Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A24497
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An Account of marriage, or, The interests of marriage considered and defended against the unjust attacques of this age in a letter to a friend.
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1672
(1672)
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Wing A209; ESTC R9093
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15,237
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94
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with no lustre at all that has not heen brightned by difficult affairs owing as the body â—ts vigour and strength to â—otion and labour moreover the triumph is the â—weetest that is purchased with the most industry â—he ambitious lookes on â—hose acquirements with â—ontempt that are easily got â—nd loves the highest steps â—ecause it is the hardest comâ—ng there and such motives â—ave we received from above â—o procure advantages to the world that nothing relishes â—etter to the mind nor is â—eceived with greater esteem â—nd applause than difficult â—ervices so that to speak ill of marriage out of a humour of repose and sluggisâ—ness is â—o own the greatest reprâ—â—â—â— and scandal in the world Seventhly It was good to have a mind vigorous and constant in the circles of Maâ—riage Vertue loses it's lustre and strength when it is loosened by various entertainments Marriage gives the thoughts a home and an imployment that would else be traversing the ends of the Earth neither shall we find any men of a more manly gallantry and a nobleness all of a peice as amongst those who have been happy in their marriages and great lovers of the interests of it Some men may have exceeded in politique arts and the straâ—agems of conquests but 〈◊〉 very much question whiâ—her ever any ageâ— in the Heathen world brought â—orth any thing Superiour â—o or more beloved than the vertue of Pompey and Bruâ—us men not onely religiously prizing the married â—tate but such as were blessed with the society of those women that for returns of love and gallantry were famous to all ages We choose friendship as a field for vertue ro reap advantages in and none but retired and treacherous natures will be without the pleasures of that but without all question that friendship is the noblest bound in the surest ligaments and penetrates more the recesses of the heart that is commenced in marriage than any took up on other scores Some are pleased to cry down that Sex as foolish and unfit for the conversation of men but they seem in that too much to overvalue themselves and to set strange prizes on their own worth what if there are not found women whose heads are fill'd with the crabbed notions of Philosophy who have no great insight into insignificant and unsociable arts the knowledge of these things could constiâ—ute nothing but barren and ridiculous Friendships that which is more generous more pleasant and useful is as well to be found in that Sex as in our own Eigthly It was good for the education of mankind This bred men at first to modesty respect and subjection taught the mind the sense of shame and the fear of vice besides it laid an obligation on Parents to look after the education of their Children for if there had not been such an Institution in which it was both our duty and our reputation too to look after our Children the issue of many in the world had been neglected and perished without a name or any considerable acquirements But now those men who have strangely overcome and worn ouâ— the impressions of what they owe to God and their owâ— affections yet are so carefuâ— of their reputation as to educate their children iâ— those ways by which theâ— may live with credit anâ— be capable of serving thâ— Commonwealth Had noâ— Marriage been instituted when the lustful youth haâ— satisfied his appetite ' tiâ— likely he would have abandoned the wretched Motheâ— with her Infant to the rancounters of various sorrows and the children of the Great and the Noble had been rock'd in Cottages and all their daies followed the Plough but now there are sacred Channels cut in which one stream of blood perpetâ—ally runs from one Generation to an other Ninthly It was good to prevent the inconveniencâ—es and extravagancies of a rambling love What disorders and distractions had there been in the world if an impetuous and lawless appetite had been subject to no conduct the fancy placing it self on any object pleasing and agreeable to it had presently transported the owner to all manner of violent actions for the obtaining of it Cities had been consumed to ashes houses left desolate or fill'd with groans only for the ravishment of a beauteous prey the affairs of the State had been neglected or readily wounded for the acquirements of an idle love for such is the violence of that passion and such its extravagancies when it is taught no moderation by Religion and excellent Laws the power of Conquest had been a sufficient title to the objects we had covered and we had no felt no remorse to have taken them from between the arms where they had spent many years in endearments of love no Nation could have flourished nor have been successful in its affairs if a wanton flame had thus consumed the manly temper and vigour of the youth or if their passions had not transported them to such violent actions yet the gentlest concernments of those flames had made them uncapable of serving the Common-wealth and the interests of Humane Society and what with running to publick houses of lust the contriving secret Cabals and private assignations had took up all that time with which thâ—y should have served their Generations Whilst they had followed these designs ill humor restlesness of the thoughts and inconsiderate actions had been the necessary companions to them therefore there was great wisdom in that Law amongst the Jews that none should live unmarried after such an Age. All wise and prudent Nations knew they should have little order and less industry where the affairs of an idle passion possessed the hearts and heads of their Subjects Marriage more inclines the mind to serious and necessary business then the wandring lusts of Stews and Concubines and even in those Countries where Polygamy and many Loves have been allowed the serious and the wise are grown weary of their liberâ—y as producing those distractions as unfit the mind for other things besides there are the prejudices the body receives in those fatal distempers that bring rottenness â—pain and infamy which are left to Posterity and it s not to be doubted but that the next Age will curse their Fathers for leaving them poverty and rottenness for their Patrimonies Tenthly It was good to have the society of a Sex that should once be the passage of the Son of God into the World and that was of a Virgin too though not deflowr'd yet betroth'd that man as he had once reproached that Sex as the first yeilder to that temptation which ruined mankind so they might receive a benefit and an advantage by it that might make them forget the memory of former injuries Did She present us with the fruit the eating of which lost Paradise and an innocence more sweet and agreable from Her Womb rose the morning of eternal redemption spreading its light and blessings over the World Man has no reason to nourish antient resentments that has her for the companion of his