Page:A Treatise concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed.djvu/239

 they distinguish not between Good and Evil. All I can say to such, is only this, that at present I am not talking of them, or to them; I am rather directing my Speech to the rational Part of Mankind, who aim at a Happiness in this Life, and understand what it means; who desire to live like Men, and like Christians, and know how to do so; and, for this very Reason would match themselves with such, and such only, as have the like just Notions, and understand what a Life of Enjoyment means, as well as themselves.

these, I say again, that all Inequalities in a state of Marriage, are as so many Wounds in the Body, which, if left to Nature, will fester and inflame, and, at length, mortify, and be fatal; at best they require a great deal of Surgery, Plaistering, and, perhaps, Opening and Incision, to cure and restore them; but are abundantly better and easier prevented than cured, be the Skill ever so great: In short, all Inequalities are Diseases in Marriage, and all Diseases are best cured by Anticipation; for, as the Learned say, Errors in the first Concoction are not remedied in the second; but the ill Digesture affects all the natural Operations, till at last it reaches the Blood and animal Spirits, and there contracts Capital Diseases.

conclude: Let all those that expect Felicity in the married Life, that have the least View beyond the sensuality of the Brutes, and look on any thing in Marriage beyond the bridal Bed; I say, let them study to Match with proper and equal Circumstances; with Persons, as near as possible, suitable to themselves, and that in all the Particulars, of which