Reasons of this command. Marriage is a necessity of our nature, both moral and physical. The species must be propagated. So propagated as to secure the highest physical and moral perfection of the race. Children must be born within the lawful bonds of marriage, to secure to them parental affection, with that nurture, training, and maintenance that is essential to their highest well being.
Marriage is, therefore, wholly indispensable to the highest well being of the race.
But the benefits of marriage will be entirely excluded, unless licentiousness be prevented. Every kind and degree of licentiousness is inconsistent with the highest well being of man. This command, therefore, is only declaratory, and an application of the principle of benevolence, to this particular relation. It is therefore universally binding upon all men in all nations and ages. While human beings exist in this is world, the law of marriage cannot possibly be abrogated or altered in its spirit by the will of any being.