Page:A Treatise concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed.djvu/52

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

[ 38 ]

When they come together deliberately, they will keep together deliberately; they will not be so ready to curse the rashness and hurry of their Marriage, or be so easily disappointed in one another.

Again, and which is especially to the Purposes mentioned hereafter in this Work, when they come together Coolly and Modestly, they will not be so apt, by immoderate and furious Excesses, to dishonour the Marriage Bed, and abuse one another, as too many do.

Matrimony is a solemn Work, 'tis proposed as a sacred Institution, and the conjugal State is, upon all Occasions, look'd upon, by those that confider and understand it, as a kind of Civil Establishment in life; to engage in it Rashly, and without Consideration, is perfectly inconsistent with the Nature of the Thing, and with all that is proposed in it, or expected from it, at least by wife and sober People.

I cannot enter here upon a Description of all the several Incidents which render a married Life happy or miserable; they are innumerable, and too long to meddle with in a Work so short as this. But as I am moving all those (young People especially) who design to marry, to confider sedately and calmly, and weigh well the Circumstances, and all the Particulars of what they are going to engage in, as well of Persons as Things; so I must add, that let the Circumstances of the married Couple be what they will, I believe it will be universally true, that those Matches succeed best which are entered into with the most serious and thorough Deliberation; duly debating all the Particulars of the Persons; seriously engaging the Affections on both Sides, by mutual reciprocal Endearments,

and