But whilest I am speaking of this Order of Vestal Nuns, I cannot but endeavour to excite in you an abhorrency of those destructive Nunneries into which the Papists cast their Virgins in their {33} infancy, and before they come to maturity of years, or are (which they can never be) able to judge of the strength of their own continency. Into what Stews have these Nunneries been frequently converted, by reason of restraining those from the sacred Ligament of Marriage who have not so absolute a command over themselves as to abstain from unlawful carnality? How is that sacred Fire, which among the _Romans_ of old was preserved by their Vestal Virgins, by these changed into _Flames of Lust_, which all their _Holy-water_ will never allay or extinguish? Oh! that these sottish abusers of the Holy Ordinance of God called Marriage would but call to minde how the blessed and immaculate Virgin (our Saviours Mother) was betrothed to _Joseph_, lest honourable Marriage might be disreputed, and seem inglorious, by a positive rejection from any participation of that transcendent honour! I could heartily wish that these our _Romanists_ would but imitate the brave example of the old _Romans_, who thought none eligible to be _Jupiters_ Priests but such as were {34} Married; and (as _Tacitus_ and _Suetonius_ tell us) set a Fine upon their heads who refused to be united in the holy Bonds of Matrimony. It was out of respect to this, that the Emperour _Augustus_ sent for _Germanicus_ his Children, and hugging and caressing them in his Royal breast, signified by his countenance, and other signes of his hand, that others ought to imitate _Germanicus_ in marrying with joy and alacrity. And thus you see I have asserted and maintained the laudable Priviledge and Ordination of Marriage; and now cannot but be convinced that you think, in this my last _Recipe_ of Marriage I have prescribed you pleasanter Physick then in any of the former: If therefore you cannot obtain a cure from them, you may from this joyned to them. _Suetonius_ tells us, that _Galba_ selected a Jewel to beautifie and adorn the Goddess _Fortune_; which (on the sudden) as if it deserved a more sacred Deity, he dedicated to _Venus_. But I hope, that we, after we have selected those Pearls of price our Souls for Gods service, shall not {35} dedicate them to _Venus_ and our sensual appetites; for we are most certainly informed by the Text, _That the end thereof is bitter as wormwood, and sharp as a two-edged sword_. * * * * * FINIS. * * * * * Notes. [1] _Mulier formosa supernè definit in piscem._ Hor. _de arte Poët_. [2] 2 Sam. 13. 18. [3] _Terent. in Glycerio._ [4] [Greek: herkos o dontôn]. _Homer._ [5] _Nunquam minus solus quam cum solus. Tull. de Offic._ [6] _Sed revocare gradum superasque evadere ad auras----Hic labor hoc opus est_--Virg. [7] _Bartholin. in Tractatu de motu Chyli._