influenced from day to day, and in a great measure sustained in dignity and usefulness, by the affability, prudence, and address of an amiable wife

9. GOOD HEALTH AND A GOOD FLOW OF SPIRITS IN A WIFE are of incalculable importance to any man; but to a minister of the gospel they are, obviously, of peculiar importance. I will not suppose you capable of being so insane as to wed a known valetudinarian; in other words, voluntarily to connect yourself with an incumbrance rather than a help, for life. Your companion may become sickly, after marriage. If this should be the case, submit to it without a murmur, and cherish her with growing affection, just as you would wish her to de, if your own health should fail. · But pray do not begin with a nursling. An invalid, of either sex, ought, undoubtedly, to receive your compassion, and, as far as practicable, your benevolent attention; but, in seeking a wife, I shall take for granted that you wish to obtain a companion by whom your own enjoyment and usefulness will be increased. But surely there is a miserable prospect of either of these objects being, to any extent, attained, when any one commences his conjugal career with a companion, whose frail, morbid frame, and continually recurring indisposition, are ominous of the sick room, rather than of the cheerful, ac

tive house wife, as long as she lives. Nay, more; not only seek a wife of good health, and of some activity and energy; but one who has also a good flow of animal spirits. How inestim ably in portant to an intellectual and moral labourer, that he have a companion who will habitually be able to cheer him in his gloom; to encourage him in sickness; to incite him in his languid hours; and to banish the clouds which occasionally obscure his prospect, by the fascination of a smiling countenance, which "doeth good like a medicine !"

10. You will, no doubt, have observed, that, in the foregoing list of requisites, I have said For this, my nothing of PERSONAL BEAUTY. reasons are various

There is

no danger of

this quality having less influence to have, in the choice of a wife.

than it ought

All the dan

ger is on the other side. It is a fading flower; soon passing away, and leaving the intellectual and moral qualities, the grand requisites to conjugal felicity. Even while it lasts, it enters much less into the essence of connubial bliss, than the youthful imagination is apt to suppose. Some of the happiest marriages I have ever known were cases in which the wife was remarkably homely, rather than beautiful; but in which her moral beauty, was very conspicu

ous.

While, therefore, it is, doubtless, desirable that the woman with whom you hope to

spend your life, should have a face and person entirely agreeable to you; I trust you will not be unwise enough to consider a set of features and complexion," as all in all in your choice. In less than half a dozen years after you have become a husband, every thing of this nature will be lost in the more important considerations of the understanding, the temper, the heart, and the practical duties of domestick life.

RYING FOR MONEY.

11. I solemnly WARN YOU AGAINST MARAnd by this I mean something more than is commonly intended by the expression. To be influenced, in forming a matrimonial connexion, solely or chiefly, by considerations of property, and not by genuine affection, I hold to be a complicated wickedness; a sin against God, against nature, and against domestick enjoyment; and it is no less a folly than a sin. Such marriages are scarcely ever happy; and no wonder that the frown of heaven, as well as the disapprobation of all the wise and good, should rest upon them. But I would go further, and say, to a young clergyman, by no means marry a lady of very large estate, even if you can love her sincerely. Her property will, without something like a miracle, be a snare to you. She will probably expect to live in splendour; to see much company; and to adopt a style of equipage and expense by no means friendly to christian

simplicity and spirituality. This will be fatal to your ministerial fidelity and comfort. Besides, the very care and anxiety unavoidable in managing a large estate, would make your heart and hands so full of the world, as wholly to interfere with exclusive consecration to the duties of your office. I say, again, then, be not in haste to wed a large worldly property. In one case only would I allow such a step, viz where the female who brought the property was decisively pious; disposed to be plain and simple in her habits; and not likely to ensnare a servant of Christ, by worldly cares, and parade. But who can be sure that this will be the case with her whom he marries? The best way is to avoid the danger altogether. In giving this advice, however, I acknowledge, I have little hope that it will be considered as wise, and far less that it will be followed. But if you go counter to it, you will bring on yourself many a heart ache, which will convince you of its wisdom afterwards. I have known of one instance of a clergyman declining a matrimonial connexion of the most attractive character from motives such as these; but he was a man of singular piety, disinterestedness, and magnanimity.

12. Recollect that there is NO STEP IN LIFE,

IN WHICH YOU STAND MORE IN NEED OF CON

STANT DIVINE DIRECTION, than in choosing a wife. Perhaps I ought rather to say, that there is no temporal step in which you stand SO MUCH in need of the guidance of infinite Wisdom. To marry without cordial affection, is madness. To marry without sacredly listening to the dictates of prudence, is to the piety, the good sense, the good temper, and the amiable manners of the individual selected, is equal madness. How shall the demands of both be satisfied? Especially since this, of all the subjects which can come before the mind, is that concerning which caprice, fancy, and passion are, perhaps, most apt to blind the judgment, and bear a sovereign sway? For my part, when I recollect these things, I am constrained to ask, can there be a subject concerning which you more urgently need guidance from above? Can there be a subject in regard to which it behoves you more implicitly to cast yourself on the teaching and the control of God, and more importunately to beg him to choose for you? To this momentous matter, let me, with peculiar emphasis, apply that precious precept and promise of Go's word; Acknowledge him in all thy ways, and He will direct thy steps." Beseech him with unwearied importunity to go before you; to guard you against the confidence of self-will, and the

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