; but let such Wretches know, they
cannot hate, detest, and despise us, half so much as we do them.

However, I have prevailed on myself to write a civil Letter to your
Master, as there is a Probability of his being shortly in a Capacity
of rendring me a Piece of Service; my good Friend and Neighbour the
Rev^d. Mr. _Squeeze-Tithe_ being, as I am informed by one whom I have
employed to attend for that Purpose, very near his Dissolution.

You see, sweet Mrs. _Pamela_, the Confidence with which I dictate
these Things to you; whom after those Endearments which have passed
between us, I must in some Respects estimate as my Wife: For tho' the
Omission of the Service was a Sin; yet, as I have told you, it was a
venial One, of which I have truly repented, as I hope you have; and
also that you have continued the wholsome Office of reading good
Books, and are improved in your Psalmody, of which I shall have a
speedy Trial: For I purpose to give you a Sermon next _Sunday_, and
shall spend the Evening with you, in Pleasures, which tho' not
strictly innocent, are however to be purged away by frequent and
sincere Repentance. I am,

_Sweet Mrs._ Pamela,

_Your faithful Servant_,

ARTHUR WILLIAMS.

You find, Mamma, what a charming way he hath of Writing, and yet I
assure you, that is not the most charming thing belonging to him:
For, tho' he doth not put any Dears, and Sweets, and Loves into his
Letters, yet he says a thousand of them: For he can be as fond of a
Woman, as any Man living.

_Sure Women are great Fools, when they prefer a laced Coat to the
Clergy, whom it is our Duty to honour and respect._

Well, on _Sunday_ Parson _Williams_ came, according to his Promise,
and an excellent Sermon he preached; his Text was, _Be not Righteous
over much_; and, indeed, he handled it in a very fine way; he shewed
us that the Bible doth not require too much Goodness of us, and that
People very often call things Goodness that are not so. That to go to
Church, and to pray, and to sing Psalms, and to honour the Clergy,
and to repent, is true Religion; and 'tis not doing good to one
another, for that is one of the greatest Sins we can commit, when we
don't do it for the sake of Religion. That those People who talk of
Vartue and Morality, are the wickedest of all Persons. That 'tis not
what we do, but what we believe, that must save us, and a great many
other good Things; I wish I could remember them all.

As soon as Church was o