*She may as well say, that she lived with our Saviour when he was upon earth, as that she has lived in imitation of him, or made it any part of her care to live in such tempers, as he required of all those that would be his disciples. She may as truly say, that she has every day _washed the saints feet_, as that she has lived in Christian _humility_ and _poverty_ of Spirit; and as reasonably think, that she has taught a _charity-school_, as that she has lived in _works of charity_. She has as much reason to think, that she has been a _sentinel_ in an army, as that she has lived in _watching and self-denial_. And it may as fairly be said, that she lived by the labour of her hands, as that she had _given all diligence to make her calling and election sure_.
10. And here it is to be well observed, that the _poor_, _vain_ turn of mind, the _folly_ and _vanity_ of this whole life of _Flavia_, is all owing to the manner of using her estate. It is this that has formed her _spirit_, that has given life to every _idle temper_, that has supported every _trifling passion_, and kept her from all thoughts of a prudent, useful, and devout life.
When her parents died, she had no thoughts about her two hundred pounds a year; but that she had so much money to do what she would with, to spend upon herself, and purchase the pleasures and gratifications of all her passions.
And it is this setting out, this false judgment, and indiscreet use of her fortune, that has filled her whole life with the same indiscretion, and kept her from thinking of what is _right_, and _wise_, and pious in every thing else.
If you have seen her delighted in _plays_ and _romances_, in _scandal_ and _backbiting_, easily _flattered_, and soon _affronted_; if you have seen her devoted to _pleasures_ and _diversions_, a slave to every _passion_ in its turn, nice in every thing that concerned her _body_ or _dress_, careless of every thing that might benefit her _soul_, always wanting some new entertainment, and ready for every _happy_ invention in _shew_ or _dress_, it was because she had _purchased_ all these tempers with her yearly revenue.
11. She might have been _humble_, _serious_, _devout_, a lover of _good books_, an admirer of _prayer_ and retirement, careful of her time, diligent in _good works_, full of _charity_ and the love of God; but that the imprudent use of her estate forced all the contrary tempers upon her.
And it was no wonder that she should turn her _time_, her _mind_, her _health_ and strength to the same uses that she turned her fortune. It is owing to her being wrong in so great an _article_ of life, that you can see nothing wise, or pious, in any other part of it.
12. And as _Flavia_ is undone by the unreasonable use of her fortune; so the _lowness_ of most peoples virtue, the _imperfections_ of their piety, and the disorders of their _passions_, are generally owing to their imprudent use of lawful things.
More people are kept from a true sense of religion, by a _regular kind_ of sensuality than by gross _drunkenness_. More men live regardless of the great duties of piety, through too _great a concern_ for worldly goods, than through _direct injustice_.
13. This man would perhaps be devout, if he was not a _virtuoso_. Another is deaf to all the motives to piety, by indulging an _idle_, _slothful_ temper.
Could you cure this man of his _curiosity_ and _inquisitive_ temper, or that of his _false_ satisfaction and thirst after _learning_, you need do no more to make them both become men of great piety.
If this _woman_ would make _fewer visits_, or that not be _always talking_, they would neither of them find it hard to be affected with religion.
Would we therefore make a real progress in religion, we must not only abhor _gross_ and _notorious_ sins; but regulate the _innocent_ and _lawful_ parts of our behaviour, and put the common actions of life under the rules of discretion and piety.