MORAL REFLECTION.

THis Picture moves Compassion, and is of great Example: There is much to Deplore, yet more to Imitate: And for the Instruction of eminent Fortunes, and the Consolation of mean Ones, Greatness is there Innocent and Unhappy. Mary Stewart conserved her Innocence under two Crowns: And in the Vastness of two Kingdoms, which she lost one after the other, she was much longer a Christian, and with more Constan∣cy then a Queen.

On the one side this teacheth elevated Persons, that there is no Conditi∣on estranged from God, nor any Fortune rejected by him, provided it be just. That the Unction which makes Kings and Queens, doth not ef∣face that which Forms Saints and Holy Women: That Palaces and state∣ly Mansions are not out of the Road of Heaven. That though Piety, Modesty and Patience reside not usually at Court, yet they are no stran∣gers there: And that Vertue is more Perswasive and Exemplar upon a Throne, then in the Tub of the Cynick.

Likewise on the other side they should learn, from the Afflictions of this great Queen, to make less Account of Diadems which are torn in pie∣ces, of Scepters which are broken, and of Thrones which tumble down, if never so little touch'd by Fortune, then of the Grace of God, which was a Purple Robe that remained to this devested Queen, an Unction which is not obscured in her Prison, nor effaced with her Blood: A Crown which cannot be taken off with the Head.

She was not only an Innocent and Vertuous, but an Unhappy and Perse∣cuted Queen: And thereby she teacheth both Great & Rich Ladies, that there is no Quality Priviledged in this Life. The Purple of Soveraigns hath its Thornes, as well as that of Roses: Great Fortunes and great Structures have their Storms: Elevated Heads have their Tears, as Mountains have their Waters: And whatever Ambition makes us believe, the greatest Suf∣ferers are not upon Wheels: They sit upon Thrones invironed with Ballisters.

In fine, the ill Rumors which have been spred of Mary Stewart, and the Insolence of Calumny, which hath disfigured her, teach those of her Sex and Condition, that no Vertue nor Crown is free from detraction. Dogs indeed bark against the Moon which is so pure: Frogs croak against the Sun which is so beneficial and resplendent. Monstrous Figures, and the names of Beasts have been imposed on the Vertues of •eaven: And there is no Illustrious Plane•, which hath not been accused of some Crime. However they take no Revenge: And what stains soever are laid upon them: What Vapours soever arise to them from the Earth, they cease not to do good to the Impostors which dishonour them: they forbear not to inlighten the Earth which obscures them.

There are other Considerations to be made here upon the Providences of God; upon the Adversities of suffering Vertues and a•••isted Innocence; Page  168 upon the Blessings and Advantages of these Adversities. But these Consi∣derations are too Important, and too useful to be shut up in so narrow a compass. They require more Leisure and Extent: And if whole Volumes should be imployed therein, I need not fear that the subsequent Question would be cast away.