Occasional Thoughts in Reference to a Vertuous or Christian lifeMasham, Damaris, Lady
Religion
Occasional Thoughts in Reference to a Vertuous or Christian life
Masham, Damaris, Lady
Christian life -- Anglican authors
The other thing which I imagine faulty, does more peculiarly concern
the Sex, but is yet chiefly practic'd in regard of Those of it who are
of Quality, and that is, the insinuating into them such a Notion of
Honour as if the praise of Men ought to be the Supreme Object of their
Desires, and the great Motive with them to Vertue: _A Term_ which when
apply'd to Women, is rarely design'd, by some People, to signifie any
thing but the single Vertue of Chastity; the having whereof does with
no more Reason intitle a Lady to the being thought such as she should
be in respect of Vertue, than a handsome Face, unaccompany'd by other
Graces, can render her Person truly Amiable. Or rather, _Chastity_ is
so essential to, singly, so small a part of the Merit of a Beautiful
Mind, that it is better compar'd to Health, or Youth, in the Body,
which alone have small Attractions, but without which all other
Beauties are of no Value.
To perswade Ladies then that what they cannot want without being
contemptible, is the chief Merit they are capable of having, must
naturally either give them such low thoughts of themselves as will
hinder them from aspiring after any thing Excellent, or else make them
believe that this mean Opinion of them is owing to the injustice of
such Men in their regard as pretend to be their Masters. A belief too
often endeavour'd to be improv'd in them by others.
But whether any Natural, or Design'd ill consequence follow from
hence or no, this is certain, that a true Vertue is the best Security
against all the Misfortunes that can be fear'd, and the surest Pledge
of all the Comforts that can be hop'd for in a Wife, _viz._ such a
Vertue whose Foundation is a desire above all things, of approving our
selves to God; the most opposite Principle whereunto is the making the
Esteem of Men the chief End, and Aim of our Actions; as it is propos'd
to be of Their's who have the empty Idea of Glory set before them as
the great Motive to, and high Reward of that particular Duty, which
(as if it included all others) does ordinarily ingross the Name of
Vertue, with regard to Women. A very wrong Motive this, to Those who
aim at what is truely Honourable, and such as may (and often does) as
well produce an ill, as a good effect.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account