arry it to extremes. Be not ignorant of his devices. Watch and
pray, that you enter not into temptation.

Your affectionate Brother.

LETTER XV.

_Social and Relative Duties._

"All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye
even so to them." MATT. 7:12.

MY DEAR SISTER,

We are formed for society; and whoever refuses social intercourse with
his fellow-beings, and lives to himself, violates an established law of
nature. But the operation of this general principle creates the
necessity of particular laws for the regulation of that intercourse.
Hence, a numerous train of duties arise out of our social relations. And
those duties enter more or less into the common concerns of life,
according as these relations are more or less remote. The first relation
which the Lord has established among men, is that of the _family_. This
was established in Paradise; and it has been preserved, in all ages of
the world, and in all countries, with more or less distinctness,
according to the degree of moral principle which has prevailed. The
Scriptures are very particular in describing this relation, as it
existed in the patriarchal ages. It has its foundation in the fitness of
things; and hence the duties arising out of it are very properly classed
as _moral_ duties. Of such consequence does the Lord regard this
relation, that he has given it a place in the decalogue. Three of the
ten commandments have particular reference to the family relation. From
the first institution of this relation, we learn that the father and
mother are to constitute the united head of the family. "_They twain
shall be one flesh._" Authority is therefore doubtless vested in them
both, to exercise jointly. But, since the fall, when mankind became
perverse and self-willed, the nature and fitness of things seem to
require that there should be a precedence of authority, in case of a
division of the united head. This precedence, the Scriptures clearly and
distinctly point out. One of the curses pronounced upon the woman, after
the fall, was, that her husband should rule over her. This principle was
carried out in the families of the patriarchs. The apostle Peter says,
that the holy women of old adorned themselves with a meek and quiet
spirit, and were in subjection to their own husbands: and particularly
notice the conduct of Sarah, the mother of the Jewish nation, who
_obeyed_ Abraham, calling