dissimilar; the union would be incongruous : to justify himself, however, he may plead his interest, but he cannot plead propriety.

A man also whose maintenance in life is connected with his diligence and his labour, must perceive at once that this is the path which providence hath assigned him if he be dissatisfied with his situation, and aspire after those things that he must be conscious are withheld, he forsakes the way of duty, and cannot, with propriety, expect either blessing or direction.

If affluence be allotted by heaven as his portion, the hand of God will surmount the greatest difficulties; will make rough places plain, and crooked things straight; and if this is to be com. municated by matrimonial alliance, will direct to the object, and also to the means by which it is to be obtained. In such a case, hesitancy is not a duty; he ought to persevere till he has gotten full possession of the woman, and of course her fortune.

There is, Philetus, a material difference between a man's marrying a woman of fortune, to whom he is directed by the hand of providence, and his making money the object of his inquiries, and the criterion by which he estimates her worth. Such a man emphatically deserves the name of fortune-huntera character as detestable in civil society, as destructive of domestic happiness! And if, when marriages are consummated on such plans, there be afterward between the parties the least appearance of regard, and the common forms of decorum, it is more than can reasonably be expected, and infinitely more than such base mercenaries deserve.

When the love of gain becomes the ruling passion, and for this purpose objects are forsaken or pursued

as the prospect of securing it is doubtful or flattering, a more detestable character cannot be readily conceived. In such a breast, the generous feelings are extinct; the heart is a stranger to benevolence : and if this venal passion prompt its agent to indulge in matrimonial alliance, it becomes more criminal, because the evil will be more extended. The most lovely object may unsuspectingly fall a prey to the rapacity of avarice. If, however, this calamity do not occur, and the sordid wretch should be united to some kindred spirit in human shape, the welfare of society will certainly be endangered, and the junction, of course, equally, if not more pregnant with disaster. Hence the indifference, the coldness and neglect so commonly visible in the marriage life. Hence the intrigues, the fornication and the adulteries so prevalent among the great, whose example and influence are diffusing themselves, and contaminating the morals of all ranks and degrees of men.

"The condition of human life," says Mr. Paley, "will not permit us to say, that no one can con scientiously marry who does not prefer the person at the altar to all other men or women in the world: but we can have no difficulty in pronouncing (whether we respect the end of the institution, or the plain terms in which the contract is conceived) that whoever is conscious, at the time of his marriage, of such a dislike to the woman he is about to marry, or of such subsisting attachment to some other woman, that he cannot reasonably, nor does in fact, expect ever to entertain an affection for his future wife, is guilty, when he pronounces the marriage vow, of a direct and deliberate prevarication. This charge must be imputed to all who, from mercenary motives

marry the object of their aversion and disgust; and likewise to those who desert, from any motive whatever, the object of their affection, and, without being able to subdue that affection, marry another."

When I see the "avaricious and crafty taking companions to their tables and their beds, without inquiry, but after farms and money; or the giddy and thoughtless uniting themselves for life to those whom they have only seen by the light of tapers at a ball; when parents make articles for their children, without inquiring after their consent; when some marry for heirs to disappoint their brothers, and others throw themselves into the arms of those whom they do not love, because they have found themselves rejected where they were more solicitous to please; when some marry because their servants cheat them, some because they squander their own money, some because their houses are pestered with company, some because they will live like other people, and some only because they are sick of themselves; I am not so much inclined to wonder that marriage is sometimes happy, as that it appears so little loaded with calamity; and cannot but conclude that society has something in itself eminently agreeable to human nature, when I find its pleasures so great that even the ill choice of a companion can hardly overbalance them."

From this general contagion, however, it is hoped the Christian world may stand excluded, though it is to be feared not all its members, from the influence of mercenary views; and if by such an imprudent conduct they be not so completely miserable, nor addicted to the vices common to men who study the gratification of sensual appetite, it is not owing to the

dictates of precaution, but to the interposition of another hand. A sincere, mutual, and disinterested regard is the only basis of conjugal felicity; and where this is wanting, no human ties can ensure that tenderness and affection which marriage was intended to sanction. I would therefore advise you, Philetus, if you value your own happiness, to embrace the woman who first excited your esteem, who appears in every respect worthy of your love, and for whom you seem in providence to be designed.

I have now in my possession a letter that was written by a friend when nearly in your circumstances. I will transcribe part of it for your perusal and reflection.

The recollection that we are one in heart and in sentiment, affords me the most sincere pleasure. This happy coincidence, like a threefold cord, cannot be easily broken; and if it do not wholly interdict calamity, it will enable us to bear it with fortitude and resignation unknown to those who are perpetually harassed with jarring opinions and opposition of conduct.

That the providence of God is ever active not only in great, but in the minutest occurrences of life, I have long thought; and it is a full conviction of this truth that has led me daily to ask for direction to a woman with whom I could cordially unite; to the Lord I have ever looked; and as an answer to my prayers, I receive with the warmest gratitude, and the most tender affection, my Alethea. I view thee as his choicest earthly gift-and to thee I unbosom the feelings of a heart that longs to make thy life more happy, if possible, than my own.

Come then, let us mutually unite in thankfulness

to the Father of our mercies. "Every comfort has a voice, and cries in the ear of reason; O! that men would praise the Lord for his goodness." Has he united our hearts by the indissoluble bonds of affection and grace; has he brought us thus far, and will he not carry us through the remainder of our journey? Yes, my Alethea, most assuredly he will. Let us therefore honour the precious promises graciously given for encouragement and support; let us cast all our cares upon him who careth for us, and leave him both to undertake and to manage all things for us agreeably to the counsel of his own will. This is certainly our duty and our privilege. "They that know thy name," says the Psalmist, "will trust in thee for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee."

We have not, it is true, abundance of temporal blessings, nor is our path likely to be so smooth and pleasing as the love of ease and of affluence might desire; but surely the consideration that all things are dispensed according to the good pleasure of our heavenly Father, must silence every murmur, and make us truly thankful for what might be denominated the smallest favour. To distrust his providential goodness would be highly criminal indeed; for certainly He that hath prepared for us an inheritance in heaven; who hath redeemed us both from perdition; who feeds the raven and the sparrow, and giveth to all their meat in due season, will provide whatever may be needful for support while travelling to possess it. Our allowance on the way may indeed possibly be narrow; yet still, bread shall be given, and water shall be sure: and should even this comparatively small allotment of heaven be