day of temptation comes, it may find you ready to resist, steadfast in the faith. You should not have your weapons to seek when you want them to use. O woman, do not accept a man, who has all world,' if a stranger to the

the wisdom of the excellency of the

knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.' Do not, it is the rough image of an old divine, do not choose a swine because he has a golden trough. Whatever a man possesses, remember.he has nothing, if he has not the one thing needful.' O man, be not reconciled to a weak or ugly mind, because it wears a handsome body.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her own works praise her in the gate.'

But a marriage that is not sinful, may be improper. The apostle himself distinguishes between what is 'lawful,' and what is 'expedient.' Religion is indeed indispensable, but does not alone constitute the propriety of the action. Religion is indeed essential, but is not, abstracted from all other considerations, sufficient to justify choice. To exemplify this a little.

The admission of the piety of the parties does not destroy the indecorum of haste, in marrying immediately after the death of a husband or wife.

The admission of the piety of the parties does not hinder the censure due to a great disparity in years. How unnatural, how indecent is it to see an old man surrounded with infants and babes, which he can scarcely see or hear for the infirmities of age! How unnatural, how odious is it to see a young man fastened to a piece of antiquity-so as to perplex strangers to determine whether he is living with a wife or a mother!

The admission of the piety of the parties does not render in all cases, a difference of sentiment, and of denomination unimportant. It is not lovely for the husband and wife to repair on the Sabbath day morning to separate places of worship. It is not pleasant in remarking what they have heard, after their return home, for the one to censure what the

other approves. It is not edifying in the dedication of their common offspring to God by baptism to disagree, not only as to the im

portance, but also as to the validity of the ordinance. The observation cannot be considered as founded in bigotry, since it will equally apply to both sides of the question, in a number of cases in every religious community, and is derived from the unalterable nature of things. Indeed, to have a preference from conviction, and to adhere to the distinctions arising from it, without condemning others, can never be confounded with illiberality, but by a weak or a vicious mind.

The admission of the piety of the parties cannot preclude the necessity of suitableness. Indeed, religion being supposed, suitableness seems to be the chief requisite to the duty, the respectability, and the happiness of connected life. This fitness takes in an adaptation to each other personally, and also to the situation in which they are called to move. It has commonly been said that no class of men err so much in this article as ministers. But surely this cannot be admitted. It cannot be supposed that those who have opportunities to make the best choice, commonly make the worst. It cannot be supposed that those

whose office it is to inculcate prudence, should be themselves proverbial for indiscretion. It cannot be supposed that those whose incomes are limited, and whose circumstances demand economy, would bring into the management of them, those who have been trained up in delicacy, and extravagance and are helpless, and profuse. It cannot be supposed that men, whose office is respectable, and productive of social intercourse, would select vulgarity and ignorance, unfit to be either seen or heard, merely because it is pious. A minister is to inculcate order and regularity—and would he marry a female that would render his house a scene of confusion and tumult? A minister is to show how the claims of life and religion harmonize, and to assign to the duties of each, their own place and season-and would he marry a rattle-brain, who instead of being a keeper at home, has been always rambling after some new preacher; who instead of quietly glorifying God in her proper sphere of action, has been endeavouring to excite public attention; who has been zealous in matters of doubtful disputation, but has treated as

beneath her regard, common and relative obligations? Need he be told that a becoming behaviour in a lower and private station, is the surest pledge of, and the best preparation for, a proper behaviour in a higher and more public situation! A minister is to recommend neatness and all the decencies of life-and would he marry a slattern? A minister is to show that the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit is in the sight of God of great priceand would he marry a scold? A minister is to stand in the same relation to all his people who demand his love and service—and would he marry a female who would fondly attach herself to a few cronies, listen to all their secrets and divulge her own, and form cabals and schisms, which will render his residence unpleasant, or occasion his removal !

The attention of ministers,' says Mr. Gilpin, in choosing such companions, as may not hinder their success, is of so great importance, that in some countries the conduct of a pastor's wife, as well as that of the pastor himself, is supposed either to edify, or mislead the flock. Nay, the minister himself is frequently con