Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-09-19
MIR. Beeeneer ON Marriage and DIvorce

Mr.. Beecher on Marriage and Divorce.
The following editorial, entitled
''The Christian Law of Marriage, "
from the -Christain Union, and un-
derstood to be from Mr.. Beecher's
pen, derives especial interest from
the fact that it appeared at the time
when Mr.. Beecher was being severe
ly criticised in certain quarters for
officiating at the death-bed marriage
of.Albert D. Richardson and Mrs.
Mcfarland, and within the term
during which, according to Tilton,
he was guilty of criminal relations
with Mrs. Tilton: +
That Christ taught a more sp1r1t-
ual religion than Moses appears in
many cases recorded by the Evan
gelists, in which Christs ideas came
into open conflict with the. Mosaic
law, or went beyond it and above it
heights of holiness nearer to God
and harder of attainment TO man.
The Christian law of marriage,
which was delivered in the sermon
on the mount, is a sigual illustration
of the superior spirituality of Chris
tianity. Said the Divine Teacher,
as shisEwerds are given by Mat
thew.
eye have heard that it was said
by them of olden time ssThou shalt
not commit adultery" (Ex. Xxx, IA;
Lieut.. ", l8); but l say you that
whosoevever looketh on a woman to
lust after her hath committed adul-
terry with her already in her heart.
And if thy right hand offend thee,
pluck it out, and cast it from thee;
for it is profitable for thee that one
of thy members should perish, and
not that thy body should be cast in
to hell. And If thy right hand Of
fend thee, cut it of, and cast it from
thee; for it is profitable for thee
that one of thy members should
perish and be cast into hell. 1t hath
been said: "Whosoever shall put
away his wife, let him give her a |
writing of enforcement Deut. |
xxivI., } but say unto you that who |
soever shall put away his wife, saw
ing for the cause of fornication.
causeth her to commit adultery, |
and.whosoever shall marry her that
is divorced committeth adultervn
These words are blazing with the
purity and penetration of Heaven
They shine and pierce like the very
eye OF God. Under their influence
we are convinced that sin is thing
Of the heart mot necessarily of the
wilD, and that the mastery of our
passions, by their crucifxion, if need
be, is an essential condition of
Christliness, and that Christliness in
Itself is well worthy of the sacrifice.
The crown far more than compen-
;ates for the cross. Then comes the
livine idea of marriage, which is in
till death, except for one
Jingle cause; and, in this case, be it
remembered, on the ground that the
,rime threatens the world with the
of the holy institution.
md all the horrors of unbridled lust.
Adulterers as the mortal enemies of
christian marriage, are to be treat
d as unworthy Of the relation. .Di-
.orce for adultery is retribution for
in, and, shows at once the divine
ense of the. sanctity of marriage.
nd the divine wrath against its vi
lation. And all this because God
imself is love; and that the love
hat makes true marriage is d.
inc.
The Jewish teachers had heard ;
nat Jesus taught with authority
ma not as the scribes. So thew {
haue @ test of marriage-probably ,
because they felt that there was a !
ligher doctrine of it than that I,
which was taught by Moses The ,
Gene is graphic aud the words marn
'rable: " US i'iein- {
p. The Pharisees also came rn,o
IliIn, tempting Him, and saving mn |"
% Him, is it lawful for a man 70
,ut away his wife tor every causeP !
ana ne answered and said unto !
hem, Have ye not heard thai :
le which made them at the begins
ling made them male and fem5in.
md said, For this cause shall a mnr
cave father and mother, and shall :
leave to his wife, and they twain !
hall be one flesh? What therefore {
rod has joined together let no man /
,ut asunder. They say unto him. ,