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Cou'd we but conquer the avow'd open defending these Practices, it would be a great Point gain'd; Men would cease to insist upon the Justification of it, or to boast in the Facts: Could we but persuade them not to publish their own Shame, but to cease valuing themselves upon what they ought to blush at, this would give some room to hope for a Reformation of the Practice; we might promise our selves, that what they were once ashamed of they might perhaps, in time, think of reforming; at least, it wou'd be a Step towards it. But how shall we suppose L——— G———, of ———shire, Esq; or his eminent Neighbour the J———ce, should quit the Crimes which they meet without fail twice a Week to contemplate of, committing them over again in Imagination, least they should not be guilty enough, and forming an accumulated Guilt in their Souls, a Guilt which few People are wicked enough to understand, (viz.) once in the Fact, and again in the Reflection; instead of Repentance, committing the Crime again in the Mind, by thinking it over with Delight.
These are Proficients in the Art of Sinning, that knowing how to offend in the most exquisite manner, are so far from Repentance, that, if they have any regret at all, it is that they know not how to be wickeder than they are, but rejoyce over the Opportunities they have, and wish for more.
Rather than not be wicked, they will run lawful Things up to a criminal Excess, and make themselves Offenders when they need not.
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