Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-03-16
From the Reformed Church Messenger.
MARRIAGE.
ny nrv. y. CANS, D. n.


ewhat. therefore, God hath joined together, let
no man put asunder"-Si. Nark, \. y.
The object in presenting this sub
icct, is not to crafty any vain or idle
curiosity, or attempt to weave around
il garlands of flowers, with view to
attract and please the light and foolish
Imagination.
Too long has the subject been treat
cd in this style. So frequently indeed
has it been exhibited in this manner,
that few, when the word marriage is
mentioned, are able to suppress Il
smile, Its sacred character has in
tlis way, in the minds of many, been
almost entirely destroyed. ltis looked
upon by them as subject exclusively
of MISUNDERSTANDING TO excite
mcrriment and laughter, in regard to
which it is customary 20 utter all sorts
Of witticisms and smart sayings.
THUS has tho grave and sacred
character of marriage gradually dis
appeared. Instead Of its being a
solemn thing, it has become a play.
thing Instead of exciting earnest
study, with a view to understand its
nature and obligations, il excitcs light
fancies and foolish words Instead of
occupying high and sacred place
commanding the reverence of men, il
is trailed in the dust, and made the
spor. OF every wild gust Of willfulness
and passion.
We are sincerely sorry to be com
PEELED 10 make the humiliating con.
fcssion, that the pulpit has had no
small agency in cutvating this light,
foolish and vitiated sentiment in re-
gard to marriage. True, il has but
seldom brought marriage ont as a dis
tinct theme-to dwell upon il in a
separate and full way, as one Of the
things of God. When, however this
has been done, il has been, nearly
always, with some low popular end
in vicw-to draw gaping crowd,
and then by the exhibition of witt.
eisms or pictures OF fancy, to crafty
the crowd, convulsing il with laugh
ter and merriment-an abundance Of
which we have in the weak and
obscene novelettes of the day--flling
it with vague, unreal and visionary
anticipations. Thus has tho pulpit
aided in dragging down and dcseera-
ting what in itself is so high and
sacred, and in this way have the
noodgates OF vice and crime been
opened. until now, the currents of
corruption have become so deep,
broad asd mighty, that everything
high and sacred is in danger Of being
swept away before them,
We must not forget. in spite Of all
this, however, that marriage is some.
thing sacred and holy that it is more
than n mere beautiful boQuct Of flow
ers, which can be arranged aud set,
and again disarranged aud destroyed,
according TO the willful pleasure or
capricions taste Of each; that il il
more than inward emotion and scnti.
ment which two persons Of different
sexes may experience towards cacl,
other; that, beyond all this and every
thing else that may be Of a mere
individual or emotional nature, II is II
high and sacred objective estate, into
which two persons voluntarily enter.
ing, arc made one by the hand of God
--an institution Just as fixed in its
own nature, and beyond the changing
thoughts and feelings Of the parties,
rs in the Sacrament Of Baptism rthe
Lords Supper in the Kingdom OF
grace, or as is the sun or the moon
in the kingdom OF nature.
|. Our first point, therefore, is
that marriage is a Divine elnstilution-
that il was ordained by the Almighty
and by Him nlone--man having no
more to do with il than he had with
his own being when God made him.
IL would seem strange were we nj
this period of the world, and amid the
light of what is called Christian
country, to'attempt, in formal way
10 give Scriptural proof Of this point