Litchfield enquirer., 1870-02-24
Marriage and Divorce.
MARRIAGE.

of this inaitution. excepting those coming in con- tact with the people of the Lord; to whom He had given His revealed will. Any information, there fore, respecting this institution, must of necessi ty, be drawn from the Word and from the Word alone.
 A. Now this word abundantly shows, that mar riage. in it's nature. is Life Long Covenant; en- tered into, on the part of man, for the mutual ben eft of both parties and, the part of God. it is blessing vouchsafed to Hisintelligent creatures on earth.-Gen. 2:24, 5:2 Eph. :21-33 2d Cor. Il: a, 8. [Rom. 2. 1st Cor. '. passin,.l Is 54:5-10. Jer. 8: IA. 20. S1:S2 32:4o. ! B. The Conditions of marriage, as drawn from the word of God, are, that the parties shall be of the proper age; that they shall not be within the degrees of consanguinity prohibited and, with re- gard to christianss i1a they shall be married in the Lofd-Gens r :17. 2s:1. 24:1 67 lLev. 1s.l 1st Cor. 7:s9. 2d Cor. 6:14. Gen. 6:2
 c. The Obligations of those in the married state, are, obedience, love, protection, provision, devo. tion: and these, in normal state of those sus- taining the relation of man and wife, are undoubt- edly to continue, until death shall dissolve the bands by which they are bound each to the other. The great amount of teaching in the word of God, viewing this subject, admits no other interpreta- tion; and ddesigns, no doubt, to present in bold relief the cardinal truths concerning the institu- tlon; whilst, the limitations are, on the other hand, but seldom mentioned. See Gospels, Ro. mans, First Cor. Bible passins.
 D. Its Objects patent to all, in the main; and are clearly set forth in the word
 1st. That it is designed to be the basis of the family, church, and state, none, I presume, for moment, will deny. All, no doubt, would allow that this argument alone, is sufficient to establish the importance, and sacredness, of this institu- tion.
 I'd. That it is also the means which God has in- stituted for the cultivation of morality, may be clearly confirmed by the word-1st Cor. 2 :2s, se, 38. Heb. 1924. 1st Tim. 8, f.
 Sd. If rightly used, it has been considered one of the strongest means for the development of man, in his social and spiritual nature. On this point, all nations and times concur. This has been abundantly shown, by the relative status of the married, or, single man, in the church and state Except Catholics). (1.) It fosters the most per- feet obedience, of an earthly nature, known to man: and thus presents no insignificant image of that obedience, founded on love and reverence :; which is, in an infinitely higher sense, due to Him, who is head over all things to the church. (2.) It cuitivates that lial affection and reverence which is unknown to other relations. Behold the young mother bending over her first born, which she has right to lovel Shall that child be unmindful of that affection? Can his heart remain unmoved Shall his affections not thence burst forth sponta- neously, as the Till from the mountain side ?-Eph 6:1. Col. 3:2O. Eph. 6:2-4. (3) It cherishes love, one for another. Husband for wife; wife for husband. Parents for children children for pa- rents, and for each other. t4.) It binds together mortals, by the most tender and sacred tles Thus it ever furnishes striking type of that relation, existing between the little flock and Him, who is called our Elder Brother.
 t II. DIVORCE.
 DtUorce is from the Lord. To deny this propo- sition is to deny the First For it is very evident that Our Father, in bestowing such an institution as marriage upon man, has also most surely de- fined it's bounds. Or, has He given to man the in- stitution of marrage, designed for blessing; but, left in such form, that it is inevitably, curse? The wisdom of man does not point to this the wisdom of God is never so manifested. What King bestows favors upon his people, in such manner2 What sovereign so treats his subjects9
 A. But why should we look to analogies, when the word is clear. This word plainly shows, not merely in the Sermon on the Mount but also in the nineteenth chapter, that the sin there men, toned, is the Only Cause, from which divorce q oincu1o matrinonii, the only kind recognized by the word of God, can possibly be obtained.
 To discuss this subject is beyond my purpose, at- this time. Here, however. on this rock. '.Thus saith the Lord," take my stand; realizing that the Gates of Hell shall not prevail. This is the true position of the church. There are two roads by which the married can be made free from the obligations, imposed by the compact of marriage.
 The First is death ,
 The Second is the sin mentioned by Matthew, on the part of the other person. Shall the Ser mon on the Mount be uncertain in its teaching? Shall Christ himself give an ambiguous answer, when questioned concerning the number of causes for divorce? --Et rges.., e.-.5s-..
 First 0T.-Itis not elsewhere stated. This is true of many important things mentioned in reve- lation. They are stated but once. This is men, toned in too diferent forms. a5 s-1
 Second Obj.-It is not to be found in the other Evangelists. AS before stated. they presented the cardinal truths; the others were understood. That sin, in it's effects, it was not necessary to mention. It is principle abundantly shown in the Old Tes- tament, under another dispensation. The limita- tions mentioned by Paul, in his letter to the Cor inthians, can never initiate against the position taken. The teaching of that letter may modify the application of the matrimonial bond. It can never break it. It does not sanction divorce ui3aculo 'aat,1aonii.
 -, ss .-,., f INTRRENcEs.
 1st.--The Christian Legislator, making law, which tolerates divorce, any cause that that mentioned by the word, is guilty oftreason against God d.-Eph. 1 :22.4 341 .5sax, ls s1szs8 ss,a-
 2d.-That Christian Jurist or. Judge, declaring parties severed by any statute, not based on the 1 one cause, mentioned by the word, has disobeyed God, and has abjured His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.-Acts 4 :19. .-1- '-s ~ {; As- WAsHINGToN.--0n Wednesday evening the editor of the Enquirer came here to participate in Q lyceum debate on sthe divorce question His pleased and innocent looks and his btushes caused him to be greatly loved by all our old ladies who l all say |" what clever man he must be"-Sent. The foregoing statement needs correc' ton in two particulars: the editor of the