"Ah, if I were to marry _him_," she thought, "he would be a help
and not a hindrance to my soul!"

She little knew that Fletcher had been fighting the same thought.
Indeed, it was not long after this that, in answer to Charles Wesley's
practical suggestion, that a wife would be helpful in his lonely work,
Fletcher drew up as quaint a set of _Reasons for and Against
Matrimony_ as have ever been committed to paper:--


FOR.

1. A tender friendship is, after the love of Christ, the greatest
felicity of life; and a happy marriage is nothing but such a
friendship between two persons of different sexes.

2. A wife might deliver me from the cares of housekeeping, etc.

3. Some objections and scandals may be avoided by marriage.

4. A pious and zealous wife might be as useful as myself; nay, she
might be much more so among my female parishioners, who greatly
want an inspectress.


AGAINST.

1. Death will shortly end all particular friendships. The happier
the state of marriage, the more afflicting is the widowhood;
besides, we may try a friend and reject him after trial; butwe