government of unhallowed passion; to point out the proper object; to direct your choice in mercy; and to preside over every step in your progress. He can, and if you importunately ask Him, you have reason to hope, he will, guide your eye; control your feelings; lead you by his Providence; remove difficulties; and conduct you to a union for which you will have reason to praise him for ever. If God were more acknowledged and honoured in forming matrimonial connexions, we should see more happy marriages. But if, instead of this, in seeking a wife, you forget the best Counsellor; conduct your inquiries more by the eye than the ear; think only of those qualities which please the fancy depend on effecting an entire revolution in a character confessed not to be, at present, at all suitable; and turn away from the warnings of piety and experience why, then, you will probably find your acquisition a scourge instead of a blessing, and all your anticipated joys turned into gall and wormwood.

13. BEWARE OF VIOLATING A MATRIMONIAL ENGAGEMENT AFTER HAVING FORMED IT. I have sometimes doubted whether there were on the minds of many conscientious young men, a sufficiently deep impression of the evil of this conduct. The same levity of feeling which is apt to prevail in forming such con

tracts, is too apt to be indulged in breaking them. And hence, some, who claim strong sensibility to the point of honour, and even of piety, after entering into a solemn contract of this kind, have not scrupled unceremoniously to violate it, and perhaps in a manner, and in circumstances extremely revolting to delicate minds. Such cases are always deeply to be deplored; and, where an individual of your profession is concerned, cannot fail to inflict a severe wound on religion. I do not say, that a solemnly betrothed party may in no case whatever, break off an engagement before marriage. For I have no doubt that new facts may sometimes arise, and important discoveries be made, which will fully justify such a step. But, in my opinion, by far the greater part of the cases of such conduct which occur, are utterly unjustifiable, and deserve lasting censure. It is no valid plea to say that affection has cooled. That may be an evidence that there was juvenile folly and haste in the engagement; but by

no

means proves that it may be violated at pleasure. Suppose affection to cool after marriage; what then? Truly it is an unhappy dilemma; but still it only proves that the man .was precipitate at first, and inconstant afterwards; but neither branch of character will add much to his reputation among the wise and the good. The remedy for all this is obvious.

Be careful in inquiring. Be deliberate and prayerful in choosing. When you have made. the choice, and stand in the situation of one betrothed, no more admit the thought of violating the engagement, than you would think of deserting a wife and half a dozen children. And even if the most serious considerations arise, to make a rupture of the contract in your view, necessary, you ought to regard it as one of the greatest misfortunes of your life; and, like the English prelate, who had committed an accidental homicide, to keep an annual day of humiliation and fasting in memory of it to the latest year of your course.

14. From the hour that you become a husband, LET IT BE YOUR CARE TO SET AN EDIFYING EXAMPLE OF CONJUGAL EXCELLENCE.

As a clergyman ought to be the most pious man in his parish; to go before all his people in the exemplification of every christian grace and virtue; so he ought to make a point of being the best husband in his parish; of endeavouring to excel all others in affection, kindness, attention, and every conjugal and domestick virtue. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Some clergymen, who preach well on the duties of husbands and wives, are, notwithstanding, austere, harsh, tyrannical, and unkind in their own families. Whenever this is the case, it can seldom fail to be known; and,

when known, can never fail to diminish, in some degree, their official influence. But, I need not say, that your daily and hourly happiness, still more than your reputation, will be involved in this matter. It would be unseasonable here to ttempt even the most cursory detail of conjugal duties. Suffice it to say, that if you should not love your wife enough to make the most unceasing attentions and kindness to her delightful; if you should not have an affection for her so strong as to prompt you to be continually contriving something for her happiness, even at the expense of self denial and acrifice on your part; if the feelings of your heart should not spontaneously dispose you to bear with her infirmities, to cover her faults, to comply with all her reasonable wishes, and to respect and honour her in the presence of your family, as well as of strangers; -I say, if you should not have a love for your wife which will prompt you, without constraint, to do all this, it will be vain to give you counsels on the subject. But with such a governing attachment as I have supposed, all this will be easy, natural and pleasant. Do not, however, expect perfect bliss with any woman, however lovely or excellent. As you are yourself a fallen and depraved creature; you must expect to find her so too. And as she will certainly see much requiring to be overlooked

and forgiven in you; so you must be willing to overlook and forgive, if you hope to receive the same favour. Even if you find yourself somewhat disappointed in the woman of your choice, do not imagine that this will release you from the obligation to treat her with unremitting kindness and attention. Suppose her to be somewhat disappointed in you; would that release her from the obligation to make you an affectionate and attentive wife? Surely if there be any one who is bound to contemplate this whole subject through the medium of christian principle, and christian duty, it is a minister of the gospel.;

But there are two faults to which attentive husbands are frequently liable. The one is indulging in undue fondness, and even caresses, before company. This is disgusting in any one, but in a clergyman peculiarly so. The other is, paying to a wife in company that punctilious and extreme attention, which is really a kind of overacting, and which seldom fails to be unfavourably noticed While you avoid both these faulis, maintain that easy, unaffected attention, that cordial yet dignified kindness, which indicate a deep-seated and pure attachment.

15. The conduct PROPER TO BE OBSERVED

BY THE WIVES AND DAUGHTERS OF CLERGYMEN, IS WORTHY OF YOUR MOST SERIOUS AT