12. But, my children, you are not only in this manner _spirits_, but you are _fallen_ spirits, that began your life in a state of corruption and disorder, full of tempers and passions, that blind and darken your reason, and incline you to that which is hurtful.
Your bodies are not only poor and perishing like your cloaths, but they are like ill _infected cloaths_, that fill you with ill diseases, which oppress the soul with sickly appetites, and vain cravings.
So that all of us are like two beings, that have, as it were, two hearts within us; with the one we see, and taste, and admire reason, and holiness; with the other we incline to pride, and vanity, and sensual delights.
If you would know the one thing necessary to all the world, it is this, to preserve and perfect all that is _rational_, _holy_, and _divine_ in our nature, and to mortify, remove, and destroy all _vanity_, _pride_, and _sensuality_.
Could you think, my children, when you look at the world, and see what _customs_, and _fashions_, and _pleasures_, and _troubles_, and _projects_, employ the hearts and time of mankind, that things were thus?
But don’t you be affected at these things; the world is in a great _dream_, and but few people are awake in it.
We fancy that we fall into darkness, when we die; but alas, we are most of us in the dark till then; and the eyes of our souls only then begin to see, when our bodily eyes are closing.
13. You see then your state, my children; you are to improve and perfect the spirit that is within you; you are to prepare it for the kingdom of heaven, to nourish it with the love of God, to adorn it with good works, and to make it as holy and heavenly as you can. You are to preserve it from the errors and vanities of the world; to save it from the corruptions of the body, from those false delights and sensual tempers which the body tempts it with.
You are to nourish your spirits with pious readings, and holy meditations, with watchings, fastings, and prayers, that you may relish that eternal state which is to begin when this life ends.
As to your bodies, you are to consider them as _poor_, _perishing_ things, that are corrupt at present, and will soon drop into common dust; you are to watch over them as _enemies_, that are always trying to betray you, and so never follow their counsel; you are to consider them as the _place_ and _habitation_ of your souls, and so keep them _clean_, and _decent_; you are to consider them as the servants and instruments of action, and so give them _food_, and _rest_, and _raiment_, that they may be strong and healthful to do the duties of a charitable, useful, pious life.
Whilst you live thus, you live like yourselves; and whenever you have less regard to your souls, or more regard to your bodies; whenever you are more intent upon adorning your persons, than upon perfecting your souls, you are much more beside yourselves, than he that had rather have a _laced coat_, than an healthful body.
14. For this reason, my children, I have taught you nothing that was dangerous for you to learn: I have kept you from every thing that might betray you into _weakness_ and _folly_; or make you think any thing fine, but a _fine mind_; any thing happy, but the favour of God; or any thing desirable, but to do all the good you possibly can.
Instead of the vain, immodest entertainment of _plays_ and _operas_, I have taught you to delight in visiting the _sick_ and _poor_. What ♦_music_, and _dancing_, and _diversions_ are to many in the world, that prayers and devotions, and psalms are to you. Your hands have not been employed in plaiting the hair, and adorning your persons; but in making cloaths for the naked. You have not wasted your fortunes upon yourselves; but have added your labour to them, to do more good to other people.
♦ ‘musick’ replaced with ‘music’
Instead of forced _shapes_, _genteel airs_, and _affected motions_, I have taught you to conceal your bodies with _modest garments_, and let the world have nothing to view of you, but the _plainness_, and _sincerity_, and _humility_ of all your behaviour.
15. You know, my children, the _high perfection_, and the _great rewards_ of virginity; you know how it frees from worldly cares and troubles, and furnishes means and opportunities of higher advancements in the divine life. Therefore love, and esteem, and honour virginity: bless God for all that glorious company of holy virgins, that from the beginning of Christianity have, in the several ages of the church, renounced the cares and pleasures of matrimony, to be perpetual examples of contemplation and prayer.
But as every one has their proper gift from God, as I look upon you all to be so many great blessings of a married state; so I leave to your choice, either to do as I have done, or to aspire after higher degrees of perfection in a virgin state.
I press nothing upon you, but to make the most of human life, and to aspire after perfection in whatever state you chuse.