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CHAPTER XIII.

THE UNMARRIED PROFESSOR.

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WHEN Jehovah had proceeded so far in the work of creation, as to have produced the mineral, vegetable, and irrational tribes, he saw that there yet needed a rational and presiding mind to govern the whole, to be his representative in his own world, and to act as the High Priest of this new and beautiful temple of nature, in offering up on their behalf, as well as his own, the praise of all creatures to their omnipotent Parent. "And God created man in his own image." Still, however, the last finishing stroke of grace was even yet to be added; and God created woman, to be the companion of man. Lord God saw that it was not good that the man should be alone." Even then, when all the beauties of paradise as yet unsoiled, bloomed and glowed around him, to please his eye; when all its melodies and harmonies sent their music through the ear to his soul; when he fed on fruits which no worm had ever corrupted, no frost had ever shrivelled; then, when he needed none to wipe the tear from his eye, or the sweat from his brow; none to counsel him for he was wise; to comfort him, for he was happy; none to calm the perturbations of his conscience, for he was innocent; none to lighten his care, for he

was at ease; none to minister to him in sickness, for he was a stranger to its malady, nor to bear up his head sinking in death, for he was not yet mortal

-even then, said his Maker, and who knew the being he had made, it is not good for the man to be alone, and he made him a wife out of his own body, and married them himself in the garden of Eden; and blessed them, and said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. What an honour, and a necessity did this attach to marriage. It is an institute of God, and an institute of the paradisaic state. And it still survives the fall, the gracious provision of a God, intent in his unmerited bounty upon the comfort of his apostate creatures, for the solace of man, amidst the cares, the labours, and the sorrows of his earthly pilgrimage.

And while it is designed for his comfort in his terrestrial sojourn, it is also intended to help as well as succour him, in his journey to the skies. Itself the type of that closer union, into which his soul is brought to Christ by faith in order to salvation, its tender sympathies, its jealous charities, and its loving ingenuities, are all designed by God to sustain by vigilance, and counsel, and prayer, the interests of his immortal spirit. The marriage of human beings, is a union of minds as well as bodies, and a union intended to keep up religion in the world, as well as population; first, by promoting the piety of the parties themselves; next, the piety of their children, and through them of mankind in general. Every family seems to be a miniature both of the church, and of the na tion, where the piety of the one, and the subjection of the other, shall be seen in its simplest and its purest form, and from which as it springs, the greater communities shall be fed. But how are these ends to be accomplished, if piety be not a part of the

character and conduct of those who enter into the marriage compact? That people who are not pious themselves, should disregard this, and not choose or wish a holy companion in the journey of life, is not to be wondered at, but to be expected but that professors of religion should neglect it, is a matter both of surprise and regret.

This brings me to the subject of the present chapter-THE DUTY OF CHRISTIANS TO MARRY ONLY SUCH AS ARE HOPEFULLY PIOUS. This duty is so obvious, and involves so much of their comfort in future life, that it might have been supposed the general performance of it would render any admonition on the subject unnecessary. Observation, however, confirms the fact, that there is scarcely any branch of Christian obligation more neglected; a circumstance which renders it incumbent on the ministers of religion, and the pastors of churches to call the attention of their hearers to this subject.

Let us hear the law of Christ, as delivered by the pen of the apostle: "The wife is bound by the law, as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will, ONLY IN THE LORD."-1 Cor. vii. 39. To marry in the Lord, must mean, marrying one who is a Christian, at least by profession. This rule, it is true, is by the Apostle applied to the case of widows; but the same reason exists for applying it

*The importance of the subject, and the great neglect of it, must be my apology for again dwelling upon it, after having already introduced it into some of my former publications. On this account, I had determined to pass it over in this work; but on re-considering the matter, I came to the conclusion that it is so entirely in place here, and concerns so large a number of professors, it ought not to be omitted; and I have therefore devoted this chapter to it, where it will be read by many who never saw my other books.

to all unmarried persons. The other passage usually quoted on the subject, "Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; "-2 Cor. vi. 14, refers perhaps specifically to the fellowship of the church, but still by fair inference may be extended to marriage. This is the law, then, that no Christian should marry any one who is not also a Christian; or who is not upon good grounds supposed to be such. I say it is the law; not merely advice, or counsel, but command, and as binding on our conscience as any other precept of the New Testament. We have no more right to attempt to annul or evade this command, than we have any other of Christ's laws.

Permit me to bring before you, the evils resulting from a neglect of this rule, and marrying an irreligious person. Some of these affect YOURSELVes. Your comfort is materially involved. A difference of taste or pursuit in minor matters is not conducive to happiness. "How can two walk together, except they be agreed?" This applies to all things, but most of all to the transcendently important affair of religion. This is a subject continually recurring, entering into all the arrangements of the family, which can never be put aside, except by the professor's consenting, for the sake of peace, to give up or conceal his religion, and becoming an apostate. You will not merely be left to pursue your own course, without sympathy or fellowship from your dearest earthly friend, but by consistently supporting your religion, will perhaps provoke distaste, dislike, ill-will, strife, and alienation. How many have had to choose between apostacy or domestic peace. Dreadful alternative! And where they have had grace to give up their comfort instead of their reli

gion, they have not only died a martyr's death, but lived a life of martyrdom. What have not many wives endured from irreligious husbands, not merely in being the silent but horrified witnesses of their sins, but in being the victims of their wrath. Many

a man has been the

murderer of his wife without being hanged for it. But where things do not come to this pitch, and the want of religion does not affect in the smallest degree the exercise of conjugal love, yet think of the pain of being obliged to consider that good wife, or kind husband, an enemy of God; if they be in sickness, to have the dreadful thought come into the mind, that they are about to die, and unprepared for the change. Oh! can you imagine the anguish of a wife, occupying "the dreadful post of observation darker every hour," watching the slow progress of disease in a dying husband, anxious to catch from his departing spirit, some few words to sustain her hope that he is going to heaven, and then for ever after to be haunted with the recollection, that "he died and made no sign!"-Will you hazard this?

Think of the influence of such a connection on your religion. We all need helps, not hinderances in the walk of faith. With every advantage in our favour, how slow is our progress heavenward! And how much are we likely to be impeded by a companion, who is ever seeking to draw or drag us back? Can we rise with such a weight, or walk with such a clog? How is our devotion flattened by the constant companionship of one who has no sympathy with us in our spiritual feelings or tastes? Yo will often be hindered and prevented from attendin the means of grace; required to do things against which your conscience revolts; and will sometimes

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