PART VIII.
Happiness in Marriage.
It is far from our intention to present an exhaustive treatise upon the subject of this concluding chapter. We sincerely believe that those who have thus far perused our pages, have already formed a tolerably clear idea of the relations of the sexes and the principles which comprise the elements of a happy marriage. We have only now to apply the lessons resulting from our previous studies.
In creating the human race, God has made them intelligent and free, because he has designed them for immortal existence. He has created them male and female, because they are destined to perpetuate themselves upon the earth by means of generation, and because the complicity of the obligations imposed upon them necessitates participation. To facilitate the fusion of these two hearts, God has ordained that the supreme necessity of thinking creatures shall be to love and to be loved, and that they shall be drawn toward each other by common interests and affections. He has endowed them with sufficient differences to prevent their collision upon the narrow line of selfishness and egotism, and with sufficient similitude to unite without conflict, and to travel side by side, as in parallel lines, dividing and sharing the cares, the joys, and sorrows of their heavenward journey. He has given them "Equality in
difference." In no respect are these differences more marked than in love. It differs not only in degree, but in kind. Love is the very nature of woman. She may be said to possess it in a general sense, independently of indi-
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