Mind, and decent Pride, without which we are not worthy the Name of human Creatures, who can bear to level herſelf with the loweſt Animal, and to ſacrifice all that is great and noble in her, all her Heavenly Part, to an Appetite which ſhe hath in common with the vileſt Branch of the Creation! For no Woman, ſure, will plead the Paſſion of Love for an Excuſe. This would be to own herſelf the meer Tool and Bubble of the Man. Love, however barbarouſly we may corrupt and pervert its Meaning, as it is a laudable, is a rational Paſſion, and can never be violent, but when reciprocal; for though the Scripture bids us love our Enemies, it means not with that fervent Love, which we naturally bear towards our Friends; much leſs that we ſhould ſacrifice to them our Lives, and what ought to be dearer to us, our Innocence. Now in what Light, but in that of an Enemy, can a reaſonable Woman regard the Man, who ſolicits her to entail on herſelf, all the Miſery I have above deſcribed, and who would purchaſe to himſelf a ſhort, trivial, contemptible Pleaſure, ſo greatly at her Expence! For by the Laws of Cuſtom the whole Shame, with all its dreadful Conſequences, falls entirely upon her. Can Love, which always‘ſeeks
