but never a jot the wiser. Such a knowledge as this serves only to instruct and put her forward in the practice of the greatest Follies, yet how can they justly blame her who forbid, or at least won’t afford opportunity of better? A rational mind _will_ be employ’d, it will never be satisfy’d in doing nothing, and if you neglect to furnish it with good materials, ’tis like to take up with such as come to hand. We pretend not that Women shou’d teach in the Church, or usurp Authority where it is not allow’d them; permit us only to understand our _own_ duty, and not be forc’d to take it upon trust from others; to be at least so far learned, as to be able to form in our minds a true Idea of Christianity, it being so very necessary to fence us against the danger of these _last_ and _perilous days_, in which Deceivers a part of whose Character is to _lead captive silly Women_, need not _creep into Houses_ since they have Authority to proclaim their Errors on the _House top_. And let us also acquire a true Practical Knowledge such as will convince us of the absolute necessity of _Holy Living_ as well as of _Right Believing_, and that no Heresy is more dangerous than that of an ungodly and wicked Life. And since the _French Tongue_ is understood by most Ladies, methinks they may much better improve it by the study of Philosophy (as I hear the _French Ladies_ do) _Des Cartes_, _Malebranche_ and others, than by reading idle _Novels_ and _Romances_. ’Tis strange we shou’d be so forward to imitate their Fashions and Fopperies, and have no regard to what really deserves our Imitation! And why shall it not be thought as genteel to understand _French Philosophy_, as to be accoutred in a _French Mode_? Let therefore the famous Madam _D’acier_, _Scudery_, &c. and our own incomparable _Orinda_, excite the Emulation of the English Ladies. The Ladies, I’m sure, have no reason to dislike this Proposal, but I know not how the Men will resent it to have their enclosure broke down, and Women invited to tast of that Tree of Knowledge they have so long unjustly _Monopoliz’d_. But they must excuse me, if I be as partial to my own Sex as they are to theirs, and think Women as capable of Learning as Men are, and that it becomes them as well. For I cannot imagine wherein the hurt lies, if instead of doing mischief to one another, by an uncharitable and vain Conversation, Women be enabled to inform and instruct those of their own Sex at least; the Holy Ghost having left it on record, that _Priscilla_ as well as her Husband, catechiz’d the eloquent _Apollos_ and the great Apostle found no fault with her. It will therefore be very proper for our Ladies to spend part of their time in this Retirement, in adorning their minds with useful Knowledge.