SUNDAY MORNING, SEPT. 3, SIX O'CLOCK
May my story be a warning to all , how they prefer a libertine to a man of true honour ; and how they permit themselves to be misled -LRB- where they mean the best -RRB- by the specious , yet foolish hope of subduing riveted habits , and , as I may say , of altering natures ! -- The more foolish , as constant experience might convince us , that there is hardly one in ten , of even tolerably happy marriages , in which the wife keeps the hold in the husband 's affections , which she had in the lover 's . What influence then can she hope to have over the morals of an avowed libertine , who marries perhaps for conveniency , who despises the tie , and whom , it is too probable , nothing but old age , or sickness , or disease , -LRB- the consequence of ruinous riot , -RRB- can reclaim ? I am very glad you gave my cous -- SUNDAY MORNING , SEPT. 3 , SIX O'CLOCK . Hither I had written , and was forced to quit my pen . And so much weaker and worse I grew , that had I resumed it , to have closed here , it must have been with such trembling unsteadiness , that it would have given you more concern for me , than the delay of sending it away by last night 's post can do . I deferred it , therefore , to see how it would please God to deal with me .