FIRST LOVE, DESERTION and DIVORCE

1. FIRST LOVE.--This is the most important direction of all. The
first love experiences a tenderness, a purity and unreservedness, an
exquisiteness, a devotedness, and a poetry belonging to no subsequent
attachment. "Love, like life, has no second spring." Though a
second attachment may be accompanied by high moral feeling, and to a
devotedness to the object loved; yet, let love be checked or
blighted in its first pure emotion, and the beauty of its spring is
irrecoverably withered and lost. This does not mean the simple love of
children in the first attachment they call love, but rather the mature
intelligent love of those of suitable age.

2. FREE FROM TEMPTATIONS.--As long as his heart is bound up in its
first bundle of love and devotedness--as long as his affections
remain reciprocated and uninterrupted--so long temptations cannot take
effect. This heart is callous to the charms of others, and the very
idea of bestowing his affections upon another is abhorrent. Much more
so is animal indulgence, which is morally impossible.

3. SECOND LOVE NOT CONSTANT.--But let this first love be broken off,
and the flood-gates of passion are raised. Temptations now flow
in upon him. He casts a lustful eye upon every passing female,
and indulges unchaste imaginations and feelings. Although his
conscientiousness or intellect may prevent actual indulgence, yet
temptations now take effect, and render him liable to err; whereas
before they had no power to awaken improper thoughts or feelings. Thus
many young men find their ruin.