The Author of a late Pamphlet entitled _ONANIA_ has by a Bundle of Theological Phrases, Scripture Quotations, and an affected Simplicity, attempted to possess the World with an Opinion, that his Designs in publishing that Treatise, were meerly with spiritual Views, and out of a tender regard to the preservation of the Healths and Constitutions of the degenerate part of Mankind, without any the least Mercenary Expectations; and since it may possibly bear this Construction with Persons carelesly perusing his Performance, and the ignorant Multitude: I shall make it my Business to set forth the Absurdity, inconsistency, and imposture of this supercilious Scribler in every part; to prove that his Treatise tends to the encouragement of Lewdness and Debauchery; that his own Medicines promote the very Sin, he, for Interest sake, takes upon him to Discountenance; and to demonstrate, that he is really ignorant of what was the Crime of _ONAN_. But I shall premise that my Scheme is no ways calculated to propagate any manner of Uncleanness, but on the contrary to discourage the practice of self-pollution, by illustrating the Sin more particularly; and enumerating more extraordinary Instances than hitherto any Author has done on the Subject. I agree with this Author in the Opinion of the Divine he has quoted, that Self-pollution is a Crime in it self, monstrous and unnatural; its Practice filthy and odious, its Guilt crying, and its Consequences ruinous: It destroys conjugal Affection, perverts natural Inclination, and tends to extinguish the hopes of Posterity; but I take leave to observe that the Author of _ONANIA_ is egregiously mistaken in fixing this Crime upon _ONAN_, as I shall incontestably prove when I have gone thro’ my Examination of his trifling Performance, which I purpose to do with all the exactness imaginable. And first, in Page 14. After setting forth Ignorance to be the first cause of Self-pollution, this Author goes on and tells you, that the second is the secrecy with which Self-pollution may be committed: All other Actions of uncleanness (says he) must have a Witness, this needs none. Some lustful Women of sense, have made all the outward shew of Virtue and Morality that can be requir’d; they have had prudence enough, in the midst of strong Desires, to refuse disadvantageous Matches, and yet have abandon’d themselves to this Vice, when at the same time they would rather have died than betray’d a weakness to any Man living, as afterwards, becoming Penitents, they have confessed themselves. And again some young Men of vicious Inclinations, have either naturally, or for want of a liberal Education been shame-fac’d to excess; they have not dar’d to look upon a Woman, and their Bashfulness has secur’d them from every act of Impurity but this. From all which it is evident that the secrecy of this Sin, has betray’d many into it, whom hardly any thing else would have tempted.