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"I have used all the care I cou'd in the following Periods, that I might neither be wanting to assist those that need it, nor yet minister any Occasion of fancy or vainer Thoughts to those that need them not. If any Man will snatch the pure Taper from my hand, and hold it to the Devil, he will only burn his own Fingers, but shall not rob me of the reward of my Care and good Intention, since I have taken heed how to express the following Duties, and given him caution how to read them."
Thus far Dr. Taylor. He had but one Chapter, or Section, as he calls it, upon the Subject of Chastity, and yet you see how wary he was, least the ill digesture of the Times should turn that which he designed for the wholesome Nourishment of the Mind, to a corrupt and unclean purpose. How much more have I just ground to warn the Reader of this Work, that he may forbear reading it with a Design to gratify or please a tainted and vitiated Imagination? Let him rather prepare to read a just Reproof of the vilest Actions, with the same detestation and abhorrence that I write it with, and with such clean Thoughts as becomes a Mind seasoned with Virtue, awed by Religion, and prepared by a due Reverence to the divine Command.
To the pure all things are pure, to the unclean all things are unclean; they that are disposed to ridicule and make a jest of the just Satyr here pointed at Crime, will but make a jest of themselves; since nothing can be more evident than the Offence, nothing can be more just than the Reproof. If Men will defile themselves, as the Scots say, no Man can dight them. 'Tis very
