any
farther Account thereof than they have thus been taught. It is yet
true that many who have Learn'd, and who well remember long
Catechisms, with all their pretended Proofs, are so far from having
that Knowledge which Rational Creatures ought to have of a Religion
they profess to Believe they can only be Sav'd by, as that they are
not able to say, either what this Religion does Consist in, or why it
is they Believe it; and are so little instructed by their Catechisms,
as that, oftentimes, they understand not so much as the very Terms
they have Learn'd in them: And more often find the Proportions therein
contain'd, so short in the Information of their Ignorance; or so
unintelligible, to their Apprehensions; or so plainly contradictory of
the most obvious Dictates of common Sense; that Religion (for the
which they never think of looking beyond these Systems) appears to
them indeed a thing not Built upon, or defensible by Reason: In
consequence of which Opinion, the weakest attaques made against it,
must needs render such Persons (at the least) wavering in their Belief
of it; Whence those Precepts of Vertue, which they have receiv'd as
bottom'd thereon, are, in a Time wherein Scepticism and Vice, pass for
Wit and Gallantry, necessarily brought under the suspicion of having
no solid Foundation; and the recommenders thereof, either of
Ignorance, or Artifice.

But the not making Young People understand their Religion, is a fault
not peculiar in regard to the instruction of one Sex alone, any
otherwise than as consider'd in its Consequences; whereby (ordinarily
speaking) Women do the most inevitably suffer; as not having the like
Advantage (at least early enough) of Correcting the Ignorance, or
Errors of their Child-hood that Men have.

The other thing which I imagine faulty, does more peculiarly concern
the Sex, but is yet chiefly practic'd in regard of Those of it who are
of Quality, and that is, the insinuating into them such a Notion of
Honour as if the praise of Men ought to be the Supreme Object of their
Desires, and the great Motive with them to Vertue: _A Term_ which when
apply'd to Women, is rarely design'd, by some People, to signifie any
thing but the single Vertue of Chastity; the having whereof does with
no more Reason intitle a Lady to the being thought such as she should
be in respect of Vertue, than a handsome Face, unaccompany'd by other
Graces, can render her Person truly Amiable. Or rather, _Chastity_ is