ever been so before-hand Taught, as to make it a
reasonable Presumption that they should have it. Whence all the
Endeavours of making them Vertuous in consequence of their
Christianity, are but attempting to raise a real Superstructure upon
an only imaginary Foundation; for Truths receiv'd upon any other
Ground than their own Evidence, tho' they may, perhaps, find
entertainment, yet will never gain to themselves a sure hold upon the
Mind; and so soon as they become troublesome, are in great danger of
being question'd; whereby whatever is Built upon them, must be
likewise liable to be suspected for fallacious: And however empty
Declamations do often-times make livelier impressions upon Young
People than substantial Reasoning, yet these impressions are, for the
most part, easily effac'd; and especially are so out of their Minds
who naturally are the capablest of right Reason; as among other
instances appears in this, that prophane Wits do often even railly
Women of the Best Parts (Religiously Bred as they call it) out of
their Duty: These not seeing (as they should have been early Taught to
do) that what they have learn'd to be their Duty is not grounded upon
the uncertain and variable Opinion of Men, but the unchangeable nature
of things; and has an indissolvable Connection with their Happiness or
Misery.

Now those who have the Direction of Young Ladies in their Youth, so
soon as past Child-hood, whether they be the Parents, Governesses, or
others, do not, most commonly, neglect the Teaching them That which is
the Ground and Support of all the Good Precepts they give them;
because that Principles of Religion are by them believed to be
unnecessary; or are not in their Thoughts; but because they presume,
as has been said, that those now under their Care are already
sufficiently instructed herein; viz. When their Nurses, or Maids,
Taught them their Catechisms; that is to say, Certain Answers to a
Train of Questions adapted to some approv'd System of Divinity.

That this is sufficient Instruction in Religion, is apparently a
Belief pretty general: And not only such Young Ladies as have newly
put off their Bibs and Aprons, but even the greatest Number of their
Parents, and Teachers themselves, would, yet less than They, be
pleas'd if one should tell them that those who know so much as this,
may nevertheless be very Ignorant concerning the Christian Religion;
these Old People no more than the Young Ones, being able to give