Imatges de pàgina
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dare not, or if you do not advise with thefe, but think proper to confult your own sense only, the prefumption lies against you. Without entering into the particulars, it is probable you are in the wrong. There are a great many inftances of undutiful behaviour and blameable disobedience to parents, for one on the other hand, where their authority is patiently fubmitted to, when it ought in reafon to be rejected.

The cafe of all the most perplexing, as well as most frequent, is that of marriage. If it be left to the discretion of

every young man himself, as soon as ever he is of the legitimate age, (for till then we can give no ear at all to his pretenfions,) that discretion may but ill deferve the name. His judgment will be apt to follow the verdict of his inclinations; the Fancy will raise a number of impregnable arguments, yielding to nothing but Experience: and this will come too late to

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be of use to him. On the other hand, the reasons of convenience, intereft, and advancement, by which parents are often determined, though confiderable, do not feem to be decifive alone. Even the more important recommendations of character and temper, are yet hardly fufficient, except they receive fome enforcement from the useful partiality of affection. This indeed may be excited, where it is not; and fuch amiable qualities are the most likely to excite it: it may also be extinguished, where it is; and will almost certainly for the want of them.

So that perhaps no general rule for this case will be binding in every instance. A kind Father will make great condescenfions; a prudent child will be cautious how far he proceeds in such connections, without the approbation of his parents; and He is an obedient fon indeed, and a pattern of filial duty, who fets the remembrance of benefits past above the expecta

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tion of pleasure to come, prefers the comfort and fatisfaction of those to whom he has owed fo much, before his own moft impetuous defires, and gives freely to his gratitude, the triumph over his love.

The other instances of duty to parents will not be difficult, either to understand, or indeed to practise. The obligation is more evident and indisputable, and the performance eafy, and pleasant. A respectful, and obliging, and kind behaviour towards them upon all common occafions, and in the courfe of your ordinary concerns and conversation, as it is plainly right, fo will it be agreeable to the dictates of your own heart. You see it is the least that can be due; and though you pay it, if it be with reluctance, it is fome difcredit to you.

But there may be two occafions, which however widely different, yet both call for the greatest degrees of this ceremonious

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attention, and the most studied respect. The one is, when fome duty to God, or your country, or fome private intereft, plain, just, and no less important, interferes with your obedience. You are then to soften the afperity of what you do, by the gentleft words, and by all other honest means. Condefcend to request, if that will help, even what is most your own. Accept as a token of favour what cannot be denied. Disapprove with great civility, or filence. When it is impoffible to grant, it may yet not be neceffary to refufe. But the practice of this part of your duty will hardly ever be called for, except perhaps fometimes in the cafe of a Parent's fecond marriage.

The other occafion, which, as I said, demands from you the greatest tokens of respect and tenderness in your behaviour to your parents, is when they labour under infirmities of body or mind, and in the time of their extreme old age. You

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will then double all your tender affiduity: you will watch their wishes, prevent their defires, catch every precious opportunity to be grateful with an eager sweet attention; of which you will give them a thousand little ineftimable proofs, which words cannot teach; and not to know, is criminal; which require no capacity but that of feeling, and are to be understood in the heart.

I do not condescend to mention, that they may be in want: they must not be fo, while you have any thing, though it were only frength to maintain them by your labour.

But however affluent their fortunes, or liberal your fupplies, they will always want, in that state of old age and infirmity, an indulgence and care, which wealth cannot procure; and which, if it could, lose all their value when they are purchased. They will look for tokens of

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