CCXI sociable letters written by the thrice noble, illustrious, and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

LI.

MADAM,

YEsterday Mrs. P. I. was to Visit me, who pray'd me to present her Humble Service to you, but since you saw her she is become an Alt'red Woman, as being a Sanctified Soul, a Spiritual Sister, she hath left Curling her Hair, Black Patches are become Abominable to her, Laced Shoes and Galoshoes are Steps to Pride, to go Bare-neck'd she accounts worse than Adul∣tery; Fans, Ribbonds, Pendants, Neckcloaths, and the like, are the Temptations of Satan, and the Signs of Damnation; and she is not onely Transform'd in her Dress, but her Garb and Speech, and all her Discourse, insomuch as you would not know her if you saw her, unless you were inform'd who she was; She Speaks of no∣thing but Heaven and Purification, and after some Discourse, she ask'd me, what Posture I thought was the best to be used in Prayer? I

said, I thought no Posture was more becoming, nor did fit Devotion better, than Kneeling, for that Posture did in a manner Acknowledg from Whence we came, and to What we shall return, for the Scripture says, from Earth we came, and to Earth we shall return; then she spoke of Prayers, for she is all for Extemporary Prayers, I told her, that the more Words we used in Prayer, the Worse they were Accepted, for I thought a Silent Adoration was better Accepted of God, than a Self-conceited Babling; Then she ask'd me, if I thought one might not be Re∣fined, by Tempering their Passions and Appe∣tites, or by Banishing the Worst of them from the Soul and Body, to that Degree, as to be a Dei∣ty, or so Divine, as to be above the Nature of Man; I said no, for put the case Men could turn Brass or Iron, or such gross Metals, into Gold, and Refine that Gold into its height of Purity, yet it would be but a Metal still; so likewise the most Refined Man would be but Human still, he would be still a Man, and not a God; nay, take the Best of Godly Men, such as have been Refi∣ned by Grace, Prayer and Fasting, to a degree of Saints, yet they were but Human and Men still, so long as the Body and Soul were joyn'd toge∣ther, but when they were Separated, what the Soul would be, whether a God, a Devil, a Spi∣rit, or Nothing, I could not tell; with that she Lifted up her Eyes, and Departed from me, Believing I was one of the Wicked and Repro∣bate, not capable of a Saving Grace, so as I be∣lieve

she will not come near me again, lest her Purity should be Defiled in my Company, I believe the next news we shall hear of her, will be, that she is become a Preaching Sister; I know not what Oratory the Spirit will Inspire her with, otherwise I believe she will make no E∣loquent Sermons, but I think those of her Cal∣ling do defie Eloquence, for the more Non-sense they Deliver, the more they are Admi∣red by their Godly Fraternity. But leaving her to her Self-denying, I return to Acknow∣ledg my self,

Madam,

Your very faithful Friend and Servant.