Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-01-20
MORAL.
DUTIES OF HUSBANDS.

0Ipen Lredtcu Will JoSuioL iCNity IA CohNCASo-
ton. 1t is, however, high, and holy, and
delightful subject, as it is treated by the sa-
cred writer's. If, therefore, any believer
has, hitherto, trusted his conjugal character
to general principles of propriety, or left it
to be regulated by circumstances, he is now
bound, from this moment, to bring all do
mestick habits directly to the cross of Christ,
and to submit them to wahtever improvement
is suggested and enforced by the glories OF
redeeming love. And, bear in mind, that it
is our own domestick happiness which is thus
consulted in this high example. The glory
of God is, indeed, the final end of all the
means employed for making husbands and
wives live as heirs together of the grace
of life;' but, then. such living will be our
own glory too, and its own reward, by the
peace and harmony which it will create and
confirm. And without domestick peace and
harmony, what are any Of, or all, the other
blessings of this life ?-Splended misery,
howeverm many. But where love unites hearts
and gracious principle is the guardian OF
coniugal love, how many of the comforts OF
life may be wanting, without being much
missed and how many Of the trials of life
borne without being much felt
DUTIES OF WIVES.
1t is of great Importance, to enforce here
the absolute necessity of making and keep
ing that house really home, which it is a
husbands duty to be fond of, and constant to.
No man can love Bedlam or Glamour, filth,
or disorder. Relative duties are reciprocal;
and tits as much, and as solemnly, the duty
of wife to endear home by temper, order,
and cleanliness, as of a husband to be devot-
ed to home mutual effort can alone make
the house 'home, and effort can do it.
Any well-disposed female can render the
domestick fireside of godly man more
magnetick in its attractions than any other
social circle whatever. Only let there be
room at the freside for family altar, and
hearty welcome to go1ly mans favour
tie books, and occasionally to his religious
friends let him only feel that his comfort
and taste are consulted, and that care is
taken not to hinder his piety ;-and a hold
is obtained on his heart and habits almost
omnipotent. But ifhe be often disconnected,
and no effort made to accommodate him,
and no smiles thrown around his meals or
his evenings, it is morally Impossible to Sc
cure domestiek happiness. His principles
may maintain the routine of his domestick
duties butill temper, OF inattention, on the
part of the wife, will assuredly wither his do
mestick feelings and affections. But how
easily is all this avoided It never can be
any Woman's interest to cross even the fOibles
of her husband, when they are harmless.
DUTIES OF CHILDREN.
"The obedience of children to their pa
rents is in itself /" right" equitable, and
reasonable, a debt due to the instruments of
their existance, and the tender guardians of
their infancy; and generally conducive totheir
good. Indeed, the sentiments of all nations
coincide in this and the law of God express
ly commands children" to honour the per-
sons and authority ofboth father and moth
er, and to requite their kindness as they
have opportunity and ability. This was
placed in the decalogue, as the first COM
mandment" of the second table, being the
first of the relative duties, and the source
off all the others: and promise of long life
in the land of Canaan was annexed to it, as
given to the Israelites, which might be gen.
orally applied to Christians, and encourage
them to expect temporal comfort and length
of days as gracious recompence for their
obedience unless the Lord should see good
to reward it more literally in another life.
Indeed, it has been observed in every age,
that those who have distinguished them
selves by filial obedience, were remarkably
prospered-
RESIGNATION. The best resolution we
can take, is to suffer what we cannot alter,
and to pursue without rcpining, the road
which Providence, who directs every thing,
has marked out for us !; for it is not enough
to follow; and he is but bad soldier who
sighs, and marches on with reluctancy. We
must receive our orders withcheerfulness, and
not endeavour to stink out of the post which
is assigned US in this beautiful disposition of
things, whereof even our sufferings make a
necessary part. Resignation to the will of
God is true magnanimity, but the sure mark
of a pusilanimous and base spirit, is to strug-
gle against and censure the orders Of Provi-
dence; and instead of mending our own
coudsct, set up correcting that of our
Maker.
AGE AND PERSEVERANCE,. 1t is fault
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