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This is treating the Crime with tenderness, and the Criminal with pity, that must be confess'd, and I am very willing to do so in Compassion to human Infirmity. But when all that is done, I must be allowed to say, the Fact deserves the severest Reflection, let the Ignorance or Rashness, or whatever other Infirmity of the Persons, be pleaded in their Excuse.
It may be farther suggested, that sometimes these unhappy Consequences do not follow, or, if you please, it is not always so bad. But this argues nothing in favour of the false Step taken, or the gross Conduct spoken of. Providence may, in Compassion to the Infirmities of his Creatures, deal with them better than they deserve, and may mercifully spare the Punishments which they ought to expect; but this Mercy is far from a Reason why they should offend; on the contrary, it is the Reason why they should not.
On the other hand: Now view but the Felicity of a married Couple, engaged before Marriage, by a mutual, a sincere, and well-grounded Affection; who Love, and know why they do so; love upon the solid Foundation of real Merit, personal Virtue, similitude of Tempers, mutual Delights; that see good Sense, good Humour, Wit, and agreeable Temper in one another, and know it when they see it, and how to judge of it; that make each the Object of a reciprocal Choice, and fix all the View of their future Felicity in the Possession of the Person so loved; whose Affection is founded in Honour and Virtue, their Intentions modest, their Desires chast, and their Designs equally sincere.
When
