the young, has required of the press, its action for their benefit; not as to books of study only, but books of amusement. It is delightful to hear children, in their conversations, quote their authorities, from books so attractively prepared for them, as to have rivetted attention, and to have loaded memory. They are books sent forth by beneficent, and intelligent minds. Their narrations are exceedingly interesting, while they lead to sincere and respectful assent to the virtues, and moral beauties, which they teach. They are lessons for parents, while they are amusement of the best order for children. But children cannot devote all their playful hours to reading. It is not desirable that they should. They are liable to sit in postures, while intent upon their books, which are unfriendly to form, and to health. However commendable this sort of occupation may be, still we venture to maintain that, there is a space to be filled in finding amusements for children, which comprise such physical action, and such mental interest, as will expand and strengthen the frame, while they keep the heart pure, and amiable. There is rarely a known want in this land, which no one is ingenious enough to supply. This want may be carried further. It is very possible, that the gathering of great numbers, on public days, might be made interesting by manly, and amusing sports. They might, it is believed, be such, as would interest, and command the approbation of those who could not engage in them, and even of the most venerable.

The splendor of Grecian renown undoubtedly had. its root, in the celebration of the Olympic games, which occurred once in four years throughout more than eight centuries. The finest qualities of the physical and intellectual being of man, here found their wreaths of laurel amidst the applause of gathered thousands from all the cities of Greece. Here

manly strength and grace, female elegance, poetry, music, piety, patriotism, skill, emulation, enduring and glorious honor, conspired to do some act, to some prospective end, in which all were interested.

These celebrations served as eras in computing time. Whence, one reads in the history of this eminent people, that an event happened in such a year of such an Olympiad. The games of the Greeks are not offered for imitation, in these days. But, man's nature now, is the same that it was in Greece. The principle of action is the same, though manifestations of it in Greece, may not suit American propensities. Yet, that there must be amusements is as certain, as that there are Americans. The matter to be known is, by what means amusement may be, at the same time, most attractive, most innocent, and most useful.

CHAPTER XXXV.

Domestic Duties.

INTRODUCTION.

352. There are some persons who see, in the order of succession, inherent in animal and vegetable creation, that the system is irreconcileable to Divine. power and benevolence. They complain of the principle of decay; of the yellow leaf of autumn; of the dreariness of winter. They complain more of the uncertainty, and, (sometimes) sudden termination of human life; that the young and the serviceable die; that death, at any age, is a mournful and afflictive event. They say that the world is 'a vale of tears;' that man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward;' that our days are few, and full of trouble.' This is not what the Deity has said; it is not what nature says. This is the language of ignorant, erring, ungrateful man. There is no one thing which declares the wisdom, and the goodness of GOD, more convincingly, than the provision for the commencement, the duration, and the end of life. Whatsoever there may seem to be of evil in it, is either of man's own creating; or it is because he does not, or will not exercise his reason.

If it

were left to man to regulate this matter, what would he please to do? Would he make every thing that comes into being, as vegetable, continue in it, and for how long a time? What would become of the succession of blossoms and fruits? Would he make his own race immortal on the earth? What would he do with the pleasures, and duties of youth, manhood, decline, and old age? Would he continue all in life, who come into it indefinitely? Fow would, or could, any being come into life, if the Creator's order were deranged? If it were possible to suppose that all to whom life is given, were to remain on earth and continue to multiply, what would life come to be? It better becomes audacious mortals, to be assured, that all is right. It is their proper duty to exercise the beneficent gift of reason, to learn that it is so; that death proceeds no less from the goodness of God, than birth; that man abuses and perverts the beautiful order of succession, as he does every thing else, when ignorant, and disobedient. If he used his faculties as he is commanded to do, he would know, that from this order arise, all the relations which call forth the highest moral perfection to which he can aspire; all excitements to virtue; all the promptings to self-satisfying action; all the delights which are worthy of a mind destined to immortality.

It

353. Marriage. The history of the human race does not make known any people, among whom marriage was unknown. It does make known that this natural union of the sexes has been misunderstood, or odiously perverted, among many people. It has been rightly understood by no people who were not Christians. It has been most reproachfully misunderstood or perverted among them. has been, sometimes, a mere cover for obtaining wealth, or distinction, and, in such cases, has been punished, as all perversions of good gifts commonly are, and ought to be. What can be a more gross perversion of parental duty, than to sell a child to one whom she cannot love, respect, nor esteem, merely because he is rich! Marriage is the ordi

nance of the Creator. It began when man began. It is ordered to perpetuate the succession of the human family. It is ordered for the whole duration of adult age. It is man's peculiar privilege in this it connects him with generations which are gone; with that which is passing away; and with those which are to come. The memory, and the ashes of the dead are precious to him, and no other animal has that sentiment. He alone, contemplates that his own memory will be held in honor; and that the place of his earthly quiet will be sacred. He only is enabled to conceive, that moral and physical wrong, will bear his own stamp, in the character, and in the frame, of those that follow him; he only knows that a good name may be an honorable inheritance. These are the sentiments which spring from the beneficent gift of marriage. However much one may misunderstand, or abuse this gift, nature, ever faithful to her trust, forces these sentiments on the heart. The bitterest agony that a worthless father, or mother can endure, is the consciousness, that their own vice, and folly will be visited on their offspring. In this sense, there is nothing more true than that the sins of the father shall be visited on the children. Marriage is held to be, in all Christian countries, a contract. The very term, contract, implies an understanding of the nature of the subject on which the contract is made, and that the parties are capable of performing it; and also, that they will respectively perform the obligations which the contract clearly indicates. It is that contract which is so solemn and serious, that all others, when compared with it, sink into insignificance. It is for this reason, that those who are called to minister in holy things, are empowered, by the laws of the land, and the usages of Christians, to declare in the presence of witnesses, that this contract is made; and to ask the blessing of Heaven on its purposes. The laws of the land, those of nature, and the Divine law, disclose the sentiments, the feelings, and the awful sense of duty with which this undertaking should be regarded.

Yet, it is frequently entered into, from motives highly reprehensible; and sometimes with shocking thoughtlessness. It is from such causes, that we see, that this sacred union, which should be the true source of the highest human happiness, becomes that inexhaustible fountain, from which both parties are daily and hourly compelled to drink, and from the same cup, the bitterest waters. One hardly knows in what language to speak to the young, on this all-important subject. Can one speak to them in any language which they will heed? Glidihg easily into gross errors, they believe every thing to be what fancy whispers it to be; they entangle themselves in a web of their own creating; and when they find their freedom bound in cords, which nothing but the scythe of death can cut, they cry out, What a miserable world is this!' 'What malignant power invented this detestable state of being !'

354. If one could penetrate the ear of enamored youth, what good would come from such suggestions as these? Have you considered what that measure is which you are about to take? Do you know that there is a Lawgiver above you, who is just and inexorable? That he has trusted you with the responsibility of your own welfare? That he has submitted to your perusal the volume from which that responsibility is to be drawn? Do you know what will come of that engagement which you are about to make? Are you about to tie yourself in bonds, absolutely indissoluble while you live, to a mortal who has feelings, wishes, wants, hopes, and fears, which must become your's, and a part of your very self; or which you must resist, control, or war with? Do you know that pain, suffering, and sorrow, originating in either, must be borne by both? Do you realize that whatsoever of error, folly, or crime, may be chargeable to either of you, or to any who may spring from your contract, will be your common burthen, and shame; and that from these you can relieve yourself no where but in the grave? Or, do you know, that