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hibition of Divine Wisdom which ought to call forth our perpetual admiration. As affection is the strongest motive to duty, so the wise Designer has secured the most intimate and fundamental relation by the strongest affection. No human legislation could enforce that treatment of husband and wife which is essential to the happiness of both. No interference from any source is of the least service, and happiness and all prospect of it, must be banished before there can be any appeal to a third party. But when two are united by true affection, the heart has given a bond of duty stronger than can be imposed by any compulsory obligation. Hence it is that marriage generally produces the best effect upon the female character. Indeed it may be said, that it always improves it, if it be capable of improvement.

There is no teacher like true affection. The Jewish and Christian religions vindicate their claim to a Divine origin as much as in any other way in the deep wisdom and philosophical truth upon which they are founded. They do not begin by saying, thou shalt do this or that, but they go deeper, and say, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all

thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself," well knowing that these two commandments embrace all others. So in laying the foundations of society, the Creator based them upon affection. He made no outward law directing the conduct in the primary relations. He did not say to the first pair, "Ye shall treat each other thus and so." But he put between them those affections which are the best security of duty. He so formed their hearts, that they must involuntarily fulfil the first command, "Ye shall love each other with an affection, before which all others fade away;" an enactment which has lost nothing of its force, and which has in all ages led husband and wife, forsaking all other connexions, to cleave to each other, so as to all purposes of this life to become one, to be identified in feeling, purpose, interest, and endeavor.

Marriage generally improves the character of woman, not only because it puts her under the best possible tuition, that of the affections, and affords scope to her active energies, but because it gives her higher aims, and a more dignified position in society. Oh! how much there is of female talent and

capacity, which is never developed for want of an opportunity! Where education has been careful and thorough, there is a great developement of power. Society, after the completion of school education, is the means of still further improvement. For a few years it fills the female mind. Every thing is fresh and new, and therefore interesting. One scene of gaiety after another absorbs and engrosses the attention. Emancipation from the confinement of school discipline, and the pleasures of free and independent action, are enough to make life pass agreeably away. But the time at length comes, when all these things begin to pall. The feeling begins occasionally to come over the young woman, that it is but a sorry account of human life, that it is spent in a perpetual round of frivolities. The human mind is made for serious realities, and never can be satisfied with any thing else. Unless supplied with these it loses its self respect. The mind unoccupied without, turns inward and preys upon itself. In this state of things the moral dispositions suffer. The temper cannot retain its sunny brightness, and a new generation coming forward with the charms of youth

and beauty, is in no degree calculated to increase the self complacency of the woman who has trod the whole round of the gaieties of the world. There is apt to arise about that time a critical spirit, which is not altogether pleased with things as they are. There is a fear of falling into neglect, which becomes watchfully suspicious of any signs of it. The generous feelings are too apt to contract, and the openness and freedom of earlier years give place to reserve. All these evils find their remedy in the new relations which marriage brings about. The affections having found their proper object, harmony and complacency are restored to the soul. The active powers having found something worthy of them to do, go forth in joyful exercise. The critical spirit disappears, and woman, finding herself embarked anew in the great voyage of life, feels disposed to cultivate the best feelings towards her fellow passengers.

If marriage places woman in that sphere where she may attain the greatest happiness, so does it advance her to a station of power and responsibility. Her power over her husband's happiness is almost absolute.

By

wisdom, by steadiness, by forbearance, by meekness, she may be to him a tower of strength. But no tongue can tell the ways in which she may annoy and render him wretched.

The first thing to be watched over is the temper. Short of an absolute control of this, there is no happiness in married life. Resentment, just so far as it exists, and so long as it lasts, destroys that state of feeling, which constitutes the happiness of those who are connected by the most sacred tie. The proper affection finds its satisfaction in perpetual demonstrations of kindness. But what an altered and an awful condition of things when a state of feeling has arisen, which finds its highest gratification in crossing and vexing one another! Is it not highly dangerous then to indulge in such a state of feeling for a single moment? Alas! that there should be two human beings so mad and so unprincipled as to pursue such a course of conduct as this!\

It is said, that there are few happy matches. Dr. Watts indeed, a century ago, wrote a celebrated poem under this title. If it be a fact, it is the blackest record against

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