The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-02-28
THE PULPIT.
A SCHOLARLY SUNDAY SERMON BY
REV. DR.. n. P. lYMAN-WHE EATON.
Subject: Christ's Views on Marriage.

Ridgefeld, y. in ST. James
Church here Sunday the rector. the
Rev. DR.. II. p. Lyman-Wheaton,
preached on "Christ's Views on Mar
riage and Social Subjects" The text
VAS from Mark l2:25:
For when they shall rise from the
dead. they neither marry, nor are
given in marriage" Among other
things he said
There IL one distinct doctrine
which the manner OF Christ'S ministry
aas laid firmly down, that there is, in
the descent of persons into sin, no
depth so low that they may not be
rescued from II, and that there scarce
ly ever is a case in which the image
of God in a man is too much blotted
and marred 10 be made bright again.
Yet look how this, our Lords way,
Of dealing with sinners was misunder-
stood. His compassion OF them was
spoken OF as indicating a light esti-
mate of the nature OF sin. They muir
INJURED at Him because He had gone
20 be guest with man who was sin
ner and said, This man receiyeth
sinners and eateth with them" We
may indeed safely say that not one of
these who sat at table with Him
they ought 10 lead better life, and
with a quiet resolve TO do so. They
who had bitter spirit against Him
which would not see anything but evil
In all He did, called Him a gluttonous
man and wine-bibber; yet they said
Of John the Baptist, who came
neither eating nor drinking" that he
had a devil. If these people had
looked into their own hearts they
would have found that il was neither
the eating, drinking nor fasting that
brought forth their hard words and
names, but an accusing conscience
stirred from its sleep. John the Bap-
tist's shrill cry, Repent was truly
In season, yet his manner OF life could
not be taken as a pattern by those
who had already formed social ties
and habits. However much a man
might be willing and wish 10 live
In the retirement OF the wilderness
upon wild food. he would hear the
voice of wife and children crying be-
hind him I'm a form which would
plainly tell him he must be religious
and show his religion in another way.
So here the example Of our Lords
sociability stepped in TO teach that
His true religion was not against fam
/ lily relationships and duties, but that
IL might be an element in them giving
hem warmth and adding TO their
Joys. 1t was, no doubt, to give an i'm
preston of this kind that at the be-
ginning of His public ministry He was
present at marriage ceremony He
! regarded human nature in all its de-
partments and showed His spiritual
truth was applicable to all and a
/
Of the mind and heart No religion
| could widely prevail which did not.
| recognizes the social nature AL in
stincts OF man. Why should thy not
| be recognized, since God had given
them. and though 1t is in their irregu-
larities and extravaganza that we
see chiefly traces of the great original
TALL of man, the Office OF religion is
not TO crush the life out of the root
tut to put new life into it. The great
est of all the sins proceeding out Of
| social life had, by the Jewish law,
| placed upon 1t the penalty Of death;
yet il is evident our LorG thought
| there might be a better mode OF deal
ing with il. To His perfectly pure
mind the sin Of adultery must have
| appeared horrible, yet He sought 10
| protect the woman who was taken in
{ from stoning, placing at the same
lime a stigma upon her offense, Go
| and sin no more
We may see from our Lords words
| IN the subject Of divorce how sacred
and lasting He held the ties OF mar
| .iage to be. 1t was said, He thought
| there should never have been need
! )f such "A proceeding as divorce, and
{ was the hardness OF mems hearts
| hat forced upon men the promulga-
| lion of the law. It was entirely out
| )f line Of the providence of God, who,
| N the beginning, made them male
| md female, and Joined them together,
| never TO be put asunder. Even the
| existence of such a power as divorce
axes away from the dignity OF mar
| 'iage, and so our Lord placed a mark
] Ipon her or him who availed herself
| )r himself of il. Whose marrieth her
/ hat is put away committeth adul-
| cry When marriage was what II
| ought to be, and what IL was intended
| % be by the Creator, a union and
| perfect harmony OF the highest affec-
| ions OF our nature, IL was the most
! ,acred OF all institutions upon earth.
| N little children, the fruits OF such
| high and honorable affections, there
dH the llhfllfHo VI NllF hlukuOlll VI
jod. Suffer little children TO come
INTO Me, for of such is the kingdom
| )f Heaven And that happy home
Jf brotherly and sisterly love AT
Bethany was a picture OF delight,
which it soothed Him TO look at, and
which, afterward, when IL appeared
1nder a cloud, grieved Him 10 the
Iuick.
| All these expressions OF our Lord s
Jympathy with the social feelings OF
human nature should be distinctly
Sept in view when we examine other
words OF His which seem on the sur
ace 20 be in opposition 10 them. F<s
example. such sayings as tLis lie
hat hath forsaken wife or children
'or My names sake shall receive an
1undred-fold and shall inherit ever
| asting life" For the kingdom Of
Heavens sake. lie said, some have
never formed these ties OF wife and
children, and they shall receive In the
-ich harvest OF Heavenly peace and