1818 Feb. 3

Not Paul

III. Doctrine

Ch. Motives to Conversion

Asceticism II. Bed

I. Ordinary

2. Conduct o a parent with reference to the marriage of his child.

To all parents having in this respect /particular/ children in their power, to say

peremptorily and in the way of absolute inhibition— suffer them not

to marry—might have been too much: too much even though the world was in

those days /at that time/ as hath been seen so near to an end even though at that

time /in those day[s]/ every man had, as above, so fair a probability of seeing the

world come to an end before his death /while he was yet alive/. moreover by the

example /spectacle/ of commands /ordinances/ disobeyed power is weakened.

To inhibition /prohibition/, gentle recommendation is here therefore wisely

/prudentially/ substituted.

Of efficiency in case of a recommendation of this sort, the hope /prospect/ it will

be obvious enough will naturally be more pleasing in so far /the case/ as depends

upon the parent than in so far as depends upon /the case of/ the child. In the case

of this as of other gratifications, to deny it to another even though that other be a

man’s own child is rather more easy than for him to deny it to himself: and in the

case of the parent, the suggestions /dictates/ of economy will /would/ in support of

a recommendation of this sort join their force /influence/ to the force of the

dictates of piety: of piety according to the picture drawn of her by this saint.

I Cor. vii. 36. 37. 38.

36. But if any manthink that he behaveth himself uncomely towards his virgin, if she

pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth

not: let them marry.

37. Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but

hath power over his own will and hath so decreed in his heart, that he will keep his

virgin, doeth well.

38. So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in

marriage doth better.