and tormentor- sot?. .fV^ as a tempter, an 
 pray to God very hear ill t « V" ""^ ^^"""^ '^^nld 
 to k' P him from the devil '' ^'"" ^^"'» ^^«", arid 
 
 iJut when those poor iLmnr -^f r.n 
 struct him how to worsin n? ^"r '' ^^^^^ to in- 
 as in. ll,.deen.er and Sur to'lLl J'''" /*' ^'^^ ^« 
 reui/ng tiie scripture «n, i. i' [V^^^ ^« J>im jibout 
 to .he h.st degree" r^he'ClL '7^'^/ *"^'>' *•«"«"' 
 Italian he was ■„, idolater a .d I.. ''^™^" *«^'' *''« 
 J'«.;ti|en ; that NegunrObr " , I? "^"^ ''''''''' ^''«n a 
 ciillcd was as good a riE- *''^ ^"o** "^gro was 
 ^i i, not worship i^the n', p'n?;^ ^''■'- ^"'' 'liough he 
 i''iiau footman) wo !,,"''"7i ^^''''^> vet as he (the 
 Saviour, Christ wZd nn?n * P."^^« of wood for a 
 badas .Yegun^/wrSp;^ .f^a ;^^^ ^n'i it -as'as 
 ^•J;.-.. The Italian told^Ki a' he S^?i""' ''' "">^ ^''"'ff 
 r^li'^ion was no religion a all- That hf' '""' ^''^ '"^ 
 to God, and to the church «nH V^^ ^" ^^n^ny 
 
 ;e believed what thirfeldL^tf^'^""'' ^^'^^ i1^ 
 take ban awav alive. Ti ^J h f ' ^'^^ '^'^^i' would 
 jt; but one day above tZrl'".?"y^"^'''-^^«af'oui 
 ^"'-rht, thutthev felltn « 1^-'' ^^'^y '^'^'ne to th:u 
 
 ^'fti'eservanLlfud'^ijedfhe,^ '/ '''?' *''« »• « 
 or I iieard of it • bntJ., '" ^"^^^^^ their master 
 
 t'ierin thecnei n-n" nnl .? T'^ ^''^^' walking toge- 
 ;'wthe negro ?n\lekiS'trdr' ^^ '««••« eh anS, 
 f^r saw hin, first, and caUed h .-m ■'■^'"- ' ^'« ^as- 
 
 ow came with a bookin hk n«n?^ k "' ' ""^ ^he fe], 
 1"3 master should be ai"ry ^' ^"' ^^"^^^^^ afraid 
 
 -^'rbe^tn?,?.^^^^^^ and 
 
 i^f ' wi" "*"''''*' ™""er, no muche 
 
 got there? " ■""'' ""»"•"' VV'iat book have you 
 
 R 
 
242 KKLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part ii. 
 
 Neg. Indeed me no go away, Fkneels down! mr . 
 
 ♦1,*^ i?®V u ' *' T™^> ^as afraid his master would 
 inll'^' l^^, ^"u':"^^ Christian, he would be bap^zed 
 and 80 think himself free ; and he kneeled dSwn Jo' 
 ^•« JP^ter to beg him not to he angry.! " ^ 
 
 Ma. Well, well, thou Shalt be a Christian ]Vem,m 
 if thou hast a mind for it- GoH fnrh:!i ' ? ?' 
 
 should hinder thee: what LKt&' ""^ ^^^^^ 
 
 tianf^" ■^''*^^"'*°°^' ™e '•ead this book to be a Chris- 
 
 Ma. Who gave you that book to read '* 
 JSeg, Augustino. 
 
 Ma, Let me see it. [He looked in the book anH 
 8aw It was an Italian Missal, or Psalter f ' 
 
 bo&tf ?o!;f " '^'" '^•^^^■^^^^ t'- P""« «^other 
 
 Ma. Let's see that too. I His master looked in 
 
 mT<^^^ ^""""^ ^' T^^ »" J^"gii«h Bible.] '" 
 itfa. Who gave you this too ? ^ 
 
 Neg. William. 
 
 ^\.^l ^^^\ 5"°" ""'Jerstand the languages : read 
 sSrr" Jeacl^er^ P°°^^'^"^^' thou has? go^it 'f^^ 
 riJ^Ji?" he gave the book back to him, and bid him 
 thol*f T ^'*'^' ^^ ^"''"^^ to me ; My dear; says he 
 t Jf^^,^'"/?"^' P':?*?"^ *« instruct this poor ne/rok,' 
 the Chnstian religion, when they cannot a-ree a bou? 
 I themselves I am sure. Upon which Negum make 
 hig^naster a bow, and puts iri his word.] ^ 
 
 JSeg. JVo, mdeede, they no agree: they fitrhte iast 
 now about teache me. * •'"«y nance just 
 
 ^a. What ! did they fi^ht ' 
 
 teaTh^m J^l?-^^""^* they°fight just now ; they no 
 
 me i^ to 'f S T^', ".V^ '° ''^^ ^"^" J the other say, 
 
 frnA ^ •. *^®l*^ ' ^^'^y "o teach me to go away 
 
 J&« Anf'' ' tH"'*^« ™« "^ know what 1 5o. ^ 
 
 Ma. And was it that you cried about, Negum ? 
 
DiAL. III.] 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 243 
 
 wo A J";^^^^^^^^^^ *« SO to the devil ; .oe 
 
 JIa. You a.ust pray to God to keep you from the 
 ^Neg. Yes, indeede, me do pray God keep away the 
 
 Z- STdTerclSfT'i^ *^^? y^" '00. 
 No, William teae e me ? God tiT'*"'° teacheme ! 
 [Here my spou^ lund h * ^?^ "^' ^'"w that? 
 turning to me/My dear^saidXr thLTS ''"°^' ^"^ 
 continually about this nonrJlfj: ^^® ^^"^^^ quarrel 
 }vill be bro^ughrrather KbCCchHi? '^ A"^ ^« 
 in general, than to turn ri/rS* ^"natian religion 
 pufls Wm'one way, rd one Zh*^"^ y^hile^ne 
 course must you and rtaJ^TiTn "^5' "°^' ''^^at 
 sli-e him to be made a CHMfni.i ^""T ^''^tend to de- 
 low must be lo^ T told h^m iV 1"* "^ '^^ P°«r ^«I- 
 in which I knew notTw to'ait ?mt\?.'r^ ''''' 
 his servants in particular ami f ho Ik f '^^^ ^ei'e 
 iiegro out of Italy with him T fh. Sf il!"'*"^*** this 
 be at his disposaUnd dStU "^?h *^^^ ^^^^ to 
 My dear, says he^nei,nnh"' ^^^^^^ ^^^^ mine, 
 yours; do not shift it ^ff^b^^^^^ ^l' ^^a* « 
 
 do ? I confess I trembled when Li." T^ ^^*' ^ ^hall 
 afraid some debate woKfjihr'* '°' *^' ^ ^«* 
 sequence of the casp • hnllt r ''^tween us, in con- 
 
 My dear, you determinThff ' T''^''^^ ^'™ ^hus : 
 might heslveZZbemvfh^'^^?' T' ^^*' yo» 
 I determine abTut your sUan"tf J ^i^^.V^ ^^*'^^ 
 
 lovfr of^t soul! Lanyr/^"' J ^ *''« tr"««t 
 lie should not be taS? ^1 ^ 'T> ^^'^ '•^t'ler than 
 him be taught the wafof tL?"^'P ^l^ «* a»> Jet 
 ;^>ed.idfasou^rrw^ 
 
1 I 
 
 ?! 
 
 U 
 
 Ri ,r 
 
 244 
 
 RELIGIOUS COUilTSlIIP. [part n. 
 
 down to a country tenant we have in Essex, upon pre- 
 tence to learn to plough and sow, and do the country 
 work, and there I kept hira nearly a twelvemonth : at 
 the same time, the farmer being a very sober, reiijii- 
 ous man, and having a hint from me what to do, this 
 t)oor negro is become a very sensible, religious fellow, 
 Las been baptized about two years, and I think 
 verily is an excellent Christian.] 
 
 Siat. And did he run away, or claim his freedom 
 upon his being baptized? 
 
 Wid. No, not he ; but I gave him his freedom when 
 his master died ; and gave him wages, and he is an 
 extraordinary sorvant, I assure you. 
 
 strained a point of religion 
 
 Sist. Your husband 
 there, I assure you. 
 
 Wid. Why, you see what principle he did it from : 
 he saw the fellow was in a Protestant country, and 
 would either be a Protestant at last, or nothing at all : 
 and he rather chose he should be a Protestant, than 
 remain a Heathen, or lose all desire of being a Chris- 
 tian ; for, says he, God can enlighten him farther by 
 a miracle, when he pleases; and the having been 
 taught the general notions of religion, he would be 
 the easier brought to embrace the true church : but, 
 if he continues a Heathen, he will have no know- 
 ledge at all. 
 
 JUld. I believe you would not have shown the same 
 charity for his church. 
 
 Vl'id. I confess I did not show so much zeal for 
 the soul of the poor negro, as I think I ought to have 
 done, or so much charity as he did ; but had other 
 thoughts at that time to take me up : however, sis- 
 ter, to bring this back to the first discourse, you see 
 by this, how fatal in a family diiferent principles is 
 within the same house ; and had he not been biased 
 by an extraordinary temper, as well as by an uncom- 
 mon charity, we had been the most miserable couple. 
 on earth ; so that, in short, there is not one part ot aj 
 wouian's life, in buch a circumstance, that is noii 
 
 HO. 
 
 V! 
 
!1IIP. [part II. 
 
 n Essex, upon pre- 
 Liid do tlie country 
 a twelvemonth : at 
 very sober, reli;ii- 
 le what to do, this 
 e, reliyioas fellow, 
 lars, and I think 
 
 5laim his freedom 
 
 I his freedom when 
 iges, and he is an 
 
 point of religion 
 
 de he did it from 
 tant country, and 
 , or nothing at all; 
 . Protestant, than 
 B of being a Chris- 
 en him farther by 
 the having been ! 
 jion, he would be 
 true church : but, j 
 
 II have no kr.ow-j 
 
 t'e shown the same 
 
 80 much zeal for 
 ik I ought to have 
 i ; but had other 
 ip: however, sis- 
 liscourse, you see 
 rent principles is 
 e not been biased 
 I as by an uncom 
 miserable couple, 
 not one part of a_ 
 nice, that is no!| 
 
 DIAL. HI.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 245 
 
 jay w th truth, that they ^kn be happy : tfat ftha? 
 
 ttTv^^rraLTn^^^^^^^^ '^ tE ha^^&^t* 
 
 inchned^^^' ^ ^"Pposing them to be both religiously 
 
 iMd. Nay, that need not be supposed • for wp on 
 
 Sv'^L™"'^^'"^ P'-'^^'Pl^' That^wlhoui a reS: 
 taimly there can be no happiness of life : if thev- are 
 
 f^L'^u^ ''•*"'''' ^"different about* religion thei?tS 
 8 no happiness at all, in our sense of fe ic tv • and 
 t they place their happiness in pursuing thei; d 
 
 ty, as every true Christian must, therf must I 
 
 some of that happiness wanting, where tleHanno? 
 
 wors^i God together, and % hand i "S t, 
 
 after us"' ''''"^^'' ^' ^'''''^^ ^' '^^'^ lhat\7Z 
 .r.^"'r?*^T' «:hilfiren, blessed be God for the PXDeri- 
 Z'f, ^""'^ \ ^'^ "« «"d this discourse, for i. rnakeg • 
 Tn hnth'^vn''"^^' that have had a very unhappy par? 
 m both your cases : in yours, ray dear, rspeakinS to 
 he youngest] I violently endeavoured tV?orc4 |ou 
 to be niserable : and in yours, my dear [speakin/ to 
 the other] I entirely on.itted the Concern I oucv^Tt to 
 mve had upon me, to prevent your makin/yourseif 
 
 1 
 
246 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part ii. 
 
 Sist. Do not afflict yourself, Sir, about that now ; 
 blessed be God we have both got over it. 
 
 Fa. But it does afflict me for all that : and let all 
 fathers learn from me, how much it concerns them, 
 it they wish well to their children, either to their 
 souls or bodies, to establish religious families in their 
 posterity, and to r-event their children marrying, if 
 possible, eitUx Aiiere there is no religion, nor no 
 agreement in opinion about it ; for in either case they 
 ivre sure ^o be made miserable. 
 
 ''«./*V.*,*',^-^^,» 
 
HIP. [part II. 
 
 about thnt now : 
 er it. 
 
 that : and let all 
 t concerns them, 
 I, either to their 
 9 families in their 
 Iren marrying, if 
 
 religion, nor no 
 a either case they 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHir. 
 
 THE APPENDIX. 
 
 
 PART III. 
 
 In the latter part of the discourse, we left the aunt, 
 and the widow sister, who had married the Roman 
 Catholic gentleman, entering into a discourse about 
 the mconveniences of entertaining irreligious — r- 
 vants : and also of entertaining servants of different 
 persuasions and opinions in religion, unti from another, 
 or different opinions from the family they serv 
 
 The ladies put off the discourse of that affair foranotner 
 tune, the aunt being willing to enter into a more 
 particular conversation about it. This caused several 
 entertaining discourses among them at different times, 
 some of which, I hope, may be useful to be made 
 public tor the direction of ot'^ier families, and for the 
 eucouragement of all masters and mistresses of fami- 
 lies, who desire to promote good government and 
 
 

 iii 
 
 f 
 I 
 
 
 ( 
 
 (ii 
 
 ' 'i 
 
 24^ RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [p.KTrii 
 
 regolations, and- .ood^i^:.;;!;^^^;^ ^ f £ 
 
 -r^^^J^i:;^'^^ }^ aunt's iK^use, which 
 
 had a little squabb ^ with ol of h '"'^"'^ 5 *''^'^ «""' 
 iV'ilowing occasion •ThilTiP^^'?'' '""''^s "Pon the 
 in the afirnoorof a SaE^l dl^' «ee,ns, bU ou? 
 than the usual time Sf b^.inr r?)^' l"^ '*"'*^ '''"^er 
 Who otherwise \Z kr^^.:^£Z'^'^'it'''^y^ 
 unluckily for the wench, to b Sin t .' t^^^'^l^^' 
 
 just going up to uXss herse ?• «nH ft* '^°'^^''*' «"'* 
 U^v.nthe;;nistr^ 
 
 J^IALOGUE I. 
 
 ^Ladi^. Ha! Mary, says the h.dy, not undressed 
 ^r-R-.J.'^^" ^^ ''^'^y presentiv. Madam 
 
 -jr«. A great while, Ma ^ ' ^'^ ' 
 
 La. Must not I know h, . K.u'v Marv' 
 
 "' ••^•'"'^> ^^ }'-^ r'^ase; but you do not 
 
 use tf 
 
 been \ 
 
 La. 
 
 been c 
 
 day, \ 
 
 you W( 
 
 ^a, 
 
 La. 
 
 you th 
 
 iJfa. 
 
 it is all 
 
 La. 
 be sure 
 Ma. 
 once, I 
 Za. ] 
 satisfaci 
 been to 
 Ma. 
 those th 
 tent; ar 
 liberty t 
 La. \i 
 of corisc 
 really a 
 what chi 
 church t 
 Mary ? 
 
 Ma. I 
 things ar 
 with. 
 
 La. N( 
 think I a; 
 go to chu 
 on Sabbai 
 since chui 
 come hor 
 
 Ma.'li 
 
HIP 
 
 l^AUVTU I DIAL. I.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 en arni sorvants , 
 
 3 this, wjieis i^, is 
 
 ^^iit)(u?t to family 
 
 ;overnraent, than 
 
 t's house, which 
 erved, their aunt 
 r maids upon the 
 ■ seems, been out 
 and staid longer 
 Jh: and her lady, 
 of it, happened, 
 n the way when 
 y chancing to go 
 ordinary for her 
 icst clothes, and 
 this rencounter 
 uced the follow- 
 
 not undressed 
 
 Fadam. 
 
 at this time of 
 n? 
 
 good while. 
 Mary ? 
 
 •y? 
 
 lut you do not 
 
 249 
 
 use to inquire Into such trifles • I hnnn t i, 
 
 been wanted. ' ^^'® ^ h'^ve not 
 
 day, Mary. Set'li cl i lRr"el.™mtlv •"l^h*"" 
 you were at church, Mary' '"" «"™«y : I hope 
 Ma. Yes, Madam, to be sure. 
 
 youthei^e ""' "'""''=''' *'"»'• I ""■»" I did not see 
 
 oni^ i ll^e """^ '"'" ""' ""'•''■ *'"'™. <■»'■ that, for 
 
 |.a.Wairtr»R*'r7„Vj''rr'i'. 'LT'""!;? "^ 
 been to see you at churcirmseR ' ' " """^^ '"'« 
 
 tent; and"i't„ g'oTgU effel, "/'Er;? ^°"'-,™"- 
 Lberty to go ,0 ^.l.t'ehurch ill'k J b'T ' ""^ "^ " 
 
 ofc«;seTet-c;.''bu'tM,ri,''"" "■'"'"«♦»«'>«'' liberty 
 
 t^.JafU'r£K!;=s'S'Srh:^i 
 
 thiSk'l^^ Mary, you are much mistaken there ' 
 
 go to' ciCch ts. i;n:r tiiir^^^ rM^^:™*« 
 
 on Sabbath-days: bes".sM,r^^^t •^''"'^ *''"''' "'"« 
 since church w.s donr .n.l J? '. ^ '' ^ ^^'^^^ "'^"le 
 come homP • ,|es rl' ;^ i '"'* • "", "^^ ^"t J"9t 
 where you have -LeT ''" '"''*' '"''^ ^'^«^""t 
 
 ^a. I am not aslmmed to tell you where I have 
 
230 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part«i. 
 
 been, Madam ; I have been doinj? no harm • r i, 
 been fak nj? a walk. M«d«rn • r «^ i i } * ^^^^ 
 
 clireh, Ma/y',"' J"'' "»»' ^o" '"M J"" had been at 
 
 /„ lit"/ ■ "^''y '"'■<'' Madam, all the week 
 Ma^ry?^"" " «"" «° keeping W Sabbl^-day, 
 
 .u«oiS'da™'''rh'a'v°e'^'r^ ''}"' «li«'eple«. 
 
 me for a day for youreeff ? ' *'">'' "'>"' y«"««ked 
 
 X?' / JL""' '.r'"'"' y™ "■■'='' w"!' asking 
 tinfe^Jvttdf "" ''"" "'"'' ''"y' '"at take^bod', 
 
 timM Stal?. ""■"' *^^''™' »" "'" "me i, God', 
 
 for^reiij™;""^' ""' '""^ ""o »■» ha, appointed 
 
 j^ n L*!!'' *''"^' "'"' am sorry fo ;. 
 allf what ^^IZr ""» ''"g'™ enough for 
 
[PARTjix. I „j^j^jj RKLIGIOUS COURTSHIP 
 
 251 
 
 innvi.j?y„™.' '"""" " J''" "' "' Marv, I an. „„, j«u 
 
 say to it'^ ■ ""' ""''""'and it: what can I 
 
 or I .hall „oe d«te tifci^'i""'' '""^ ^"'"'"y' 
 you hired"me."" "^"^ "^' ""^ain, Madam, when 
 
 sha^."n„T^JL''air JeeTlLT' *»' "'7 
 
 ray whole family? * """"^ ""on my work, and upon 
 Ma. As vou please for that, Madam. 
 
 wiUobservo the^'"r reZe ' "* ' '"f"" ^'^ 
 
 a fe'udly'lXIV'LT ''''°? ?« "^e-" '» talk 
 or put he4f i^r ^al.t'^rh'i'.* '" '« "-«''' 
 
 her. and there gTvesfurvenrffh '''^ ^««« ^^ 
 
 ?K "'? '^°°''.' ^ ""*"* to speak with vou sn n^*?* 
 let her m, and she begins.] ^ ' *** ^^^'^ 
 
 f^ 
 
 f i. 
 
 ui^\l 
 
 *f«% 
 
"».■.. 
 
 H 
 
 
 m 
 
 
 I ■ 
 
 ULLIUIOUS JOUiiTSHIP. [part in. 
 
 ]J/fL\ ^"''^"""' ^'"'^ ^«^« ^^ard what a lecture 1 
 Have had, have not vou, Betty '* leciure i 
 
 frofn"^- ^•'' ""' ^'= ^^'° ^'«^« yo" iiad a lecture 
 
 wghj^.rt^s;LzcSrj-^- 
 
 upfn1he^^:<llSJi v^'^' '^^ '^^ '"-' ^'^^ -tress 
 
 j i9t come m, and was coming up to unoress me hm 
 
 W"\v\ '"'•' ^ ^*^"^'^ I »'«d been p ?le off ' ^"' 
 
 anS'? '^'^'' ^'^^ ^''^ ^^^« -y 'o you? was she 
 
 I'cftc^^'SStliS;^'"^^-^^ 
 Af/; T'^,^ 7^^ the matter? what was it for'' 
 
 -^ t'. O tl ai was only because vou wan wif ,*.,o^ 
 come m, and it was long past church tkne I , nnni?* 
 tliar. made her suspect you. ''''"'^^'* ^'™e, I suppose, 
 
 ^Ma. w.. 1, 8ht n.ed not trouble her head with her 
 
 Xhe' :" " ' ^°l' i'T ' '-' ""t bn:n at chSrch 
 fur "h hi: -g';, . ''" '" ^'^'^^ ^ -^l^' ^ith a friend as 
 _ J^ct. Did you ? that is more 
 
 *" ' now and then. T a 
 
 clmrch 
 
 g«t 
 
 the pleasure of it 
 
 a m 
 
 .^?/i / 'i'V""*^ t'^''.^''^ "'y ^ead with 
 
 -nict to tiike a waik, as long 
 
 done, that it takes away 
 
 it ; if I Iiave 
 as ohe does not want 
 
 nie. 
 
WIP. [PARTIIX. 
 
 whut a lecture 1 
 
 u had a lecture 
 
 tress: I wonder 
 
 K-stairs. 
 
 neet luy mistress 
 
 ■ rather, she met 
 ; for I was but 
 unuress rae, but 
 ' ■ 'le off. 
 > you ? was she 
 
 ncharattlpfrom 
 
 was it for? 
 
 »ut frirsooth she 
 
 anci whether I 
 
 she to do with 
 
 it is nothing to 
 
 u was lut just 
 ime, I suppose, I 
 
 ian by that? I 
 
 that raade her 
 
 ' head with her 
 boen at church, 
 I'ith a friend as 
 
 dare do j if I 
 Jch a hurry to 
 it takes away 
 
 1 it ; if I have g 
 docs not want 
 
 DIAL. I.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 203 
 
 nie, what need she trouble herself? I shall not ho «n 
 much utraid of her, not I : as lowr u^itlT^ll^ f *° 
 and my work done too. ' ^ "' '' '' *"" ^""^^^^ 
 
 vofldlVminir"'?"^"/^'"''' -'""' ray mistress and 
 
 Z:;i}ZlS::^^^f;;:^^ '-> "-^he knows it. 
 
 Ma. Niiy, she may do as she will for that • T folH 
 
 yoft/nllLj""'"' ^'"'' Then I suppose , he told 
 
 Ma. Ay, ay, and I told her my mind too • 1 will 
 
 •ot be t,ed up ,0 her religious tru.npery: no? I ■ ,7l 
 
 •' her work, what has she to do wfth what rel'i -ion 
 
 £^ ■ 1^1 ir:;-'i:;;;ts\r t[,at'. 
 
 {or, d she rel.er.ous lierself, she may desire to havV 
 her servants to i, ■ so too ; and therefore if T, In mo^ 
 a breach sometimes, I always do so 'as not™ h! 
 hjund out ; and I have had such good luck Jhatmv 
 mistress ha^ never caught rae vet. ' "^ 
 
 ^- ^&l!:;.^^^.f^'!? "-' «"d. if it bea fine 
 
 day next Sunday she shall c^clT^^ ^^ J^ ^ J^ 
 Jil LT'i?..?,^''? ^° S** to <^hurch but 
 
 ...1 mind to .„ , ^ „„„ I „g ijt^y jQ CTQ J churr«I 
 When I please; is not thut liberty.of consc?en"e 5 
 
 -Be. No, Mary, I think that is liberty without 
 conscience; for 'tis a liberty in what we would nnf 
 
 ifa' W^lT '"If M*^ "?^^^^ '' comcirncerMin' ' 
 
 8ci(^?; .Xt;rri''*'" J'/ '"^ ^« "''^'-ty ^vitLout con. 
 
 ft whv' IL'^ i'^^'^y i ^*^'^ ' «»d I see no harm in 
 you? ^' y°" acknowledge you do so yourse.!, don'? 
 
 say^ d's Ji'kshouTd' h'. ^ ?° '°'°^*''"^^ ' «>"* ^ «^"not 
 »«j' lis as It should be ; I oanrjot say, as you do thnf 
 
 there IS no harm in it : 'ti. a fault. I Lmr^h- ' and 
 >ou, I take care not to have it known. 
 
 i^i 
 
 ^]' 
 
 ./; 
 
'/? 
 
 254 
 
 RKLIOIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 Mn. Very well, then 
 
 [PAliriii. 
 
 you ..eli;ve1tTra'r.uU ^ZZ TT """ '• ">' 
 tW..k it is a fault at all'; in did - ' "°" ' ''° ' 
 
 not do it 
 
 - -„frt 
 " may be, I would 
 
 scif„t/t,t';l'rf !r„'„&rirvr"' i "'^'' -"- 
 
 ■lenid a little more tliai, I ' '^°'' ""'ya™ '""•- 
 
 yo^e i',rfe i^r:^„ra' czr-rszi"^ - = f- 
 
 you, that UlmlUa'ke^reJaiwV'; "■"=!' '^^ 
 
 mean. }ou . j suppose that's what you 
 
 fauft M LutTdrL?' ' '•'""■'^ y"" know 'ti, , 
 
 '"srf p' T°' '" «^°a„Th;;v'i".;i;r' •"«' '• 
 
 was never taught .,', iL. ' 'l ""y ''«' »« 
 Jng., anl'soT^ne e^t^nr/i?^',? "P»» 
 
 tau^l^^' K.**"^' ' »"■ S'"" yo" tWnk I have been 
 
 yof^anrk'e'a^w^ll'o^ a'°s"un,r """ '.r*"'- "»-» 
 
 .H^fist^VrflK^g^-a^^^^^^^^^ 
 have touched me so hnm! ^^u do; and I think you 
 
 what has she to do with U , "^ ""''""» ""* ■»«' 
 
 ligtous iSy^'afd^fcSnkitr' i'Jk* "'7 P'»"»/ '■^- 
 scrvaiits to an account ,o»,h^"''' '".""?'<' «"''''«' 
 
 ^«.Ay,s„srr'rtir?K^aj™%„, 
 
 obliged, 
 
 you serv 
 
 Ma. ( 
 
 ter first • 
 
 rejjard to 
 
 that 8ta\ 
 
 be for tli( 
 
 itet. J> 
 
 Jny rnistr 
 
 cannot sfi 
 
 young lad 
 
 Ma. It 
 
 asleep at 
 
 bad not ni 
 
 work ban 
 
 ■Het. Sc 
 
"JP- [PAHrm. I aiAL. i] 
 
 vorso than I; for 
 lo it; now I don't 
 t may be, I would 
 
 with a safe con- 
 you only are har- 
 
 ven with me ; for 
 
 than I, and for 
 
 betwpf'n us. 
 
 bitter; but per- 
 fi 80 much from 
 
 I do again what 
 I fault. 
 
 use I Jiave more 
 that's what you 
 
 you know 'tis a 
 tie more used to 
 been. 
 
 it may be, are 
 ich stress upon 
 t myself about 
 
 nk I have been 
 
 'taught, I find 
 'ell as I. 
 
 o it, and think 
 
 d I think you 
 
 eproof, that I 
 
 e. 
 
 tress and me ? 
 
 ery pious, re- 
 na to call her 
 their time, 
 eek-days, for 
 
 KKLIOIOTJS COURTSHIP. 255 
 
 my own, she has no- 
 
 o" Sunday, as any other day "" ^° '"'^^^ >«" 
 
 ;•;, why^^o ihi'm^rLr'^'uAt? ? -"-^-us ,«. 
 
 think we liave so much relSion «. . ^ ^"'''^ ' ""^ I 
 Ko abroad for it : does not f.?M ."'•™^' "^^ "^^^^ "ot 
 J day with his loni grayer ^'„^i';P^ '««?\"» twice 
 I am sure he has m^demeue^^^^^^ 
 times to come in to prayers" f.ntV^ business many 
 floraetimes, and it I J d no? 'ttl ^^'7 ^i'n the siij 
 good dish Of meat HpofleS 'o^Z^^o" d'"'^ "'^"^ ^ 
 offetJn." »*- »* --y ^irl, Zr^^tn you talk 
 
 oflJe^n'if.J^r: t"omr?oT^ V ' '^"^^ -^'""^ 
 tlie kitchen; if thdrdinners aTe^mrd-r /"^ ™i"d 
 fay find fault, and I "la?l fSl. "^'"^^^ "P' they 
 ", but to talk tU"e of rel'Ln 'ds r' "'^'"^ *H,™«"d 
 ^^^^'•'/-t them let me affiTo' mteir '"'"^ 
 
 obli/ed, wrilei;teryo"u"fo;l'f ^ ^^"' ^'^^^ «he is 
 you^erve God as weTaV^utrve heT'^^ '' ^^ "-^ 
 
 -y .ttt;^sr;ernirus°te!ri-^ ' ? »«««"re you 
 cannot say otiiervvLJf a?n\^ri^'''^' ^"^^y* ""«* you 
 yo«n, ladies too t'eyire'K her!^"' «^ "^« «" ^^« 
 
 asleep at nr"ayLZ' ^"'^ ^'^ ^ '^'^^^ «««" them all 
 Imd n^ofmS moVS'tor',^^"" I«™ «"'« they 
 work hard. norZlZ'^^^^-.t'^^'^Py than I had. that 
 
 ;«' 
 
 •^e^. Som( 
 
 '"•es they may be heavy, but this 
 
 IS not 
 
'f'fiir' 
 
 11 
 
 ;" ! 
 
 2oG RELIGIOUS COUKTSHIP. [PAnri,,. 
 
 allTs ieep'!ol:rffr ^"" '^""°* '^"^ ''-^^y ^ere ever 
 chil^h 7^ZT^hS\^'Ji^y '^ the same at 
 mn, into th/ia: to tJL'^^v '&e t%^^"."^ 
 
 but seldom. You^'itseem l"'f^V. ^''^'^''y ^'> it 
 tice, .„d do it alwaA then T«? h' *'1 °'^'' ^ P'"^*^" 
 times at church or Jtnri ' '^^^'^^y ^o sleep some- 
 SHy there 1 f^'an, K^^L^^'^ to 
 
 ti<ev ouoht not to do L i '/''^y,'""«t acknowledge 
 
 to a,, Vhen .^^utp:n^ yo^r'^^^r he'S" '^ 
 I'erhaps worse, ther is no harm in r % ^^*^^' "'' 
 iH a^reat deal of difference 1L?J V i ^"'''' *^'^''« 
 which thev acknowleXp tn >f *'^^'^'^^" doing a thing 
 
 ilfrt/\VVil ?', .iT '"^^fy";?^ It as if it was right, 
 let me alone^i'n't Ih"/ ^"''^'^^^ ^^'^ t^^^'"' '«t theni 
 
 tof otrn heiVe"r7antt'in^. T''''' .*'""^« «^^« on.ht 
 in her house affuTrs '^'='''"' '*""?«' ^« ^^ell as 
 
 shfi"ll!''l'^;^r i^Tv'e m v' r'''^^' ^'^ T"' ^"d do what 
 tiiing they say to me ^ ''" ""^^^ ^ '^^^'^^^ "»"'d no- 
 
 do a:'yo?wm """' "*"'"^ ^"'^^''^^«' Mary; you may 
 
 thi^"- ''"^ '"' '^'^ "«"« «f her business neither, I 
 
 22 
 
)-'.4i *., 
 
 HIP. [part III. 
 
 y they were ever 
 
 DIAL, x.j 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 y do the 
 (nee bet 
 isure on 
 sir ease ? 
 aplainis 
 lyers? 
 lalicious 
 auhs, to 
 1 too. 
 
 same at 
 ween my 
 Sunday, 
 hetweeu 
 at piay- 
 
 to take 
 be sure: 
 
 hey may some- 
 and they do it 
 le other a prac- 
 do sleep some- 
 ion't pretend to 
 St acknowledge 
 etheimpuden-e 
 n the fields, or 
 t. Now, there 
 J doing a thing 
 and doing: what 
 it was right, 
 vill, and let me 
 them, let tlieni 
 
 links she ou^ht 
 ngs, as Well as 
 
 h and do what 
 shall mind no- 
 
 ary ; you may 
 
 ness neither, I 
 
 if you were a 
 vantg, as our 
 
 257 
 
 of whores and rogues. °°" •""« » house full 
 
 tried will, it; but if I \Jai" 'J" ""» "kfly to be 
 !naids, I would take care th» v-^ VfJ"'- »"<' kept 
 »?»», and that would keen il.Z, f °''''' ''" "V «- 
 ^..orderly house ,,s yoaZakoT-asS.n";?'''"* »"'='' « 
 
 5S„T"' "«' ■=»- -0- aTaifa ;'r„Vu!!eh«;i,» 
 
 -^«. You would' An/? if T 
 
 ^ould make me come into ni^' ^^"'" ™"''^ you 
 niorning, would you ? ^'^^^^^ ^^^''y "igiit and 
 
 mI: Wei/ aTd^^jJ-' ?' ?T ^''°"'^ "°t «ve with me 
 
 laugh at yoi^ntliVd-TnV^ ' «'^ould only- 
 chaplain or your husbam 'onw ""^^ ^ J^^^ '^f your 
 vants too; dWt you see 'me do"« ?? ^'^ other W- 
 always making a sport at o^.r w i '!?' ' an't we 
 chaplain? * ^ " "' ^"'^ did] thing: called a 
 
 wiufyoJ^n'iJ^tVdLl^'hJrr '*' ?^"^ ^ "--rjoin 
 and as for the pZto i mi f'lf'' "P>''^ at all i,/it " 
 
 ,vS;,e?.^'dtadi%s :ii.''^'JT^°°,'"--.but.o . 
 
 t«ke him for any tff bT.t J '^T '" """'' ™ 
 Andrew? ' "^ ""* » rcliitious Merry- 
 
 !''■ ^""'""""."'ink, however, my „i„„,, „k,. 
 
 
 tk 
 
 Ih 
 
 iU- ! 
 
 f-' 
 
 it * 
 
 / 
 
#■'1 
 
 k 
 
 i I ■ 
 
 I ' 
 
 258 BEMOIODS COURTSHIP. (wktiii 
 
 af?.x::'i: j"„?r,T^j; zav^i^v *■'"■• 
 
 n)ocked at God's worshin in fKo- u ^^^^^ servants 
 
 chfr^h t^^yotlS iith^rtotro'V^^" ^^ *° 
 or ^o about your business ^ ^''^ ' ^°''«^»P» 
 
 church ? Jr, wha?^f you Irp « ff' *" ^« *« yo""" 
 
 wefelbe^eKS f ^J^.f ^T^^ ^ -y, if that 
 
 your dispute with mVraStregs is h^f '"''"'"" ' ^""^ 
 somewhere and nowherp h„f k * between going 
 God in this manner or that mf""'" "^' ««''^'"»? 
 serving God some wafor nth.. ""T' "^* ^^^^^^^ 
 
 Churchwoman and mv tn^f ^'''^^ ? *or, if I were a 
 Bissenter, and my mfst e oT?h^.^r"^' ^' ' « 
 Quaker, and my mistress h nn,^^'' ''n''\''^,' "' ^ a 
 mistress a Quakr.ndr^ /?«/.," ^^^holic, or my 
 the same thin^ i^e " VnnM J^i?^'*-*' '^ ^"^"'^ be all 
 contempt ot wimt was rinn? -^ *.!^ f ^"^ "^''^'^^^ a^d 
 no mor^e hke i^e crosses aJ^^/h ^""'" ' ^'^'^^^ 
 Papisrs, the yea and nav of th« n *t^ '"'*''^* ^^ ^he 
 prayers of the church or pv..^"^''^'''' ^"^ "-fading 
 Presbyterians! f I wL of XTr P''"-^^'*^ <^^ ^^1 
 I now like of them whUp T h2 j^' T'"*""' ^''^n 
 none of them: and so all hpl f ^^T i ""derstand 
 be but a jeet to me • and nf S„"l'^^- ^^"'^« ^«"ld 
 ^«#. Why. this is tnn 1 "^^^ J^st of them, 
 "y, uiis 18 too true ; and therefore I mast 
 
 I 
 
 gion, 
 
uty to keep him, 
 : and it does not 
 < at such things : 
 " their servants 
 ise ought to keep 
 r lamih'es. 
 ne to church if I 
 
 nake you go to 
 > tfod 8 worship, 
 
 issenter, and did 
 
 to go to your 
 
 enter, and I did 
 
 » I say, if that 
 Jtrain you, pro- 
 araewliere; but 
 between going 
 en not serving 
 ') not bfctwern 
 serving him no 
 lightily, 
 g to prayers at 
 tor, if I were a 
 ssenter; or I a 
 lurch; or I a 
 atliolic, or my 
 it would be all 
 me dislike and 
 >U8e ; I should 
 masses of the 
 8, and reading 
 prayers of the 
 opinion, than 
 I understand 
 doings would 
 ^st ot them, 
 jrefore I must 
 
 259 
 
 1 
 I 
 
 »'^''. 10 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 Sy??/a;I In77^.v?^f;- ^J - house, I would 
 I serve God, as I did nnS nri *''f. '^'"^ P'«ce, to 
 
 whether I went to 'rChurU '""""i^ "°u' ^««P t^era ; 
 ; Jo"se ; to the Quake's m^Hn ^^ '^ *^« Meeting^ 
 i house. '^•^HKers meeting, or to the Mass- 
 
 ' -o^'r^llSaie^rSl^r".!;^ *^^ »>««-? they 
 I the more of ^ ^^^^"^'V they would be nS^ 
 I where > ou went. ^ ^"'^ ^^''^'''S them to go 
 
 befuch!rUlKe^TntT' ' ^"'-" ^'•^y «'-uld 
 came to me, and tl?atTeclaJed^r-'"P ^^.^^^'^-^^ they 
 ^^•"» I hired them : othemil V'^'^P""^" *° ^^ «o 
 pel ing them afterward wS' LT?^'- *'"**' *^'''"- 
 Pei^aps worse than the other. *'""^ ^^ ^"' ^' 
 
 cameto'bel.llJedML?!.''''"^'* plain wench like me 
 
 she went toVh,""^7traVnltV f'^'i^^' "^^^^er 
 any of them, as I haDnenpH f^V'*"'"''^ ^^y> >«8, to 
 mis:ht be deceived ""^^P^"^^ to be myself, and ^ J 
 
 youfounTlL'ouVldJrL'^ y^'^ ^« ^'^en. when 
 
 done with 7o'u, inSL Mhn^^^"' «y mistress has 
 you a repro1,at^ Sue wenc /a'nd'"^ ^'^"' ' ^^""^ 
 as It seems you acknowledge on h " ''T^ °"« *«<>. 
 sell to-day, I should e^en,^^^^^^ yo"-' 
 
 your manners, or to providpll?! u^"*"''"^ to mend 
 mistress J,as done too >«"fself, as it seems my 
 
 complaintToTofra fine' ^™ ''^' '' ™«^ke my 
 th^k m i thrwronVar "«r'' '' ^^"" y'^" 
 
 ^<^^<. Indeed so I do. ^' 
 
 -C^ft. And whRt if r «.„j . 
 
 "" *°" '■"' -'«'' "rn.r«i5.s/rjj;^eS 
 
 ■ I 
 
 
 / 
 
 / 
 
!,: ; 
 
 It 
 
 
 260 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PART ill. 
 
 and I had answered you, that I had not had many 
 thougrhts about it : that all opinions were alike to 
 me; that when I did go any wbere, I wouid go where 
 you would have me go, anA tfcie like. 
 
 Bet, Why, Mary, I mu§t own I sbould t like it 
 at all ; neither, I helii»ve, should I hire you at all : 
 I should be afraid to take such a stupid despiser of 
 God and religion into my house; you should e'en go 
 without a mistress for me. 
 
 Ma. Well, and you might go without a servant 
 too, for me ; lor I can tell you, there are mistresses 
 enough in the world, that never ask the question 
 either before or after, nor care whether their servants 
 serve God or the devil. 
 
 Bet. Ay, Mary, and that is the reason wfey so 
 many of us servants are of the same kind. 
 
 Ma. Well, well, I don't doubt, however, but I shall 
 get a place among them, and not be questioned about 
 going to church : I go to service to work, not to learn 
 my catechism ; I understand my cookery, what is it 
 to them whether I understand religion or no ? 
 
 Bet. Why, look you, Mary, I don't learn my cate- 
 chism any more than you, and yet I do not like my 
 mistress the worse, I assure you, for taking care that 
 her servants should go to church, and not caring to 
 keep those that are despisers of reiigK^n. I think 
 'tis a pity any lady that is religious^ should not have 
 religious servants about her. 
 
 [They had another dialogue upon this sublet af- 
 terwards ; but it had too much passion in it to merit 
 a place irii this account ; for the case was this : Betty 
 gave her lady an account of some part of Mary's dis- 
 course, particularly that of making a jest of her 
 chaplain, and of callins; the family to prayers ; upon 
 which her mistress turned her out of her house, giv- 
 ing her a Jiionth's wages, instead of a month's warn- 
 ing, as one not fit to be allowed to stay in her fa- 
 mily ; and Mary fell upon her fellow-servant for that 
 
 P:\Vt in a crraat racra Tlaittw *nlA Uaw in o^ .^.•. 
 . — „ _ .„_,,, jj.^..,,_ ..-.j^x .-jvi lis. s\! jisa 
 
 BIAtH 
 
 words 
 thoug 
 that ti 
 to giv 
 tween 
 her mi 
 ther, 
 
 Thes 
 maid's 
 why th 
 again \ 
 ingly n 
 ed ihei 
 manner 
 Aunt 
 we wei 
 vants ; 
 head; 
 than mt 
 Niect 
 upon- a 
 eomplaii 
 have se( 
 since th) 
 that I ai 
 have no 
 mon rev) 
 in a fam: 
 fers and 
 Aunt. 
 verj' hari 
 a jest of 
 servants 
 slight all 
 J^iece. 
 there is a 
 Aunt. 
 able misc 
 
:p, [partiu. 
 
 not had many 
 
 were alike to 
 
 kvouid go where 
 
 ould t like it 
 lire you at all : 
 pid despiser of 
 •hould e'en go 
 
 hout a sfrvant 
 ! are mistresses 
 < the question 
 r their servants 
 
 reason why so 
 ind. 
 
 ver, but I shall 
 estioned about 
 [•k, not to learn 
 :ery, what is it 
 or no? 
 
 learn ray cate- 
 lo not like my 
 king care that 
 ' -"It caring to 
 '. I think 
 luuld not have 
 
 lis sublet af- 
 1 in it to merit 
 as this : Betty 
 of Mary's dis- 
 a jest of her 
 jrayers j upcm 
 er house, •<iv- 
 nonth's warn- 
 ray in her fa- 
 srvant for that 
 
 lit:. ;;u 
 
 DIAL. I.J RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. QQl 
 
 words, she thoo^srht herself obl^^ed to mention it 
 
 to ii i7 ^ad discoursed together, made her JrS 
 f to give her a full account of all that had pasST hf 
 I tween them, and if she had not done i^ iSLlt 
 J {^n^'stress would have put them bc^l'a^^I^ 
 
 I These two short dialogues or disniitps ahnnt *u^ 
 \ inaids rambling on the SabbatlJ^dav fw^. the reason 
 why the young lady's aunt was wilW ?<> iscoS 
 ! ^gam with her niece upon that subjectf and hcS 
 ■ 1"^'3: ™*'«ting together «ome time aW they fenewr 
 
 I ml^/i ''"'''' '''"' '''''"'' ^" tb;1.C^ 
 
 Aunt. I think, niece, when you and I talked li.«* 
 we were upon the subject of taking reS. tfi 
 
 heaT' firTtV'^.r ^^'"^ ^•^"..^^^ *« ^^^ol that 
 nead , ior 1 think there is really much m^re in iJ 
 than most people imagine. ^ ' "^ ^' 
 
 Jf^ece. Pray, Madam, If is what I lav a great stress 
 upon : and, though I have not had much occSmwmo 
 compfam in the first years J have kept house^V ? 
 have seen so much of it in my mother's ?iu/e^«„i 
 sjoce that in other families, a.fd a little in my 'ow„ 
 that I am resolved, whatever shift I make I vTm 
 have no servants, but such as, at least, have'acora- 
 mon reverence for religion, and for rel g iou. .^er 'Tm 
 p a family. To be su?e I Will never aie aVr cT 
 fers and mockers of religion, if I can help it ^" 
 
 Aunt As the world tjoes now, child, it will he 
 very hard to find such ; for religion is so ra eh ISe 
 a jest of among masters, that It is hard to find anv 
 
 Slight all those that have any regard to it 
 ^^'w^ce. That is my case, Madam, exactly • but 
 there IS another mischief in it too. ^^^"7 ' f>ut 
 
 ^iec<:, I believe so, Madam. But this is one par- 
 
 
 f ■ 
 
 # i 
 
262 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PARxnx. 
 
 ,1 
 
 1! h! 
 
 1 
 
 licular case, and which I have the greater reasons to 
 take notice of, because a certain lady, an acquaint- 
 ance and neighbour of mins, has had a yreat deal of 
 that kind ; and indeed in a particular manner with 
 her servants. 
 Aunt. What lady is that ? Pray do I know her ? 
 Niece. You had some discourse with her, Madana, 
 if I remember right, the last time you did me the 
 favour to dine with me. 
 
 Aunt. I remember it very well ; and we talked a 
 little upon that very subject ; I naean, how rude and 
 insolent servants were grown at this time : but I think 
 we liad not much talk of their being irreligious and 
 profane. 
 
 Niece. Madam, she had a servant, whom they 
 called her wonmn ; for she was one to whom she en- 
 trusted every tiling, and who was like a housekeeper, 
 and all the servants were, as it were, under her : she 
 was a very good sort of a body indeed in the house ; 
 and as that lady, if you remember, was very lame, 
 she could not stir about to look much after her ser- 
 vants herself, but trusted ail to this woman. 
 
 She was a sensible woman, had the knowledge of 
 almost every thing in the world, and talked admira- 
 bly well : had a world of wit and humour, very man- 
 nerly and well behaved, sober and modest enough ; in 
 abort, she was an excellent servant. 
 
 Aunt. You give her an extraordinary character, 
 niece, I assure you. 
 
 Niece. In a word. Madam, she had every thing 
 about her, that could he desired in a servant, but re- 
 ligion ; and of that she was entirely empty as you can 
 imagine it possible for any creature in the world to be, 
 and that had ever heard of God or the devil, or had 
 lived among Christians. 
 
 Aunt. Nay, niece, you say she was not an ignorant 
 botlv. 
 Niece. No, indeed, Madam, she was so far from 
 
 nAinnr iim^viiHivif f Ko4> »K^ ....... .. i.l.. ^^ j : 
 
 
IP. [PARTIII. I WAL.I.J RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 eater reasons to 
 
 y, an acquaint- 
 
 a jffeat deal of 
 
 ar manner with 
 
 o I know her ? 
 th her, Madam, 
 |rou did me the 
 
 nd we talked a 
 
 , how rude and 
 
 ne: but I think 
 
 irreligious and 
 
 it, whom they 
 > whom she en- 
 a housekeeper, 
 under her : she 
 i in the house ; 
 vas very lame, 
 
 after her ser- 
 oman. 
 
 knowledge of 
 talked admira- 
 our, veryraan- 
 iest enough^ in 
 
 ary character, 
 
 id every thing 
 ervant, but re- 
 ipty as you can 
 the world to be, 
 i devil, or had 
 
 lot an ignorant 
 
 IS so far from 
 ■0 deceive any 
 
 - 263 
 
 and of an u/.co.n .oa wk ^not t7tlric**"''''t-^°'' '"«» 
 or>ly, but to uiock and make 1 \lt ^'[^PP^^ly 
 general, a.,d of all those thaf hnH f "* '^J'^."'" ^^ 
 Aunt. Shii was » TL n ^ ?"^. ^^^'"'^'^ ^^^ it- 
 
 was «h. a maid ir t ^l^^r^Tshtt Z^^^ ' ^'^^^ 
 U 8< ems. • ^^'^ *"® ''^ not very young 
 
 I £k \fa ' ep'ard'^^" ™*"'«d' Madam, but 
 
 sent to Italy : anStliev are^o "hi ''^^'"? ."'^ «P°"«« 
 coine.s back. ^ ^ ^" ^^ married when he 
 
 k,»^U% ""' "■■«' '"y^ h" busband to it? does he 
 do-t for Iha'™'JSl"e™;al''r,r, ""'■'."f " "'«" "■» 
 
 i.$nw;';;r!^Tot?x„"^&tiS''^°"' 
 
 turbanee to him ' ^^ '' " * ^^'•^ &»-«^t dis- 
 
 ^Sl' v'"* \^r' ^ 'P°^«" «f it to his wife'' 
 hflf S I^_^. ^^.^^•'^^^ i»e has very often^Jnd fnU 
 --" purucuiars aa are very essential to thegood 
 
264 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [partiii. 
 
 ^1 
 
 i I 
 
 i '■ 
 
 I 
 
 of the family ; and such too as ahnost carry their 
 own evidence with theui. "^ 
 
 Aunt. And what does she say ? 
 
 Niece. I know not indeed liow she manages; but 
 1 know that her husband and she have more vvords 
 about It, than about all other matters put together, 
 since they were married; and sometimes it grows 
 
 abo ■ ^ ^^ ^^^ ^^""^ ^*'"'"' ^"*^ ^^®° ^"^''y 
 Aunt. Why, she seems to be a p^ood, sensible, re- 
 ligious lady ; how can she take such a creature's part, 
 especially against her husband ? ' 
 
 Mece. Why, first of all, she pretends that she does 
 not believe it ; that the other servants rival her in 
 tlie javours site receives, and her mistress's particular 
 kindnesses, and do it out of a malicious design : then 
 she says slie has examined her, and she finds she 
 clears herself ot much of the charge, and makes the 
 rest appear to be trifiing, and not worth notice. 
 
 Aunt. But perhaps, niece, it really may be so too, 
 and the other servants may make things worse than 
 tiiey are tor the reasons you mention. 
 
 Niece. But, Madam, it is otherwise in fact ; for 
 tlie truth IS, the wench, or woman, manages all the 
 servants so effectually, that, in short, if any of them 
 are relii^iously inclined when they come, she makes 
 tbem ashamed to be so, when they come to her • for 
 she makes such a mock of religion, and such a jest of 
 going to church, or going to prayers in the family, 
 that she laughs them out of their religion, and, in a 
 word, they are all turned reprobates like herself 
 
 Aunt. But can this be, and her lady not knovv. or 
 hear ol it ? * 
 
 Niece. Yes, very well, Madam ; for as I told you, 
 She IS an excellent servant, and the more her mistress 
 IS loath to part with her, the harder she is to believe 
 these things of her. 
 
 Aunt. But, niece, her husband, you sav. knows it • 
 sure she will believe hhu. ' 
 
 DIAL. 
 
 Nie 
 say, fr 
 her, ai 
 
 Auri 
 knovvli 
 
 Niei 
 unwar 
 making 
 vants, 
 to pray 
 which 
 
 f)retend 
 ike, as 
 banter. 
 Aunt 
 worse ti 
 Niece 
 gentlem 
 and mac 
 lady, wl 
 Aunt. 
 Niece. 
 continue 
 family ai 
 it while 
 restraint 
 knew thi 
 and jeer i 
 She all 
 that.; an( 
 contrived 
 rally, and 
 
 Aunt. 
 in that pa 
 ted his di 
 
 Niece. 
 was a difi] 
 performan 
 W irom hii 
 
sensible, re- 
 
 e to her : for 
 
 WAL. I.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 265 
 
 Niece. But she alleges, he knows if h.,f k„ i 
 
 4^-Ij^'^Lrf ftJl';:?SaneTo'LV '"' '"<= 
 makinir her ippp* >inH aI ,1 . i "^'^ ""^ eveninjf 
 
 pretended wereZlir .^H"^h'■ """'i;'. "'"<='' »'» 
 f|^e,^;» t.e redlr;e^%r.VXTe^^r r.t 
 
 «n<ljeeraU,irfor"t ^° '''*°' '"'"' ™''« " »«* 
 te-'atte''!""*'" "> perforin hi, duty for all 
 
 in fhat pun '"/oi Le'^i'T ""T '""^^ "^ *'^« ^--ong 
 ted his duty^ponL m^^^^^ to have omit! 
 
 Niece tL.^ . "^'*" ,»» objection as that. 
 
 performance if hL^d.?fv'™^w^K'?'fl^^^^ in the 
 U irom him. — - ' • • "«t ue uught i remove 
 
 . li^ 
 
 \i 
 

 266 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [partiii. 
 
 Aunt. He ought to have considered, that the lesn 
 of rel.g.on was to be found in his servants, the more 
 reasonTje had to pray for them, and with them -Xt 
 he mn^ht perhaps be the occasion of good to them 
 and ot bring ng them to the knowledge and love™f 
 religion which would bean advantage he ou-Iit to 
 
 intXenVd^"' ''^"' '' ^ ''-''''' '^^'^ 
 Niece. She did argue just so to him, Madam : but 
 
 fifr «*'-r''* \ '" ^^'■""^ "P°" >»^'-' th^^t «»'« ought, as 
 inxZ^J '" J^f •' i° '■^'"?^''^ ^^^'•y ^iffi^^ulty that ay 
 in the way ot his duty, that it was nmcli more forci- 
 ble as to her; for he told her, that if she granted 
 that the difficulty was a snare I'aid in his waf bi S 
 
 or tl?« ; " y *!? '*^'''' •'' '^^ "^' «''e could possible, 
 or that lay in her power to remove the occasion • 
 otherwise she made herself accesso ry to the tern otai 
 tion, and assistant to the devil, in iLii.g a snare for 
 her^husband, and much of the sin woufd lie at hef 
 
 on^r*^T^T was a great deal in that, I confess- 
 I'rav, what did she say to it ? "»iciy. 
 
 N^ece. She insisted, that the charge was false- 
 that her woman denied it, and as I said before, hat 
 n Tl^,? "?a''J:'«"9 design of the other servants ; but 
 Bar wWh if ''"«'"^»« "'^^s* t»»at she was very loath to 
 S?ri Zh ^^^ woman who, as 1 said before, was a 
 very good servant, and useful to her divers ways. 
 
 liSmS- • ?"* ^°" u^^'*^' **'^* ^e ^eafd something of it 
 himself. Surely she would believe him tlien. ^ 
 
 but .Iff'. .-^ she could say nothing to that indeed ; 
 but she put It off as well as she could, with tellinff 
 
 ?ho..?J'i''°"^'^ '"" ^"' woman of it and 'take careshf 
 snould do so no more. 
 
 Aunt. That seemed to be trifling, because it was in 
 
 fled wUh."^ consequence, as ought not to be tri- 
 
 Nie^ 
 
 treat(( 
 
 80 irks 
 
 deranc 
 
 been a 
 
 have n 
 
 an enc 
 
 an inst 
 
 er at rt 
 
 itself, h 
 
 differ f; 
 
 Auni 
 
 move hi 
 
 Nieci 
 
 done. 
 
 Aunt 
 
 Niect 
 
 many w 
 
 band on 
 
 two yeai 
 
 tered all 
 
 little re 
 
 like hen 
 
 Aunt. 
 
 Niece. 
 
 put an e 
 
 God in tl 
 
 Aunt. 
 
 does it cc 
 
 Niece. 
 reliiiious 
 
 living hi 1 
 able to p 
 "'an, he t< 
 tlie house 
 ot servant 
 alike at la 
 
 AU7lt. J 
 
 Niece. 
 
flP. [PAHTIII, 
 
 sd, that the less 
 •vants, the more 
 ^ith them ; that 
 ■ good to them , 
 Jge and love of 
 ige he ought to 
 >ng to his house 
 
 1, Madam : but 
 It she ought, as 
 fficulty that lay 
 ucli more forci- 
 if she granted, 
 his way by the 
 at she tolcl him 
 could possible, 
 the occasion; 
 to the tempta- 
 'i'fg a snare for 
 'ould lie at her 
 
 lat, I confess : i] 
 1 immediately. " 
 
 •ge was false; 
 id before, that 
 servants; but, 
 ? very loath to 
 before, was a 
 vers ways, 
 lomething of it 
 1 then. 
 
 i that indeed ; 
 , with telling 
 take care she 
 
 auseitwas in 
 not tobetri- 
 
 WAI- 1 1 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 Mece. It was so : but he 
 
 went yet furthci 
 iPr to tak 
 
 207 
 
 en- 
 thing 
 
 »;?rksom'e"Vom hiKnJ wh^^ ^^^« ^^^^ ^ ^ 
 derance to his du tv •' he toTd hi/f,' ?."'"'-''' « ^i"- 
 been a mere i^rnorant un^alw./' ^''".' ''^^ ^ '^'''^^^ 
 i«ave no difficulty upon L'm^..T?,*"''^-' ^" «''°"'d 
 an encouragement to do/, a'^^'^^'-'^'f "would be 
 
 an instrumeftofopeniit ttir e il^; -VTr ''^ ^''"^ 
 er at religion, and one that not i?i J j'"^>'; a mock- 
 itself, but^nocSatotheJs Sfr ir ^.'^'''^''!:^ '•^^^'O" 
 differ (xceedinglv and Ip k,i» V V'" "'*'^*^ ^''^c^J'e 
 Aunt. Ani^JJliUl n^f S Tr?'^ '? ^''' ""''' '*• 
 move her? "«' such arguments as those 
 
 ^J^iece. Truly, not so much as they should have 
 
 itL TitrM-jt' ZV' '^-"^q^ence of it ? 
 many ways for ^1/ •'.*'* consequences were bad 
 
 two years :ahdVS/,.\°V""^''^' ^O"" "early 
 
 tered\lU rc^^tCservtts o -"th^TP^^ 
 Jittle religion thev had »"S • / .""'^ <^"' o^' tbe 
 like herseir ^ ' ^""^ '"**'^^^ ""^e them all 
 Aunt. And where did it end ? 
 
 felt's k™'.i11"""co,.S" ^"""''' ""o " " '^ry 
 ^ieie. -i^;, Mtd^: i'^JTo^-^',,, ^, „ ^ 
 
 !k :, *l 
 
 /. 
 
 hi! 
 
 '^il 
 
 ?W 
 

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208 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. (part in. WAt. 
 
 Ill 
 
 
 wel as I wi8h, for her sake, she had : for though her 
 Wand and she are very relij^ious, sober, aKod 
 people, yet I cannot but say it has broken very much 
 w upon their tempers and affection one to anoTl"er 
 Sets^VJot.^" ^'^ '"""''^^ ^^'-- ^^- 'i^at 
 serlant.' ^""^ *" *'''"^ °^ °"' graceless, irreligious 
 JViece. It is very true. Madam. 
 
 Atfce. Yes, Madam. 
 
 ifece wtV^M?'^ that appear among them? 
 ivt^ce. Uhy, Madam, m the first place she maHa 
 
 to ttTat S"^",*^^^ J'^^^ '^-^d a?l what was™sS 
 10 them at church, or in the family, that had «nv 
 thms' ser ous in it, into banter Jd rkli cule a J 
 aughed them out of every thing that looked nice ^^ 
 is ; ®'^ represented religion to be a mere nieco 
 ot state policy and priest-craft, contrived bet weeSlhP 
 clergy and the statesmen, only to subiecrtirwoHrt 
 to their management.-The minister^anS servants if 
 
 ne s U^^s [o nf' ?^' '•^^ '^' ^^'^'^ and whiL busi- 
 ness It 18 to preach salvation to a lost world bv a s\L 
 
 Wt'o LTf' ^f^™^''' «hedesp3wftE't^; 
 cenarL aid r« J' '' ^^ contempt, calling them mer- 
 cenanes and tradesmen, the church their idol and H.« 
 pulpit their shop, where they sold the word of God to 
 
 «v.. u . ^" ,^ honest servants would have trone tn 
 church with their master and mistress, she wouwTat- 
 ry them away into the fields, or to make Tome vSt 
 or other, ancl continually turn them off from what 
 
 rire Slip '"T'!""^ °*'^^'^^y «"d diverTion as 
 a more suitable work for the Sabbath-dav • and still 
 when she had brought them to break irfSponconscl 
 fouT'of 'iel ^iJi' r. *'' ^"•'^^-day, sl^'wouTfall 
 thl uLf'^^cJ^^ ^">''"S ^''e burden of rules upon 
 the bberties of the world ; and all she did or Sd w^ 
 
 In the e 
 walk in 
 upon the 
 aunt, wh 
 left off c 
 pIcHSed tc 
 gious, pro 
 hod been 
 
 I 
 
HIP. [PART in. 
 
 d : for though her 
 > 8ober, and <rood 
 )roken verv much 
 
 I one to ahotlier, 
 tween them that 
 
 :ele88, irreh'gious 
 
 ng the morals of 
 
 among thera? 
 place, she made f_ 
 
 II what was said | 
 y, that had any *■ 
 a ridk'ule, and 
 t looked like re 
 be a mere pifce 
 ved between the 
 ibject the world 
 
 and servants of 
 md whose busi 
 world, by agio- 
 spised with the 
 lling them mer- 
 eiridol, and the 
 word of God to 
 id blasphemous 
 Id have gone to 
 she would car 
 ake some visit 
 off from what 
 d diversion, as 
 •day ; and still 
 n upon consci- 
 8he would fall 
 of rules upon 
 lid or said was 
 
 ■ 
 
 269 
 
 MAt. II.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 staVVaKSn 'as'/J'sfta'? T^ ^^-^o^^^rJ 
 oradocturin theoloS- ''^"^n a philosopher 
 
 ml'; I'/f ""*« '*'« "O'-e dangerous, 
 ed^^^^r^she delighted i.^ r::^!^^::^^^^;^^ 
 anXr. "^'^ '""'^ '' '^ ^^^^ ^ood, let me tell you 
 
 ^^si^^?if:ffi%?^-^ 
 
 [she whispers her maid] servant waL tnL* T^"?".' 
 you. ■' "'"• ^^'^ to speak with 
 
 Aunt. She does so indeed • it io *« ««,ii . . 
 ner : well, we will talk againVt^fMs^f^^^^^^ us to din- 
 
 DIALOGUE II. 
 
 ''aik';"'rri',,tn'lL'"' ^."'-''' ^-^^^^ « 
 
 upon the «ame*8uS conversatln 
 
 aunt, which bPL.Vr. fi^^'w- "'*^ "'*^*''^ ^aid to her 
 
 pleased to sav, Tthe er d A''!. '"•^"""^» .^'u were 
 pous, profane wench 2^1^ '^f^ °^ "" ^"^ii- 
 
 W been troublej^ittth^yr" wodi ''[f 
 
 ®^->ry of another. ^ would tell mo a 
 
 if 
 
 m 
 
 I" Hi 
 
 rl 
 
 
 ■ii 
 
 
270 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PARTm. 
 
 Aunt. I did 80, child : it is of a family that live nt 
 [sJie points to a liouse that could be seen ov^t thl 
 prdenwaU] that house ju.t over tlmwayT^ 
 [ane. The people are Dissenters ; the Re " lewoman 
 
 "nS TJrT'\' ^«'*^?°"«>^'°«<i««rt'ofapS.iZT 
 also ^'^n*^. ''""'^'l '« « v*^7 grave, religious man 
 also, ri.ey endeavour to take servants of' their own 
 persuasion as much as they can; hut that is lome" 
 tin.es very difficult to do and 'she has indeeS had 
 
 as She told me herself, having occasion to hir»^ « 
 ma,d..ervant I forgot whether she wTa cook or t 
 chamber-maid, or what else, for they kept tiuee o? 
 iour: bu alter she had agreed in every thinrelse 
 sieTasof?"' "''' ^''''' ^^ '^ '^^ what";f4rn' 
 Aladam, says the maid blushing (for she looked 
 "'fv Sdh'''^ '''' '' " '*"''''^" ^ ^'^ "'^^ "^^^'^arid 
 Why, says the mistress. I hope you are a Pro- 
 testant; I do not mean whether%ol are a Papist 
 
 tesyant.^'"'^""' '*-^ ' ^''^^ "^'*^' ^ *^^"^ ' «"» » ^'O' 
 Nciy says the mistress, do you think so ? hut then, 
 loubt you (io not think much about it. ' 
 
 ^^.-i.f'o'^ '.""?'*/' ^ ''^'•'"*'^ •^«' A^^dara, says the 
 dlscours'^ "^ '""^ '^"'P^^ ""'-^ innocently it the 
 
 queltS ?^''* ^^P^^*'"^' ^* ™ay be, to be asked such 
 
 th^fTf^j.^J'' ^ ^""l-^"'® "?^5 ^■'''' ^''♦'y a»"e questions 
 t^jat I think none ot us ask so much as we should do 
 when we hire servants. """um uo 
 
 thft^tut'J^'^TV''^''^ themselves so much now, 
 
 that they would take it as out of the way to be askeJ 
 
 about these things. ^ ^ ^"^^ 
 
 Aunt. Well, if I have any servants, they shall all 
 
 DUL. I 
 
 be ask 
 
 they sli 
 
 JViee 
 
 possibh 
 
 Aunt 
 
 are hirt 
 
 are thej 
 
 reliuion, 
 
 three th 
 
 thought 
 
 them ub( 
 
 Aunt. 
 
 ^'iece. 
 
 Aunt. 
 
 had then 
 
 Niece. 
 
 confess. 
 
 Aunt. 
 
 be a good 
 
 'raustacl 
 
 so; but v» 
 
 such a on 
 
 vanf, as v 
 
 Niece. 
 
 that some 
 
 Dot good ! 
 
 upcii thos< 
 
 generally i 
 
 upon it, u 
 
 Claiming ti 
 
 affairs, wh 
 
 "gion, nor 
 
 Aunt. T 
 
 "'g you, at 
 
 Niece. I 
 
 Madam, go 
 
 Aunt, i 
 
flP. [PABTXXl. I DIAL. „.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 mily that live at 
 e seen over the 
 way, in the back 
 *ie gentlewoman 
 a person indeed ; 
 religious man 
 Its of tlieir own 
 t that is some- 
 has indeed had 
 is gentlewoman, 
 asion to hire a 
 vas a cook or a 
 ' kept three or 
 ery thing else, 
 ) what religion 
 
 Tor she looked 
 not understand 
 
 ou are a Pro- 
 1 are a Papist 
 
 k J am a Pro- 
 
 ; so ? hut then, 
 
 it. 
 
 iara, says the 
 
 ocently at the 
 
 be asked such 
 
 are questions 
 > we should do 
 
 '0 much now, 
 iy to be asked 
 
 they shall all 
 
 271 
 
 t^f te^^^^ them too. or 
 
 are Kdfto ^ll' ne wLT l^ '"^.!""' »'«'"«''« »hey 
 are they /ike to suLTt to hRI^'^ "l' ^f' '^ha? 
 relidon, or uny thing else ^ """^ *'""^^' *^0"' 
 
 thr^ertttrar^i'e^'.a^oTdilfi'^r ^''•^ '-0' 
 
 tiiought it very much out o?J ''"'^y^^'^^'^'and 
 then, about it ^ ""^ *^® '"^^ t^^ave me ask 
 
 Au,it. And werp tLl^' aV ^^^^ ^^^ of them, 
 had them ? *'' ^^'^ ^"^^ *'>'' any thing when you 
 
 con^r ^'^''^ '^'y '^eregoodfor very little, I must 
 
 belrood^ser^a^t^C-^^' '"'^^^'^ "'«' « '^^nch may 
 in,u«^acknowHieiU iut"vl" ^V^^ Christian; bu^ 
 »o; but when a S servant i^f'^^^"^^^^^ 
 8ueh a one is te? tim.« fv '* ^ ^^P*^ Christian too, 
 
 vant, as w'eS as fb^^'eTrelfgror ''''''''' ''' ^ — 
 
 thal^ZeVhiVar'gS'a ris?"* "'^* «^^" -« «-y. 
 not good servant7-^nav !h?rl'T' T "^^'^''thelefs 
 upca those we caU'rSin... r "* * ^'"^ <^^ scandal . 
 generally 8auc^ , reirv^d L?H '"^i'*'' l^'^' '^^y «*•« 
 upon it,\lwavs mSl Vnn^- J*^"^ themselves too 
 cmimingrinTesLd lihlril '^'*'''"' *'**' y»»; and 
 
 affairs, which l?ene her nro^"r ?brth"' ""' If ''^'«"^ 
 ligion, nor perhaps emDloJ^H ^ I *^^ ^"^^^ °* 'e- 
 
 "»g you, at least to^one par? o^" It ' "'""^ ^ ^^ '^"- 
 
 Majilmt/oorj^K.' ""^""^'^^^ '^ '^^-' ^y. 
 ^unt. I told you, the genUewoman, my neighbour, 
 
 n 
 
272 
 
 RELiaiOUS COURTSHIP. [pABTHI. I MAX.. xi 
 
 I . 
 
 
 asked the wench about her religion, and how modefltly 
 slie answered. However, her mistress put an end to 
 that kind of discourse, und said, Look ye, sweetheart, 
 I shall not catechise you too tar; the question is, 
 wliether you liuve been bred to the church, or to the 
 iueetin({-nouse ; for I tell you beforeliand, we are uU 
 Dissenters, and tro to the meeting. 
 
 Niece. That was too open ; she might have first 
 heard what the maid said of herself. 
 
 Aunt. No, no; she was willing to let her know 
 first, and see what answer she would give to it, not 
 doubting but that if she ^'ave an answer not founded 
 upon principle, she should find it out. 
 
 Niece. Weil, Madam, perhaps she would be any 
 thing to get a good place. 
 
 Aunt. As to that, she made herself judge of it from 
 her answer, which was very honest indeed, though | 
 not to her mistress's satisfaction at all. 
 
 Niece. Why, Madam, if it was honest, why should] 
 it not satisfy her mistress ? 
 
 Aunt. 'Twas an answer, \\ hich discovered the un- 
 happy consequences of divided families, and shows! 
 much of the necessity of what we have liad somanyl 
 dialogues about, in the case of yourself and your| 
 sisters. 
 
 Niece. What, about husbands and wives being of| 
 the same opinion, Madam? 
 
 Aunt. Yes ; she told her mistress, that her father! 
 went to the meeting, and her mother went to tbe| 
 church. 
 
 Niece. What was that to the question, of what re-j 
 ligion or opinion she was? 
 
 Aunt. Yes, my dear, she asked her what she was[ 
 bred to, and it was a proper answer. 
 
 Niece. Tiiat's true ; and so between both, I suppose| 
 she was bred to be indifferent to either. 
 
 Aunt. No, my dear, 'twas worse than that; andl 
 her mistress took it immediately; for she turned! 
 
[p. [PABTHI. I MAI. u.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 d liow modestly 
 s put an end to 
 ye, sweetheart, 
 the question is, 
 lurch, or to the 
 lund, we are ull 
 
 light have first 
 
 J let her know 
 1 give to it, not 
 ver not founded 
 
 ! would be any 
 
 judtreof it from 
 indeed, though 
 
 est, why should 
 
 covered the un- 
 ties, and shows 
 Lve had so many 
 irself and your 
 
 wives being of 
 
 that her father 
 ler went to the 
 
 Lion, of what re- 
 
 ;r what she was 
 
 both, I suppose, 
 er. 
 
 than that; and 
 for she turned! 
 
 273 
 
 .Cfl.e',"l* „r " '■■'; rrt- .»."i-. •-'■■ear. 
 
 ppos.'you were bred between th 
 
 em, and 
 
 go neither to orie nof t'other" 
 
 And sometimes ,„ „,i,i,„, gajs ,|,e mistress 
 4'l.e '" """ """"" -™ "-""■■ P™pw" Madmn, 
 
 »oTt:.ree Sut'li''"'"' '"^^ "^ """« ' "« '"ey could 
 
 and so took l,er i„to tl,e l.oSse ^ "" ""'"'"'•'' 
 did^hep™,"' ''"'^' *"""""' ""at came of it 7 h„„ 
 
 fij 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 Tim 
 
 ■• r' 
 
 Ui 
 
 i^ 
 
 III 
 
274 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PARTIII. 
 
 house of hf.r, and asked her, if she had said that she 
 did not ik.' -oitiu to the meetin-, but had rather ko 
 to the church ; and she said, timt indeed she did sav 
 so, but she meant nothing of harm. 
 
 Well, says her mistress, I never desire to offer vio- 
 lence to any servant's conscience ; if you had rather 
 go to church, you shall ^'o to church, though vou 
 know what you said to me when I hired you, that vou 
 were very willing to go to the meeting. 
 
 That was very true, she said, and she had not said 
 otherwise now ; but she said only, that she had rather 
 go to church : however, if she pleased, she would 
 stay at home. ' 
 
 No, no, says the mistress, ril have no stayinjr at 
 home; I will have all my servants go to the public 
 worship of God somewhere ; staying at home mar he 
 as much mis-spending the Sabbath-day, as eoius 
 abroad for pleasure: therefore go to church, Bettv 
 says her mistress, by all means ; I am not so much' 
 agamst goinu' to church, as to think that they do not 
 serve and worship God there. By all means, if you 
 do not care to go to the meeting, go to church ; 'tis 
 certainly your duty to go somewhere, and mine to 
 oblige you to it. 
 
 Niece. Tlmt was spoken like a woman of very good 
 principles. ^ * 
 
 Aunt. She is a very good sort of a person, I assure 
 you, and generally governs herself upon good princi- 
 ples, principles of justice and of charity, which is a 
 gre It part of religion. ^ 
 
 Niece. Well, pray what followed ? 
 
 Aunt. Why she went to church, as she said, but in 
 a little while her mistress began to suspect her ; and 
 once or twice she betrayed herself, and discovered 
 among the servants that she had been rambling about, 
 and had not been at church at all. Upon this sus- 
 picion, her mistress told heroneday very calmlv, that 
 sbe had some reason to suspect, that her saying she 
 
HIP. [PARTIIJ. i nT*T TTi 
 
 I DIAL n.] UELIOIOUS COURTSHIP 
 
 hnr? oot/1 4Vin« >1.- (3 . * 
 
 ' (I 
 
 hnd said that sbe 
 t>ut had rather go 
 ideed she did say 
 
 lesire to offer vio- 
 if you had rather 
 rch, though you 
 ired you, that you 
 
 hig. 
 
 1 she had not said 
 lat she had rather 
 eased, she would 
 
 ve DO staying at 
 go to the public 
 ; at home ma/ be 
 h-day, as going 
 o church, Betty, 
 am not so much 
 that they do not 
 ill means, if you 
 to church ; 'tis 
 re, and mine to I 
 
 man of very good j 
 
 person, I assure 
 pon good princi- 
 irity, which is a 
 
 I 
 
 3 she said, but in 
 aspect her; and 
 
 and discovered 
 rambling about, 
 
 Upon this SU9- 
 ery calmly, that 
 t her saying she 
 
 276 
 bad rather go to church than *^ ♦u 
 a sincere diflike, or approvTn^ of^H^ ^^""^^^ 
 
 of the other, but really a nrnil.^n-r ""^ '""•"« ^''^n 
 the liberty of spendirt)rSh«HT '''""' '" ''^^^ 
 that is toiay, i'Wunn^g abo^f t Hel^i? '"^'''V 
 fend to do when she w-as ar i.n.» . ^ *'^*'" •'*"f- 
 
 and mother. ^ ^' ^'*^'"« ^^'^h her father 
 
 She replied with some confidence thnfSn^. i •. 
 not so, and began to be mnr»^!. -f' ^"^t '"^^ed it was 
 
 ing been at church than h^r m '^ '*'? '*^*'"* ''^r hav- 
 be, because s^e k„^w ',7eTl ,T^''r^'^'''^«''«"'d 
 However, she ran on ami to di l '"' ''''^^' ^«' *'«'««• 
 knew to be so ; an^iS 0?^,^. 'V'^'^ T*""^^' «''« 
 
 church, because she E'tot/vern^^^ *" '"^ *« 
 better than the other So hprrn?* •'^,'" *''«* ^^''v, 
 that time, and she went toch,,rpT*'"''' '"'. ''r'' ^^^ 
 say we,.t j.ere .Ue ^leaSff^lt^erJ' ^'"^ '^ '^ 
 
 nof e^o^l^ ; rnn^e^Tlrf "^^'^ ' -'^ -"'^ 
 lor her pleasure, w"h so npJf '. '^''' ^T^ rambling 
 vants, m'en and m^ 5s to'lethfr forT^'l'r "'"'''^ ^^^'•- 
 had got a gang like herself L -^ ^'"* '""^ »''e 
 road about\ mile from the town f "1^ '^ 'f««s the 
 spending the Sabbatnav on ToJL k/, .'f" 'T '''' 
 spending it on foot I mean in^f *'^' "^^ '^^'^ ^^a* 
 up at tlfat rni„ute^ isTorse "t? t^d^a?;'"'";;'^^ j"«^ 
 know not at what,' and giving .nrin. f "*^t'"/'^'' I 
 against the poor wench be ^t ,^.' '"'J'"'^' '■^» 
 tin. off a little farther a^^^^^^ ^"'^ ^''^ew 
 
 ^wi-^iittri^riSB? 
 
I 
 
 576 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [paktiii. 
 
 Aunt. Ay, so there was ; for the neighbour's ser- 
 vants that were with her, owned where they had 
 been, and with whom ; and told Jionestly that they 
 Iiud been at a cake house to be merry. 
 
 Niece. It was no crime perhaps in the families 
 where they lived. 
 
 Aunt. No, none at all; or at least no notice was 
 taken ot it, especially since tliey were only with neigh- 
 bours, and, as they called it, were in no bad com- 
 pany. 
 
 Niece. But what did she do with her maid ? 
 Aunt. Why her maid was the same : she was sor- 
 ry for a while, and pretended she would never o-o a- 
 broad for pleasure again on a Subbath-day. But"that 
 held but a little while ; she was the same again a 
 little while alter; so her mistress resolved to part 
 with her, for she two or three times enticed the other 
 servants to go abroad with her, and still when they 
 Had been missed, the answer was, thev went to church 
 with Betty ; and then if Bettv was asked, she would 
 he very readily too, and say Ves. At last this came 
 out too, and Betty was called to an account for it, and 
 when she could deny it no longer, then she would own 
 It, but promised to alter it, and do so no more. At 
 length her mistress, who was in a little strait still, and 
 loath to put anv force upon the wench about going to 
 the meeting, told her she would not bear these things, 
 and ^'ave her warning. * * 
 
 JViece. It vyas time to part with her, when she 
 found she spoiled the rest of the servants. 
 
 Aunt. Well, but the wench, very loath to leave a 
 good place, came to her mistress, and begged her to 
 let her stay, and she would go to the meeting, and 
 then she would be sure she did not ramble any more 
 on the Sabbath-day. ^ 
 
 Niece. So that 'twas plain she would serve God 
 any way for a good place ; and that was what I said 
 of her as soon as 1 heard her first answer. 
 
 Aunt 
 
 eiple sti 
 
 you dec 
 
 to churc 
 
 that you 
 
 have ail) 
 
 me ; if j 
 
 meeting, 
 
 been so h 
 
 to churcl 
 
 Jnanner, 
 
 should pi 
 
 may serv 
 
 way ; but 
 
 hke, 'tis 
 
 'tis plain 
 
 you cunnc 
 
 not like. 
 
 Niece, i 
 
 I ignorant w 
 
 stand ; sh( 
 
 for 'twas n 
 
 Aunt. V 
 
 Niece. 1 
 
 Aunt. V 
 
 lye. Betty, , 
 
 iionestlv, a 
 
 you do not, 
 
 [abroad and 
 
 thi wasall 
 
 l}"' .vent, 
 
 wijj me ; n 
 
 Ul'e church, 
 
 ^od, and no 
 
 ^H' Ay, b 
 wfied ot*^ th( 
 'er word to 
 'ecause she 
 
IP. [PAKTIII. 
 
 leighbour's ser- 
 ivhere they had 
 lestly that they 
 
 t 
 
 in the families 
 
 !; no notice was 
 jnly with neigh- 
 in no bud com- 
 er maid ? 
 e : ahe was sor- 
 iild never go a- 
 -day. But that 
 a same again a 
 esolved to part 
 nticed theotiier 
 still when they 
 
 went to church 
 ked, she would 
 : last this came 
 ount for it, and 
 she would own 
 a no more. At 
 (Strait still, and 
 
 about going to 
 ar these things, 
 
 her, when she 
 nts. 
 
 oath to leave a 
 
 begged her to 
 
 i meeting, and 
 
 nble any more 
 
 uld serve God j 
 as what I said 
 ver. 
 
 "*t. n.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 - 277 
 
 ciple^"tiil,^an?s"e"JShr.^VP^^ "-t»^- Pnn- 
 you declared in the hou.^ ^h^?^ 
 to church ; that vou d dTot I kftf^"" "'^'^ ^^ ^« 
 that you had rather go to church N ""'"Z'"^' «"J 
 have any b(,dy forced from i'n^'-Vn ^""'v' '"'" "^^ 
 •ne ; if you had been one tlfat wllV^^f ''' ^^ P'^««e 
 raeeting, I had been be ter nil i^'^*^ ^'^ S^° ^« the 
 been so brought up myself. fc-' ^''T*' ^ ''«^e 
 to church, because youTike to L. ^7 '^'"''"'^ *« ^o 
 'nanner, better thai n the wav 7' ^"/.' l*"'*^'' »''«* 
 should put any force upon vou Mr^?"'^ ^'""'^'-'^ I 
 "'ay serve and worship God ";^*^""^' "«* ^"^voa 
 «:ay ; but if you go to U.e meli2,^?P!"'*'>'' «'^''^r 
 ;ke, ti. only to keep vouVnlaip^;,^^''.''' y^"" ''« ""t 
 't's plain to me you win worshin r^ ."'' >'"." '^'^ ^'^e, 
 you cannot be said to woS V-^ V*^ "° '^^'*''^ > for 
 not like. worship God m a way you do 
 
 ignSft we'nclr1rlrngtl^*il'';'v^".^ *«'^«^ to an 
 ;tar.d ; she might e'eK?e,eftr''' ^*^ ""^^ ""de--- 
 
 for 'twas nlain'she would eVve Go/"""' "'"^ '"'"'" = 
 ^?///^ VVell shp ant^A t """ "° where. 
 
 ^iece. But what d/dlh" "'" Pr^'PJe^ however. 
 , Aunt. Whv, she rnalle he? « """^ '^'"^ ™«'d then 
 ye. Betty, says' her mis ress i?vn '' PTpP^^^'' ^^^ok 
 honestly, and satis?; ,^et/.ft^v^^^^^^^ ^'^ '° ^''"'•^h 
 youdonot, under a pretence o♦•^^•'^^'^""'^ that 
 abroad and spend your ? me idl! ^^^'.^ church, go 
 tbv was ail the reason why at ^rLtllf h' '"^'^ ' ^°' 
 y ' ' .vent, and told yon I Ll!, a y'''' ""^'^^^ 
 Jwuhme; not that I «,?. a ^'^P^'^'^d you should eo 
 
 B^ church, but becau'p w/"'' ^7 ^^'^f' ff«'"t' ?o 
 pod, and not ram'b^:Xoad ' Be/t'^ ^^'^"''^ ^^''-e 
 ply- Ay, but savs her m^!?; t"^ promised hear- 
 t«fied of the performanc^v' «T/ ^^^ *^'°"'d I be sa- 
 ber word to bftaken for il • k^I^ f ^""'^ ''^'•'^ to have 
 
 ''^causeshe had hr'tn her - "' '*'"! ^"""'^ "°t do^ 
 _-_K.n ner p.oinjs.- before, and had 
 
 I 
 
 11 
 
 >'? 
 
 ii 
 
 lis 
 
 i - 4 
 
IT 
 
 278 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PARTIIZ. 
 
 told Rome lies too about the other servanta eo'ma to 
 church with her, as above. Well, Betty, gays her 
 iniHtress, I'll put you in a way to satisfy me effectu- 
 ally : you know the clerk of the parish lives just by, j 
 and in your way to the church ; his wife is a very 
 good, sober woman, and I know never fuils of going 
 to ciiurch, if she be well. Now, if you will go every 
 Sunday with her, I'll answer for It, that if you are 
 not there she will be true to me, and so kind to you, I 
 as to tell nie of it; and this shall satisfy me. 
 
 Niece If tlie clerk's wife was so faithful to be trust- 
 ed, it was ri^'ht : but that was a doubtful thing ; fori 
 slie would be loatli, I reckon, to ruin the poor wench 
 for failing now and then. 
 
 Aunt. Well, the short of the story was this ; Bettyl 
 was Betty still : an ill habU and want of principle leil I 
 her away'; she seldom carae to church, and the clcrk'sl 
 wife would lie for her, ami so at last her mistress turn-l 
 ed her away : and thus I think all servants, men and| 
 maids, siiould be served, would the masters and mis- 
 tresses do their duty : and, if this was universally! 
 practised, servants would serve God and their rui9-| 
 tresses too, better than they do. 
 
 Niece. "They would so indeed, and for want of itj 
 they serve neitlier God nor their mistress. Tis al 
 want of a religious regard tc tlie well-ordering of ser*[ 
 vants, that nuikes tliein as they are. 
 
 Aunt. Well, but I have another story to tell you^ 
 of the same gentlewoman : for after this she took 
 servant that she thought must necessarily be religi- 
 ous ; for she was bred to the meetii.g from her infan-j 
 cy : but she told her where she used to go, and capi] 
 tulated for liberty to go to the same meeting stilli 
 This her mistress readily consented to, not doubtind 
 but that one that was under such obligations, wouiJ 
 certainly be careful to do her duty ; and when she menj 
 tioned to the maid that she was very readv to yield ttj 
 her going where she went, that she only desired to i 
 
HIP. [MUTIII. I M*"-"-! RBLI0I0U8 COUBTSBIP, S!79 
 
 £.M?,r i!.T.;\v i'S txir^ .fat 
 
 heSd."''"' *"•"""■ """■ ' "»"« •'■' '■«■> one t. 
 
 Aunt. At the same time her husband limi a .«»« 
 servant, who was a very religfou Sevout dlow ??H 
 
 .J » l_thou<(ht you said they insiv ,,1 on th«li> 
 •ervants gomg to worship God where they did 
 
 Awit. I told you thev dHfiippH ■» k..» ^*i ; .. 
 chiefly that the/ mi^ 'uTe' to'have otlv J^J* 
 vants; and that they did observe th^ W^i^^ ^^1 
 worshipped God i.. some Xlor ^.^r n*?' ^"'* 
 8pondi,|g the Sabbath ; oU.e?IvT. they tS pellTs of 
 
 te^t^nVefdilrrrJr ^'''^^^^ te^P-^Sro^' 
 th^'prove^'"' ^"' '" '•'^'""^ *° ^J^* ««'^«nt8, how did 
 Aunt. Only the worst that ever were hpurH «f 
 Mece. What! both .,f them ^ ^"** °^- 
 
 ^Mw^ Ay, ay, both of them. The wench was saii 
 cy, rigid, censorious; took upon her to find fauh 5h«; 
 her master and mistress, who were cheerfnl «r n'^i^ 
 tempered people, were not seriou ent^th she wfuld 
 
 ot come mto their family worship. beSe -L T«^H 
 't« sorrily performed, and she diS'not like it when' 
 
 ?t Crw7cket?ni?ft '"^ 'r ''' «»'« didVJlike 
 » 'j 1 J wicKed, and it was loose and eYtrnvattur^t 
 and had too much luxury in it, and the like '^^'' 
 J^ce. She should have be^n mistress;* and not 
 
 Aunt, Her mistress told her «o indeed on« H«v 
 
280 
 
 BKLIQIOUS COURTSHIP. [PARTm. 
 
 when overhearinpr gome of her talk by an accident 
 she called her to her, and speaking sometliinL' an^rrilv 
 to her, Jane, says she, answer rae one question, What 
 did I hire you for? Jane was a little surprised at 
 first, not understanding the question, and said nothiuL' 
 till her mistress repeated the question by way of ex- 
 planation thus ; Jane, pray, did I hire you to do my 
 work and to be my servant ? ^ 
 
 Yes, Madam, says Jane. 
 
 Well then, says her mistress, pray do your busi- 
 ness, and behave like a servant, as becomes you, or 
 remove and provide yourself; and when I want a 
 echool-mistress to teacli me how to behave in mv 
 ramily, I'll send for you. ^ 
 
 Niece. That was ri-ht : that was acting like a mis- 
 tress ; pray, what said Jane to it ? 
 
 ^uw<. She was confounded, and struck dumb at 
 nrst ; but her r..istres9 explained it to her afterwards 
 
 mece. But pray what was she for a servant "> ' 
 
 ■laff^^f ■ ? "• * """f ^extraordinary accomplislied 
 s attern and a surly, heavy, unmannerly creature, 
 tbat looked always as if she tliought herself fitter to 
 be mistress, than her that was so; did everv thing 
 with reluctance, awkward and disrespectful, and vet 
 wi ful and above being taught, dull to the last degree, 
 out scorned reproof. ^ * 
 
 i\W Certainly, she had more of the pretence to 
 religion than ot the reality ; for Christianity teaches 
 us to fill up every relative duty with equal exact- 
 ness, and with a suitable diligence and aoplication. 
 ^wn^. Why, to bring my story to a point, she had 
 the outside of religion only: whether she took it uo 
 with a design to deceive, or whether she deceived 
 herself, and fell from what she at first professed, I 
 know not, but she fell quite off from religion itself 
 at last; and addmg to that some follies which I 
 choose to say nothing of, my good neighbour turned 
 her off, and got rid of her. 
 
[PAUXm. I BIAl.!,.) RBLIGIOU8 COURTSHIP. 281 
 
 -4i<w^ She was so, and I told hpr nf it" k ; ' u 
 answered me with a «nv,nA,j ■ i iL '* * ^^^ s^e 
 use of before m d th«rw f.,"'^ ^ ■^*'^^ °^»e" ""^de 
 
 -4m«^ I was telliiiff your sister >ioi» « i„^ i. 
 my acquaintance was cheate. wi^h ? * ^^^^ ^^ 
 servants. cneated with two religious 
 
 •^ec. tiiece. I heard the laaf n-irf . ^^a u 
 nice one indeed. ^ '' *"^ *h® was a 
 
 haw ^ • ' ''"'" "'^^ *°^^ ^«" «°« J'^lf of her be- 
 
 ^ec. niece. Well, but Madam, how did it f p wifh 
 
 !.r." w7""' • ''"^ ♦^'d he behave ? *^ '"'^^ 
 
 I thmk, once or twice came home drunk ' ' 
 
 IJ^^hnon,"^'"^''"'^" »' tl™e,Lt make' 
 Sot at S tV wiV Jilt r '"'"'"' V" »"« 
 
 ,,..^„ ,„„^ j,„ yur servauis aiiall be sainta, 
 
 Hi 
 
 te.' 
 11"? <|j 
 
 'll 
 
1 
 
 \l 
 
 282 RELIQIOUa COURTSHIP. [PABTm. 
 
 when they are what we call religious : all people 
 have failings ; religion does not always change natu- 
 ral tempers. ^ 
 
 Sec. niece. But we should expect they should be 
 Christians and servants too. Religion never takes 
 away good manners, or privileges servants from ob- 
 serving the due space which nature hath put between 
 the person to be served, and the person serving 
 
 First niece. The great tiling I insist upon taking 
 religious servants for is, that they may be examples m 
 a tamily, ot sobriety, quietness, submission, diligence 
 and seriousness, to tlieir fellow-servants: that thev 
 may be encouragers, not hinderers of God's worshio 
 m the house, that the whole family may cheerfully 
 imite in serving God, and in all religious rules and 
 orders ; that if an ignorant and untaught creature is 
 taken into the house, they may be instructed and led 
 by the hand into the proper duties of a Christian: 
 that all the house may be a class of Christians, doinff 
 their duty m their respective places, both from a 
 principle of justice and charity. 
 
 Aunt. But 'tis very rare niece, to find what you 
 speak of. ^ 
 
 First niece. It is so, Madam; but then, since it is 
 not probable we should always find such, all that I 
 insist on m the meantime is, that we should take 
 care, as near as possible, to take those who are well 
 inclined, and well educated : not enemies to all re- 
 ligion, nor such as make a mock of worshippin" their 
 Maker, or observing his rules ; such I would not en- 
 tertain at all, on any account whatsoever ; they would 
 be a continual offence in a sober family. 
 
 Sec. niece. But there are some that may be in the 
 middle way, no enemies to religion, not mockers at 
 all of sober things, and yet not much stored with 
 serious thoughts, not void of principle, nor void of 
 modesty. 
 
 Aunt. Why, it is true, there are some such, and I 
 
 H t«r 
 
IIP. [PARTZII. 
 
 me Much, and I 
 
 PXA4.II.J RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. gQS 
 
 np«Tn^ k' u *''"^,' *^^^ '^^y ^^"'ays discover a cold- 
 ness and backwardness to every good thin^ and ip 
 
 oiner but good manners restrain them a little 
 conTess"'"'''"^ '^' ^^"''^^' ^ '^^ "°' "^e such," I 
 
 Sec. niece. But thev uiay be better hnma «,.*i 
 Madam, than the first sort/ *"'™® '"'*''» 
 
 ^WMf. Well, but your sister here is so far from 
 approvmg that sort, that, even if they were seriousl? 
 religious she would not entertain the,n,1f they were 
 of a different opinion ; she is of the same Uh- 
 with a cook, that I told you the story of, that all 
 differing opinions in religion, will, in such crea 
 t-ires as these, despise and contemn'those U mt Sr 
 arther.'"'' '"^ ''''''' ^'^'^ ^' "^^^^ ^ J^«t of one 
 Sec. niece. My sister, it maybe, is grown ri^ridthpf 
 
 to her husband and herself: but in carryin'irso 
 far, then, she will make it always imwrble to 
 ot7eir. '"^"'^^ ^' all, butsuch^s'wWng up 
 
 in t*^*'.;"'«^^- I< « no matter for that, I am positive 
 Jn It, with respect to a family's peace and thp .«r 
 mony of religious worship ij any famUv i ii «n 
 destroyed and lost by tho.'e little JiSfes /as bSff 
 as there are servants to be had, ^nd if I could na? 
 
 foS'n^ T"^^ "^'""«^ «^« *'""dred ervants tiK 
 <ound one to my purpose ; nor should any fitness for 
 
 P evaTS'J^irv^'^^^r^^ °/*'"™"'^' in a servant' 
 JrfS T *\"*® *° *^®®P ''e^' if she wanted the main 
 
 ?:!'!ill'* '•^''g'^n* and the same opinion of SoS 
 iw vfiiu my own. ~ — 'c"»- 
 
 i 
 
284 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PAETIir. 
 
 Aunt. I Hm afraU], child, you would chano-« fi„« 
 
 hundred indeed then, before /ou wou?d be S ^''^ 
 
 First niece. Why, Madam I hope I am not o "such 
 
 ?oZPJ;;"''P'"' ""^' 7"*''^"«' tfat nobody cin be 
 tound of those opirnons but me. ^ 
 
 Aunt. No, my dear : but servants have rarelv anv 
 notion of those thin-s, or enter far into them ^ ^ 
 First niece. Well, Madam, I would ,nure it for 
 I would no more entertain those who diffred tVom 
 my opinion m reliirion, than I would entertah/t os^ 
 that had none at all ■ for the difference in op "ion in 
 theX;.'"' ""' "'^'^'"'^^■^ ^" '' -"'^tiniirthan 
 Aunt. I grant it would be very well to havp a^r 
 vants of the same opinion in religion wih ourselves T 
 but it cannot be always so; the first and S point 
 that I have made my rule, has been, to haveserZ s 
 tha are religiously inclined in geneml, and that are 
 wilhng to be instructed ; these, hav ncr a modest 
 8ober behaviour in the main, are more ealil? brmth/ 
 tKerThSl^ >-ith religious things in the Slv '^g^'' 
 tier they are the same way that they were first n- 
 chned to, ornot : such as these are often brought bv 
 
 rtiroTriaje^s!'^ ^-"^^ ^° '^ ^' ^'^ -- o^i?.^ 
 
 recommend the profession we make of religion by a 
 good example : for servants are not likely to turn to 
 ouropm.on, or embrace with us the part which we 
 take m religion when they see us not practTsk. j the 
 things we pretend to teach, and not winning »"em to 
 our opinion by a conversation becoming religion 
 Aunt. It 18 very true, niece ; and would masters 
 
 fniZTT' ^''? "^«" **'«'^ ^"'"ds a sense of whal 
 hni T"* 'heir conduct may have upon their servants • 
 how they may be the means of bringing them to a 
 flenoua tmbracmg of religion, or to a gfeater levUy 
 
IP. [PAETXir. J *^^ "0 RELIGIOUS COUKTSHIP. 286 
 
 anfl indifference, than it may be they had before r« 
 they see a pod or ill e:.araple in those they 86%? 
 we should have much better masters and miltressea 
 than we have, and more religious servants Z '' 
 First niece. That's very true, and it were to hp 
 Wished It were well observed, 'fiut sincTit is not 
 
 Jirwrs'horr 1^'^°"^'^^ '^ *«. ^^^"^'"on'r^asining 
 tnat we should take servants of any orinpinlpa nr 
 
 xr "' '"''"'"'"' ""' ""=" »» *« f'SoZ 
 
 Aunt. If it can be avoided. 
 ^./Jtr*^ 7iiece. Certainly it may be avoided if we 
 
 Sec. niece. You would except such as, beins icrnn 
 rant and untaught, profess themselves «^ hr't to Se 
 mto rehgious families that they mav be guided n^n 
 good thn.gs by teaching and exampfe. ^ 
 
 J^irstmece. Yes, I do exceptsuch : forsuch are to 
 be mouded this way or that, as providence casS 
 them Hjto religious or irreligious families. ^ 
 
 Aunt. We agn e in that part exactly : and indeed 
 were I to choose, I would rather take k servant wlul 
 
 Jut'^^''^'^' '/"^^^'f ' ^'*^^™» ^ a™ positive in that 
 tZ.JjT!''^ ^"^ *'°'" '^ ' I ^o"ld not take on" 
 J^^oo ^^'^"^ *'"'" ""^ "' «P''»o" in religion by anv 
 means; no, upon no account at all- it s attendpJ 
 with nothing but confusion in the am ly I would 
 almost as soon take a loose, profane wench ?hat 
 owned no religion at all : I hLvle'seen so much of Tt 
 and found such inconveniences in haviuL' re i^L.,« 
 quarre s and differences i„ the family ZStt^^a?! 
 think 'tis insufferable: I told you he sUy of oJ 
 
 r/antTpanif T,'^ turn Christian. WcLd one 
 servant a Papist, and he would have the boy a Romaa 
 
 I 
 ( 
 
 :.^ ] 
 
 ■I 
 
286 RKLIOIOU8 COURTSHIP. fp^„„, 
 
 he would damned ifhrwIsthi^^T.V'''" ^^'^ ^im 
 him lie would be da nnpd if hi' ^'"^ 'l« ^t''^''' told 
 and 80 of tlie rest so that /hp '^'' k''^'^^'" «'' ^hern, 
 gi^er^ted a.ong'tre^^rVSi^-Vl:-i 
 
 hgion, and timt many ways °'''*'^«*'"" »<> ^mily re- 
 
 6'ec. «i>ce. Were there a Qnir.* „<• 
 always to be foundVSrer.i^P^*''^^"^<^harity 
 pearanceof relitrion It wn!.iir ^"' **" outward ap- 
 that is not thSe;?„TSrs'i':'^"ii^"^'^^'-^^^^ bSt 
 what was the case in your n^?hbo '^"ff "?, ^''*^^™» 
 the religious servants, I mem«nn • ^T'^y^ "'here 
 
 note, that reUg^n do« n. *T''"''' »"" "I*" to 
 8.!rvant. '' ""''' "»' "'""ys make a good 
 
 _ ^«^nj. Butitisnotalv^lso aJdil ""^f'''"^' 
 I would not take a servarif f L?' ^ therefore I say 
 religiously inclined; so I S'on^f^^,^'"^^^ o^ 
 
 for tl-^ sake ofthei; bein- serions^^'nW r ^""^'^ "«* 
 clmed, take a bad serv in% . r .*"^ religiously in- 
 ways qualify a servant '' ^""^ '^^'Sion does not al- 
 
 themV?d1;umour^d''Snr"^'°" ^^^ -^ ™ake 
 -nnefly, and"Z"^Sl'efir:^^rS£^n.^^^^^ 
 
^IP. rPABTm. I DIAL, no RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 287 
 
 and honest, that is inseparable ; but there is manv « 
 good Christian tiuit makes a hud servant ^ " 
 
 8hm,Td L^r"' •fu'^iru''*'™*' °*" *''«'" ^-^Pect that we 
 itiois '"^^ ^" '''^ '"'*' ^'^'* '^h^t they call re! 
 
 neUher. '**'''^* ^""^ ^^'^^^' "^ "°* «° «* bottom 
 
 wit"'*i;H^?.' *^^* '°''* "^^ ^^'^ are generally other- 
 wise, and put on an appearance of religion on Ivtn 
 
 a P^r' S'^^l"^^!^^^ the more dexterousl|,Snd these 
 
 Jl ^ ' ^"i^''^'"^ """^ «'"»« ot the other too. 
 I thlni.''*^' ^P °"^ ""^.'''^ ^o""** part* of a h vpocrite 
 the'i:? ::i^?n.^'"'^ '^ ^^^^^ « ^--« ^"^ ^^ 
 
 ve^r'' ^"' ^ ^*""^* **^' *^*' *' " «°o"«8t disco- 
 
 ntw'r *^^?- '^™"y '"deed be sooner discovered than 
 other disguises, because the levity is apt to break ont 
 at proper intervals, in spite of the utmost caufion- 
 
 ve y t ™oo t?:.' r °''"' ''^"^ «^«^' -hen 'tCS c": 
 very s too late to prevent it: and therefore iinnn 
 
 at' w?'' '^'"'V' * ^'•'^^^ '•'^»' '" takS servants 
 other. "■' ""* '"'^ '^^^ "'^^"'■^d of, one way o^ 
 
 ind^'S^r'en J7„%h^s" case°^' ^°" ''^ "°^ ^^°"^ ^^ ^-"^- 
 a SicauSe.''"' "'' '^''^ ^''' ^■'•^'" '^ = ^"^ ^ «-» 'tis 
 
 «n& '*'^''^- ^^* '^ be as critical as it will, 'ti, ab- 
 solutely necessary to be taken care of, if we wilave 
 religious servants. 'Tis a sad thin^ to l^ve the mas! 
 ter and mistress praying in onepartof the house and 
 the uen and maids swearing or railing lauS/or 
 jeering, in another part of it. Next to ha&t?' 
 
 Sons'?' 'rVT '•«>'^'--' it rs'esseSV'a 
 religious family to have the servants reii^'ious too 
 i>ec. mece. U it he possible to find Sldi? ^°*'- 
 
 '! I 
 
 ii 
 
 'If 
 
 f 
 
 Li 
 
288 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [PARTlll. 
 
 m^A^V''''' '^^^y ""'' ^« f°""d religious or be 
 
 sertant'''Tsv3i'finH'tr^"' ^?'^ *° "^^ ™o»Jd a 
 M^!» V.i ^"" """ *''^"'' yo" Jiave them ffenerflllv 
 
 Ba^ t IV t ?.?"°f !.'y ? ' ^ "'" ^^""kful l.at I can 
 Bay, uiat I have iiad a loose wipkp*l i....z.i,™- 
 
 va,u or two who, by t. Jj :^^r'^a 7 S^K" 
 llgious ""'"»'" " "' "--y '«ri»u,"Ld ve^y™: 
 
 6Vc. niece. Thien they have thanlcpd On^ f/,- 
 bettering them by your inatniction. ^ ^""^ y^"' 
 
 ^"r/* ^'^ ^^|,y ''"!«' ^ "ssure you, niece. 
 
 i**?**^ mece. But they were oriyiimllv nf o .i-.-m 
 tractable temper then, which Krvr.r.-^''''^' 
 Bomnts. But, Mada.n, allow vou Zirfake thS 
 task upon you, and your application had suc-ce/s vf, 
 would not expect that every mistress lik^v on «L' 7 
 setup for an instructoroftUlTvl'nt''^'"'''"^^ 
 ^WM^ JVo, no ; but it is not so hopeless a thincr 
 however, us you imagine ; for if a girUias anv ,nn ' 
 des y, she cannot but listen a while trthetstrUio" 
 ol those that wish her so well, and that have so HH^ 
 obligation upon them to do it ^'*'° 
 
 ihft?^ '"f''^- ^i'^' *^*^a™' an untaught wench 
 that s„.odest and willing to be instructed I tlkTas 
 
 Je taken Sj'v^'"'"""^ '^ "4'"ber tha't are fit' r^ 
 
 wipL-herVng?ou7aTo''.^^ ^^ "^ "^'^^-« ^"-'V 
 
 ,,nnn""''-^^^' '?^*'"' yo** touch us all thcrc, and that 
 
 SecauseXH"' '''V i'"'"^' be confessed, St k I 
 
 we^o l^ r i-*-^ '° ^^"^ '^^'''""^ ^'^•""ies, tlmt there 
 It^ *ew religious servants. 
 
■p. [part HI. 
 
 religious or be 
 
 new mould a 
 them crenerally. 
 capable enough 
 traction. 
 
 kful tliat I can 
 irreligious ser- 
 liiiB witli tliem, 
 8 and very re- 
 
 1 God for your 
 
 niece. 
 
 Ily of a docile, 
 y rare among 
 )ulcl take that 
 «1 success, you 
 like you sho'uid 
 
 t8. 
 
 •eless a thing, 
 lias any mo- 
 he instruction 
 have so lit tie 
 
 luffht wench, 
 ed, I take, as 
 ciiat are fit to 
 igious family 
 
 Jre, and that 
 ised, that it is 
 es, that there 
 
 , on the other 
 rvants, are a 
 gious family. 
 
 DIAt. I I.J 
 
 RELIGIOOS COURTSHIP. 
 
 289 
 
 F""" them of their eooH hphl^ ■"' "'^ «rtiHcato 
 ."^.hem ,vh.t we'^.Ta^toi'JS?;/"""'" ""■ 
 
 requires that of us "*'^° ^'^ 'o^bed us ; the law 
 
 A^z r I'sSiSeT; '•■' -"«-"' 
 
 mi"<i, lor being a mohnJ^lLtu ■ "'^"' <""«'"<:l> " 
 breaking the SabLCTay ^rfc"^ P""-'?" - «' t"' 
 
 fof "u'w'er t7o'4i'i,irb!i--" "> "» 
 
 " » tailing a nooV .ervan !t 1 Ll?^ ^"A^ ">' «"'' tiiat 
 
 ^S?'irniS5£^:?"oJ:^"c. 
 
 servants are a ^rLtiJ , ^^^°''^' *'"*t irreligious 
 tresses in setSnl ^?n ^'''J'^Tan'-e to masters and m s- 
 their famines ^ ^ ''^'='°"'' ^"^«« «°d exercises f„ 
 
 th^rn'on wfcn'"tt7a;fset7n"^"^rr* '" ^^^ '"g 
 reasons, I would "/vise all mv^f'- ^"l? ^°'' ^^^'^ t*'^^e 
 vants that had not some Lwp!?"",^^^° *^^« "« '^'- 
 Sec. niece. I joiiri?et,t7v 5/^^^^'°"."^^" them, 
 opinion, if suchCvantt JJ^kTI^^"^.''"^'- '" '>er 
 must be done ^vhen we „et jrrP^^^ but what then 
 creatures info our houles andn^nn?..!!',*"?^ P'"'^^""^ 
 
 them so when we exuected flT^' ^^^^ '^'' ""^ «"<* 
 Aunt Mr. Tur j*P^ccea the contrary. 
 -^mt. No, My dear! ThP r.««» u ni-fn - 
 -;:: y ''^ P^tiin , wc must 
 
290 RKLIGIOUS COURTSHIP. iPABTin. 
 
 not let servants laii'^rh us out of our relJfri^n . „ 
 must L^oonin the way of our duty and S^n *7' 
 worship of God in the house; and as' often « wS flni 
 the servants flout at it, or contemn it return tlTp . '^ 
 tempt upon themselves, and turn t lem o "t hu^"' 
 on to perform the duty: turn them «il«~ lu^" 
 
 tlie standing known rule in tlw famiii that 'n , ^ 
 servants that come mav hpar of ijT. '» . 
 
 converse in tl,e l,ou,e?uL ' h^;!^ "k'noT^^ { '!? 
 
 om t, „g onr duty in our families, not our SVminl 
 It, that makes servants mock. When thei1eI.T.T J? 
 ligious to-day and wicked to-morrow, tSmarw^lI 
 scoft; but where serious reli"ion is «.wii^^ • ' 
 tained in a family, it comraanlfs that awe a ,J rZ?" 
 
 .tUrrn.^'':,fs;t?"-'''-^-^"S;°;E 
 
 j.5s::iZt'p-ifX1f'o,t J.t'^ ttL'att t 
 
 i^cc. niece. It may hold in many cases, 
 piu-t another time. * '^ °* *"*' 
 
 A PEW 
 
 discouri 
 
 both he 
 
 and the 
 
 ject of g 
 
 that wu 
 
 other, 01 
 
 Tiie el 
 
 jade of a 
 
 a very y. 
 
 with \vh< 
 
 heavily ( 
 
 abused t 
 
 tale to hi 
 
 logue. 
 
 Aunt. 
 being dis 
 you don' 
 you. 
 
 First r, 
 ways; bu 
 
 Aunt. 
 
 otherwise 
 
 First n 
 
 D'it ex pec 
 
 to be hire 
 
 own fault 
 
 Aunt. } 
 
 expect she 
 
 Bbe did no 
 
 was no wa 
 
HIP. [•"ABTiii.J Dut.m.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 201 
 
 I 
 
 DIALOGUE III. 
 
 >ou d„„ t ,e«m to say th, maid herself hadZS 
 y,£t''hnfTu, '"'''i:'' ""''»'»• I "» <l™e>ved both 
 
 n,.f!r5"*5*- ^''' Madam, that is tnie • but I dM 
 
 Tba hS-°l'Sid'=^„ /'■'"" " T'" ""™ 'he Lme 
 own fauU, ' ''^" '''° """''' '«" >»« l-w 
 
 H 
 
202 
 
 RKLIOIOTJS COURTSHIP. (parth,. 
 
 but she was 
 
 First niece. No, that's true Madflm 
 willing to get i„r„ 'a fr„o,i "uu-. "^ 
 
 temlerl to l,e what she hn! ,?"? '''"""•' «"J Pre- 
 
 for servants that u ive tjl sX*^ PU"isl.rnent 
 
 not dos.rv.. as well aVfb ' o , ^ J,t"''o?!r'; '^''^ '^'^ 
 for, .n short, it i« a downrig t |h ij ?! '^^''^'^^y ; 
 pieceoldishoiK^styJntolerS K.ri\ '7^, and a 
 comes and hires herself « mi; f^'^'^^'^P^^-- a cook 
 wl'eu she has undmaken /^^» ^ ■' ""^'' ' «"*^. 
 
 understands nouSrol" ^otrv"'S'l^" "PP*^^""" «»'« 
 Rn.v thing hut a middle raaid •« ^^ . *' ,"'^*'' ^^^en 
 rooms, and the like • o? ^ri „'mh "". ^"'' »^''"b the 
 and te'lls me she Lmws howtn ™'l °'^'" ''"'■''«'^' 
 •air, clear starch, a Jtiieirke TJ"' '?*"'H««. cut 
 to the trial, acknowledle. ll.t'Hn ' ''''''" '^ ^^^es 
 
 the cul'e d~ff^4":''.i fu-rrj" 1^ "' "'fj ■>"' 
 for pretending honestv aud^In • ■ '* P"'"»l"^d, not 
 racter, but for he"IctL wf '',"^;^"^^ '" ^he cha- 
 goods. ^'""* *''^^'' *"d robbing me of my 
 
 hut r think she hou?d Se puTsled'^ho''^'^''""^'^^' 
 wav Of other. PunisHed, however, some 
 
 vant^^aa^e^,^^^/^^ to punish such a ser- 
 butjust to themselves fl,?H tl ^"stresses would be 
 
 ™ak'e up theTflScTo triaTirthaT^"'^^'^ 
 themselves verv easilv ««;/ ♦!, *" tnat case to 
 
 vants; f 
 
 their bre 
 
 Sec, m 
 
 house-bri 
 
 (gardens, ; 
 oath to I 
 thorn to c 
 mitted, tl 
 arj^ument 
 Jiave beer 
 of life, wl 
 First n 
 bi^'h, sistf 
 Sec. nil 
 same ; bu 
 Aitnt. I 
 the ohliga 
 hira up to 
 pav for it ; 
 lellow be f 
 of a trifle: 
 First, I ai 
 
"11^. [part 111. 
 
 am 
 
 butshewaai °"'" "''^ REuorous .iouhtsuip, 
 
 allowed to intro- 
 slianis, urid pre- 
 face to : I think 
 
 in that part. I 
 *o"ie punijiliinent 
 iar,ict.'rs tJiey do 
 I'sof dislioricsty ; 
 , a cht-at, and a 
 •xaruple: acock 
 'e as such ; and, 
 s, ituppearHshe 
 
 has nevtr been 
 If and scrub tlie 
 id offers herself, 
 ^«i mantuas, cut 
 
 when it comes 
 not understand 
 » as it happens: 
 , as well as she, 
 i thief? 
 
 e ill used : but 
 9 punished, not 
 'ne in the cha- 
 l)bingmeofray 
 
 le punishment 
 uld-Ju; hanged, 
 lowever, some 
 
 ih such a ser- 
 sses would be 
 er. We might 
 that case to 
 r>f doing our- 
 
 203 
 
 Aunt How would you make it un ' 
 
 I^irst meet: Why, Madam, whenever anv nnoU 
 
 servant came to me, I would h.a..r«r.» i -^ ^"*^" 
 
 a^'ain, with all the esernent thai hpr h T^'^'^^'^y 
 
 Aunt. Why truly you put it r ,ht there, niece 
 that we make no conscience o? nrfi^ « servants, 
 
 Sec. niece. \Y?t may say the snmp ,^f ^ *\ • e 
 house-breaker, when we ^nd tJ.em in ..?r l.n ^' °'* * 
 gardens, and take them even in ti o ver> Lr^"'"' ^^ 
 loath to ruin them forir • ti.nf » ,! . ' ^"^ *»''« 
 
 thorn to do wlrt^lIeTdid a J it^Je'i':: f?h-' '"'"'-"^^ 
 mitted, they will be LngedTtranspo '. d rl'^.T" 
 argument is stronger, because tl.« in? ', '"^y* ^^« 
 
 Imve been tridingfa^^d'tl'^lLir ri e'rfs S 
 o» life, wh.ch we may be loath to be cone, -ned in 
 
 first niece You carry the case a gre "deal toa 
 high, 8.st..r; I cannot think that they are ike 
 
 Sec. niece. Truly, sister T »hir.ir .»• ; 
 
 same; but ot tl.e two heTis {h™ '"'='. '^^ 
 
 ^^r,t, I am ooiiged fay the law to do it ;' thut'lT^ 
 
 I 
 
 
 I 
 
294 
 
 RKLIOIOUS COURTSHIP. [part in. 
 
 not I that put him to death, but the laws of his 
 country, and his own crime is tlie cause of it ; and I 
 am an offender against that very law, and in some 
 sense a confederate with him, at leiist an encourager 
 of him in his crime, if I omit it. But which is more 
 than that, second, by my perhaps unseasonable, and 
 indeed unjust compassion, become accessary to all 
 the robberies he shall be guilty of after it ; because, 
 if I had done as the law directed me, I had put 
 him out of a condition to rob or injure any other 
 person. 
 
 Sec. niece. You have fully explained my mean- 
 ing. Madam, and I take the case to be the same : 
 I by no means do as I ought, or as the law directs, 
 if, when my neighbour, taking a servant .after me, 
 and coming to me for a character of her, I decline 
 speaking the truth of her, ay, and the whole truth 
 too. 
 
 First niece. Then no servant would get a place, as 
 servants are now. 
 
 Aunt. Then, niece, they would be more humble, 
 and careful how they behave. 
 
 First niece. It is a nice case, and we ought to take 
 great care that we do not injure them. 
 
 Sec. niece. Tliat's true, we ought to do tliem no 
 wrong ; but we do the person that is to take them an 
 irreparable wrong, if we recommend an ill servant to 
 them. 
 
 A unt. Nay, we break another law that you have 
 not thought of yet, for we do not do in it as we 
 would be done by, which is the great Christian 
 rule. 
 
 Sec. niece. Not only so. Madam, but we do as we 
 would not be done by ; for would any of us, if we go 
 to inquire of a servant, be told she was honest, when 
 she was a thief; that she was neat, when she was 
 nasty; tight, when she was a slattern; diligent, 
 when she was idle ; qaiet| when sue was saucy ; and 
 
 o 
 
IP. [PART III. I WAL. 111.1 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 295 
 
 the laws of his 
 iseof it; and I 
 w, and in 8ume 
 It an encourager 
 it which is more 
 iseasonable, and 
 iccessary to all 
 ter it ; because, 
 me, I had put 
 Djure any otner 
 
 lined my roean- 
 be the same : 
 the law directs, 
 rvant .after ine, 
 f her, I decline 
 the whole truth 
 
 A get a place, as 
 
 ! raore humble, 
 
 ve ought to take 
 n. 
 
 to do them no 
 to take theui an 
 an ill servant to 
 
 ' that you have 
 
 do in it as we 
 
 ^reat Christian 
 
 )ut we do as we 
 of us, if we go 
 as honest, when 
 when she was 
 ttern ; diligent, 
 ^asaaucy; and 
 
 modest, when she was, it may be, a bold hussy, and 
 the like. 
 
 Aunt. I observe, indeed, there is a general back- 
 wardness in people whenever we go to inquire about 
 a servant. A mistress cannot be supposed to recom- 
 mend earnestly, because it is to be granted that she 
 parted with the servant for something or other. But 
 she is therefore, on the other hand, shy and backward, 
 and will say nothing or but little of the real character 
 of the servant, because, forsooth, she would not hinder 
 her a place ; and indeed I would be verv loth myself 
 to ruin a poor girl, because I did not like her : but 
 I do think, as you say, niece, we mistresses are 
 too backward to be free with one another in such 
 cases. 
 
 Sec. niece. It would not only answer the end. Ma- 
 dam, as to the law part, but it would bring servants 
 back to be servants again, as they used to be, and as 
 they ought to be ; for really they can hardly be called 
 servants. 
 
 First niece. I wish it was with us in case of our 
 maids, as it is with the gentlemen in the case of their 
 men-servants, viz. that we should be obliged to give 
 certificates to our maids when they went away. 
 
 Sec. niece. Why, even then, the case would be the 
 same ; for, if the form of the certificate was not set- 
 tled too by the act of parliament, we should sign any 
 thing they desired us. 
 
 First niece. Nay, sister, that would be our faults. 
 
 Aunt. Why, so it is our faults now, child, if we give 
 them wrong characters. 
 
 First niece. I do not say we should give wrong 
 characters ; but I should be loatlj to say tlie utmost of 
 a poor servant, and so prejudice every body against 
 her : perhaps, what she did amiss with me, she might 
 mend with another, and perhaps what might not 
 please me, another might bear with. 
 
 Sec. Tiicec. I will put an end to all that luimcdi- 
 
 if 
 
m 
 
 i 
 
 W 
 
 298 REMOIOUS eoUBTSHIP. [,„^„, 
 
 wanted. "^'f '"« "> ""Ws when I 
 
 saM I? °" '°"S *" 'l" »'« "ith jou Madam, 
 n.e'^la^jslf,^'"'''""' '""Sloes she, ay sl.e lived with 
 
 kind„fah„™:.S''SdZw„g for^i'hl' "»"« » 
 
 truth: whereas, bv returning tjl!. 1- ^P*^"*^" ♦'^e 
 she kept it in her own bTJJ^tn *l"««^'on "Pon me, 
 So I turned short upon h^? ^Yccuse or excuse her! 
 you will be pa J wkh me ^l '^f; ^^^*'^"™' ^^«.V« h 
 ther she says trie or not ' ^^*^^'* "^« ^"°w vvhe- 
 Yes, yes, Madam, says she. 
 
 11! 
 
fPARTin. I WAL. III.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. £97 
 
 This surprised me acrain : for th!<i huH o a,. ui 
 
 to know whetlier she meant vp« tha* j^ ,.!„ *^ 
 n.aid had said, or je, th«'.Ro„ld tt fnVkno'vJ 
 "''"her tie maid Imd said true or notSoUto" 
 
 says ;f^et thl": ''"^" '^'' ""' 'i"'*^ ^"^'^^ = '^' ^^^ 
 
 mlr^lZ^Zlr^f? '^"'^'^ ^'^^ tJ'^t kind of an- 
 swer, tlie manner of drawmff out her words slmivrr/n- 
 me plainly that the wench had lied Ho wever les f 
 out of Sr7w^''^' ^r''''' ««°"' andsohave nomorJ 
 
 Pray, Madam, says I, is she a good work-woman f 
 Yes yes, says she, she does her%vork wdl InS* 
 This was ali equivocation again. Any body would 
 
 ^SZr^''T'i^ ^y ™y *!"««''«"» that V Sired ff 
 she was good at her needle ; but she would not tak^ 
 
 mithf rf "' '''.r,^ P"' it °ff ^ith an answer which 
 might be true, it the wench knew but how to niake 
 
 L^f\f'''.'''""P ^ ^°°™ •' «o I explained myself and 
 
 nii^^rl*™' '^y aj<«odVork.woman, iSta'ther 
 needle I hope you understand me. ' ^' 
 
 I n/v"J nn .^?*'"; '^y ' '^' ^ t*"'^'' she is well enough. 
 ♦K^^^u '/''^'■^.^h® ^»™e better off with me a little 
 
 I have no reason to tax her honesty, savs she shP 
 criehnifhS'a'4':"^"""^ '"- ' "■-»'>' 
 
298 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [part in. 
 
 , Even this was but a very indifferent wav nf vn..«K 
 ing <or a girl's honesty, and if she wmTphIIv . ""^^r 
 she wa8 not just to her. "^ ^'°"^*^ 
 
 nn^Tf-^'' ^Z'^*""' '^y' ^' ™«y I ask you what was thp 
 occasion of your parting with her? ^ 
 
 O, Madam, says she, we parted indeerl • aho o„ i t 
 could not agree ; I am^assLate Jd preUv t'ouM^^ 
 Porae, and ray maid and I could not hk t • huflt 
 
 She only smiled at me, when I said this nn^ oo- 1 
 again, she was very difficult and Hi to p W • S 
 Betty might do very well with another ^^ ' ^"' 
 
 1 pressed her again to let me know what sheoartPrl 
 with her niaid for : but still she shuffled li.e of? in^ 
 felf nn^l }^' cunningest evasive answers BeUy hTr^ 
 self could not imve put me off with half the dexteritv 
 
 going aTay!" ''' ' '' ' "^^'^ «>^ honoursls if/wK 
 
 inaYd"?1m; T' ^' y°" are exceedingly tender of your 
 J?raLr th J. '''""''' '^y y°" ^'^ ^q^ally just to a 
 
 not bear a character, and tUt'you would "^'hl^ 
 
^^■IP. [part III. 
 
 rit way of vouch - 
 m really honest, I 
 
 ou what was the 
 
 leed : she and I 
 i pretty trouble- 
 t hit it; but she 
 rhaps other mis- 
 nd difficult as I 
 2 you she knows 
 told me so her- 
 
 Jwered, Madam, 
 >e hard words; 
 I did not come 
 but a character 
 course, you arc 
 uaracterat the 
 
 1 this, and said 
 to please ; but 
 
 T. 
 
 I'hat she parted 
 ed me otf", and 
 '8. Betty her- 
 f the dexterity 
 )ur8 as if 1 was 
 
 tender of your 
 ally just to a 
 end upon your 
 However, 1 
 nd it, namely, 
 advantage to 
 told ; yet you 
 r conduct will 
 luld not h&vp. 
 
 DHL. nr.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 299 
 
 me venture upon her; and I shall take your ad- 
 vice. 
 
 At this she seemed concerned, as if she had expected 
 that her awkward way of talking^ of the wench had 
 satisfied me, and that I did not understand her; and 
 as I offered to go. Pray, Madam, savs she, don't say 
 so ; Betty may make you a verv good servant ; I am 
 Borry you should take me so; the maid may do 
 very well in another place, though she miijht not 
 8u:t me. " 
 
 Aa I was talking, I observed, that in the drawing- 
 room, next to the room we sat in, there sat a gentle- 
 man reading in a great book, and every now and then 
 he looked off his book, when his wife (for it was her 
 husband) spoke, as if he was surprised at what she 
 said : and as the folding doors stood wide open, so 
 that the rooms were, as it were, let both into one, he 
 heard all we said, and as I perceived that as he looked 
 off his book when his wife spoke, so he almost laugh- 
 ed outright when I spoke. 
 
 At last, as if he was not able to hold any longer, he 
 clapped up the book pretty hard, and threw it by, 
 and came forward into the room we were in, and ma- 
 king me a very low how as he passed, he offered to 
 go out: when his lady stept up to him, and said 
 something softly, which he answered softly, and with 
 abundance of good humour in his face, said to his 
 wite My dear, I will not interrupt you ; upon which 
 I offered to go away. By no means. Madam, said he, 
 my business is of no moment. So taking hold of his 
 Wife's hand, he, as it were, turned her towards me, 
 and at going away. My dear, sjivs he, don't hold the 
 lady in suspense about your maid, for I hear that is 
 the business : let her have a true character of her • 
 vou would be glad to be dealt plainly with yourself. 
 His wife smiled, but said nothingat first but presently 
 turning to him, and all in a pleasant, good humour, 
 sne gave uuu a iiiile tap on the arm with her hand : 
 
 I 
 
 I I 
 
 i I 
 
300 
 
 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. fPABTin 
 
 ?ays he to me, with mv wife's lea vT^hp'.?"' ^"*^«'"' 
 jade, a horrid scold, a liar «m? h' V^* *''*'""ed 
 Relieve, stolen noth ng from Js was a S 't ^'«' ^ 
 she came last from, which wpjTp^I? ^"^- '" '''« P'ace 
 
 the people she I ved wit £ •**'•'' "T;^"^''' ^"Jy by 
 
 could ; and that is the^ruin of u, air «SL f ^' ^''f^ 
 iDff servants. "' *"» ®°<'» he, m tak- 
 
 what vo/4sh"e w's irl he7"f;;Le " '"'^ ^"^ ^« ^« 
 
 ve? S^l 'S SThi,^^ ^ia^^^t ^^^at = I ne. 
 my wife was not o r ?ce inlfe'r Z' ^' ''"' ^ ^^^^'^^« 
 or, if she was, she was easlpr to 2"'^' '^y°» ^''^i 
 answers! and ^i8 the laS l • ^*^ '^^^"^^'^ '" their 
 give just and plain a Jo^nf»^.^'"^^''""*'»^ to 
 
 the reUn tha? suchTwJetch S "ZZTt''' ,''"* "" 
 from house to l.ouse and getXes^HnHhlr^"^ '*'*/"'> 
 as they do. Would thp S £1 co ' ?^ ^^^'^^^ '" them 
 another, speak plain v ani [,' ^'J'^' ^" J"^* to one 
 creatures such charac Las thevS^^^^^^^ *"i ^'^'^ t^'e 
 take care to deserve beUercl.«r!-L'^'"'^!i ^'^'^^ ^^»lf> I 
 80 insolently, and sVslud^'r S '^o"' T '^'^^^ 
 a^Ttite^it^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 shoulders, for fea? hpr ^"^ ^^^ *";!' ^>' ^^^ ''ead and 
 and ,et si. Ts^'S r^SV^ill.^.^-e--^ i 
 fend in iier hean to speak the truth 'of iferr"" '""""' 
 
IP. fPABTiii. I *"^-"»'J RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 >u tliink I han't 
 IV then, Madam, 
 slie 18 a damned 
 •uphshehas, I 
 
 f'Jeiin the place 
 »i »ince, and for 
 ^ay. 
 
 J was greatly 
 (and found his 
 'id's character. 
 Why, Madam, 
 (vench, only by 
 her ambiguous 
 >t' her as they 
 Ws he, in tak- 
 
 'ith before did 
 Itnew lier to be 
 
 >r that : I ne- 
 
 but I believe 
 
 is as you are; 
 
 eated in their 
 
 backward to 
 
 (ther, that is 
 
 wenches run 
 ehave in them 
 sejust toone 
 and give the 
 ', they would 
 id not behave 
 This jade, 
 1*6 of, has in- 
 three times, 
 
 send a foot- 
 he head and 
 >e frighted; 
 
 she CSIiuOt 
 
 r. 
 
 301 
 
 butVrutroV K *'' ''^'' ' ''''' "^^ -'d any thing 
 oath '"' "^ '^'^'' '^^' '^' "^^'"' I ^^8 not upon my 
 
 "y 'V''"f S^^''y you would in ure the tkmi lyC 
 futfer to take her, much more than the raahi^rp? 
 her go seek her fortune where noboSv knows er md 
 
 ioni: ;!>*vrj;;r^™^ ^^ ™^"^ ^- ™--^' -3 
 
 strl-'tor T^ IV' L''''^• *'!'' gentleman was vour in- 
 
 ris7or%Z[oi-'thr^ ^r^ language too, Madam; 
 lib lor want ot this gentleman's rule that we have 
 anv saucy, mso hnt, idle servant, in the world 
 
 of the?r bZvioIr ^"''^/""ke servants more S^utious 
 oi ineir behaviour, I confess : but then, sister, it would 
 pu It ,„,o the power of mistresses to ru n poo^r- 
 no Ih'^'" they pleased, and even whei there wag 
 
 conveniences : but the damage that way ,^^^^^^^ Lould 
 be .0 a any time, is infinitely less than the mi Sef 
 
 vntf 'Jl'f ' .^""^ ^^ *''? universal degeneracy of servants 
 lZu^f'\ iT'^ .'^^^ '■ ^^' even those we cS good 
 
 wK they w';: In'b'rmT, ?"'^*^ ''^^""' ^^'"^^ '-'" 
 
 remember. ^^^' ^^' ^^'^^ ^'"^^ ^ ^'*" 
 
 *Vc. mVc.^ Well, Madam, but I could propose a 
 
i; 
 
 m 
 
 \l ^ 
 
 302 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [parthi. 
 
 ohw?/ T!^ •*^'*'"'^ *^«' P"t to Which my sister 
 ohjects, of dom- servants wrong: fori (ionotXfv 
 that some mistresses may injurl their servants an^ 
 there ought to be no wrongo'n either iJ^and. '' ^"'^ 
 ri?st niece. I have known a mistress rpfnoo ♦«„• 
 
 tha?""" '*''''• ^"'^ '^'"^* "*y '^^PPen* I do not deny 
 
 .J'^'^!u'V- ^ ^^^« »^»o known a mistress iniiir*. « 
 servant by her partiality in favour of other seTiant^ 
 
 de'er^ed it X'tk^J^/'^'^'''''.' wh^^'X^Cl^l 
 others ' ^ "^^ reproaches raised on her by 
 
 Sec. niece. It is not possible to reeknn n» oii tv. 
 cases in which a mistress may injure a servant h! 
 
 1. All the injustice that can be supposed to hannpn 
 
 2. There may be methods directed by the law fhnf 
 n such cases, where mistresses have no hfuLTanUa 
 
IP. fPARTHi. I DIAL. III.] RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. 
 
 303 
 
 I'liich my sister 
 
 r I <io not deny 
 
 ir servants, and 
 
 hand. 
 
 88 refuse to give 
 
 use she was un- 
 
 ; the same time 
 
 1) I do not deny 
 
 listress injure a 
 other servants, 
 en she lias not 
 aised on her by 
 
 kon up all the 
 i a servant 'ti? 
 exact, as that 
 i two things to 
 
 osed to happen 
 mistresses and 
 md basene?sof 
 to be cmbrac- 
 
 ' the law, that 
 othing capital 
 be obliged to 
 r. 
 
 but unless the 
 I adjusted by 
 Jsses will just 
 are produced 
 'ir certificates 
 mmend them 
 
 icious people 
 
 First niece. But such people there are, and such 
 perliaps always will be. ' ^^ 
 
 Sec. niece. Weil there may be a remedy for that 
 too, for tliere may be two or three several forms of 
 
 MUnT^Tl'"^-^^' ''^; '^^ ' «"« volunteer? and 
 fnllr . I' behaviour of a servant, and the other 
 to her honesty and sobriety only. 
 
 Ajint. Why then, child, nobody would take a ser- 
 vant that had only your Second-rate certificate ; thev 
 would presently say her mistress had given no cha- 
 racter but what slie could not help ^ 
 
 Sec. niece. I rather think, Madam, that all ser- 
 vants would content themselves with what you are 
 pleased to call my second-rate certificate 
 
 Aunt. Come let us hear what kind of a certificate it 
 18, If you are lawyer enough to draw it up. 
 
 Sec. niece. I am not lawyer enough to draw it ud 
 m lorm : but it should be to this purpose. Madam? 
 
 THE CERTIFICATE. 
 
 /, A. B., do hereby certify, that thehearer hereof 
 M.S., heed with me as a chamber-maid, me year and 
 a quarter, ending the day of 
 
 last ; during which time she behaved 
 herself honestly, modestly, and dutifully, as becom- 
 eth a servant. 
 
 ^ Witness my hand, A. B. 
 
 dplrvf 'a5''^ f"""^^'' "'''^^' * ^^'•^^"t tbat could not 
 take. "" ' character as that, nobody ought to 
 
 Sec. niece. Well, Madam, and a servant that did 
 to denv.'" ""'''* character as that, no mistress ought 
 

 804 RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. fPARTiii. 
 
 i-i/-*^ wiece. I agree, that th^ givws such o^rtifi 
 cates would put an end to these inquiries ^" 
 
 Aec. ni6>ce. Which oftentimes leavers In th. A i, 
 as muci, as we were before they are il n"'' 
 sometimes more a great deal ^ ' "^^' 
 
DIAL. HI.] helioious coujiTSHip. 305 
 
 Very well, says I, Mary, you are very tart wiM. 
 
 letter kneel • Vnd ?tfl '°t*" '^^'l',^"' ^ ^^^^^ not 
 herwnrnS '*• \*°^^ *'^'' ^ would not insist upon 
 tier warning; for as loner as she hphav^H c« t""?" ? 
 bellied I should never put her awav." " ' ^ 
 
 I! 
 
30G RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP. [pabtih. 
 
 Aunt. Well, but did she mend afterwards ' 
 
 Afc. wtece Indeed she was a very good servant he- 
 
 fore only a little hasty, and impatJent o f rXoof • 
 
 bu she proved the best servant after it, that an v 
 
 body ever had. She is with me still. ' ^ 
 
 Aunt. It 18 certainly 80, if we }?ive fair, bold and 
 
 in torn"''"''"'' °?^^'"' ^"'^ "■ 't '"^e came to be ^Ee 
 wnX °- ^m"^'*' u^atre among mistresses, ser"^,t« 
 would quickly carry it after another manned ; at least 
 they would take care to part upon as good terms as 
 they could with their mistresses. 
 
 as wedoTot l"t.''-^ ''7"^^ "°' *''^«*' °"e another 
 
 END OP nELIGIOUS COnnTSHIP. 
 
 '^V^- 
 
[I'ABTIir. 
 
 nJs? 
 
 servant be- 
 of reproof J 
 t, that any 
 
 ', bold, and 
 36 to be the 
 i9, servants 
 er ; ut least 
 >d terms as 
 
 ne another 
 vilest crea- 
 
 SACRED POEMS. 
 
 *v^*-«^# ^^^^^^^^ 
 
 LAMENTING THE LOSS OF FIRST LOVE. 
 
 O THAT my soul was now as fair 
 
 As it has sometimes been, 
 Devoid of that distracting: care 
 
 Without, and guilt within ! 
 
 There was a time when I could tread 
 
 No circle but of love ; 
 That joyous morninf^ now is fled, 
 
 How heavily I move ! 
 
 Unhappy soul, that thou should'st force 
 
 Thy Saviour to depi rt. 
 When He was pleased with so coarse 
 
 A lodging in thy heart ! 
 
 How sweetly I enjoy'd ray God ! 
 
 With how divhie a fr^me! 
 I thought on every plant I trod, 
 
 I read my Saviour's name ! 
 
 O might those days return again, 
 
 How welcome they should be! 
 Shall my petition be in vain 
 
 Since grace is ever free ? 
 
308 
 
 SACRED POEMS. 
 
 Lord of my poiil, return, 
 To chase away this night ; 
 
 Let not tliine anger ever burn ; 
 God once was my delight. 
 
 Shei'herd. 
 
 THE DYING HUSBAND'S FAREWELL. 
 
 T i^^^ Nearest consort, my more loved heart, 
 1 leave thee now ; with thee all earthly joy ng • 
 Heaven knows with thee alone I sadly part : ' 
 All other earthly sweets have had their cloying : 
 Yet never ful of thy sweet loves' enjoying, ^ ' 
 Thy constant loves, next Heaven I did refer them • 
 
 " I leave them, now the trumpet calls away ; 
 
 in vam tlune eyes beg for some time's reprievinff • 
 
 Yet m my children here immortal stay : 
 
 in one I die, in many ones am living : 
 in them, and lor them, stay thy too much grieving: 
 Look but on them, in them thou still wilt see ^ 
 
 Marry d with thee again thy twice-two Antony. 
 
 "And when with little hands they stroke thy face. 
 As m thy lap they sit (ah, careless !) playing. 
 And stammering ask a kiss, give them a brale : 
 Ihe last from me : and then a little staying. 
 And in their face some part of me surveying, 
 in them give me a third, and with a tear 
 fehow thy dear love to him, who loved thee ever dear. 
 
SACRED POEMS. 
 
 309 
 
 WELL. 
 
 art, 
 
 joying ; 
 irt : 
 
 cloying ; 
 
 ing, 
 
 refer them : 
 
 eu I should 
 
 ay; M 
 Jrieving ; 
 
 1 grieving : 
 ilt see 
 ntony. 
 
 * 
 
 thy face, 
 
 i»g, 
 race; 
 
 g, 
 
 ying* 
 r 
 
 ever dear. 
 
 And now our falling house leans all on thee ; 
 lins little nation to thy care commend them : 
 lu thee It hes that hence they want not me ; 
 Themselves yet cannot, thou the more defend them • 
 them •''" ^''^^" ^^^ V^Tiuits, to goodness bend 
 
 A mother were you once, now both you are • 
 Tiien with this double style double your love and 
 
 " Turn their unwary steps into the way : 
 What first the vessel drinks, it long retaineth • 
 No bars will hold, when they have used to stray • 
 And when lor me one asks, and weeping: plainetli 
 Point thou to heaven, and say, ' He there remain- 
 eth ; 
 
 And if they live in grace, grow and persevere. 
 
 There shall they live with me: else shall they see 
 
 me never. *' 
 
 "My God, oh ! in thy fear here let me live ' 
 Thy wards they are, take them to my protection • 
 Thou gavest them first, now back to Tjiee I give • 
 Direct them Thou, and help her weak direction • ' 
 That re-united by thy strong election, ' 
 
 Thou now in them, they then may live in Thee • 
 And seeing here thy will, may there thy glory see. 
 
 « Farewell, farewell ! I feel my long long rest, 
 An iron sleep my leaden heart oppressing : 
 Night after day, sleep after labour's best j 
 Port after storms, joy after long distressing: 
 
 So weep thy loss, as knowing 'tis my blessing ; 
 
 Both as a widow and a Christian grieve : 
 Still live I in thy thoughts, but as in Heaven I live." 
 
 Fletcher. 
 
310 
 
 SACRED POEMS. 
 
 HEAVEN m PROSPECT. 
 
 T?f T ^" ^''e. gone into a world of light 
 And I alone sit lingering here ; ^ * 
 llieir very memory is fair and bright 
 And luy sad thoughts doth clean ' 
 
 I see them walking in the air of glorv. 
 Whose light doth trample on my da?9 • 
 My days which are at test but dull and hoarv 
 Mere glimmerings and decays. ^' 
 
 O holy hope and high humility. 
 High as the heavens above » 
 
 S si: ^^i^r' ^" '^^« «^'-'^ *^- -, 
 
 Dear, beauteous Death, the jewel of the iu^t 
 S^.in,ng no where but in the -dark, "^ '* 
 
 What mysteries do lie beyond thy dust • 
 Could man outlook that mark ! ' 
 
 He t^h^a^tjiath found some fledged bird's nest, may 
 At first sight if the bird be flown, 
 
 And into glory peep. 
 
SACRED POEMS. 
 
 311 
 
 If a star were confined into a torab, 
 
 Her captive flame must needs burn there : 
 
 But when the hand that lock'd her up gave room 
 
 She'd shhje thro' all the sphere. 
 
 O Father of eternal life, and all 
 Created glories under thee ! 
 Resume thy spirit from this world of thrall 
 Into true liberty. 
 
 Either disperse these mists, which blot and fill 
 My perspective, still, as they pass, 
 Or else remove me hence unto that hill, 
 Where I shall need no glass, 
 
 H. Vauouax. 
 
 A BENEDICTION FOR A BABY. 
 
 What blessing shall I ask for thee 
 
 In the sweet dawn of infancy ? 
 
 — Tliat which our Saviour at his birth. 
 
 Brought down with him from heaven to earth . 
 
 What next, in childhood's April years 
 Of sunbeam smiles and rainbow tears? 
 — That, which in him all eyes may trace. 
 To grow in wisdom and in grace. 
 
 What in the wayward path of youth 
 Where falsehood walks abroad as truth ? 
 — By that good spirit to be led 
 Which John saw resting ou his head. 
 
 What temptation's wilderness. 
 
 When doubts assail and wants oppress ? 
 
C12 
 
 SACRED POEMS. 
 
 — To wield like him the scripture sword, 
 And vanquish Satan by " the word." 
 
 What in the labour, pain, and strife 
 Combats and cares of daily life ? 
 In His cross-bearing steps to tread 
 Who had not wnere to lay his head. 
 
 What, in the agony of heart, 
 When foes rush in, and friends depart? 
 —To pray like Him the Holy One, 
 " Father, thy will, not mine, be done." 
 
 J. MONTOOMERY. 
 
 THB END. 
 
 WILLIAM MILNKK, PRINTUK, CHEAI'SIDE, HALIFAX. 
 
 '/ 
 
I sword, 
 rd." 
 
 ife 
 
 id 
 ad. 
 
 epart ? 
 
 e, 
 one.' 
 
 JXaOMERY. 
 
 DE, HALIFAX.