A WORD TO A NEWLY MARRIED LADY.

ALLOW me to offer you my congratulations on the relative change which has taken place in your social condition, and to assure you, that my prayer to God for you is, that you may live through a long life in the uninterrupted enjoyment of conjugal and domestic happiness. I certainly do not wish to intrude any remarks that may have a tendency to depress your feelings; but, as it is possible that you may anticipate a higher degree of felicity than has ever been enjoyed since the expulsion of the first wedded pair from the Eden of innocence and of joy, you will permit me to suggest to you the propriety of underrating your expectations.

The state into which you have entered is unquestionably more favourable to personal happiness

be so

than what is termed a 'single life,' or it would not have been appointed for us by our benevolent Creator; but as it is a state which brings into the closest union two imperfect beings, it necessarily demands from each the exercise of all the most amiable qualities of our nature, to render it conducive to their mutual happiness. There may be reciprocal affection, and this affection may sensitive as to kindle into the glow of ardent excitement by the mere appearance of each other's person; but if there be no congeniality of temper and of disposition, the vision of bliss which is now opening before you such a fascinating scene, will, like the morning cloud and early dew, soon, alas! too soon, pass away; and you will be called to endure the agonies of a forsaken widow, even while your husband is yet living with you.

It is an opinion which I have long entertained, that a good husband generally has a good wife; because, when he acts his part with propriety and tenderness, the female heart, possessing such a responsive quality, is incapable of withstanding his attractive and subduing influence, unless she does violence to her own feelings. But as the best of

men are but men at the best; as they have shades of imperfection obscuring the lustre of their most brilliant virtues; and often, even in the retirement of placid home, feel the vibrations of those shocks which have been given to their passions when encountering the storms of the world; there is ample scope given to the wife for the exercise of her moral powers, in so shaping her interrogations and replies as to prevent any jarring discord disturbing the harmony of their domestic quietude. An intelligent author, when addressing wives, says: 'Nothing will increase your influence, and secure. your usefulness, more than being in subjection to your own husbands.' This must, doubtless, be limited and qualified.

If the demands of a hus

band oppose the will of God, you are pre-engaged by a law of universal operation, and 'ought to obey God rather than man.' In other cases, perhaps, it will not be so easy to furnish exceptions. 'Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.'

There is a general rule, the spirit of which would easily settle every relative claim: Submit

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ting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.' But it cannot be denied, that a peculiar subjection is in the scriptures required of the wife-not indeed the submission of slaves to their masters, or of subjects to their sovereign, or even of children to a father. It has more of equality in it; accords with the idea of a helper, companion, friend; springs originally from choice; and is acquiesced in for the sake of propriety and advantage. none of the determinations of God are capricious: all are founded in reason, and all are designed to promote both individual and social welfare. In the regulation has God acted partially? Has he sacrificed the happiness of the woman to the dignity of man? Has he not equally regarded the wife, the children, and the connexions? In all communities, whether more or less extensive, there can be no happiness without peace, no peace without order, no order without subordination, no subordination without subjection. Perpetual strife would originate from equality, or contested superiority. Numberless contentions would arise, from diversity of views, from difference of temper, and

perverse adherence to opposite plans, destroying the harmony and tranquillity of families. The only method by which these disorders can be either precluded or removed, is by establishing pre-eminence and authority, and enjoining submission and acquiescence and obedience. This being indispensably necessary, the only question is, where shall the power of decision be lodged?

"From many considerations, expressive of the divine will, the scripture assigns this prerogative to the man. Witness the priority of his creation: 'For Adam was first formed, then Eve.' Witness the manner in which he derived his being: 'The man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man.' Witness his destiny: For the man was not created for the woman, but the woman for the man.' 'And the Lord said, it is not good for man to be alone, I will make him a help-meet for him.' Witness his relation: The man is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man.' Witness the entrance of sin: Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, was in the transgression.' Witness the malediction