The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-11

HOW WOulu Jesus lNeBdlu MAJ lldSS
and Dvorce?" was the subject of a
strong sermon delivered last night i'll
the Dunmore Presbyterian church by
Rev. w. f. Gibbons. 1t was the sixth
In a series of sermons on what Would
Jesus Do?" During his discourse, Mr..
Gibbons said
This is a subject that demands our
most serious attention. 1t is faCt
greatly to be deplorcd that marriage Is
often regarded as a Joke and divorce
comedy for the deleCtatiOn of the courts
and newspapers. The whole subject has
been treated with leVity which would
he astonishing if it We're not so pitlful.
Marriage stands at the foundation of
the family; and the family stands as
the unit of society. Divorce, which
breaks up the family, undermines the
very foundation of society.
1t is a mistake to say that ii is no
body'S business who may choose 10
marry; but it is still greater mistake
to suppose that only the parties I'M
mediately concerned are Interested in
proceedings for divorce. History shows
that the greatest nations of the earth,
which for the longest period have ruled
the destiny of mankind, have been
those in which the family and not the
individual was regarded as the social
unit.
n DIVINE lNSIlIOIlON.
As Christian men we need have no
doubt that marriage is a divine insu-
tuition. Fortunately, no word of Christs
has come to us with greater clearness
than his specific declaration on the
subject of marriage and divorce. When
Christ was asked concerning this sub
ject, he declared that from the begin.
ming God had ordained the marriage of
one man with one woman in an indis-
eaI,, nj T11n n
Cerning the law of Moses, He declared
that divorce had been permitted by
God, as had also pOlygamy, because or
the hardness of mems hearts. But from
the beginning it was not so. His own
dictum is, "Whosocver shall put away
his wife, except for fOrnication, COM
mtteth adultery"
The Christian is bound to regard mar
riage not from the point Of view of
human law; but from the viewpoint OF
Jesus Christ. Our Savior plainly thought
this not mere human contract to be
made or broken at will. From Jesus
point of view, the marriage of convent
ence. or the bargaining of American
dollars for a foreign title would have
been utterly abhOrrent We cannot
imagine that Jesus would have hal
lowed by his presence, or that he would
have given his approval to any mar
riage regarded by the parties as merely
civil contract.
The teaching of Christ has also
served to bring about an equality of
the sexes. st. Paul says, in Jesus
Christ "there is neither male or
female" That which is sinful in woman
is no less sinful in man. When the
two parties shall stand in Gods pres
ence. both shall he judged alike. From
the days of Adam to the present, sell
fish man has tried to shift the blame
unon the woman, as the weaker party
What a debt woman owes to Jesus
Christ? No wonder there are more
women in the church than men; nc
wonder that she was last at the cross
and earliest at the grave"
THEY WERE MERE SLAVES.
According to the marriage laws OF
almost every nation, ancient or mod
ern, except certain GermaniC tribes
and a few others, woman passed from
the hand of her father to the hand OF
her husband until the teachings o
Christ raised her from the position OF
slave to the place of an equal.
Jesus taught also the sacredness OF
marriage. Infinitely above the teach.
ing of early philosophers stands th'
tender ideal of Christ concerning wed
lock. 1t is mistake to suppose tina
there is any especial sanCtity in Celib
acy. Indeed, the sacred mystery %
marriage has been forever honored by
being compared to the union betWeer
Christ and the church. But although
Christ thus honors WedlOCk. not all per
sons are to marry.
No doubt it would be a great hard
ship, if the law should interfere to pre-
vent marriage on the part of person
who are unfit; for instance, those wht
are smitten with inherited disease o
body or mind. When human law hest
tateS the ineXOrable laws of God inter
Vene, the weakest die, the fttest sur
vive. But the race deteriorates w
need a more stringent public opinion
concerning such matters. It may ais
be that there are some men who ar
called to some great mission in lif
which precludes marriage. But sucl
cases are rare. The married state is
natural one, the celibate is abnormal
The teachings of Christ Concernin
divorce come nearer to explicit legis
lation than almost any other words
uttered by the Master. His word
plainly teach the union of one HUSBAND
to one wife, to be parted only by death
except it be for adultery. Notice tina
He does not command divorce even 70
this one cause, nor forbid separation
for any other good reason. while II
recognizes that the hardness of men
hearts brought about both polygam
and divorce or separation.
While the severity of this teaching o
Christ seems still too great for ou
modern legislators, there can be n
question but what it should be the idea
for all who profess themselves to II
the followers of Christ. But if thi
teaching seems to be too severe for us
what mnst it have been in Christs ow
day? n'hen in Judea, a man nigh
divorce bis wife for burning his din
ner; while in Rome, matrons ker