Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-09-07
Plain Counsel Concerning Marriage

Every minister of any experience will
tell of weddings Mt which his secret, almost
agonizing thought was, 40 that | could
have known of this before, and given adj
vice in season. One party or the other is
taking a leap in the dark. They can new
or be happy together. The minister feels
as if called to take part in a crime. He
turns away, when all is over, with q sad
heart 1t is as ifh he had been at funeral.
What counsel then is wanted to save Us
from scenes like these? What are the quail
tiles indispensable to be had in husband
or wife?
DO not be enamored of nothing but
pretty face. Let your inquiry be more than
skin deep. Would you buy thing offered
as jewel only for the sake of the morocco
case? Learn to see the face that charms
you though the medium of some thirty
added years. How does it look then? The
auburn hair is tinged with gray-part of it
fallen and gone. The full cheeks are thin
ner; and where the dimples were are wrink-
les now-yery different things. The rich
complexion is turned like aleaf in Novem-
Der, and the voice that was music has in it
the sound of sigh. What is there now
left to love? Much every way? Is there a
nature that can spare these charms and be
rich without them? Ask that before taking
another step
Others are fortune hunters, asking only,
as he well off," as she an heiress?" az
vile dissertation of marriage and alto
gether as small business as anybody ever
undertook. " would rather give my
daughter" said Themistocles to his friend,
who was hesitating between a rich, worth
less sutton and one poor but worthy-''I
had rather give my daughter to a man
without money than TO money without a
man" And, if a heather was as wise as
that, christian, certainly, ought not to be
fool
But how shall we make the right choice?
Garry the question to God, for the right in
fuence from him to guide you. That, you
say, is minister's talk. No matter. 1t is
plain common sense no less than piety.-
You cannot afford to 60 plunging on in
your blindness, choosing in your own ca
price or cupidity or self will, while such a
counselor stands by rejected. ''But, shall
| have pointed out to me in that way the
identical person | am to chooseP Perhaps
not You will get no visions or voices or
revelations. But you take long leap if
you Jump from that fact to the conclusion
that prayer is no use in a matter like this.
| Suppose a marksman is in first rate health,
with his nerves calm, his limbs firm, his
eye clear. Suppose his rife is in prime or
der and one of the best make; and that he
takes still day, with the sun at his back.
| Even so is he sure of the mark? OF course
not But is it just as we'll, then, to let
| these advantages gO?-tO take an old, rusty
match lock, and fire when half sick in a
| gale of wind, with the sun in his face? Is
the chance for him in that case just as good ?
God will not make you infallible if you go
to him in prayer. But he will help you in
many ways. He will bring the best mo-
tives up to youi view. He will enable you
to look further into the character of others.
He will fit you to make better husband
or wife yourself; and so to live happier
with whomsoever you shall choose
But God Will answer no mans prayer in
this matter except through the use of his
own faculties, put to the best service while
he prays. Look out, first of all, for a part
ner who shall be thoroughly true-a trans
parent character, to whom guile or craft is
a thing impossible. Must he or she be a
christian, surprising you to be one your
self? By all means, if possible. Nothing
is so desirable. But does God require that
Does he forbid a christian to marry friend
who is not one? If he does, then half the
christian womenmust go without husbands
for, in all the churches, they outnumbel
the christian men two to one. God never
intended that, certainly; nor does any tex
of the bible require it. But have com
mon interest and hope, if you can, as to the
dearest and most vital matter of your life
If as to that, you and your partner start Oh
two different key notes it will be hard t,
keep the harmony.
! But, besides character, look for mind