14. For this reason, my children, I have taught you nothing that was dangerous for you to learn: I have kept you from every thing that might betray you into _weakness_ and _folly_; or make you think any thing fine, but a _fine mind_; any thing happy, but the favour of God; or any thing desirable, but to do all the good you possibly can. Instead of the vain, immodest entertainment of _plays_ and _operas_, I have taught you to delight in visiting the _sick_ and _poor_. What ♦_music_, and _dancing_, and _diversions_ are to many in the world, that prayers and devotions, and psalms are to you. Your hands have not been employed in plaiting the hair, and adorning your persons; but in making cloaths for the naked. You have not wasted your fortunes upon yourselves; but have added your labour to them, to do more good to other people. ♦ ‘musick’ replaced with ‘music’ Instead of forced _shapes_, _genteel airs_, and _affected motions_, I have taught you to conceal your bodies with _modest garments_, and let the world have nothing to view of you, but the _plainness_, and _sincerity_, and _humility_ of all your behaviour. 15. You know, my children, the _high perfection_, and the _great rewards_ of virginity; you know how it frees from worldly cares and troubles, and furnishes means and opportunities of higher advancements in the divine life. Therefore love, and esteem, and honour virginity: bless God for all that glorious company of holy virgins, that from the beginning of Christianity have, in the several ages of the church, renounced the cares and pleasures of matrimony, to be perpetual examples of contemplation and prayer. But as every one has their proper gift from God, as I look upon you all to be so many great blessings of a married state; so I leave to your choice, either to do as I have done, or to aspire after higher degrees of perfection in a virgin state. I press nothing upon you, but to make the most of human life, and to aspire after perfection in whatever state you chuse. Never therefore consider yourselves as persons that are to be _seen_, _admired_, and _courted_ by men; but as _poor sinners_, that are to save yourselves from the vanities and follies of a miserable world. Learn to live for your own sakes, and the service of God; and let nothing in the world be of any value with you, but that which you can turn into a service to God, and a means of your future happiness. 16. Whether married therefore, or unmarried, consider yourselves as mothers and sisters, as friends and relations to all that want your assistance; and never allow yourselves to be idle, whilst others are in want of any thing that your hands can make for them. This useful, charitable, humble employment of yourselves, is what I recommend to you with great earnestness; and besides the good you will thereby do to other people, your own heart will be improved by it.