ſhe was willing to own to her huſband; or ſome ſuch moral cauſe of anger.
After obſerving ſallies of this kind, I have been led into a melancholy train of reflection reſpecting females, concluding that when their firſt affection muſt lead them aſtray, or make their duties claſh till they reſt on mere whims and cuſtoms, little can be expected from them as they advance in life. How indeed can an inſtructor remedy this evil? for to teach them virtue on any ſolid principle is to teach them to deſpiſe their parents. Children cannot, ought not, to be taught to make allowance for the faults of their parents, becauſe every ſuch allowance weakens the force of reaſon in their minds, and makes them ſtill more indulgent to their own. It is one of the moſt ſublime virtues of maturity that leads us to be ſevere with reſpect to ourſelves, and forbearing to others; but children ſhould only be taught the ſimple virtues, for if they begin too early to make allowance for human paſſions and manners, they wear off the fine edge of the criterion by which they ſhould regulate their own, and become unjuſt in the ſame proportion as they grow indulgent.
The affections of children, and weak people, are always ſelfiſh; they love others, becauſe others love them, and not on account of their virtues. Yet, till eſteem and love are blended together in the firſt affection, and reaſon made the foundation of the firſt duty, morality will ſtumble at the threſhold. But, till ſociety is very differently conſtituted, parents, I fear, will ſtill inſiſt on being obeyed, becauſe they will be obeyed, and conſtantly endeavour to ſettle that power on a Divine right which will not bear the inveſtigation of reaſon.
CHAP.
