pagan philosophy. The necessity of doing this perhaps somewhat weakens
the serious impressions of young men, at least till the understanding
is formed, and confuses their ideas of piety, by mixing them with so
much heterogeneous matter. They only casually read, or hear read, the
scriptures of truth, while they are obliged to learn by heart, construe
and repeat the poetical fables of the less than human gods of the
ancients. And as the excellent author of _The Internal Evidence of the
Christian Religion_ observes, "Nothing has so much contributed to
corrupt the true spirit of the christian institution, as that partiality
which we contract, in our earliest education, for the manners of pagan
antiquity."

GIRLS, therefore, who do _not_ contract this early partiality, ought to
have a clearer notion of their religious duties: they are not obliged,
at an age when the judgment is so weak, to distinguish between the
doctrines of Zeno, of Epicurus, and of Christ; and to embarrass their
minds with the various morals which were taught in the _Porch_, in the
_Academy_, and on the _Mount_.

IT is presumed, that these remarks cannot possibly be so
misunderstood, as to be construed into the least disrespect to
literature, or a want of the highest reverence for a learned education,
the basis of all elegant knowledge: they are only intended, with all
proper deference, to point out to young women, that however inferior
their advantages of acquiring a knowledge of the belles-lettres are to
those of the other sex; yet it depends on themselves not to be
surpassed in this most important of all studies, for which their
abilities are equal, and their opportunities, perhaps, greater.

BUT the mere exemption from infidelity is so small a part of the
religious character, that I hope no one will attempt to claim any merit
from this negative sort of goodness, or value herself merely for not
being the very worst thing she possibly can be. Let no mistaken girl
fancy she gives a proof of her wit by her want of piety, or that a
contempt of things serious and sacred will exalt her understanding, or
raise her character even in the opinion of the most avowed male
infidels. For one may venture to affirm, that with all their profligate
ideas, both of women and of religion, neither Bolingbroke, Wharton,
Buckingham, nor even _Lord Chesterfield himself_, would have esteemed a
woman the more for her being irreligious.

WITH whatever ridicule a polite freet