Page:Marriage Its Origin, Uses, and Duties.pdf/21

 who have any real love for their offspring, and any true perception of their best interests, may see that one of the most important uses which they can perform to those immortals whom Divine Providence has entrusted to their care, is to co-operate with the Lord in preparing them for an eternity of happiness.

Marriage provides most effectually for these and all kindred uses, because it is that state of life most favourable to the growth both of natural and spiritual virtue, and thence to the formation of the heavenly life. That state of life has the greatest tendency to spiritualise the mind, which tends most to weaken self-love, and to strengthen mutual affection. And one of the principal uses of the married life is its constant tendency to draw out the affections, and place them on other objects than self. True love for a conjugial partner surpasses in excellence all other kinds of mutual affection. Being more deeply rooted in the human heart,—having, indeed, a deeper ground in the constitution of our nature,—its sympathies and its duties, its sorrows and its joys, call into action more interior principles of our minds, and, affecting us more deeply, act upon us more powerfully and beneficially. While married life affords the highest means for drawing out and strengthening all the good affections, it appeals to the best motives for controlling the evil propensities. To deny ourselves of any selfish gratification, or any evil temper for the sake of another's happiness, is a still higher motive than to do so