The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-02-15
WI Orai IA a Es ell iOus .
from the Patriarch. !
II ii e + A Nj IL Y.
THE MORAL GOVERNMENT DE MAN IN sooLE1,

THE MORAL GOVERNMENT OF MAN IN SOCIETY.
The society of those we love exers a genial in
huence on tho affections; warns, snimates, and
brings them into contact with their appropriate OBJ
Iects. Society among strangers may, on the con-
trary, awaken and give strength to the passions.
And this, because the conflict of com pc tton IS not
there modified and controlled By the presence of
The object we love. Hence, spirit OF licentious-
ness is engendered, and, INDUCED, often becomes
hagrant. The natural tendency of icentousn ess
Is to inhdeilty. A concience, convicted of wrong.
finally comes to make demands, which must be
answered ltcannot always be senced without
reason-and the fool says in his heart, "there is no
God "-"Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we
de- Thus. he who cannot persuade himself tina
his practices are right, and who resolves neverthe
less, thai no will not abandon them flies to inide
ny TO turn the edge ofconviction for the present
and hopes for annihilaon 10 save him from final
settlement with conscience So every moral dere.
fiction leads to in6dely. But how can such ia.
tai process Of reasoning be entertained in happy
and harmonious family, where the mind is sustain
eo IN lis legitimate processes, by the harmonious
acuon OF the moral conviction, constantly urged?
itsuch be the effect of the family discipline on
the moral constitution, is less important on
the political institutions Of society. A nation must
be what its families are. Its citizens are made in
me families which compose it. II, in the family,
under the first OF all human government they have
imbibed spirit of characterization and contempt
OF law, they will carry it through life with them
the sSsmp is given 10 their character there and thew
will hardly be reformed from the strong direction
impaired by the education OF the nursery. md do.
mestc discipline.
Look at man in society. Divest him of these
relations, and separate him from their influence
his passions will rage W ihout an antagonist, the
affections will wander and evaporate without an
object, or merge in their kndred passions But lei
him know that he has father a mother, a sister
wife, child, TO feel exqusitely every sensation
he feels to feel too and suffer keenly for his der
eicuons-and The man who will be able 10 brave
his own conscience and the public frown who can
commit suicide and destroy his own soul, will re-
Voit at ms own acts, when he sees that they sriks
The heart, or plant thorns the pillow of a fonc
parent, an afectionate sister, devoted wife, He
who can rampe on his own reputation, or ever
sacrifice 1t 10 his appetites may yet be able tc
meet his friends in tears for his delinquency This
strong hold does the family economy take on the
depraved heart. He, therefore, who invades this
moral sanctuary, hesieges the citida Of human vir.
tue. III he succeeds, every virtue withers Just
~ proportion as this sanctuary is desecra,ed
ana suoverted, the reins of appetite will be
slackened, and RIGHTEOUSNESS prevail. Look a,
France, when the marriage covenant was renoun.
ced, or its obligations relaxed, and see the conse
qnences. "No Sabbath '-"No human government
-'No God '--were the rapid conclusions which
followed the immolation OF the family altar.
In order TO form toleraby correct idea of the
moral condition ANY people, we need only 10
know the state and discipline of its families That
lie the true index of all the social virtues And he
who would reform society, with mo government,
no parental authority, immediate control short
Of the divine. no restraint but the native sense Of
obligation, will soon repeat what needs no proof
that human depraviy is stronger in the heart than
any native sense Of right