Of CHASTITY

VIRTUE's it own Reward; and Innocence, Where'er it dwells, a Fortress of Defence; And in the Confines of pure Chastity, The Heav'n-born Soul finds joyful Liberty, And pleasant Freedom; far surpassing all The Latitude of base, luxurious Thrall, Wherein the captivated Heart's inclin'd To dote on Trifles, where it cannot find True Solace, suiting the Nobility Of that which sprung from Immortality: Then why should any, stiled rational, So slight their princely great Original, As to sit down content, to equalize Themselves to Brutes, and sordidly despise Enjoyments more sublime, which gratify The noble intellectual Faculty, Proper alone to Creatures rational? To be prefer'd before those criminal, Polluting Pleasures, which do so incense The injur'd (if not seared) Conscience, As much allays their present seeming Joys, And feeds the gnawing Worm that never dies; Whilst prudent Minds delight to contemplate The Wisdom of that Power, that did create And form the Universe: The Mystery Of Nature's scarce observed Harmony, And that intrinsick Virtue, that is found In some familiar Concrets to abound, Brings a Delight inferior to none, Save the Indwelling of that Lord alone, That gives the Knowledge of them, and did frame Them to the Glory of his holy Name: The sweet Experience whereof, I find, Is, by a noble and ingenious Mind, Acknowledged; asserting it to raise The Heart, to celebrate their Maker's Praise. Why then should so much Time, Expence & Cost, Be on on some vain deluding Objects lost; Which, as with Chains, do bind in Slavery, And overwhelm in gross Impurity, Some doting Mortals, whose depraved Sense Can taste no Pleasures, not derived thence? But where unstained Chastity doth reign, The Mind kept pure, is apt to entertain, Joys more refin'd; and then, if any rude Disturbing Thought would secretly intrude, 'Tis soon expel'd, and banish'd from the Breast, Where Chastity hath taken up her Rest: For here the Thoughts, the Words & Actions be, Well season'd with an awful Gravity; The good Effects of an eternal Law, Which doth, by its prevailing Precepts, draw Unto Obedience; whose Recompence Doth far surmount all transient Joys of Sense: Yet, ah, how many make it their Design, T' entice the Soul, and lead beyond the Line Of innate Law, through pleasant Confidence, Bringing at last to boundless Impudence; That Enemy to Virtue, that prophane Preludium unto a tragick Scene, Which doth by Heart-beguiling Pastimes bring The yielding Captive to the wounding Sting Of inward Horror, a tormenting Pain, That frets their Hearts, involv'd in lasting Shame: Whilst Peace and Honour evermore remains To them, in whose chaste Breast true Virtue reigns. Both Sexes are adorn'd by Chastity, For, as recorded to Posterity, Great Heroes, for their Valour much renown'd, If in their princely Bosoms this was found, As by a Law to limit; such did gain A more enobling Lustre to their Name: But those, from whom great Armies conquer'd fled, That by a wanton Heart were vanquished, (Though Fortitude is not to be forgot) This to their Names is a perpetual Blot. Who conquers Self, Virtue more noble calls, Than he that overthrows the strongest Walls: Then for the blushing Sex, what Tongue can tell The Infamy that on her Name shall dwell, That wants the Ornament of Chastity? 'Tis a Reproach unto her Memory: But she that keeps her Mind retir'd and Chaste, Her Praise shall flourish; Fame nor Envy's Blast Can never blemish it; that happy Peace, That in her Bosom lives, shall never cease. This therefore is to some a Pearl as dear As Life; and such do less regard or fear The Loss of Life, and all, than once to stain Their chaste reserved Souls, with Guilt and Shame. Thus fair Matilda rather chose to die A Martyr to her spotless Chastity, Than with a gnawing Guilt and Horror live, In all the Pleasures that a Court could give; Who tho' with Mortals she be ceas'd to dwell, She lives where Joys immortal do excel All Vanities on Earth; and here her Name Doth still in Honour and Esteem remain. Virtue bestows a Crown of endless Praise, On all that to it consecrate their Days.