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Vices has got the better of Virtue, and the Criminals have managed themselves so artfully that, it seems, they may Sin with less hazard of Reputation, than the Innocent may reprove them: For Example,
The Crime is now less Scandal than Repentance, and, as the Proverb says, 'tis a shame to Steal, but 'tis a double shame to carry Home again; so 'tis a shame to Sin, but 'tis a double shame to Repent; nay, we go beyond all that, 'tis no shame to be Wicked, but to Whine and Repent is intolerable; and, as the late Colonel H——— said, in the flagrance of his Wit, that it might be a Fault to Whore, and Drink, and Swear, and some worse Sins of his, which he reckoned up; but to Repent! to Repent! says he, (repeating the Words) nothing of a Gentleman can come into that; to be Wicked, adds he, is wicked, that's true; but to Repent, that's the Devil.
"Blush to Repent, but never blush to Sin.
But the Rubicon's past, it must be put to the venture; and let Rage and exasperated Lust do its worst, the lewd Age shall hear their shameless Behaviour as well exposed as it will bear, and that without any shameless Doings in the Reproof; they will find no Levity here; no cleansing Blurs with blotted Fingers; they shall have nothing to Blush for but that they give occasion for such a Reproof, which being engaged with them on the occasion of their filthy Conduct, may be forced to speak of it in Terms necessary to express our detestation of it, but not at all adapted to encourage or recommend it.
