s, or the
direction we may give to our hearts, it would be less objectionable. For
doubtless love, though more essential to woman than to man, can be more
easily controlled by her than by him. A person of a strong will may
bring herself, for prudential considerations, to prefer in marriage one
who will be "a good match" with her, as the phrase is, to another whom
she sincerely loves. And she may succeed in subduing, to no ordinary
degree, her affection for the rejected one. But to eradicate from the
heart the powerful principle of love is not given, I believe, to woman.
She may substitute another object for that which ought to have engaged
this class of her affections. A mother, or sister, or a friend, may be
installed in that place. Nay, I have known a mere animal to be caressed
and apparently loved, as it could not have been, had the affections been
properly bestowed on a human being. We can regulate and direct, but we
cannot destroy, in the heart, the sentiment of love.

Some, again, associate with the thought of love the idea of our Lower
Propensities. They regard it as an animal passion, and as debasing to
the character. With false notions of delicacy, they determine to shun
its snares, and hence strive to banish the impure thing from their
minds, and to steel themselves against its access.

How unworthy of our nature, and of the Being who formed us, is this
view. To those who entertain it, we must say, "what God hath cleansed,
that call not thou common, or unclean." Far, indeed, are they, to whom
we allude, from the elevated and true idea of that sacred tie, which
joins the pure in heart. A better knowledge of their race would acquaint
them with multitudes, who have proved marriage to be "honorable," and to
whom love has been the chief refiner of their souls. That it may be
perverted, we cannot, of course, deny. But that its legitimate tendency,
is any other than to exalt, ennoble, and sanctify the spirit, we do not
believe. So thorough is our persuasion of this, that we would commend
the marriage relation to a seeker of moral excellence. We would say,
that, in the hallowed sympathies of love are incitements to purity and
piety. To her who earnestly desires to become spiritual, we would
present the association in marriage with one spiritually minded, as,
above all adventitious means, friendly to her holy purpose.

To how many is love a theme for Jesting and Sport. The ancients
represented Cupid under the aspect