*But then they should consider, that the _friends_ to their _vanity_ are no friends of theirs; that they are to live for _themselves_; that they have as great a share in the _rational nature_ as men have; that they have as much _reason_ to pretend, and as much _necessity_ to aspire after the _highest accomplishments_ of Christian virtue, as the _gravest_ and _wisest_ among Christian _philosophers_. *They should consider, that they are _abused_, and _injured_, and _betrayed_ from their _only perfection_, whenever they are taught, that any thing is an _ornament_ in them, that is not an ornament in the _wisest_ among mankind. 4. *It is generally said, that _women_ are naturally of _little_ and _vain minds_; but this I look upon to be as _false_, as to say, that _butchers_ are naturally _cruel_: for as their cruelty is not owing to their _nature_, but to their _way_ of life; so whatever _littleness_ and _vanity_ is in the minds of women, it is like the cruelty of _butchers_, a temper that is wrought into them by that life which they are _taught_ and _accustomed_ to lead. And if it were true, that they were thus naturally vain and light, then how much more blameable is that education, which seems contrived to _strengthen_ and _increase_ this folly and weakness of their minds? For if it were a virtue in a woman to be proud and vain of herself, we could hardly take better means to raise this passion in her, than those that are now used in their education. 5. *_Matilda_ is a fine woman, of good _breeding_, and great _sense_. She has three daughters that are educated by herself. She will not trust them with any one else, or at any _school_, for fear they should learn any thing ill. She stays with the _dancing-master_ all the time he is with them, because she will hear every thing that is said to them. She has heard them read the scriptures so often, that they can repeat great part of it without book: and there is scarce a good book of _devotion_, but you may find it in their _closets_. Had _Matilda_ lived in the first ages of Christianity, she had in all probability been one of the greatest saints. But as she was born in corrupt times, where she hardly ever saw a piety higher than her own; so she has many defects, and communicates them all to her daughters. 6. _Matilda_ never was _meanly_ dressed in her life; and nothing pleases her in _dress_, but that which is very _rich_, and _beautiful_ to the eye. Her daughters see her great zeal for religion, but then they see an equal earnestness for all sorts of _finery_. They see she is not negligent of her _devotion_; but then they see her more careful to preserve her _complexion_, and to prevent those changes which time and age threaten her with. They are afraid to meet her, if they have missed the _church_; but then they are more afraid to see her, if they are not _laced_ as _straight_ as they can possibly be.