often makes him appear ridiculous where he has a mind to recommend himfelfed tobian A vidoelen 2)

2

THOSE Marriages generally abound most with Love and Conftancy, that are preceded by a long Courtship. The Paffion fhould ftrike Root, and gather Strength before Marriage be grafted on it. A long Courfe of Hopes and Expectations fixes the Idea in our Minds, and habituates us to a Fondness of the Perfon beloved.

THERE is nothing of fo great Importance to us, as the good Qualities of one to whom we join our felves for Life; they do not only make our prefent State agreeable, but often determine our Happiness to all Eternity. Where the Choice is left to Friends, the chief Point under Confideration is an Eftate: Where the Parties chufe for themselves, their Thoughts turn most upon the Perfon. They have both their Reasons. The firft would procure many Conveniencies and Pleafures of Life to the Party whofe Interefts they efpoufe; and at the fame time may hope thats the Wealth of their Friend will turn to their own Credit and Advantage. The others are preparing for them

themselves a perpetual Feaft. A good Perfon does not only raife, but continue Love, and breeds a fecret Pleafure and Complacency in the Beholder, when the firft Heats of Defire are extinguifhed. It puts the Wife or Husband in Countenance both among Friends and Strangers, and generally fills the Family with a healthy and beautiful Race of Children.'

I fhould prefer a Woman that is agreeable in my own Eye, and not deformed in that of the World, to a celebrated Beauty. If you marry one remarkably beautiful, you must have a violent Paffion for her, or you have not the proper Taste of her Charms; and if you have fuch a Paffion for her, it is odds but it will be imbittered with Fears and Jealoufies.

GOOD Nature and Evennels of Temper, will give you an eafie Companion for Life; Virtue and good Senfe, an agreeable Friend; Love and Conftancy, a good Wife or Husband. Where we meet one Perfon with all thefe Accomplishments, we find an hundred without any one of them. The World, notwithstanding, is more intent on Trains and Equipages, and all

the

the showy Parts of Life; we love rather to dazzle the Multitude, than confult our proper Intereft; and, as I have elfewhere obferved, it is one of the moft unaccountable Paffions of humane Nature, that we are at greater Pains to appear cafie and happy to others, than really to make our felves fo. Of all Difparities, that in Humour makes the moft unhappy Marriages, yet fcarce enters into our Thoughts at the contracting of them. Several that are in this Refpect unequally yoaked, and uneafie for Life, with a Perfon of a particular Character, might have been pleased and happy with a Perfon of a contrary one, notwithstanding they are both perhaps equally virtuous and laudable in their kind.

BEFORE Marriage we cannot be too inquifitive and difcerning in the Faults of the Perfon beloved, nor after it too dim-fighted and fuperficial. However perfect and accomplished the Perfon appears to you at a Distance, you will find many Blemishes and Imperfections in her Humour, upon a more intimate Acquaintance, which you never difcovered or perhaps fufpected. Here therefore Difcretion and Good

na

nature are to fhew their Strength; the firft will hinder your Thoughts from dwelling on what is difagreeable, theother will raise in you all the Tenderness of Compaffion and Humanity, and by degrees foften thofe very Imperfections into Beauties.

MARRIAGE enlarges the Scene of our Happiness and Miferies. A Marriage of Love is pleasant; a Marriage of Interest easie; and a Marriage, where both meet, happy. A happy Marriage has in it all the Pleasures of Friendship, all the Enjoyments of Sense and Reafon, and indeed, all the Sweets of Life. Nothing is a greater Mark of a degenerate and vicious Age, than the common Ridicule which paffes on this State of Life. It is, indeed, only happy in those who can look down with Scorn or Neglect on the Impieties of the Times, and tread the Paths of Life together in a conftant uniform Course of Virtue.

Monday

N° 262. Monday, December 31.

Nulla venenato Littera mifta Foco eft.

Ovid.

Think my felf highly ob

liged to the Publick for their kind Acceptance of a Paper which vifits them every Morning, and has in it none,

of those Seasonings that recommend fo many of the Writings which are in Vogue among us.

7

AS, on the one fide, my Paper has not in it a fingle Word of News, a Reflection in Politicks, nor a Stroke of Party; fo, on the other, there are no fashionable Touches of Infidelity, no obfcene Ideas, no Satyrs upon Priesthood, Marriage, and the like popular Topicks of Ridicule; no private Scandal, nor any thing that may tend to the Defamation of particular Perfons, Families, or Societies.

VOL. VII.

I

THERE