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from the black Circumstances attending the Crimes they commit; and, of all People, they should be the last to boast of that Advantage, seeing they must own at the same time, 'tis because their Behaviour is so much too vile to be reproved, that it cannot be mentioned; the Language of it is so foul, that it will not read; modest Tongues cannot speak it; modest Ears cannot hear it, like some particular Trials in our Courts of Justice, when they are obliged to desire of the Women to withdraw, because they may be obliged to use such Expressions as it is not decent to mention before them, or modest in them to be in the hearing of; and yet, without which Words spoken in the grossest and plainest manner, the Cause cannot be tried, the Evidence be taken, or the Offender convicted.
This is exactly the Case; and under this Difficulty the whole Work labours in almost every Part. But I have taken the Part that; I think, Religion and Decency directs; that is, to go as far as I can, and leave Conscience to work the rest its own way. I have painted out the Crime as fairly as justifiable Language will allow; and where it will not, I content my self with leaving the Guilty to judge themselves by the general Hints given them. The silent Needle in the Compass points to the Pole, but says no more; yet the Pilot, which knows its meaning, steers by that Direction, and brings the Ship safe into Port.
The Facts are indeed notorious, and the less plain English will serve; the Things I reprove are not so very abstruse; there are few married People but will understand me; and all the guilty, I am sure, will read their Crimes plainenough,
