A discourse of auxiliary beauty. Or artificiall hansomenesse. In point of conscience between two ladies.

* 1.1BUt suppose (Madam) these artificiall helps of womens beauty, should not be in the nature and use of them absolutely sinfull: so as to violate the conscience, yet, since it cracks womens credits, and exposeth them to reproach, which the Apostle cals the snare of the devil; It ought to be wholy avoided, not only, as to others scandall and perception, but also as to our own private use; Since the Apostles tendernesse bids us, not onely provide things honest before all men, but also to follow things of good report; That we may not onely be good, but preserve the fragrancy * 1.2 of a good name, which gives a great sweetnesse * 1.3 to goodnesse, and is, as perfume to a good garment, or as incense to the Temple: Consequently we ought to avoid those things, which are under any cloud of infamy, or blasted generally with an ill report; (Though not so notoriously convicted of immorality) I am sure the art and mode of adding any tincture or colour to the face or complexion, generally heares ill with us though

it shew never so well done: and is not so much to the advantage of womens aspects, as to the disadvantage of their reputation and honor, which is, and hath been the sense almost of all people in all times, that had any remarque for civility and piety, yea the vul∣gar simplicity, is every where severe against those, that are but suspected to use any such arts: No Lady or Gentlewoman is so com∣mendable for her piety, chastity, and charity; * 1.4 But this comes in as a dead fly in a pretious confection, when it is suggested; O but she painteth; A little false colour, though but fancied, discolours all her other lustre: Because it makes such generally esteemed, as the cheats, deceivers and impostors of man∣kind; The greatest hypocrites and Jugglers, because they use artifice and falsity in that, which they pretend, not to say or to do, but to be; What credit can they deserve in other things (which are farre inferiour to themselves) when they are not upright or sincere, as to their very being, but by such disguises and dissemblings, make themselves a reall and visible (though a silent) Lye: Although their tongues do not speak un∣truths, yet their hands make lyes, and their * 1.5 faces proclaime falsehood, which is abominable to God; yea as the Prophet speaks of other Idolaters, Isai. 44. 20. So these self Idolaters,

when they take the fucus or false colours to sacrifice to the Idol of their looks, may justly say, Is there not a ly in my right hand: No person but concludes, that if God threa∣ten to punish strange apparell, he will not spare strange faces, which in spite of God * 1.6 and Nature will pretend to handsomenesse, and make that to be which is not.

Yea, the self-guilt of every one, that useth such arts, though never so soberly and discreetly (as you advise) is such, that they retire and hide themselves, from the sight of others, while they apply their face-physicks, by a strange riddle being ashamed to be seen doing that, which they purposely do, to make them more worthy to be seen of others, if it be a practise of honesty or ingenuity, why is it attended with shame and self-guilti∣nesse? which are black shadowes, following sin and unworthinesse, justly meriting to be entertained by others with reproach and disrepute, when they are selfe discountenanced and condemned: As worthy actions bring forth honor, and are accompanied with a generous boldnesse, so also they are followed with good report, and clear reputation, which attends virtue as light doth the Sun: If the light then of Scripture were lesse clear, against all painting the face, yet the rule of reputati∣on which is common fame, the law of honor,

and light of nature, seems to discover the un∣comelinesse and dishonor of this practise; The voice of people in this and many other cases, is as the voice of God which is oft to be lear∣ned from the common notions, and suffrages, or sense of mankind; which the Apostle ownes in the case of womens habits and a∣dornings, as law and dictate of natures tea∣ching them, where Scripture is lesse evident; * 1.7 None but persons impudent or foolish, will neglect what is generally said of them; next our Consciences and our eyes our credit should be most tender; especially in our sex, who have alwaies a hard rask to play a second, or after game at reputation, if a woman once dash upon this rock of reproach, she hardly ever recrutes her credit (as a grave so∣ber and modest person) though she should not absolutely shipwrack her conscience with God; And truely Madam this sense of common fame and repute, hath alwaies in the case of Ladies complexioning arts so overawed me, that I neither durst ever use it, nor take their parts or excuse those (otherwise very good women) who did or were but thought to use it, yea, it seemed a note of godlinesse to me, to declaime bitterly against both the thing and the persons, suspected or voyced to use it: when indeed I had no cause to conclude that any such thing was practised by them, further

than I heard it from more prying eyes and censorious tongues, which as it had been hard to prove; so it may be there was no such thing: onely in this as other cases fame oft over-ballances the truth of things; And our credit depends not on what we do, but on what others list to think of us, or impute to us, which should make all wise women the more cautious how they occasion any sinister reports of themselves; which (like evill spirits) are easier raised, than allayed; One spark oft times kindles that fire, which many tuns of water cannot quench.

Notes

• * 1.1

  11. Obje. Painting the face a thing of ill report, and so not to be fol∣lowed. 1 Tim. 3. 7.
• * 1.2

  Phil. 4. 8.
• * 1.3

  Prov. 22. 1.
• * 1.4

  Eccl. 1••. 1.
• * 1.5

  Rev. 22. 15.
• * 1.6

  Zeph. 1. 8.
• * 1.7

  1 Cor. 11.