Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded
stooped to flatter or soothe the vices of the great.
In the examples of good old ANDREWS and his WIFE, let those, who are
reduced to a low estate, see, that Providence never fails to reward
their honesty and integrity: and that God will, in his own good time,
extricate them, by means unforeseen, out of their present difficulties,
and reward them with benefits unhoped for.
The UPPER SERVANTS of great families may, from the odious character of
Mrs. JEWKES, and the amiable ones of Mrs. JERVIS, Mr. LONGMAN, etc.
learn what to avoid, and what to choose, to make themselves valued and
esteemed by all who know them.
And, from the double conduct of poor JOHN, the LOWER SERVANTS may learn
fidelity, and how to distinguish between the lawful and unlawful
commands of a superior.
The poor deluded female, who, like the once unhappy Miss GODFREY, has
given up her honour, and yielded to the allurements of her designing
lover, may learn from her story, to stop at the first fault; and, by
resolving to repent and amend, see the pardon and blessing which await
her penitence, and a kind Providence ready to extend the arms of its
mercy to receive and reward her returning duty: While the prostitute,
pursuing the wicked courses, into which, perhaps, she was at first
inadvertently drawn, hurries herself into filthy diseases, and an
untimely death; and, too probably, into everlasting perdition.
Let the desponding heart be comforted by the happy issue which the
troubles and trials of PAMELA met with, when they see, in her case,
that no danger nor distress, however inevitable, or deep to their
apprehensions, can be out of the power of Providence to obviate or
relieve; and which, as in various instances in her story, can turn the
most seemingly grievous things to its own glory, and the reward of
suffering innocence; and that too, at a time when all human prospects
seem to fail.
Let the rich, and those who are exalted from a low to a high estate,
learn from her, that they are not promoted only for a single good; but
that Providence has raised them, that they should dispense to all
within their reach, the blessings it has heaped upon them; and that the
greater the power is to which God hath raised them, the greater is the
good that will be expected from them.
From the low opinion she every where shews of herself, and her
attributing all her excellencies to pious education, and her lady’s
virtuous instructions and bounty; let persons, even of genius and
piety, learn not to arrogate to themselves those gifts and graces,
which they owe least of all to themselves: Since the beauties of person
are frail; and it is not in our power to give them to ourselves, or to
be either prudent, wise, or good, without the assistance of divine
grace.
From the same good example, let children see what a blessing awaits
their duty to their parents, though ever so low in the world; and that
the only disgrace, is to be dishonest; but none at all to be poor.
From the economy she purposes to observe in her elevation, let even
ladies of condition learn, that there are family employments, in which
they may and ought to make themselves useful, and give good examples to
their inferiors, as well as equals: and that their duty to God, charity
to the poor and sick, and the different branches of household
management, ought to take up the most considerable portions of their
time.
From her signal veracity, which she never forfeited, in all the
hardships she was tried with, though her answers, as she had reason to
apprehend, would often make against her; and the innocence she
preserved throughout all her stratagems and contrivances to save
herself from violation: Persons, even sorely tempted, may learn to
preserve a sacred regard to truth; which always begets a reverence for
them, even in the corruptest minds.
In short,
Her obliging behaviour to her equals, before her exaltation; her
kindness to them afterwards; her forgiving spirit, and her generosity;
Her meekness, in every circumstance where her virtue was not concerned;
Her charitable allowances for others, as in the case of Miss Godfrey,
for faults she would not have forgiven in herself;
Her kindness and prudence to the offspring of that melancholy
adventure;
Her maiden and bridal purity, which extended as well to her thoughts as
to her words and actions;
Her signal affiance in God;
Her thankful spirit;
Her grateful heart;
Her diffusive charity to the poor, which made her blessed by them
whenever she appeared abroad;
The cheerful ease and freedom of her deportment;
Her parental, conjugal, and maternal duty;
Her social virtues;
Are all so many signal instances of the excellency of her mind, which
may make her character worthy of the imitation of her sex. And the
Editor of these sheets will have his end, if it inspires a laudable
emulation in the minds of any worthy persons, who may thereby entitle
themselves to the rewards, the praises, and the blessings, by which
PAMELA was so deservedly distinguished.
THE END