THE LADIES CALLING .

IN TWO PARTS .

By the Author of the whole Duty of Man , The Causes of the Decay of Christian Piety , and The Gentlemans Calling .

Favor is deceitful , and Beauty is vain : but a Woman that feareth the Lord , she shall be praised . Prov. 31. 33.

OXFORD , Printed at the THEATER .

M. DC . LXXIII .

IT is a popular reproach usually cast upon writers in morality , and persuaders to devotion , that while they with pompous words represent vertu as a sufficient reward to ●…er self , and exhort to the contemt of Glory ; they prefix their names to their labors , and make the Title-page a confutation of the Book that follows it .

Our Author has effectually averted this objection , having bin so far from seeking a name from others , as not to have left a possibility for the discovery of his own : but like the river Nilus that gives fertility and blessing wheresoe're he passes , hides his head ; and permits himself to be only known in the benefits which he dispenses .

By what methods the other most useful works of this excellent Author have st●…ln themselves into the world , I am not enabled to relate ; but having been made a party to the publication of this present , it may be expected that I render some account thereof . For altho the curiosity of inquiring into that which is industriously conceled , be such a rudeness , and injustice also , as by no means deserves to be encouraged ; yet where a benefit has bin receiv'd , for those who are oblig'd , to desire to acquaint themselves with the Person unto whom they stand endebted , that they may pay a respect at least , if they can reach at no more equal retribution ; this has such a pretence to gratitude , as may justly demand to be considered . And it will be some satisfaction to the ingenuous enquirer , that tho he have not enform'd himself in the particulars which he desires , he has not been deficient in the inquest , & knows as much as is possible .

The Reader therefore may please to understand , that somwhat more then two months since , I receiv'd a Letter , accompanied with a roul of Papers ; opening the which , I found it was written by a hand which I was utterly a stranger to , and that had no name subscribed ; the purport thereof was as follows .

'T will be superfluous to say how much I was surpriz'd with this so unusual address , how much affected with the singular modesty and humility which it ex●…rest : and after all how much transported upon viewing the Treasure , which was thus ●…s from the Clouds dropt into my hands ▪ Nor was I long to determine which of the two waies of disposal proposed unto me , was to be made use of : and indeed I should much so●…ner have perform'd my trust , and taken care that this excellent Tract ●…ad immediatly seen the light , had it not bin needful to transcribe the whole , before it could safely be committed to the Press .

This I mention not only to excuse the delay of the Edition , but more especially to beg a pardon for the misadventu●…es of it . It being not easy in a written Copie where a recourse is not to be had unto the Author , to do him justice ; and avoid faileurs and mistakes : which in the present instance was the more hazardous , in that every departure from the Authors i●…itable pattern , would certainly be for the worse .

But Excuse and complement are any where a very insipid foolish thing , and most intolerable in a serious concern : I shall not therefore say ought that looks that way ; only offer a short request ▪ which I suppose will be equally in-the behalf of the ▪ Author of this Tract ▪ the Editor ▪ and the Readers of it , Which is , that whoever takes this book in hand would seriously consider it ; and doing so , receive the infinite benefits of uniform vertu , and sincere pie●…y ; the documents whereof , are herewith all possible advantages propos'd : and thereby give the Author , that greatest of blessings , the being an instrument to the eternal happiness of souls : and as to us who deal in the affair of Printing ▪ afford some share in this most desirable event ▪ absolving us from the Charge of having don mischief , instead of service to the world . For , to say the truth , no book is so fatally destructive as that which convinces of duty ▪ but fails of persuading to it . And if the best books can do harm , 't will certainly be difficult to make a plea for the mul●…tudes of a contrary kind ▪ which now especially 〈◊〉 upon the Age ▪

THo the smalness of this Tract will scarce justifie the solemnity of a Preface ; yet remembring 't is design'd for those who are accustomed to Ceremonious Addresses , I think it not best to approch them too abruptly . And indeed besides the Civility , there seems som use of it in order to my design . To advise , or reprove , is so ungrateful an Office , that he that undertakes it , had neee●… use all previous arts to vindicate the sincerity of his purpose , and to convince the person admonished , that 't is neither spleen no●… prejudice , but the mo●…t real exuberant kindness which promts him to inflict those wounds of a friend , Prov. 27. 6. and that he is never less an enemy , then when he thus tells them the truth , Gal. 4. 16 : Therefore , tho they may in the ensuing leaves meet with som things which may have a shew of severity , yet let me assure my Reader , they have indeed a design of the greatest service , by correcting the extravagance of som , to rescu the whole Sex , as from the contagion of the example , so from the community of the blame . For such is either the inadvertence , or malice of a great part of mankind , that ( against all Rules of Discourse ) they deduce Generals from Particulars , make every woman so far an Eve , that her depravation shall forfeit her whole kind ; and because there are foolish and scandalous women , will scarce allow there are any other .

The truth is , the Error seems in many men to be affected ; they propose to themselves unworthy ends on women , and make all their observations wholly in order to those . He that is upon a base pursuit , takes particular notice of all that he thinks for his turn ; the rest fall not within his Sphere : and 't is too probable he is so abundantly supplied for that absolute consideration , that he never descends to the comparative . Nay , perhaps there may be a yet deeper original of the scandal : the world is much governed by estimation ; and as applause encourages & exalts , so a universal contemt debases & dejects the Spirit . If it can once pass into a Maxim , that women are such silly or vicious creatures , it may put fair for the making them so indeed . Themselves may imbibe the common opinion , charge all their personal faults on their Sex , think-that they do but their kind , when indeed they most contradict it , and no more aspire to any thing worthy , then a man can pretend to the excellencies of an Angel. And indeed this seems to be the practical inference of som women , who could hardly have descended to such dishonors , had they not before bin as vile in their own eies , as they have afterwards rendred themselves in others .

It may therefore upon this account be a necessary Charity to the Sex , to acquaint them with their own valu , animate them to som higher thoughts of themselves ; not to yield their suffrage to those injurious estimates the World hath made of them , and from a supposed incapacity of nobler things to neglect the pursuit of them ; from which God and Nature have no more precluded the Feminine , then the Masculine part of mankind .

In reference to secular Considerations , their advantages are most important ; Women have a very powerful Influence upon all sorts of Transactions in the World : the engaging of the Delilah , and plowing with the Heifer , Judg : 14. & 16. being ever the surest way to undermine the Counsels , and master the force of the Stoutest Samson . And accordingly , Hictories of all kinds assure us , that Gyneceum has still had a Rival suffrage with the Senate . I might urge the more regular Powers which appertain unto that Sex ; that all mankind is the Pupil and Disciple of Female Institution : the Daughters till they write women , and the Sons till the first seven years be past ; the time when the mind is most ductile , and prepar'd to receive impression , being wholly in the Care and Conduct of the Mother . And whereas ' is observ'd by Aristotle in his Politics , ( and is a proof of his being as wise , as he was a learned man ) that the Estate of Republics entirely hangs on private families , the little Monarchies both composing & giving law unto the great ; 't is evident that the disposal of Families and all Domestic concerns therein lies chiefly on the Wife ; whence the same Aristotle declares , that the Spartans notwithstanding their ready address to Empire by their great frugality , industry , and military virtue , could have but half a happiness , as failing on the part of their Wives . But waving these reflexions I shall fix only on the personal accomplishments of the Sex , and peculiarly that which is the most principal endowment of the rational nature , I mean their understanding . Where ▪ first it will be a little hard to pronounce , that they are naturally inferior to men ; when 't is considered how much of extrinsic weight is put in the ballance to turn it on the mens side . Men have their parts cultivated and improved by Education , refined and subtilized by Learning and Arts , are like an inclosed piece of a Common , which by industry and husbandry becomes a different thing from the rest , tho the natural turf own'd no such inequality . And truly had women the same advantage , I dare not say but they would make as good returns of it ; som of those few that have bin tryed , have bin eminent in several parts of Learning . To omit the modern instances , Theano after the death of Pythagoras kept up his School ; Socrates confesses himself to have bin instructed not only in Rhetoric by Aspatia , but even in the highest Points of Philosophy by Diotime : the Roman Story enforms us of the deep wisdom of Tanaquil , Cornelia , Livia , to pass by others . And were we sure they would have ballast to their sails , have humility enough to poize them against the vanity of Learning , I see not why they might not more frequently be intrusted with it ; for if they could be secured against this weed , doubtless the soil is rich enough to bear a good crop . But not to oppose a received opinion , let it be admitted , that in respect of their intellects they are below men ; yet sure in the sublimest part of humanity , they are their equals : they have souls of as divine an Original , as endless a Duration , and as capable of infinit Beatitude . That spiritual Essence , that ray of Divinity owns no distinction of Sexes ; so that in this sense also that Aphorism of the Apostle holds good ; there is neither Male nor Female , but all are one , Gal. 3. 28. And sure this is the one transcendent Excellency of Human Nature . For alas , what valu can comparatively be s●…t upon all other Qualifications , which will finally-leave us but like the Beasts that perish . And this as it is the highest pitch of their worth , so it is the safest subject of their Contemplations : other Knowledg , as the Apostle speaks , 1 Cor. 8. 1. may puff-up , this only will edify .

As therefore when we would pride our selves , we use not to boast our meaner , but our best'qualities : so let me solicit Ladies to be so just to themselves , as not to take their own mesures by any thing below this . Why should they take so low a level of Greatness , as to valu themselves upon a title which is but a bigger blast of air , when they may derive their descent from above the Stars , claim cognation with Divinity ? Why should they dote on the fictitious image , of a perhaps more fictitious beauty , which their glass presents them , when they need but look inward to see an infinitely fairer Idea , an emanation of the eternal Brightness ? Indeed did they make a just estimate of themselves in this respect , it would overwhelm the vanity of those inferior things wherein they now have such complacency , nor would they suffer their nobler part to be affronted by the unequal competition of their meaner .

But there is also another consequent which would flow from that esteem ; they would solicitously preserve what they so highly prize , it being natural for us to proportion our care to our valu . They would be jealously vigilant against every thing , that might eclipse the radiancy or contaminate the purity of their souls . 'T was the advice of a Heathen moralist , Revere thy self ; and 't was very wholesom counsel : for next our due veneration to God , a reverence to our selves is the most severe controller of all exorbitancies . How can a soul that remembers its celestial extraction , wallow it self in the mire , sto●…p to any sordid degenerus practices ? 'T is said of Themistocles , that seeing once a rich booty about the dead corpses of his enemies , he touch●… it not , but pointing to another , said , Take thou that , for thou art not Themistocles . If then a little military fame could so elevate his thoughts , t is a shame that any who carry an immortal spirit about them , should not be raised above all the contemtible baits of this sublunary World. Why should they not with the like disdain turn over all sensual inordinacies to meer Animals , and creatures that have no higher principle then that of Sense , whilst themselves soar up to those more sublimated plesures , which are at God's Right Hand for evermore , Psal. 16. 12.

We may therefore conclude , that what ever vicious impotence Women are under , it is acquired , not natural ; nor derived from any illiberality of God's , but from the managery of his bounty . He has placed within them a pillar of Cloud and Fire , sufficient to shelter and conduct them through all the storms , all the intricacies that can occur in their journy to Canaan ; if they will forget that more intrinsic part of their being , live as if they were all body , reject the Manna , and rave after the Quails , that destruction which will thereby be induced they must own to spring from themselves . Let them not charge God foolishly , or think that by making them women , he necessitated them to be proud , or wanton , vain , or peevish ; since 't is manifest he made them to better purposes , was not partial to the other Sex , but that having , as the Prophet speaks , abundance of spirit , Mal. 2. he equally dispenc'd it , and gave the feeblest woman as large and capacious a soul as that of the Greatest Hero.