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that is neither quiet with Master or Servants, or even with her self; that has not one good Feature to render her agreeable, or one good Humour to render her tolerable? To be at home, says he, is odious to me, but to dwell there is intolerable; the Family is to me an Hospital to look into, but would be a Jayl to be confined to. Had I married the Woman I loved, said he, I had been as sober as I had been happy.
But, Sir, says the good Man, Religion is not to depend upon relative Circumstances, and we are not to serve God, as we have, or have not a comfortable Family.
That's true, says the Gentleman. But who can be religious in Hell? Who can think of God, or any thing that is good, when he is bound to Converse with every thing that's bad?
Such things are very afflicting indeed, says the grave Divine; but Afflictions should rather guide us to Heaven, than drive us from it. I have heard it spoken of in jest, That a bad Wife will lead a Man to Heaven.
And I speak of it in earnest, says the Gentleman, that mine will drive me to the Devil.
O, Sir, says the Minister, being greatly troubled to hear him talk at that rate, do not say so, I beseech you; you ought rather to consider it as an Affliction, and humble your Mind under it. But running out into Crime is heaping up Misery, and making bad worse.
Why, what can I do. Sir? says he. Who can tye himself down to his mortal Aversion?
There are many Christian Methods, says the Minister, which you may apply your self to,Sir,
