8 + 
On MATRIMONY. 
And which do you think is mod; eafily reformed, a vicious 
man by a virtuous woman, or the contrary ? By vice, I mean 
to take in every defed of mind, or corruption of heart. Women 
are generally mod difpofed to piety ; and, when kindly treated, 
give the dronged proofs of native ingenuoufnefs ; therefore, not- 
withdanding man’s bonded pre-eminence, your defeds are 
mod eafily corrected : the very superiority which he claims, 
makes him impatient of control. 
Hence you may difcover the indulgent care of providence ; 
for even the fubjedion of which women incondderately com- 
plain, is generally conducive to their happinefs. Your felicity 
arifes from your fubjedion, and fo does your power. “ As 
“ the climbing of a fandy way to the feet of the aged, fo is a 
“ wife full of words to a quiet man. But if there be kind- 
“ nefs, meeknefs, and comfort in her tongue, then is not her 
“ hulband like other men !” This is very emphatically faid, and 
conveys the dronged fenfe of a man’s happinefs, whofe wife 
has tender affedions, good fenfe, and a virtuous mind. She 
who makes the trial with dncerity, may eafily find the mean- 
ing of thefe words. I have read many beautiful paflages on 
this subject, with regard to men as well as women, in honor 
of which I recoiled one more of great force, and it feems to 
be very natural : Where no hedge is, there the pofieffion is 
<c fpoil’d 3 and he that hath no wife, will wander up and down 
“ mourning.” It often happens, that unmarried men are 
unhappy, they know not why : whild the capricious in tade, 
incondant in temper, or vicious by inclination, are reformed 
3 b y 
