Holy living in which are described the means and instruments of obtaining every virute, and the remedies against every vice, and considerations serving to the resisting all temptations : together with prayers containing the whole duty of a Christian, and the parts of devotion occasians [sic], and furnished for all necessities / by Jer. Taylor.

* 1.1Acts of Modesty as it is opposed to undecency.

1. In your prayers, in Churches, and places of religion use reverent postures, great at∣tention, grave ceremony, the lowest gestures of humility, remembring that we speak to God, in our reverence to whom we cannot possibly exceed; but that the expression of this reverence be according to law or cu∣stome, and the example of the most prudent and pious persons: that is, let it be the best in its kinde to the best of essences.

2. In all publick meetings, private addres∣ses, in discourses, in journeys use those forms of salutation, reverence and decency, which the custome prescribes, and is usual amongst the most sober persons; giving honour to whom honour belongeth, taking place of none of thy betters, and in all cases of que∣stion concerning civil precedency, giving it to any one that will take it, if it be only thy own right that is in question.

3. Observe the proportion of affections in all meetings and to all persons: be not merry at a funeral, nor sad upon a festival, but re∣joice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

4. Abstain from wanton & dissolute laugh∣ter, petulant and uncomely jests, loud talking, jeering, and all such actions, which in civil ac∣count are called undecencies, and incivilities.

3. Towards your parents use all modesty of duty and humble carriage: towards them & all your kindred be severe in the modesties of

chastly: ever fearing, lest the freedoms of natural kindness should enlarge into any neighbourhood of unhandsomness. For all incestuous mixtures, and all circumstances & degrees towards it, are the highest violations of modesty in the world: for therefore incest is grown to be so high a crime, especially in the last periods of the world, because it breaks that reverence which the consent of all nations and the severity of humane laws hath enjoyned towards our parents and nea∣rest kindred, in imitation of that law which God gave to the Jews in prosecution of Mo∣desty in this instance.

6. Be a curious observer of all those things which are of good report, and are parts of publick honesty. For publick fame,* 1.2 and the sentence of prudent and publick persons, is the measure of good and evil in things in∣different: and charity requires us to comply with those fancies and affections which are agreeable to nature, or the analogie of vir∣tue, or publick laws, or old customs. It is a∣gainst Modesty for a woman to marry a se∣cond husband as long as shee bears a burden by the first, or to admit a second love while her funeral tears are not wiped from her cheeks.* 1.3 It is against publick honesty to doe some lawful actions of privacy in publick theatres, and therefore in such cases retire∣ment is a duty of modesty.

7. Be grave, decent & modest in thy cloth∣ing and ornament: never let it be above thy condition, not alwaies equal to it, never light or amorous, never discovering a nakedness through a thin vail, which thou pretendest to

hide: never to lay a snare for a soul, but re∣member what becomes a Christian, profes∣sing holiness, chastity, and the discipline of the holy Jesus:* 1.4 and the first effect of this let your servants feel by your gentleness and aptness to be plea∣sed with their usual diligence, and or∣dinary cōduct: For the man or woman that is dressed with an∣ger and impatience, wears pride under their robes, and immodesty above.

8. Hither also is to be reduced singular and affected walking, proud, nice and ridiculous gestures of body, painting and lascivious dressings, all which together God reproves by the Prophet:* 1.5 The Lord saith, because the daughters of Sion are haughty, and walk with stretched▪ forth necks and wanton eyes, walk∣ing and mineing as they go, and make a tink∣ling with their feet, therefore the ••ord will smite her with a scab of the crown of the head and will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments.* 1.6 And this duty of mode∣sty in this instance is expresly enjoyned to all Christian women by Saint Paul,* 1.7 That women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefastness and sobriety, not with broidered hair, or gold or pearl, or costly ar∣ray, but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

9. As those meats are to be avoided which tempt our stomacks beyond our hunger, so also should prudent persons decline all such spectacles, relations, Theatres, loud noises and out-cries which concern us not, and are

besides our natural or moral interest. Our senses should not like petulant and wanton Girles wander into Markets and Theatres without just imployment;* 1.8 but when they are sent abroad by reason, return quickly with their errand, and remain modestly at home under their guide, till they be sent againe.

10. Let all persons be curious in observing modesty toward themselves in the handsome treating their own body, and such as are in their power, whether living or dead. Against this rule they offend who expose to others their own, or pry into others nakedness be∣yond the limits of necessity; where a leave is not made holy by a permission from God. It is also said that God was pleased to work a miracle about the body of Epiphanius to reprove the immodest curiosity of an uncon∣cerned person, who pryed too neer when charitable people were composing it to the grave. In all these cases and particulars, al∣though they seem little, yet our duty and con∣cernment is not little. Concerning which, I use the words of the Son of Sirach, He that despiseth little things shall perish by little and little.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  Philip. 4.1.
• * 1.3

  Et meretri•• abigit restem vel••que, s••r•••• que; Raráque si memini, fornice rima patet. Matt.
• * 1.4

  Tuta sit ornatrix: odi quae saueiat ora Vngu••bus, & rap••â brachia figi•• acu. dev••••et, & tangit Dominae caput illa simúl{que} Plorat ad invis••s sanguin••l••ma c••mas.Ovid.
• * 1.5

  Naiah 3.15.
• * 1.6

  Prov 6.13.
• * 1.7

  •• Tim. 2 5,
• * 1.8

  Oedipam cu∣riositas in ex∣tremas coje∣cit calamita∣te••: Plat: