Something higher than the laws of man must govern and regulate those who fear God. The laws of our land are open for men to go to court at the first, upon every light occasion, without seeking for some means of agreement. But those who do so are guilty before God, notwithstanding the liberty given them by our political statutes. Marriage is not a mere civil thing, but is partly spiritual and Divine, and therefore God alone has the power to appoint the beginning, the continuance, and the end thereof. To the writer it seems strange that, though there is a decided consensus of agreement, yet all Christians are not one on this matter.
Divorce goes yet farther, for it legally dissolves and removes the marriage relation.
Surely the very idea is repugnant to all who are really acquainted with the Divine goodness and mercy. But apart from these convincing considerations, the Word of God is plain and decisive upon the matter. But that is the only exception. He who putteth away his wife for fornication and then marrieth another is not guilty of adultery. In such a case the bond of marriage has already been broken, and the one so putting away his guilty wife is free to marry again.