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the particular Case I am speaking of, and the Inclination would not be able to conquer the Aversion; for there must certainly be something shocking to Nature in the Thing it self; and there wants nothing but a decay of the Ferment in the Blood to make the Victory easy, and to bring the Enemy to be subdued.
And to add to this Physical Resolution the Methods of Diet, why should not both Men and Women tie themselves by solemn Vows, Promises and religious Resolutions, to keep themselves within Bounds? Perhaps then they would assist one another in the Performance. Why do not Protestants, as well as Papists, enter into Vows of Continence? No doubt if they would be assistant to one another to break those Charms of Hell, those Filtres and Bewitchings, which are certainly the Attacks of the Devil, they might break them.
Did they do this, they would fortify one another in the Ways of Virtue, and it would not be so easy to be drawn into Crime; a three-fold Cord is not easily broken, and here is a threefold Help: As, (1.) A Conviction that you ought to perform it. (2.) A solemn Vow to engage the Performance. And, (3.) Mutual Assistance both in the Vow and in the Resolution, to pay it.
I would hope, that this vile Practice is carried on among us, rather for want of knowing how offensive it is, than for want of Power to resolve a Performance, and to engage the Mind in it. Custom has made the Vice, however odious in it self, so natural to us, that there are thousands of People among us at this time, who, if you should ask about it, wouldreadily
