Balaam

It remains now in the last Place, to speak of this modern Practice, as it tends to promote Vice and Immorality; I believe it will be readily granted me, that there is no one Thing so universally dreaded, as the Disease, which this strange Method of Practice pretends to elude. But there is this of Good attending, that the Fear of it is an happy Restraint upon many People, who seem not so sensible of superiour Obligations, to keep themselves in Temperance and Sobriety, and want no other Encouragement to give a Loose to their Inclinations, than to be free from Apprehensions of this uncertain Visitor. Most Mens Acquaintance, I am apt to think, will furnish them with Instances of Persons who would gladly give into the Extravagance of these licentious Cities, to the apparent hazard of Reputation and Fortune; did not this providential Obstruction, like the Angel of the Lord to Balaam, stop them in the Way, or keep them at a safe Distance, in Health, Wealth, and Innocence.

It remains now in the last place to speak of this modern practice, as it tends to promote vice and immorality. I believe it will be readily granted me that there is no one thing so universally dreaded as the disease which this strange method of practice pretends to elude. But there is this of good attending: that the fear of it is a happy restraint upon many people who seem not so sensible of superior obligations to keep themselves in temperance and sobriety, and want no other encouragement to give a loose to their inclinations than to be free from apprehensions of this uncertain visitor. Most men’s acquaintance, I am apt to think, will furnish them with instances of persons who would gladly give into the extravagance of these licentious cities, to the apparent hazard of reputation and fortune, did not this providential obstruction, like the angel of the Lord to Balaam, stop them in the way, or keep them at a safe distance, in health, wealth, and innocence.