Some Reflections Upon Marriage.: With additions.Astell, Mary
Philosophy
Some Reflections Upon Marriage.: With additions.
Astell, Mary
Marriage; Women -- Social conditions
Superiors indeed are too apt to forget the common Privileges of Mankind;
that their Inferiors share with them the greatest Benefits, and are as
capable as themselves of enjoying the supreme Good; that though the
Order of the World requires an _Outward_ Respect and Obedience from some
to others, yet the Mind is free, nothing but Reason can oblige it, ’tis
out of the Reach of the most absolute Tyrant. Nor will it ever be well
either with those who Rule or those in Subjection, even from the Throne
to every private Family, till those in Authority look on themselves as
plac’d in that Station for the Good and Improvement of their Subjects,
and not for their own Sakes; not as the Reward of their Merit, or that
they may prosecute their own Desires and fulfil all their Pleasure, but
as the Representatives of God, whom they ought to imitate in the Justice
and Equity of their Laws, in doing Good and communicating Blessings to
all beneath them: By which, and not by following the imperious Dictates
of their own Will, they become truly Great and Illustrious, and worthily
fill their Place. And the Governed for their Part, ceasing to envy the
Pomp and Name of Authority, should respect their Governors as placed in
_GOD_’s stead, and contribute what they can to ease them of their real
Cares, by a chearful and ready Compliance, with their good Endeavours,
and by affording them the Pleasure of Success in such noble and generous
Designs.
For, upon a due Estimate, Things are pretty equally divided; those in
Subjection, as they have a less Glorious, so they have an easier Task
and a less Account to give; Whereas he who Commands, has in a great
measure the Faults of others to answer for as well as his own. ’Tis
true, he has the Pleasure of doing more Good than a private Person can,
and shall receive the Reward of it when Time shall be no more, in
Compensation for the Hazards he runs, the Difficulties he at present
encounters, and the large Account he is to make hereafter. Which
Pleasure and Reward are highly desirable, and most worthy our Pursuit;
but they are Motives which such as Usurp on their Governors, and make
them uneasy in the due Discharge of their Duty, never propose. As for
those other little Things that move their Envy and Ambition, they are of
no Esteem with a just Considerer, nor will such as violently pursue,
find their Account in them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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