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Sentimentalism and Matchmaking
225
You have written many letters, which has greatly taxed you.
These letters have dwelt somewhat upon the subjects of our faith
and hope; but mixed with this have been close inquiries and guesses
in regard to whether this one or that one was about to marry, and
suggestions relative to marriage. You seem to know considerable
about anticipated marriages, and write and talk upon these things.
This only causes dearth to your soul. “Out of the abundance of
the heart the mouth speaketh.” You have done great injustice to
yourself in permitting your mind and conversation to dwell upon
love and marriage. You have not been happy, because you have
been seeking after happiness. This is not profitable business. When
you seek earnestly to do your duty, and arouse yourself to minister
unto others, then you will find rest of spirit. Your mind dwells upon
yourself. It needs to be drawn away from yourself by seeking to
lighten the cares of others; and in making them happy, you will find
happiness and cheerfulness of spirit.
You have a diseased imagination. You have thought yourself
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diseased, but this has been more imaginary than real. You have
been untrue to yourself. You have conversed with young men, and
permitted a freedom in your presence which should only be permitted
in a brother. I was shown that your influence at-----was not what it
might have been. You permitted your mind to take a low level. You
could chat, and laugh, and talk cheap talk unworthy of a Christian.
Your deportment was not as it should have been. You appeared like
a person without a backbone. You were half reclining upon others,
which is a wrong position for a lady to occupy in the presence of
others. If you had only thought so, you could have walked as well,
and sat as erect, as many others. The condition of your mind leads
to indolence and to a dread of exercise, when this exercise would
prove one of the greatest means of your recovery. You will never
recover unless you lay aside this listless, dreamy condition of mind
and arouse yourself to
do
, to work while the day lasts. Do, as well
as imagine and plan. Turn your mind away from romantic projects.
You mingle with your religion a romantic, lovesick sentimentalism,
which does not elevate, but only lowers. It is not yourself alone who
is affected; others are injured by your example and influence.
You are naturally devotional. If you would train your mind to
dwell upon elevated themes which have nothing to do with yourself,