ing however, as Diphilus well observ'd, that nothing is more hard to be found in all the World, than a good Wife; who can never be over-valu❜d, and whofe Price is ineftimable.

BUT I muft obferve by the By now, in this degenerate Age of Liberty, that Virtue and Vice divide the whole World betwixt them, into Two different contending Factions. The One has the greater Part of Votaries, the Majority of Voices, and the common Cry in Vogue; as it carries all before it by Fashion, Election, or Iniquity of Practice. But the other indeed is more defirable, and has the most general Approbation of all good Men, as well as even the filent Efteem of the Bad; who cannot but tacitly acknowledge their unwilling Eyes dazled into Veneration, with the brighter Beams of Virtue. Virtue is a Deity in Comparison of Vice. This maketh miferable; but that, happy the Former affords true Pleasure, but the Latter pocures certain Sorrow, affured Shame, and tormenting Reflections. It is like the great Compofition of Fools and Knaves in the World. The Latter will always have the Plurality of Votes, and the Popularity of Elections, whether right or wrong. People may make Choice of what they pleafe, or which fuits their fickle Humour beft in Fancy. But common Opinion, Applaufe or Succefs never was, nor will ever be reckon'd the true Rate of Things: neither does real Honour and Renown confift in Numbers or Multitudes. However Vice, after all, in any Perfon or Party of Men, on the contrary Side, deferves the worst of black Characters in the deepest Die. For a vicious Life is no better than a Hell upon Earth, and anticipates its own Punishment. It

is ftill ih Labour of ill Habits for Death, and ftruggling with Destruction; which inhances all its After-Pains: Full of Sorrow, Diffatisfaction or Defpair; and never like to be deliver'd of its Pangs for Futurity, but by a timely Repentance. It breeds nothing but Uneafinefs and Remorfe, like biting Serpents or the viperous Brood. It produces nothing but a Sting of Confcience, and a Worm that never dies. It brings forth nothing but a Tympany of Body and a Torment of Soul.

VERSE XI.

THE Heart of her Husband doth safely truft in her; fo that he shall have no Need of Spoil.

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PARAPHRASE.

Y dear Son! Let me now give you the particular Character of this virtuous Woman, that I would willingly recommend to your Choice for an indulgent Wife; which may serve to direct other Noblemen as well as your Royal Self, or more ordinary People, in their ftria Enquiries after fuch an incomparable Perfon: A Woman, that is chaft, dif creet, prudent, frugal and faithful in well-ordering her Houfhold- Affairs. In whofe Virtues, her Husband cannot but have the greatest Af furance of good Conduct. He muft needs lodge

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an entire Confidence in fuch a precious and valuable Creature of an endearing Spouse: fo that he may either take his Plea fure and Diverfion Abroad, or attend upon other publick Bufinefs of greater Moment, with Safety and Satisfaction; free from all Care, Fear or Doubt, how his domeftick Concerns are manag'd at Home in his Abfence. Every Thing will be well regulated there, and improv'd to his Ad. vantage fo that he fhall have no Occafion for any Solicitude, Diffidence, or Diftrust of her Diligence and Faithfulness; no Cause to lie under any Temptation of relieving his own Neceffities, fupplying his own Wants, or inriching his own Eftate by the Spoil of other Mens Fortunes. Well then, Solomon! be well advised in fixing here your noble Affections. You may fafely truft fuch a glorious Wife with all that you have in your Power or Poffeffion; Honour, Eftate, Life and All. Never queftion her Integrity. She cannot in Confcience falfify her Marriage-Vow, nor play faft and loose with that facred and folemn Obligation. Never fear! She will neither defpoil you of your Goods of Fortune, nor wrong your nuptial Bed, nor leffen your Character. She knows no Robbery but that of stealing into your Affections, and making you the Felon of her own Heart. And fhe never will entertain any Design to rob you of any Thing, but that of yours, for your own Benefit. In the Fruition of her, you may depend upon fincere Love, Fidelity, Juftice, Comfort and Contentment to your own Heart's Defire. You may fafely put your whole Truft and Confidence in her difinterested Virtue; being both unalienable and unalterable in her Affections. You fhall

have no Need to be jealous of her Honesty, nor any Occafion to fufpect her Infincerity or foul Dealing. You fhall be in no Want of any Succour, Support or Subfiftence with this unparallel'd Lady; in no Neceffity or living upon unjuft Gain, through Ufurpation, Incroachment, Plunder, Rapine, or the Spoil of your Neighbours. She will fufficiently fupply you with an honest Maintenance and plentiful Livelihood, by her own induftrious Frugality in the wife Government of your Kingdoms, or the difcreet Management of your Family- Affairs to the best Advantage. In a Word, fhe will make you happy in all Refpects and Conditions of Life on this Side Heaven; and intitle you at laft, in a great Measure, to the final Confummati on of Blifs hereafter.

THI

REMARK S.

HIS fingle Text is fufficient of it felf, to confute all the Objections of our modern Marriage-Haters; which they invidiously borrow from fome melancholy Notions of the morofe unfociable Ancients: And Ill Will never Speaks well of any Body, we know by the Proverb. How inconfiftent with Truth was that ludicrous Saying of Hipponactus; Two good Days are only to be hop'd for in Marriage: the Wedding-Day, and the Day of the Wife's Death! How contrary to Reafon was that of Philemon ; A Wife is only a neceffary Evil, and a perpetual Plague to her Husband! How ridiculous was that of Alphonfus; To make a perfect and agreeable Marriage, the Husband must be deaf, and the Wife blind; that he may not hear her Bramling, nor fhe fee his Faults; as if that was the

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beft Match for Peace-Sake! How falfe was that of Hefiod; He that trufts a Woman, is as Safe as he that hangs by the Leaves of a Tree at the latter End of Autumn, when they begin to fall! How foolish was that prophane Story of a ftupid Fellow; who, upon hearing the Scripture burlefqu'd, that whosoever will be faved, must bear his Crofs, ran to his Wife, took her up and laid her a-crofs his Shoulders! These were only the merry Conceits of thofe Buffoons that knew nothing of the Felicities of Matrimony, or of those that had fome Reafons perhaps to refent their own Injuries, and repent of their unfortunate Marriages. For Socrates, Plato, Ariftotle, Seneca, Plutarch and others, were all marry'd Men, according to History; and made as excellent Ufe of their Marriages as they did of their Morals, to the everlasting Honour of their Philofophy. But, after all, Marriage was firft confecrated in Heaven, folemnized in Paradife, and confummated in Innocency. Can any Thing be fuller of Holiness or Happiness; of Equity or Juftice; of good Conversation or Society; of Love, Contentment or Confolation? Can any State of Life be lefs folitary, or lefs unpleafant? It was not good for Man to be alone, without a faithful Companion. We have the Word of God for it, against the evil Tongues or Pens of all unmarry'd Debauchee's and unfan&tify'd Heathens. The holy Spirit of God, by the Mouth of his Prophet, dignify'd Marriage with the Similitude and Reprefentation of his facred Unity with his Church. Our bleffed Saviour alfo honoured a Wedding Feaft with his first Miracle that he wrought in the World, for the more facred Celebration of it with Joy. How great

then