A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions…A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions…

Wantonness and lightness in them, which is especially in nakedness, as to such and such parts of the body, which in modesty are to be hid; for women having clothes for a cover, ought to make use of them for that end, and it is more then probable, that, that walking with stretched out necks, there reproved, relateth to women, their making more of their necks, and their breasts bare, then should be, or is decent, they affected to discover and raise their gorgets, when God commendeth modesty, and Nature is best pleased in its own unaffected freedom, yet they stretched them out: It is both a wonderful and sad thing, that women should need to be reproved for such things, which are in themselves, 1. So gross, that let the most innocent be inquired, whence these, more then ordinary discoveries, do proceed; and they must at least grant, that the first practisers of such a fashion, could have no other design in it, then the more thereby to please and allure mens carnal eyes and regards: And 2. so impudent; for if to be a •l naked be shameful and exceeding ready to provoke lust, must not nakedness in part, more or less, be, and do the same? So that this will be found a glorying ⟨p. 364⟩in their shame; for nakedness hitherto was always looked upon as a reproach: We read of old of such as were grave, that they covered themselves with a veil: And 1 Cor. 11. married women's going abroad uncovered is looked on as unnatural; What would such say if they lived in our times; we are persuaded the gravest amongst women are most averse from this evil, and the lightest are most prone and given to it: And seeing all women should be grave, it must import a disclaiming of that qualification where this lightness is delighted in: If therefore there be any shame, if there be any conscience, we will expect to prevail with some who are touched with the sense of gravity, that they may be good examples to the rest, and once endeavour effectually to bring gravity and modest shamefastness in fashion again.

Wantonness and lightness in them, which is especially in nakedness, as to such and such parts of the body, which in modesty are to be hid; for women having cloaths for a cover, ought to make use of them for that end, and it is more then probable, that, that walking with stretched out necks, there reproved, relateth to women, their making more of their necks, and their breasts bare, then should be, or is decent, they affected to discover and raise their gorgets, when God commendeth modesty, and Nature is best pleased in its own unaffected freedom, yet they stretched them out: It is both a wonderful and sad thing, that women should need to be reproved for such things, which are in themselves, 1. So gross, that let the most innocent be inquired, whence these, more then ordinary discoveries, do proceed; and they must at least grant, that the first practisers of such a fashion, could have no other design in it, then the more thereby to please and allure mens carnal eyes and regards: And 2. so impudent; for if to be a l naked be shameful and exceeding ready to provoke lust, must not nakedness in part, more or less, be, and do the same? So that this will be found a glorying