TAKE E unto thyself a wife, and obey the ordinance

of God; take unto thyself a wife, and become

a faithful member of society.

But examine with care, and fix not suddenly. On thy present choice depends thy future happi

ness.

If much of her time is destroyed in dress and adornments; if she is enamoured with her own beauty, and delighteth in her own praise; if she laugheth much, and talketh loud; if her foot abideth not in her father's house, and her eyes with boldness rove on the faces of men; though her beauty were as the sun in the firmament of heaven, turn thy face from her charms, turn thy feet from

her paths, and suffer not thy soul to be ensnared by the allurements of imagination.

But when thou findest sensibility of heart, joined with softness of manners; an accomplished mind, with a form agreeable to thy fancy; take her home to thy house; she is worthy to be thy friend, thy companion in life, the wife of thy bosom.

O cherish her as a blessing sent thee from heaven. Let the kindness of thy behaviour endear thee to her heart.

She is the mistress of thy house; treat her therefore with respect, that thy servants may obey

her.

Oppose not her inclination without cause; she is the partner of thy cares, make her also the companion of thy pleasures.

Reprove her faults with gentleness; exact not her obedience with rigour.

Trust thy secrets in her breast; her counsels are sincere, thou shalt not be deceived.

Be faithful to her bed; for she is the mother of thy children.

When pain and sickness assault her, let thy tenderness soothe her affliction: a look from thee of pity and love shall alleviate her grief, or mi tigate her pain, and be of more avail than ten phy sicians.

Consider the tenderness of her sex, the delicacy of her frame; and be not severe to her weakness, but remember thine own imperfections.

SECTION II.

Father.

CONSIDER, thou who art a parent, the import

ance of thy trust the being thou hast pro

duced, it is thy duty to support.

Let the bonds of affection, therefore, unite you, that peace and happiness may dwell in your father's

house.

And when ye separate in the world, remember the relation that bindeth you to love and unity; and prefer not a stranger to your own blood.

If thy brother is in adversity, assist him; if thy sister is in trouble, forsake her not.

So shall the fortunes of thy father contribute to he support of his whole race; and his care be continued to you all in your love to each other.

THE

ECONOMY OF HUMAN LIFE.

PART V.

PROVIDENCE;

OR,

THE ACCIDENTAL DIFFERENCES IN MEN.

SECTION I.

Wise and Ignorant.

THE gifts of the understanding are the treasures of God; and he appointeth to every one his portion, in what measure seemeth good unto himself.

Hath he endued thee' with wisdom? hath he enlightened thy mind with the knowledge of truth? Communicate it to the ignorant, for their instruction; communicate it to the wise, for thine own improvement.

True wisdom is less presuming than folly. The fool is obstinate, and doubteth not; he knoweth all things but his own ignorance.

The pride of emptiness is an abomination; and to talk much is the foolishness of folly. Never

I

theless, it is the part of wisdom to bear impertinence with patience, and to pity absurdity.

Yet be not puffed up with thine own conceit, neither boast of superior understanding; the clearest human knowledge is but blindness and folly.

The wise man feeleth his imperfections, and is humbled; he laboureth in vain for his own appro. bation but the fool peepeth in the shallow stream of his own mind, and is pleased with the pebbles which he sees at the bottom: he bringeth them up, and showeth them as pearls; and with the applause of his brethren delighteth he himself.

He boasteth attainments in things that are of no worth; but where it is a shame to be ignorant, there he hath no understanding.

Even in the paths of wisdom he toileth after folly; and shame and disappointment are the reward of his labour.

But the wise man cultivates his mind with knowledge the improvement of arts is his delight, and their utility to the public crowneth him with honour.

Nevertheless the attainment of virtue he accounteth as the highest learning; and the science of happiness is the study of his life.

THE

SECTION II.

Rich and Poor.

man to whom God hath given riches, and blessed with a mind to employ them aright, is peculiarly favoured, and highly distinguished. He looketh on his wealth with pleasure, because it affordeth him the means to do good.

He seeketh out objects of compassion: he enquireth into their wants; he relieveth with judgment, and without ostentation.