THE FAMILY INSTITUTION.--MORALS OF OUR NATION.
By Joseph Clarke
"Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife, even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." A good deal of stress is laid, in scripture, upon the importance of the family relation. From Genesis to the Revelation allusions are made direct or indirect to this subject; and many are the rules, and warnings, and directions, with regard to this interesting and highly important connection. In ancient times it was considered by such men as Abraham a subject of such moment as to call upon God for direction, in the choice of a companion for life. The family relation was the first human institution of a social nature, established by Jehovah; and every other government may be considered as branching out of this; and in those countries where this institution is honored and sustained most sacredly, there is the greatest security for life and prosperity, and it may99be safely asserted that where this institution is most respected, in such locality there is peace and harmony as far as such influence can be felt. Wherever parents understand their relation to each other, and conduct themselves in accordance with the rules laid down in the Bible, there are well-regulated families; there children learn order and harmony; there, too, is peace, love and union; no domestic broils, because where parents are one, their influence is felt, their commands obeyed, by their household. But strike at the foundations of the family relation and all is disorder throughout the circle. From every quarter there is confusion. Let the band of union be sundered by division, no matter how slight, or how unobserved by the great world, that moment Satan takes his seat there, and generally he is quite successful in his plans. The bonds of order begin to slacken, and when this bond of connubial affection is once broken, then follows disorder, and hatred, and every evil work. At the present time many enter the married state as lightly and as thoughtlessly as they did in the days of Noah; and consequently when toil and affliction appear they are overcome, and either they sink down into stupid apathy, or rise in rebellion against God, (silently it is true,) but the state and workings of the heart manifest themselves in the tumults and battlings of life, in its little domestic broils, and in half-in-earnest inuendoes, or severe jokes, or habitual fault-finding, or perhaps the number of divorces and the oft-parted family, may be an index of the true state of public morals in this respect. "Without natural affection." Of course "vile affection" has taken the place of natural affection in many instances, perhaps a majority. Witness its effects upon the state of public morals, and let those who think the picture too highly colored visit Washington, the metropolis of our nation, or any of our State capitals, and let them bear witness to the vile practices of our representatives there; and it is vain to say they do not represent our moral as well as our political character. They do not fail to give an index of the fallen character of our people. Yes, truth, purity and fidelity are buried. Justice has hid her head; and vice stalks forth, not only tolerated, but covered with a wreath of laurels; and as the witless heathens bowed down before the image of Nebuchadnezzar, so now do the masses bow to the car of voluptuousness, which now draws its crowds of votaries, of every class, from the country hamlet to the crowded city. Alas, it is so! No man of information will deny the facts, and that an awful crisis is at hand. Were there no prophecies and no Bible, yet men's common sense would teach them that anarchy and confusion, or monarchical despotism, must soon displace our free institutions. Yes, foresighted political men are now either retiring from public life, or drowning their better senses in vicious tastes and occupations; and politics are already only a game of chess. Alas, how has she fallen! our once comparatively happy country. Why is all this! Is it not because our people have imbibed the manners of the old world? have abandoned the strict morals of their ancestors? because the manners of foreign cities and courts are imitated here on this free soil of America, a freedom purchased by the blood of thousands of free and noble men? and because here the habits and manners of other countries have tainted the life-blood of this republic? Those who are acquainted with the manners of European courts, are well aware that they are subversive of every feeling of natural affection; and a false feeling is implanted of regard to forms and ceremonies called "etiquette," that does in fact almost dissolve every natural and pure emotion of the soul, and to no relation is this accursed "etiquette" more at antipodes than the most refined and delicate attentions of the parties concerned in that most important and interesting relation of matrimony. Let legislators talk of edicts and statutes defending the family tie, what avails it, so long as the code of popular etiquette pervading all classes from Washington down to the country village, is in itself calculated to annihilate the God-implanted sensibilities of the human heart. But in vain we lament over fallen humanity. These lines are prompted from a desire to reach some of God's people who will come out of this Babylon of vice, ere she finally totters to irretrievable ruin. And here is one of the most important points of reform. Let the husband first love his wife, let him cherish her, regard her feelings with the tenderest care. Let him regard her character more scrupulously, if possible, than his own. In fact, let him take it in hand to make her as happy and as good as lies in his power, by kindness at all times, by patience, if her temper requires it. Next, let the wife see that she reverence her husband. Let her not reproach him, even though he may seem to deserve it. Nothing makes her more unlovely than contempt for her rightful lord. Let her honor him, and thus she will please God and man, and advance herself. If husband and wife have any controversy, let them dispose of it as quietly and thoroughly and as finally and as sweetly as possible; and let them conclude both now and forever to love mutually, and by every act and word and look and thought to win each the other by love unfeigned from day to day and from year to year. Let love increase and flow out, making thy house joyous as a river fertilizing the adjacent meadows, and so life shall be like heaven. Angels shall guard thy waking and sleeping hours. But let the temper be ruffled, the words harsh, the countenance fallen, and no one can love thee, (without a miracle), neither canst thou love whilst thou doest wrong to thy fellow. Hast thou a hard heart? Canst thou view the tear of thy companion fall at thy murmur or reproach, and not recoil at thine own baseness? Is thy heart a flint? Is thy tongue a sharp arrow? Hast thou no remorse of conscience, no relentings? Then fly to thy closet, often there plead for such love and sympathy as Jesus has. Hast thou a desire for love and peace? Then do not despair: there is a tender place in thine heart. Cultivate its best affections, and remember that thou canst not expect any thing but darkness and gloom, while thou dost unnecessarily give pain to any living creature. Especially will good angels avoid the unhappy, divided family. Come, O peace! rest in each family and heart.