The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-01-24

knowledge of the law of God with respect to divorce
and marriage Lawyers familiar with the d
vorce laws of their State, but if you ask them
what is the scriptural authority the subject they
will generally answer, Il have not looked into the
matter Now, II Christian nation, and are
supposed to have nothing in laws directly OPP
posed to the teaching of Gods moral laws and if all
the people understood the requirements of Chrstian
ty with respect to divorce and subsequent marriage
and our laws framed accordingly, public opinion
would become the safeguard of the marriage rela
ton and the sanctity of the home Let then
slider the laws of God eNpounded by the Great
Teacher.
The Pharsees asked our Lord whether it law
full for to put away his wife for every cause"
He answered: Have We not read that He which made
them at the beginning made them male and female,
and said for this cause shall leave father and
mother and shall cleave his wife and they twain
shall be one flesh Wherefore they are no more
(never more) twain but flesh" What there
fore God hath joined together let not man put asun
der" The Greek word for is anthropos, with
out the article, the most absolute and unlimited
preston to denote man universally. Man in po
siton, relation authority may put asunder their
union without express permission of God. As if he
had said every lawfully married man and woman are
joined together by God himself. Then, what God
hath joined together let not man put asunder.
Our Lord goes to say, 'Whosoever putteth away
his wife, except it be for fornication and marrieth
another, committeth adultery, and whosoever
rieth her which is put away doth commit adultery
Does not Christ, here charge the guilt of adultery
upon every man who puts away his wife and marries
another, except it be for that one specie sin? And
he who marrieth her that is put away (or adultery
is guilty of the same sin.
According to laws divorce processes to set
the parties free, that they may marry again. But
in reference to the remarrying of those who have
been divorced, unless under the exception made by
our Lord, as DIR. LANCE says No human tribunal has
matter of right, the power to grant such per
mission 1t is therefore the law of God, eXpound
ed by the Great Teacher, that the marriage bond j.
indossoluble and perpetual, except in the OF
adultery committed by one of the parties. In that
the other party free and might marry again
after legal divorce.
Now, in the next place, have exposition oil
the law of God on the subject given by Paul
In the church of Corinth composed partly of
verted heathens, questions in regard to the
marriage relation, which did not exist in the time
of Christ The Corinthians therefore wrote let
ter to Paul for instructions chiefly in regard to the
marriage relation The seventh chapter of the frs
epistle to the Corinthians is Paus answer to thai
letter. unto the married., he says, 81 have a
mand from the Lord" referring to the law of Christ
given in Matt V. % and xix. 8. lie had already
instructed them in that law. 81 command, yet moi
/, but the Lord" and he would doubtless repeat VIVA
he had taught them before, that divorce to take
place neither side and in instance except agree
ably to the law of Christ That settled by di
vine authority. Let not the wife depart from he
husband" That was the law of Christ that divorce
under the Christian economy was not in the powe
of either the husband or wife Even the where
Christ made it iustfabe, it must be formal and
legal separation. But and if she separate hersel
by rash act if in ignorance of the Christian rule
she supposed that she could dissolve the marriage
bond by forsaking husband Paul, inspired
teacher tells her that such thing is impossible
And let her remain unmarried, be reconcled t.
her husband The same law of Christianity applied
to man. Let not the husband separate himself
from his wife, The marriage tie sacred tina
it could not be dissolved by either party Accord
ing to the law of Christ in Matt. v. 81 no one who
has separated himself or herself from the other mar
red party, unless by legal divorce is at liberty f.