better education, and the making of due pro

vision for their settlement in life. 3. The peace of human society, in cutting off a principal source of contention, by assigning one woman to a man, and protecting his exclusive right by sanctions of morality and law. 4. The better government of society, by distributing the community into separate families, and appointing over each the authority of a master of a family, which has more actual influence than all civil authority put together. 5. The additional security which the State receives for the good behaviour of its citizens, from the solicitude they feel for the welfare of their children, and from their being confined to permanent habitations. 6. The encouragement of industry. These were the opinions of Dr. Paley, and considerable weight must be attached to all of them, although many persons dispute its being a civil contract, but contend that it is purely a religious one. We are of opinion that it is both a civil and religious contract, as it has its engagements to society, and its vows to God. A Christian State especially recognises marriage as a branch of public morality and a source of civil peace and

strength. The peace is strengthened by assigning one woman to one man, and the State protects him in the exclusive possession, The distribution of society into families is also an efficient means for promoting the order of the community, by the cognizance which the law takes of the head of a family, and by making him responsible, to a certain extent, for the conduct of those under his influence; marriage also involves the weighty question of property, and the law properly prescribes various regulations respecting it.

The laws of revelation, as well as most civilized countries, have made several exceptions of persons marrying who are nearly related by blood; for instance, Moses restrained the Israelites from marrying within certain degrees of consanguinity, which, doubtless, had till then been permitted, in order to prevent them taking wives from the idolatrous nations among whom they lived. There was evidently no forced obligation under the Mosaic law for men to marry, yet the Jews regarded marriage as a duty_almost, if not altogether, indispensable. The injunction, "be fruitful and multiply," (Gen. i. 28,) was fully understood; so much so,

that a man who did not marry his daughter before she was twenty years of age, was looked upon as accessory to any irregularities the young woman might be guilty of for want of being timely married.

The Jewish marriages were always well conducted, a proper importance was attached to the ceremony, and the greatest decorum uniformly observed. The ancient Jews usually consecrated seven days of ceremony for a maid, and three for a widow; and even at the present time their marriage festivals continue for several days.

The bridegroom had a Paranymphus, or brideman, called "the friend of the bridegroom." (John iii. 29.) A number of young people kept him company during the days of the wedding, to do him honour; thus the brideman performed the wedding ceremonies, and attended the orders of the bridegroom.

The bride had also her female attendants, but they were kept separate from the other sex, taking their meals at different tables, in distinct apartments.

"Perhaps the reservedness of the eastern people towards their females required this

exclusive etiquette; for, even at the present day, it is considered a gross insult to remove the

veil of an unmarried female; and to take away the veil of a married woman is one of the greatest

indignities that she can receive, because it deprives her of the badge which distinguishes and dignifies her in that character, and betokens her alliance to her husband, and her interest in his affections."

The fourteenth chapter of Judges gives a most descriptive account of the marriage of Samson, and the occupation of the young men in the proposing and solving of riddles.

On the evening of the seventh day a procession was formed for the purpose of conducting the bride to the house of the bridegroom's father. Much pomp and ceremony was here