PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

Dldy if Cl-ildrm.
A parent has, in no case, a right to destroy his
child's happiness. H it be true, therefore, that there
exist such personal and exclusive attachments between
individuals of different sexes, that the posses~ion of a
particular man or woman in marriage be really nec ..
essary for the child's happiness; or if it be trtIe, that
an aversion to a particular profession may be involun ..
my and unconquerable; then it w~1l follow, that pa.
rents, where this is the case 9 ought I!l)t to urge their
authorilf s and that the child is not bound to obey it,
The point is~ to discover how far, in any particular
instance, this is the case. ~ether the fondnec~
of lovers ever continues with such intensity; and so
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long, that the success of their desires _ constitutes, or
the disappointment aJI'eets, any considerable portion
of their happiness, compared with that of theic whole
life, it is difficult to determine; but there can be no
difficulty in pronouncing, that not one half of those
attachments which young people concei,'e with so
milch haste and passion~ are of this sc rt. I believe
it also to be true, that there are fev! aversioIl5 to 3-
profession, which resolution, perse"ierenCe, activity
in going aoout the duty of it, ~ above all, despaUof
changing, will not subdue: yet there are some
such. 'Vherefore, a child wbll respects his parents·
judgment, and is, as he ought to be, tender of their
happiness, owes, at least, so much deference to their
will, as to try fairly and fctithfully, in one case, ,,~hether
time and absence will not cool an affection whith
they di4;approve;' and, in the other, whether a longer
continuance in the profession which they have
chosen for him, may not reconcile him to it. The
whole depends upon the experiment being made on
t-i.e child's part with sincerity, and not merely with
a design of compassing his purpose at last, by means
of a simulated and temporary compliMlce. It is the
nature of love and hatred, and of all violent affections,
to deiude the mind with a persuasion, that we shaD
always continue to feel them, as we feel them at
present: we can~ot conceive that they will eithel