fore and during the married State, the ftrictest Decency and Chaftity of Manners, and a juft Senfe of what becomes their refpective Characters.

3. The Union must be inviolable, and for Life. The Nature of Friendship, and particularly of this Species of it, the Education of their Offspring, and the Order of Society, and of Succeffions which would otherwise be extremely perplexed, do all feem to require it. To preferve this Union, and render the matrimonial State more harmonious and comfortable, a mutual Efteem and Tenderness, a mutual Deference and Forbearance, a Communication of Advice, and Affiftance, and Authority, are abfolutely neceffary. If either Party keep within their proper Departments, there need be no Difputes about Power or Superiority, and there will be none. They have no oppofite, no feparate Interefts, and therefore there can be no juft Ground for Oppofition of Conduct.

From this Detail, and the prefent State of things, in

Polygamy.

}

which there is pretty near a Parity of Numbers of both Sexes, it is evident that Polygamy is an unnatural State; and tho

it

it fhould be granted to be more fruitful of Children, which however it is not found to be, yet it is by no means fo fit for rearing Minds, which feems to be as much, if not more, the Intention of Nature, than the Propagation of Bodies.

Divorce,&c.

In what Cafes Divorce may be proper, what are the juft Obstacles to Marriage, and within what Degrees of Confanguinity it may be allowed, we have not room to difcufs here, and therefore we refer the Reader to Mr. Hutchinson's ingenious Moral Compend. Book III. Chap. 1.

Connection of
Parents and
Children.

CHA P. III.

Of Parental Duty.

T

HE Connection of Pa

rents with their Children is a natural Confequence of the matrimonial Connection, and the Duties which they owe them, refult as naturally from that Connection. The feeble State of Children, fubject to fo many Wants

Wants and Dangers, requires their inceffant Cares and Attention; their ignorant and uncultivated Minds demand their continual Inftruction and Culture. Had human Creatures come into the World with the full Strength of Men, and the Weaknefs of Reafon and Vehemence of Paffions which prevail in Children, they would have been too ftrong, or too stubborn, to have fubmitted to the Government and Inftruction of their Parents. But as they were defigned for a Progreffion in Knowledge and Virtue, it was proper that the Growth of their Bodies fhould keep pace with that of their Minds, left the Purposes of that Progreffion fhould have been defeated. Among other admirable Purposes which this gradual Expansion of their outward as well as inward Structure ferves, this is one, that it affords ample Scope to the Exercise of many tender and generous Affections, which fill up the domeftic Life with a beautiful Variety of Duties and Enjoyments; and are of courfe a noble Difcipline for the Heart, and an hardy kind of Education for the more honourable and important Duties of public Life.

The

The Authority founded on that Connection.

The above-mentioned weak and ignorant State of Children, feems plainly to invest their Parents with fuch Authority and Power as is neceffary to their Support, Protection, and Education; but that Authority and Power can be conftrued to extend no farther than is neceffary to answer thofe Ends, and to last no longer than that Weakness and Ignorance continue; wherefore the Foundation or Reafon of the Authority and Power ceafing, they ceafe of courfe. Whatever Power or Authority then it may be necessary or lawful for Parents to exercife during the Non-age of their Children, to affume or ufurp the fame when they have attained the Maturity or full Exercife of their Strength and Reafon, would be tyrannical and unjuft. From hence it is evident, that Parents have no Right to punish the Perfons of their Children more feverely than the Nature of their Wardship requires, much lefs to invade their Lives, to encroach upon their Liberty, or tranffer them as their Property to any Master whatsoever. But if any Parent fhould be fo unjust and inhuman as to confider and

treat

treat them like his other Goods and Chattles, furely whenever they dare, they may refift, and whenever they can, fhake off that inhuman and unnatural Yoke, and be free with that Liberty with which God and Nature has invested them.

The firft Clafs of Duties which Parents owe their Children refpect their natural Life;

Duties of

Parents.

and these comprehend Protection, Nurture, Provifion, introducing them into the World in a manner fuitable to their Rank and Fortune, and the like.

The fecond Order of Duties Education. regards the intellectual and moral Life of their Children, or their Education in fuch Arts and Accomplishments, as are neceffary to qualify them for performing the Duties they owe to themselves and to others. As this was found to be the principal Design of the matrimonial Alliance, fo the fulfilling that Design is the most important and dignified of all the parental Duties. In order therefore to fit the Child for acting his Part wifely and worthily, as a Man, as a Citizen, and a Creature of God, both Parents ought to

com