Year: 1867




Nike" Marriage U..avi..sle.


Plymouth church was crowded yes-


'e'day, both at the morning and even


ng service. There was nothing re-


"arkable in Mr Beechers{ morning


'ermon, but in the evening he preach


cd from the eighth chapter Of Genesis


. somewhat singular discourse on mat


rlmony and ill.advised marriages. he


would say to all young men. stand to


the custom and religion Of your fathers.


Many men get wives and get with them


the itch and cursed religion. Ce.


naan is now everywhere where man.


mon is God. Where there is a god


less household there is the Land Of Ca


naan. When a man gets a good wife


he wants nothing more in life. Mar


riage is thing not to be rushed into,


but cautiously, religiously and discreet


~ performed. The religious idea was
conveyed as ali that was rich and COED
in the family, and we have got to hold


last on to it by cur hearts as well as by


'ur hea Is. Some people get married


ut Of Il bounding passion, but be new
cr saw one that was glad The men
who do so have wretched time of it,
but What kind of time must the wo-
man have? Men like to spite each
other although they hurt themselves
This passion OF spite also enters into
the household, and even into political
parties. It's the law of human nature
and the law of politics. Acting impru-
IDENTIFY and envlously for the purpose OF
spiting neighbor is only another way
men have for spiting themselves. The
speaker here made another reference to
the life Of Jacob, who, he said, lay up.
on single stone, which, according to
our ideas, must have been uncomiorta-
ble. But the man who can do this is
better than he who has all the luxuries.
The robins spend little of their life in
preparing their couch or their food
He had watched them in his lawn, and
peck and wipe of tde bill put an
end to their labors after breakfast. The
speaker would rather sleep and dream
as Jacob did on the stone than sleep
and dream as some men do: on beds Of
down. Men who dream cannot sleep
soundly. 1t is one part sleeping and
another part awake. 1t is a proof Of
some physical imperfection in the body.
A drunken man once dreamed that be
went to hell, and what he supposed he
saw there had ouch an effect on him
that be forsook his cups and became a
Christian. This occurred in Massacnu-
setts. Dreams therefore do some good
but very rarely. Better have a settled
mind and no dreams at ALL The speak
er again read that Jacob awaked out of
his sleep and poured oil on the stone,
and named the place Bethel, saying
that thenceforth it should be Gods
house. Thus tar the history. Now he
would show them how to draw some
profitable lessons from it. He then re-
turned to the question Of marriage,
pointing out the great dangers arising
out Of ill-chosen marriages. Marriages
should be founded upon qualities that
will last, rather than upon the merits Of
affection. When a man founds a
household. it ought to be done upon
moral grounds. He that so selects will
make a household blessing, though
scme people may be very prominent in
church matters, and yet not very we'll
adaptel for good husband or good
wife. When the foundation is properly
laid in the household, affection, admi-
ration and even interest will follow. If
there be any disposed to take the
daughters Of Canaan, he would tell
them to go back to the household of
their fathers, for it was not wise to mix
religion. He that marries a woman
first, and thinks he can change her re-
ligiou aftcrward, knows little of human
nature. Many who hang their ambi-
ton upon those above them, thinking
that they will draw themselves up there
by, often find themselves mistaken. He
would recommend all. therefore, to 20
back to the land of their fathers to tske
partners for life from among their
neighbors, and always Of the same de-
nomination.