Ornaments for the daughters of Zion, or, The character and happiness of a virtuous woman in a disocurse which directs the female-sex how to express the fear of God in every age and state of their life, and obtain both temporal and eternal blessedness / written by Cotton Mather.

Counsel. 3.

But at the same time you should use a good Caution against those that would Seduce you from the Fear of God. It is mention'd as the singular unhappiness of Women, in 2 Tim. 3. 6. Men having a Form of Godliness, but denying the Pow∣er thereof,—These Creep [like Serpents, as they are] into Houses, and lead Cap∣tive Silly Women, laden with Sins, led away with diverse Lusts. 'Tis noted of Seducers, that like their Father the De∣vil, the Old, the First Seducer, they have a special design upon the Weaker Sex, who are most easily gained them∣selves, and then fit Instruments for the gaining of their Husbands, to such Er∣rors as cause them to lose their Souls at last. Simon Magus Traded with his He∣lena,

and Montanus with his Maximilla, for the more effectual Propagation of their Heresies, as Jerom long since ob∣served; and as Ephiphanius tells us, A∣rius promoted his Blasphemies by first Proselyting seven hundred Virgins there∣unto. That it is no new thing for Wo∣men to become very mischievous Ad∣versaries unto the Truth, and so unto the Fear of God, is intimated from that instance in the Apostolical History, Acts 13. 51. The Jews stirred up the Devout and Honour able Women, and raised a Per∣secution against the Ministers of God. Indeed a Poison does never insinuate so quickly, or operate so strongly, as when Womans Milk is the Vehicle, which 'tis given in. But may You be always upon your Guard, against the False Teachers in these Days; and therefore become so well principled in your Catechisms, as that it may not be said of you, They are ever Learning and never able to come unto the Knowledge of the Truth. If you find your selves unable to fathom some Controversies which you see agitated in the Church of God, and if you must cry out, I have nothing to draw with, and the Well is deep, the most likely way to

be kept from going out of the Way, is This; mind what has the most obvious tendency to advance the Fear of God, in your Hearts and Lives; mind what most magnifies Christ and nullifies Man, and recommends Practical Godliness; 'tis the Doctrine according to Godliness, which is the True Doctrine. Or if thou can't Penetrate so far, then mind how those men which are most eminent for the Fear of God, are most generally inclin∣ed; mind what is most generally grate∣ful to the Sober, Gracious, Patient, Hea∣venly, Mortify'd part of Mankind; and on the other side, what the most Loose, Proud, Carnal, Railing, Profane, par∣ty chuse to fall in withal; to Walk in the Way of good Men: is most probably to Walk in the good Way.