The Christian's Rule of Marriage - Softcover

Reseña del editor

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1870. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI. THE OPINIONS OF GREAT AND GOOD MEN. Comparatively few writers, as was remarked in the introduction, have touched on this subject. Wherever they mention it incidentally, so far as I have examined, they sustain the doctrine of this essay, without a dissenting voice. The opinions of Whitby, Doddridge, Henry, Pike, Bridges, Hunter, Hamilton, Scott, and Jay, all eminent men, have been already quoted. The views of other distinguished writers will now be adduced, by which it will be seen, that if I am the first to write a book on this topic I am by no means singular in my views. Tertullian, who lived about a hundred years after the death of the Apostle John, wrote two tracts to his wife, which are still extant. In the first, he dissuades her from marrying again in case of his death. In the second, he insists that if she should, it must be with a Christian. He insists that, by New Testament law, a believer must not marry an unbeliever, though such may continue to live together if married previously to conversion. He expatiates on the disadvantages of such improper connections, and maintains it to be absolutely impossible that a woman so married, should perform the duties she owes to God, her own soul, the poor, and the church. He concludes his essay by descanting on the happiness of a Christian marriage, and the richness of the Divine blessing, saying, " The church makes the treaty; the sacerdotal blessing is the seal of it, and angels carry it before God, who ratifies it." He adds, "What a union is that between two believers! They have one hope and desire; they serve one faith and one master. There is a union of the spirit, as well as of the flesh. They read the Scriptures together, they pray together, and fast together; they teach, and warn, and bea...