The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-27

nicious in themselves, as many would have us believe. Further, He teaches that our social privileges and duties belong to us as Christians. as His dis ciples, for He, Himself. set us an ex- ample. Yes, and unless they are met and discharged, we speedily become narrow, hard, self-centered.. unsympa- thetic, all of which are decidedly un- christian qualities. Alas! how many Christians are faithless to their so- cial duties and privileges, rarely ever putting their foot in neighbours house, except when death invades it. rarely ever inviting friend to break bread with them True hospitality. (the Word of God bids us be given to always simple and unaffected. Is fast giving way to social functions con sisting chiefly. so far as the wayfaring man may conjecture. in the chattering of tongues in an aimless sort of way and the chewing of food in a very definite way, no real social intercourse at all, certainly not recreation. It Is all too frequently little short of dis sipation.
 l sidered. (the State and society,", are the creation of man, we may say, rath- CT than of God. Of course, I do not fail to see, in the case of the State, its two fundamental principles of law and order. are of God and from God. But, the State, so far as we are concerned, mean that which affects us practi- cally, viz, it's character and scope of government, is distinctly the work of man. Nor do fail to see that society in the matter of It's essential princi- pies rests upon Gods approval. New ertheless, its ways, its customs, its laws. are the work of man. Not so, however, with that third institution Christ blessed by His presence at the wedding feast-Marriage. It. is direct ly the work of God, and man is only the subject of it. Thus we see Christ recognizing and blessing the three great institutions of mankind-the State, Society, Marriage. I need hardly point out the fist two rest upon the last, for there could be neither State nor society unless there is, marriage and all 1t involves.
 Do we. men and brethren, at all ap- preciate the real meaning, effect and purpose of marriage in human life? Do we ever reflect solemniy and rever- ently about 1t even occasionally? Do we realize-as all history teaches-that the permanency of the State and of so- ciety rests upon the sanctity of mar
 riage, that both suffer directly and most seriously in proportion as mar | riage is lightly regarded, and that the welfare of both, in the profoundest sense. depends upon its purity and preservation more than upon every thing else in the world?
 If we realize its nature as a. Divine
 institution, we shall be led to hold Christian views about it, led to see 1t is holy matrlmony,' an honorable es- tate.' and Is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly. or lightly. but rever- ently, discreetly, soberly and in the fear of God
 Now, observe. marriage is not mere
 ly contract. It is infinitely more. A
 contract Is partnership which either
 party may dissolve on account of the
 failure of the other party to discharge
 the obligations agreed upon, or by mu-
 tual consent for any reason whatever.
 Not so in the case of marriage It is
 an estate It creates a family unit
 and vitally affects the organism of so- | ciety. It is not a mere makeshift of
 convenience, a temporary arrangement
 It is designed and fitted by its very
 constitution to make man more fully | man and woman more truly woman.
 while making both one, and to rear
 children to worthy and useful member
 ship in society and in the State.
 | Further, marriage is a permanent
 institution. According to Gods Holy
 Word, 1t Is the only permanent institu-
 ton on earth. It is the foundation of
 our social organization. It is back of
 everything. It is beneath everything
 It Is the primal source or the human
 race. It is the parent of the home It
 Is the only institution in the universe directly, solely and completely the work l of God. Are we surprised, therefore.
 that Christ adorned and ,beautified It
 with His presence and first miracle that
 He wrought In Cana of GalileeT
 Let us, men and brethren, pray con-
 tinually and without ceasipg, for the Holy Spirits aid that we may both per-
 ceive and know our duty with regard
 to the State, to Society and to Marriage.
 the three great institutions our Lord
 entering upon His ministry for the sal
 vation of the world. Let us pray that
 we may also have grace and power
 faithfully to fulfll those duties.
 Tt Is by no means enough merely to
 know and perceive them. Let us real
 iZe, if We are to be true followers of tthe Redeemer, our religion must mani | fest itself in service to others. And
 that service can take no higher form
 than working to uphold the welfare of
 the State, promoting wholesome social
 life. and guarding the sanctity of mar | riage So, and so only, shall be l wrought that righteousness which ex-
 alteth a nation.' and so. and so only, | shall we ourselves be found acceptable | in the sight of our God and Savior, to