THE PASSIONS.

95

RELIGIOUS MELANCHOLY.

Many persons of a religious turn of mind behave as if theythought it a crime to be cheerful. They imagine the wholeof religion consists in certain mortifications, or denying them-selves the smallest indulgence, even of the most innocentamusements. A perpetual gloom hangs upon their counte-nances, while the deepest melancholy preys upon their minda.At length the fairest prospects vanish, every thing puts on adismal appearance, and those very objects which ought togive delight afford nothing but disgust. Life itself becomesa burden, and the unhappy wretch, persuaded that no evilcan equal what he feels, often puts an end to his own mise-rable existence.

It is great pity that ever religion should be so far pervertedas to become the cause of those very evils which it was de-signed to cure. Nothing can be better calculated than theChristian Religion to raise and support the mind of itsvotaries under every affliction that can befa] them. It teachesthem that the sufferings of this life are preparatory to thehappiness of the next, and that all who persist in a courseof virtue shall at length arrive at complete felicity.

Those whose business it is to recommend religion to othersshould beware of dwelling too much upon gloomy subjects.That peace and tranquillity of mind which true religion iscalculated to inspire is a more powerful argument in its fa-vor than all the terrors that can be uttered. Terror may in-deed deter men from outward acts of wickedness ; but it willnever inspire them with that love of God and real goodnessin which alone true religion consists.

To conclude, the best way to counteract the violence ofany passion is to encourage those of an opposite nature, andto keep the mind so closely engaged in some useful pursuitas to allow it no time to reflect upon misfortunes.

match is the constant aim of parents, while their children often suffera real martyrdom betwixt their own inclinations and the duty whichthey think they owe to their parents. The first thing which parentsought to consult in disposal of their children in marriage is certainlytheir own inclinations. Were due regard always paid to these, therewould be fewer unhappy couples : and the parents would not have sooften cause to repent the severity of their conduct, after a ruined con-stitution or a distracted mind has shown them their mistake.