ABSTRACT
By the particulars of your being secretary in love matters to several young women, I can perceive that you might come to the full knowledge of the woman’s heart, and its deepest recesses: this has enabled you, Sir, to paint with lively colours the most inmost thoughts, deliberations, and affections of a Clarissa, an Anna Howe, a Miss Byron; but by which means you have penetrated into the mysteries of unrighteousness, in the heart of a rake, a libertine, a wanton and sly Lovelace, this continues to me matter of astonishment! nor produce you any thing to deliver me of my wonder. On the contrary, you encrease it by your professions, which I, as the pledges of the truest confidence and friendship, have received. Pardon me, Sir, but I was before of opinion, that you in your Belford had drawn your own picture; that you had seen the world, and loved it; but afterwards escaped out of its inticements. In this case, I should not have been ashamed of corresponding with you; for, am I not a follower of that Saviour, which declared that there was joy in heaven on a repenting sinner? I have formerly conversed with such sinners, especially with one, intimately conversed, who, of a sound judgment and lively wit, having forsaken the follies of his youth, excelled in works of piety and charity; which familiarity has been very useful to me in acquiring my knowledge, whatsoever it may be, of the hearts and characters of men; and peculiarly enabled me to distinguish, with more cognisance, the natural lineaments of a Lovelace. Happy! however, threefold happy are we, my friend, and have abundarit reason to thank Heaven, which has favoured us with a virtuous education, and preserved us from the baits of corruption! What an easiness! what a serenity! for a mind striving in the way to eternal happiness!
