The world well tried, the sweetest thing in life
Is the unclouded welcome of a wife. 
—­Willis.

A wife is a gift bestowed upon a man to reconcile him to the loss of paradise.—­Goethe.

Heaven will be no heaven to me if I do not meet my wife there.—­Andrew Jackson.

If you wish to ruin yourself, marry a rich wife.—­Michelet.

Marriage is the strictest tie of perpetual friendship, and there can be no friendship without confidence, and no confidence without integrity; and he must expect to be wretched, who pays to beauty, riches, or politeness that regard which only virtue and piety can claim.—­Dr. Johnson.

When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married.—­Shakespeare.

The good wife is none of our dainty dames, who love to appear in a variety of suits every day new; as if a good gown, like a stratagem in war, were to be used but once.  But our good wife sets up a sail according to the keel of her husband’s estate; and if of high parentage, she doth not so remember what she was by birth, that she forgets what she is by match.—­Fuller.

Of earthly goods the best, is a good wife.—­Simonides.

Take the daughter of a good mother.—­Fuller.

Jars concealed are half reconciled; ’tis a double task, to stop the breach at home and men’s mouths abroad.  To this end, a good husband never publicly reproves his wife.  An open reproof puts her to do penance before all that are present; after which, many study rather revenge than reformation.—­Fuller.

Every effort is made in forming matrimonial alliances to reconcile matters relating to fortune, but very little is paid to the congeniality of dispositions, or to the accordance of hearts.—­Massillon.

A good wife is heaven’s last best gift to man; his angel and minister of graces innumerable; his gem of many virtues; his casket of jewels; her voice his sweet music; her smiles his brightest day; her kiss the guardian of his innocence; her arms the pale of his safety, the balm of his health, the balsam of his life; her industry, his surest wealth; her economy, his safest steward; her lips, his faithful counselors; her bosom, the softest pillow of his cares; and her prayers, the ablest advocates of heaven’s blessings on his head.—­Jeremy Taylor.

A married man has many cares, but a bachelor no pleasures.—­Dr. Johnson.

Meditation.—­Meditation is the soul’s perspective glass, whereby, in her long removes, she discerneth God, as if He were near at hand.  —­Feltham.

Meditation is the life of the soul; action is the soul of meditation; honor is the reward of action; so meditate, that thou mayst do; so do, that thou mayst purchase honor; for which purchase, give God the glory.  —­Quarles.