Page:Advice to young ladies on their duties and conduct in life - Arthur - 1849.djvu/25

Rh unless we oppose, vigorously, and from a religious ground, our natural propensity to regard only our own selves. What is here meant by a religious ground, is, a regard to God and an obedience to his laws, as the duty of a creature made by his hands and sustained by him every moment. These laws teach us to regard the good of others; and when we seek the good of others, because to do so is to live in obedience to the laws of God, we act from a religious principle. Every effort made in this spirit is an efficient one, and actually produces a change in the inward mind, causing a love of others to take the place of a love of self. To sin, is to act in opposition to these laws of God. In every instance, therefore, in which we neglect the good of another, in seeking some selfish gratification, we commit sin; for the law of God, in common society, is, for each to regard the good of the whole.

A right view of life, then, which all should take at the outset, is the one we have presented. Let every young lady seriously reflect upon this subject. Let her remember that she is not designed by her Creator to live for herself alone, but has a higher and nobler destiny—that of doing good to others—of making others happy.