Year: 1874

furnished by request


Another topic is suggested by the fact
that at the recent session Of the County
Court, held at the capital, there were thir-
teen applications for divorce by parties that
had been Joined together in the holy bonds
Of matrimouy; and it is to be supposed that
the persons who are represented 10 these
several applications have once lived together
iu peace and love, but they are seeking a
separation by force of law. 1t is fact,
too, that the number Of these cases at this
session was not unusual, but only about the
common average. Tho number is some
times higher than this ata session. And this,
be it observed, is only the record from our
own county, aud there must be added to the
list all those cases that arise in other coun-
ties. If we suppose the number multiplied
BY fourteen, or even half that figure, We
have before US an alarming fact. This is
truly sad tale for our State. 1t shows
that there is great wrong somewhere that
needs to be closely scrutinized, aud romedied
if possible. Aud it is often said that our
State is not SO bad as some other States Of
the Union. But this does not make our
case in the least the better. 1t only shows
the direction in which we are running, and
the unenyiable eminence we shall soon at
tain if the evil be not checked. 1t is high
time that we begin to inquire anew what
the marriage relation is, what it is designed
to be, and what it was ordained to be by
Him who ordained it in paradise when the
first human pair were united in innocence
and love. We are not to look, for the true
law Of marriage, to the will Of man, or to
human statutes, or to civil courts, or to
legislatures-but to the Word Of God where
we get the only true idea Of marriage


Coming to this, We find that mau at drst
received the woman when she was brought
to him by the Maker Of both, as bone Of his
bone and flesh Of his flesh and it was there
ordained that a man shall leave his father
and his mother, and shall cleaye unto his
wife, and they shall be one flesh When
our Saviour came, lie taught the same beau
tiful truth, that God made them at first,
male and female, for the very purpose that
they might be Joined in one, aud be to each
other as two essential aud beautiful parts Of
one body; and added, What therefore
God hath Joined together, let not man put
asunder." lie taught his disciples, more
over, that while Moses, 10 former days, sui.
fered some men to put away their wives,
he did not do it because it was right or
even expedient, but because Of the hardness
Of their hearts. 10 the beginning, it was
not so. God had no such design. 1t was
contrary to His will 1t was great wrong
IL was a breach Of the sacred bond, Of the
mutual VOWS taken by the parties joined to.
gether. Our Saviour taught that in only one
single case is a separation ever lawful--that
is in case Of moral infdelity, or Of fornica.
tion. That were a true and sufficient cause
no other were ever justidabe.


The prophet Malachi faithfully warned
men of the sin Of dealing treacherously ;
against the wife Of their youth, for the
Lord God Of Israel hateth putting away
AS we have seen, cur Saviour taught that
Moses suffered it, but it was not the will
Of God it was mans wickcdness. The
apostle Paul taught that the woman i.
bound by the law to her husband so long a:
he liveth and if while her husband liveth--
no matter though she may be divorced by
some civil tribunal-she be married tc
another, she is treacherous and false and
vile. He also charges the wife not to de-
part from her husband, but if in any cast
she does depart, she must remain unmar
ried or, what is better, be reconciled tt
her husband, and 60 back to live with him
And to the other party he says: "Lct mol
the husband put away his wife"


Now, from these statements Of the grea
teachers sent of God, it is evident that mar
riage is a solemn and sacred relation, il
which the parties enter into mutual cove
nant before God that binds them togethe
SO long as both live, and can in no case b.
broken, except in that specified by ou
Saviour, where one proves treacherous an,
vile. To say that parties have found ou
that they are not adapted to live together
that they are unhappy in the relation ant
do not easily conform to each other, tha
there is abuse on either side, or neglect t,
provide for common daily wants, or neglec
Of other duties pertaining to the relation, i
to say nothing to the purpose, so far as tn
law of God on the subject is concerned
On such pleas there is no ground for divorce
The law Of the land has no right to.step il
and furnish ground for sundering of tn
tie. No man whatever has authority, n
human tribunal has the right, to separate


party on any such ground. Aud whoeve
takes occasion to do it on such ground, o
on any other, save the proof Of fornicatior
violates the law of God and, according t


the teaching of our Saviour aud his apostles
whoever marries after a separation on an


ground. though the law Of the land and tn
judges of the law pronounce it right, plunge
into vile sin, which is abhorred by tn
moral sentiment of every virtuous con


munity, and in many cases, is punished as


crime by the law of the land. For, say


the great Teacher, "Whosoever marrieth he


that is put away, committeth adultery"


But it may be asked Is there no rem


edy? Are married party compelled


live together, though they may find, Will


there is no proof of infdelity on either sid


that they have no affection for each otho


and their living together is only burden


No, they are not. But in the first plac,
/ a k~..l L.. la .oo.oI .olat,o. a. a