The new South-news., 1908-02-29

4 SCHOLARLY SUNDAY SERVO. 81
REV DR. n. p. AUGMENTATION.
Subject. chriscs vlcws on Marriage.

. NM" ANHIN "lNNN q
For when they rAall rise from the
dead. they neither marry. nor are
given Ia marriage" Among other
things be said
There la one distinct doctrine
which the manner of chfist's ministry
has laid firmly down. that there D.. IN
the descent Of persons Into sin. no
depth 20 low that they may not be
rescued from -. and that there scarce
~ over % case iu which the Image
Oi God go n man o. too much hiotfod
and married 10 be made bright again.
Yet look how this. our Lords way,
Df dealing with sinners WAS mlsunder-
stood lila compassion Of them was
spoken of aa indicating a light estl-
mate 0f the nature oi sin. They mur-
INJURED M Him because Hn had gone
10 be guest With a man who was a sim
ncr aud said. "Thia man rcceiycth
sinners and cafcth With them We
may indeed safely say that not ono OF
these who sat al table with Him
would leave it without feeling that
they ought 10 lead a better life. and
with quiet resolve 10 do 80. They
who had "a bitter spirit against Him
which would not see anything but evil
IN an He did. called Him a gluttonour
man and winc-blbber. yet they said
Of John tho Baptist. who came
neither eating nor drinking. that ho
had "a devil n these people had
looked into their own hearts they
would have found that u was neither
+ the eating. drinking nor fasting that
brought forth their hard words and
names. but an accusing conscience
stirred from iis sleep. John the Bap-
lists shfill 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 man
might be willing and wish TO live
in the retirement OF the wilderness
upon Wild food. he would hear the
voice OF wife and children crying be-
hind him In form which would
plainly tell IN he must be religious
and show his religion In another way.
So here the example OF our Lord IS
sociabillty stepped IN TO teach that
His true religion was not against fam
ily relationships and duties. but that
~ might be an element in them giving
them warmth and adding 10 their
Joys. II was. no doubt. to give an inn
preston OF this kind that at the be-
ginning of His public ministry lie WAS
present at a marriage ceremony lie
regarded human nature in all its de-
partments and showed His spiritual
truth was applicable TO all and a
goodly leavon in the affections both
Of the mind and heart No religion
could widely prevail which did net
recognize the social nature and in
Htincts of man. Why should they not
I be recognized. since God had given
them. ana though Il Is iu their irrogu-
laritioa and cxtravngance that we
see chiefly traces OF the great original
I fan of man, the oflc2 of religion is
not 10 crush the life out OF the root
but 10 put new life into IT, The great
est of all the sins proceed lg out OF
social life had. by the jewish law.
placed upon 1t the penalty of death:
yet it rs evident our Lurd thought
there might be a better mode OF deal
ing with it. To His perfectly pure
mind the sin of adultery must have
appeared horrible. yet lie sought TO
protect the woman who was taken IN
IL from stoning, placing at the same
time a stigma upon her offense, Go
and sin no more
We may see from our Lords words
ON the subject of divorce how sacred
aud lasting lie held the ties OF mar
riagc TO be. IL was said, llo thought,
there should never have been need
of such proceeding as divorce, and
it was the hardness Of mems hearts
that forced upon men the promulga-
tion OF the law. II was entirely out
of line of the providence of God. who.
In the beginning. made them male
md female, and Joined them together,
never TO be put asunder Even the
existence OF such n power as divorce
takes away from the dignity OF mar
riage. and SO our Lord placed a marx
upon her or him who availed herself
or himself OF II. Whose mGrrleth her
that Is put away committetn adul-
terry" When marriage was what II
ought TO be. aud what Il WAS Intended
&c be by the Creator. n uniol and
perfect harmony OF the highos, afsc-
iions of our nature. it VAS the most
sacred OF all institutions upon earth
In little children. the fruits OF such
hirh and honorable affections. there
was the likeness OF the kingdom OF
God Suffer little children 20 come
unto Me, for OF such IS the kingdom
of Heaven" And that happy home
OF brotherly and sistcriy love at
Bethany was picture OF delight.
which IL soOthed Hin TO look az. and
which, afterwari. when it appeared
under a cloud, grieved Him 90 the
quick.
All these expressions OF cur Lord g
sympathy with the social feelings of
human nature should be distinctly
kept IN view when We examine other
words of His which seem on the sur
face TO be in opposition TO them. For
example, such savings as this He
that hath forsaken Wife or children
Tor My aainc's sake shall receive an
hundred-fold and shall inherit ever
lasting lie." For The Kingdom OF
+ Heavens sake. He said. some have
never formed these ties of wiie and
children, and they shall receive IN the
! rich harvest OF Heavenly peace aud
I Joy in their conscieAee an ample COM
! pensatson. Truly we know our Lord
would have said 10 one who lad al
/ ready formed the domestic ties OF
wife and children. Show your love 60
I Me by being a good husband and
father Blend Your social and rclig-
4 ious feelings together sc that the one
will elevate the other II was the