Part 8 (2/2)
Marriage is the legal and moral provision for genera- tion among human kind. Until the spiritual creation 56:9 is discerned intact, is apprehended and under- stood, and His kingdom is come as in the vision of the Apocalypse, - where the corporeal sense of crea- 56:12 tion was cast out, and its spiritual sense was revealed from heaven, - marriage will continue, subject to such moral regulations as will secure increasing virtue.
Fidelity required
56:15 Infidelity to the marriage covenant is the social scourge of all races, ”the pestilence that walketh in darkness, ... the destruction that wasteth at noonday.”
56:18 The commandment, ”Thou shalt not com- mit adultery,” is no less imperative than the one, ”Thou shalt not kill.”
57:1 Chast.i.ty is the cement of civilization and progress.
Without it there is no stability in society, and without it 57:3 one cannot attain the Science of Life.
Mental elements
Union of the masculine and feminine qualities consti- tutes completeness. The masculine mind reaches a 57:6 higher tone through certain elements of the feminine, while the feminine mind gains cour- age and strength through masculine qualities. These 57:9 different elements conjoin naturally with each other, and their true harmony is in spiritual oneness. Both s.e.xes should be loving, pure, tender, and strong. The attrac- 57:12 tion between native qualities will be perpetual only as it is pure and true, bringing sweet seasons of renewal like the returning spring.
Affection's demands
57:15 Beauty, wealth, or fame is incompetent to meet the demands of the affections, and should never weigh against the better claims of intellect, good- 57:18 ness, and virtue. Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to 57:21 share it.
Help and discipline
Human affection is not poured forth vainly, even though it meet no return. Love enriches the nature, en- 57:24 larging, purifying, and elevating it. The wintry blasts of earth may uproot the flowers of affec- tion, and scatter them to the winds; but this severance 57:27 of fleshly ties serves to unite thought more closely to G.o.d, for Love supports the struggling heart until it ceases to sigh over the world and begins to unfold its wings for 57:30 heaven.
Marriage is unblest or blest, according to the disap- pointments it involves or the hopes it fulfils. To happify 58:1 existence by constant intercourse with those adapted to elevate it, should be the motive of society. Unity of 58:3 spirit gives new pinions to joy, or else joy's drooping wings trail in dust.
Chord and discord
Ill-arranged notes produce discord. Tones of the 58:6 human mind may be different, but they should be con- cordant in order to blend properly. Unselfish ambition, n.o.ble life-motives, and purity, - 58:9 these const.i.tuents of thought, mingling, const.i.tute in- dividually and collectively true happiness, strength, and permanence.
Mutual freedom
58:12 There is moral freedom in Soul. Never contract the horizon of a worthy outlook by the selfish exaction of all another's time and thoughts. With ad- 58:15 ditional joys, benevolence should grow more diffusive. The narrowness and jealousy, which would confine a wife or a husband forever within four walls, will 58:18 not promote the sweet interchange of confidence and love; but on the other hand, a wandering desire for incessant amus.e.m.e.nt outside the home circle is a poor augury for 58:21 the happiness of wedlock. Home is the dearest spot on earth, and it should be the centre, though not the bound- ary, of the affections.
A useful suggestion
58:24 Said the peasant bride to her lover: ”Two eat no more together than they eat separately.” This is a hint that a wife ought not to court vulgar extravagance 58:27 or stupid ease, because another supplies her wants. Wealth may obviate the necessity for toil or the chance for ill-nature in the marriage relation, but noth- 58:30 ing can abolish the cares of marriage.
Differing duties
”She that is married careth ... how she may please her husband,” says the Bible; and this is the pleasantest 59:1 thing to do. Matrimony should never be entered into without a full recognition of its enduring obligations on 59:3 both sides. There should be the most tender solicitude for each other's happiness, and mu- tual attention and approbation should wait on all the years 59:6 of married life.
Mutual compromises will often maintain a compact which might otherwise become unbearable. Man should 59:9 not be required to partic.i.p.ate in all the annoyances and cares of domestic economy, nor should woman be ex- pected to understand political economy. Fulfilling the 59:12 different demands of their united spheres, their sympa- thies should blend in sweet confidence and cheer, each partner sustaining the other, - thus hallowing the union 59:15 of interests and affections, in which the heart finds peace and home.
Trysting renewed
Tender words and unselfish care in what promotes the 59:18 welfare and happiness of your wife will prove more salutary in prolonging her health and smiles than stolid indifference or jealousy. Husbands, hear this 59:21 and remember how slight a word or deed may renew the old trysting-times.
After marriage, it is too late to grumble over incompati- 59:24 bility of disposition. A mutual understanding should exist before this union and continue ever after, for decep- tion is fatal to happiness.
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