ADVICE

TO THE

MAGDALENS.

As I live, faith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from their way and live: turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways; for why will ye die? Ezekiel xxxiii. II.

If ye fo turn, though your fins be as fcarlet, they hall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they fhall be as wool. Ifaiah i. 18.

For, God fo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whofoever believeth in him fhould not perish but have everlasting life. John iii. 16.

I

Tis with the greatest fatisfaction, that we take the opportunity you give us, to lay before you thefe folemn and moft comfortable declarations of the Almighty King of Heaven and Earth, the Lord of Truth, whofe word never faileth. The happy choice you have made, and your voluntary entrance into this

House,

House, fills us with good hope that you are fenfible of your past miserable state, and willing to recover the loft favour of God and your Fellow-creatures. If fuch be your difpofition, you will here find every thing conducive to that defirable end; and we can affure you with pleasure, that no encouragement fhall be wanting to promote your present and future fe. licity.

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But that you may neither mistake the defign of this charitable inftitution, nor pervert its good intention, it is neceffary folemnly to inform you of that defign, and of what is expected from you. And we defire that you would feriously and often reflect upon what we deliver to you; and that you would endeavour, as exactly as you may, to comply with fuch Rules as are laid down, if you wish to engage our esteem, and fecure our protection.

TOUCH'D with a tender and pitying fenfe of the lamentable diftreffes, which young women frequently fuffer, unavoidably fuffer in a state of prostitution: concerned at once for the afflicting miseries that opprefs their Bodies, and the miseries far more afflicting, which must opprefs their unrepenting Souls: many benevolent perfons have voluntarily contributed to open this hofpitable House, as a place of refuge and retreat for thofe, who are defirous to leave the

per

pernicious paths of vice, to redeem their good name, to recover their bodies from Shame and foul Disease, to regain the fatherly protection of God, and fave their immortal Souls.

And, they were the rather inclined to this humane purpose by the peculiarly afflicting circumstances of unhappy young women, whom loft reputation deprives of every honeft means to live, cafts out as the very refufe of the world, and gives no opportunity to retrieve and return.

Confider then, YOUNG WOMAN, of how great value to you this House of refuge is; as being the only one, to which you could fly the only place where you could have any probability of attaining present or future Blifs.

Surely then you must greatly prize it; and feel the utmoft Gratitude for the worthy Governors and Supporters of it.

This Gratitude we would wifh you to cherish, as it will ever be a motive to the very best conduct.

But as this Houfe, you perceive, was defigned to receive you from the ftorm of Diftrefs, and to enable you to recover loft Reputation, Health and Virtue; you must not by any means fo miltake its gracious end, as to be careless in those important concerns; as to be remifs in the dif charge of any duty.

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It never was intended that you should pass your whole life here: much less that you fhould be supported in idleness and floth. But as your continuance is temporary, fo are you to esteem that continuance a fingular favour for the indulgence of which, (if you conduct yourselves properly) you may reasonably hope, till fuch time, as you fhall be enabled to return into life with a reputation recovered; no longer the fcorn and contempt of your fellow creatures; with an habit of industry, and the means to procure honeftly your own bread; and with a mind, renewed in holiness, confcious of its paft evils, and refolved through God's grace, to forfeit no more the bleffed hope of everlasting life. Agreeable to thefe future views must be your prefent conduct.

I. With regard to your external behaviour;

1. The most exact compliance with the rules of the house will be required. And as nothing of severity will be shewn towards you, fo nothing of unfeemly, and refractory conduct can be allowed, or will be permitted.

2. An humble and ready obedience to the directions of your MATRON will be the method to preferve you from error, to fteer you aright, and to gain the approbation of your friends and patrons. And we trust you will be very diligent and attentive in this refpect.

3. As you cannot but be fenfible that the expences attending fuch a family are great, your own reflection muft fhew you, that there is an abfolute neceffity for much Industry on your part; and we must inform you, that ready as we are to fuccour the diftreffed, and to contribute with all liberality to their relief; yet, it cannot be supposed that this house is defigned to harbour and encourage the idle and the vicious and therefore a want of industry will always be fufficient to lose our esteem, as it will too plainly fhew your want of Principles. For if you live idly live idly on the fole bounty of the House, you are grievously abusing the Charity of your Benefactors, and are injuring others, who would be glad to enter, and to work as well as they are capable. Befides, as idleness is the root of much evil, your perfifting in it will defeat all the good purposes we intend, which are to make you industrious upon principle, that fo you may get your maintenance with credit. For be af fured, that we must confider all your pretences to Reformation diffembled, while you are deficient in that industry, which is the genuine fruit of true religion. And remember, that as Idleness cloaths with rags, brings to shame, to every Vice and every Misery, fo are its fufferings never pitied; they are the just reward of the crime." You must not then expect continuance here, or