An Essay on Love and Matrimony, by Zadkiel (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1851 edition. Excerpt: ... depends on the right reception of its seeds (which are ideas) into the mental soil: if we sow the seeds of thistles, we cannot expect to reap the fruit of the fig tree; in this, as in all other things, as we sow, we must needs reap. And if we would have young people act with wisdom, we must not neglect the cultivation of their minds, and so leave them the chance notions which accident may instil, nor must we allow them to listen to the absurdities of bigotry or the follies which pride may cultivate; but we must place before them the instruction of wisdom, and the results of reason. History and Origin of the present Prejudices on these Snbjects. I now intend to shew the folly of those parents who endeavour to draw a veil over the subject, and to forbid young persons, especially females, to speak even of love and matrimony. I shall first endeavour to trace the origin of this custom in modern society, and then shew its folly; which indeed must be manifest, if we reflect that it is impossible to prevent them thinking on those things; and therefore it must needs be wiser and better to guide their thoughts into the channels of truth and reason, than to let them flow over the wide and pestilential marshes of error, romance, and delusion. There can be little doubt that the custom of parents havipg an entire control cer the acts of their children, as regards contracting marriage, had its origin in that barbarous state of society, beyond which the civilization of the eastern nations has not yet emerged. The western or European nations first imbibed their manners and customs from their Roman conquerors; these, again, acquired their ideas of civilization from the Greeks, whom they copied in all things, as the purest models (which in truth they were) of...