Imatges de pàgina
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"will to his fellow-creatures, cultivating inward “rectitude. To his lower faculties he must allow "such gratifications as will, by refreshing him, in"vigorate his nobler pursuits. In the regions in"habited by angelic natures, unmingled felicity “for ever blooms, joy flows there with a perpetual "and abundant stream, nor needs there any mound "to check its course. Beings conscious of a frame "of mind originally diseased, as all the human race "has cause to be, must use the regimen of a stricter "self-government. Whoever has been guilty of voluntary excesses must patiently submit both to "the painful workings of nature, and needful se"verities of medicine, in order to his cure. Still "he is entitled to a moderate share of whatever alleviating accommodations this fair mansion of "his merciful Parent affords, consistent with his "recovery. And in proportion as this recovery "advances, the liveliest joy will spring from his "secret sense of an amended and improving heart. "-So far from the horrours of despair is the con"dition even of the guilty.—Shudder, poor mortal, "at the thought of the gulf into which thou wast "but now going to plunge.

"While the most faulty have ever encourage"ment to amend, the more innocent soul will be supported with still sweeter consolations under "all its experience of human infirmities; support"ed by the gladdening assurances that every sin"cere endeavour to outgrow them shall be assisted, "accepted, and rewarded. To such a one the low"liest self-abasement is but a deep-laid foundation "for the most elevated hopes; since they who faith

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fully examine and acknowledge what they are, "shall be enabled under my conduct to become "what they desire. The christian and the hero "are inseparable; and to aspirings of unassuming trust, and filial confidence, are set no bounds. "To him who is animated with a view of obtaining approbation from the Sovereign of the uni"verse, no difficulty is insurmountable. Secure "in this pursuit of every needful aid, his conflict "with the severest pains and trials, is little more. "than the vigorous exercises of a mind in health. "His patient dependence on that Providence which "looks through all eternity, his silent resignation, "his ready accommodation of his thoughts and be"haviour to its inscrutable ways, is at once the "most excellent sort of self-denial, and a source "of the most exalted transports. Society is the "true sphere of human virtue. In social, active "life, difficulties will perpetually be met with; re"straints of many kinds will be necessary; and studying to behave right in respect of these is "a discipline of the human heart, useful to others, "and improving to itself. Suffering is no duty, "but where it is necessary to avoid guilt, or to do

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good; nor pleasure a crime, but where it strength"ens the influence of bad inclinations, or lessens "the generous activity of virtue. The happiness "allotted to man in his present state, is indeed faint and low, compared with his immortal pro

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spects, and noble capacities; but yet whatever "portion of it the distributing hand of heaven "offers to each individual, is a needful support "and refreshment for the present moment, so far

"as it may not hinder the attaining of his final "destination.

"Return then with me from continual misery "to moderate enjoyment and grateful alacrity. "Return from the contracted views of solitude to "the proper duties of a relative and dependent "being. Religion is not confined to cells and "closets, nor restrained to sullen retirement. These "are the gloomy doctrines of SUPERSTITION, by "which she endeavours to break those chains of "benevolence and social affection, that link the "welfare of every particular with that of the whole. "Remember that the greatest honour you can pay "to the Author of your being is by such a cheer"ful behaviour, as discovers a mind satisfied with "his dispensations."

Here my preceptress paused, and I was going to express my acknowledgments for her discourse, when a ring of bells from the neighbouring village, and a new-risen sun darting his beams through my windows, awaked me*.

I am, Yours, &c.

* This paper, and No 100, were written by the late Mrs. Elizabeth Carter, of Deal in Kent, who died Feb. 19, 1806. C.

NUMB. 45. TUESDAY, August 21, 1750.

Ηπες μεγίςη γίγνεται σωτηρία,
Ο]αν γύνη πρὸς ἄνδρα μὴ διχοσαλῇ,
Νῦν δ ̓ ἐχθρὰ πάντα

This is the chief felicity of life,

That concord smile on the connubial bed;

But now 'tis hatred all.

To the RAMBLER.

EURIP.

SIR,

THOUGH, in the dissertations which you have

given us on marriage, very just cautions are laid down against the common causes of infelicity, and the necessity of having, in that important choice, the first regard to virtue, is carefully inculcated; yet I cannot think the subject so much exhausted, but that a little reflection would present to the mind many questions, in the discussion of which great numbers are interested, and many precepts which deserve to be more particularly and forcibly impressed.

You seem, like most of the writers that have gone before you, to have allowed as an uncontested principle, that Marriage is generally unhappy but I know not whether a man who professes to think for himself, and concludes from his own observations, does not depart from his character when he follows the crowd thus implicitly, and receives maxims without recalling them to a new examination, especially when they com

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prise so wide a circuit of life, and include such variety of circumstances. As I have an equal right with others to give my opinion of the objects about me, and a better title to determine concerning that state which I have tried, than many who talk of it without experience, I am unwilling to be restrained by mere authority from advancing what, I believe, an accurate view of the world will confirm, that marriage is not commonly unhappy, otherwise than as life is unhappy; and that most of those who complain of connubial miseries, have as much satisfaction as their nature would have admitted, or their conduct procured, in any other condition.

It is, indeed, common to hear both sexes repine. at their change, relate the happiness of their earlier years, blame the folly and rashness of their own choice, and warn those whom they see coming into the world against the same precipitance and infatuation. But it is to be remembered, that the days which they so much wish to call back, are the days not only of celibacy but of youth, the days of novelty and improvement, of ardour and of hope, of health and vigour of body, of gaiety and lightness of heart. It is not easy to surround life with any circumstances in which youth will not be delightful; and I am afraid that whether married or unmarried, we shall find the vesture of terrestrial existence more heavy and cumbrous, the longer it is

worn.

That they censure themselves for the indiscretion of their choice, is not a sufficient proof that they have chosen ill, since we see the same discon

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