s blessing, a means of serving his
cause. However we may sneer at the monastic system of the Church of
Rome, it is unquestionable that many great works have been done by the
monks which could not have been performed by men who had entered into
the marriage relationship. Such examples of heroic Christian effort as
are seen in the lives of St. Bernard, of Francis Xavier, and many
others, are scarcely ever to be found except in the single state. The
forlorn hope in battle, as well as in the cause of Christianity, must
consist of men who have no domestic relationships to divide their
devotion, who will leave no wife nor children to mourn over their
loss.

Let this great truth bring its improvement to those who, either of
their own choice, or by the force of circumstances, are destined
hereafter to live a single life on earth; and, instead of yielding to
that feeling so common among mankind--the feeling of envy at another's
happiness--instead of becoming gloomy, and bitter and censorious, let
them remember what the Bible has to tell of the deep significance of
the Virgin Mary's life--let them reflect upon the snares and
difficulties from which they are saved--let them consider how much
more time and money they can give to God--that they are called to the
great work of serving Causes, of entering into public questions, while
others spend their time and talents only upon themselves. The state of
single life, however we may be tempted to think lightly of it, is a
state that has peculiar opportunities of deep blessedness.

2. On the other hand, the Apostle Paul brings forward, into strong
relief, the blessedness and advantages of the marriage state. He tells
us that it is a type of the union between the Redeemer and the Church.
But as this belongs to another part of the subject, we shall not enter
into it now. But we observe, that men in general, must have their
sympathies drawn out step by step, little by little. We do not rise to
philanthropy all at once. We begin with personal, domestic, particular
affections. And not only is it true that rarely can any man have the
whole of his love drawn out except through this domestic state, but,
also, it is to be borne in mind that those who have entered into this
relationship have also their own peculiar advantages. It is true that
in the marriage-life, interrupted as it is by daily cares and small
trifles, those works of Christian usefulness cannot