the basband hath not power of its own body, but the wite. Dehad ye not one the other, except with consent for a time, that my give yourselves to fasting prayer; and come together pain that Satan tempt you not your incontinency. But I eak this by permission, and not Commandment. DISSOLUTION OF vil, 2, 3. For the woman hath an husband is bound law to her husband so long Eveth: but if the husband be she is loosed from the law Jer. xv, 8. 9. Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them, against the mother of the young men, a spoiler at noonday: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city. She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it was yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD. Lam. v, 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows. 1 Tim. v, 5, 9, 10. Now she that husband. So then if, while is a widow indeed, and desolate, husband liveth, she be mar-trusteth in God, and continueth Ito another man, she shall be in supplications and prayers night an adulteress: but if her and day. Let not a widow be and be dead, she is free from taken into the number under , so that she is no adul- threescore years old, having been though she be married to the wife of one man, Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good her man. or vil. 39. The wife is bound law as long as her husliveth; but if her husband d, she is at liberty to be ded to whom she will; only in lerd WIDOWS. xxxviii. 12, 19. And in protime the daughter of Shuah 's wife died; and Judah was rei, and went up unto his Shearers to Timnath, he friend Hirah the AdullamAnd she arose, and went and laid by her vail from nd put on the garments of Widowhood. 4, 3, 5. And Elimelech, s husband, died; and she eft, and her two sons. And en and Chillon died also of them; and the woman was her two sons and her hus work. WIDOWS SPECIALLY OBJECTS OF SYMPATHY. Jobxxix, 13. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. Job xxii, 9-11. Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken. Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee; Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abun dance of waters cover thee. was Job xxxi, 16-18. If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the , 11, 12. And Boaz an- widow to fail; Or have eaten my d and said unto her, It hath morsel myself alone, and the fabeen shewed me all that therless hath not eaten thereof; bat done unto thy mother-For from my youth he since the death of thine brought up with me, as with a d; and how thou hast left father, and I have guided her alber and thy mother, and from my mother's womb. d of thy nativity, and art anto a people which thou t not heretofore. The recompense thy work, and reward be given thee of the God of Israel, under whose hou art come to trust. xvil 9. Arise, get thee to Path, which belongeth to , and dwell there: behold, I commanded a widow woman ⚫ to sustain thee. Ixrvill, 64. Their priests fell besword; and their widows Lo lamentation. Ps. xciv, 6. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow. Acts ix, 39. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. 1 Tim. v, 3, 4, 16. Honour widows that are widows indeed. But if any widows have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. James 1, 27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world, GOD'S CARE OF WIDOWS. Exod. xxii, 22-24. Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. Deut. x, 18. He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Deut. xxiv, 17, 18. Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless, nor take a widow's raiment to pledge: But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bond-man in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing. Deut. xxvii, 19. Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow: and all the people shall say, Amen. Ps. Ixviii, 5. A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. P3. cxlvi, 9. The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth up Isa. liv, 4. Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the re-side down. proach of thy widowhood any more. Ezek. xxil, 7. In thee have they set light by father and mother; in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger; Prov. xv, 25. The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow. Jer. xlix, 11. Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them MARRIAGES REPEATED. Gen. xxv, 1. Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. 1 Sam. xxv, 39, 40. And when David heard that Nabal was dead, .... David sent and communed with Abigail to take her to him to wife. And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife. 2 Sam. xi, 27. And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her [Bath-sheba] to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. Deut. xxl, 14. And it shall be, if Deut. xxiv, 1-5. When a man divorcement, whom I have pmt away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Rehold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother pat away. Jer. 11, 1, 8. They say, If a men put away his wife, and she g from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land b greatly polluted? but thou ha played the harlot with ma lovers; yet return again to m saith the LORD. And I saw, whe for all the causes whereby back sliding Israel committed adulter I had put her away, and given a bill of divorce; yet her treach ous sister Judah feared not t went and played the harlot als INSTANCES. Ezra x, 2-4, 10-12, 14-17. Ar Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, auswer and said unto Ezra, We L trespassed against our God, have taken strange wives the people of the land; yet 1 Chron. li, 18-21. And Caleb the son of Hezron begat children which took her to be his wife; Her the counsel of my lord, and of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth: her sons are these; Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon. And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bare him Hur. And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezaleel. And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir, the father of Gilead, whom he married when he was threescore years old, and she bare him Segub. former husband, which sent her taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be he hath taken. there is hope in Israel concern this thing. Now therefore let make a covenant with our God put away all the wives, and s as are born of them, according those that tremble at the mandment of our God; and be done according to the Arise; for this matter bel unto thee: we also will be w thee: be of good courage, and sk And Ezra the priest stood up said unto them, Ye have th gressed, and have taken stra wives, to increase the trespas Israel. Now therefore make fession unto the LORD God of fathers, and do his pleasure separate yourselves from thei Ezek. xliv, 22. Neither shall they Matth. v, 31, 32. It hath been ple of the land, and from take for their wives a widow, nor said, Whosoever shall put away strange wives. Then all her that is put away: but they his wife, let him give her a writ-congregation answered and the house of Israel, or a widowing of divorcement: But I say with a loud voice, As then! unto you, That whosoever shall said, so must we do. Lett put away his wife, saving for the our rulers of all the congrega cause of fornication, causeth her stand, and let all them wi to commit adultery: and whoso have taken strange wives m ever shall marry her that is di- cities come at appointed vorced committeth adultery. and with them the elders of e city, and the judges thereof © the fierce wrath of our G this matter be turned fro Only Jonathan the son of A and Jahaziah the son of Tis were employed about this and Meshullam and Shabe the Levite helped them. A children of the captivity d And Ezra the priest, with chief of the fathers, after house of their fathers, and of them by their names separated, and sat down in first day of the tenth a shall take maidens of the seed of that had a priest before. 1 Cor. vii, 40. But she is happler if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God. 1 Tim. v, 11. But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry. 2nd. BY DIVORCE. Exod. xxi, 7-11. And if a man sell bis daughter to be a maid-servant, she shall not go out as the menservants do. If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let ber be redeemed: to sell her unto Matth. xix, 9, 10. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery; and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. Isa. 1, 1. Thus saith the LORD, put away from her husband, com- married I command, yet not I, but mitteth adultery. OTHER KINDS OF Gen. xxxi, 31. And Jacob an examine the matter. And they laa she. no DIVORCE CONDEMNED. Mal ii, 13, 14, 16. And this have ne again, covering the altar I the LORD with tears, with being, and with crying out, sch that he regardeth not eutering any more, or receiveth with good will at your hand. ye say, Wherefore? Because LORD hath been witness beea thee and the wife of thy th, against whom thou hast treacherously: yet is she thy apanion, and the wife of thy fcant. For the LORD, the God Israel, saith that he hateth ng away: for one covereth ence with his garment, saith LORD of hosts; therefore take to your spirit, that ye deal treacherously. Matth. xix, 6-8. Wherefore they cause I was afraid: for I said, Judges xiv, 20. But Samson's wife into the chamber: but her father would not suffer him to go her. 1 Sam. xxv, 44. But Saul had 2 Sam. iii, 13-16. And he said, the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But aud if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: his wife. But to the rest speak I, and let not the husband put away a wife that believeth not, and she not the Lord; If any brother hath be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? VIOLATIONS OF THE ORIGINAL LAW OF MARRIAGE. POLYGAMY. Gen. iv, 19. And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of of the other Zillah. Now Sarai thou comest to see my face. And from her husband, even more twain, but one flesh, therefore God hath joined ther, let not man put asunder. say unto him, Why did ses then command to give a ing of divorcement, and to her away? He saith unto , Moses, because of the hard-sh-bosheth sent, and took her of your hearts, suffered you away your wives: but from beginning it was not so. rk x, 2-5, 9--12. And the sees came to him, and asked Is it lawful for a man to put his wife? tempting him. be answered and said unto a. What did Moses command And they said, Moses red to write a bill of divorce, and to put her away. And answered and said unto , For the hardness of your t be wrote you this precept: hat therefore God hath joined mber, let not man put asun And in the house his disasked him again of the same Ver. And he saith unto them, ever shall put away his and marry another, cometh adultery against her. if a woman shall put away basband, and be married to ther, she committeth adultery. Cade xvi, 18. Whosoever put away his wife, and marrieth <ber, committeth adultery: 3 Losoever marrieth her that is Jer. ii, 20. Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband so have ye dealt treacherously with me, o house of Israel, saith the LORD. Hosea ii, 7. And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now. John iv, 16-18. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. 1 Cor. vil, 10-16. And unto the Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: it may be that I may obtain chilI pray thee, go in unto my maid; dren by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. Gen. xxvi, 34. And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith, the daughter of Beerl the Hittite, and Bashemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. Gen. xxviii, 8, 9. And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he bad Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife. Gen. xxix, 27-30. Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also, for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. Gen. xxx, 3, 4, 9, 26. And she said, Behold, my maid Bilhah, go in unto her, and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife; and Jacob went in unto her. When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee. Gen. xxxvi, 2, 3. Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan, Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; And Bashemath, Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth. Deut. xvil, 17. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away; neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. Deut. xxi, 15, 16. If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the first-born son be her's that was hated; Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved first-born before the son of the hated, which is indeed the first-born. Judges viii, 30. And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. 1 Sam. 1, 2. And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 1 Sam. xxv,42,43. And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of her's that went after her, and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife. David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives. 1 Sam. xxvii, 8. And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife. 1 Sam. xxx, 5. And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahi noam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail, I did bear to Nahor, Abraham's the wife of Nabal, the Carmelite. brother. And his concubine, who name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thabash, and Maachah. 2 Sam. 11, 2. So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail, Nabal's wife, the Carmelite. 2 Sam. iii, 2-5. And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his first-born was Amnon of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wile of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur, And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron. 1 Chron. viii, 8. And Shaharaim begat children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives. 2 Chron. xi, 18--20, 23. And Rehoboam took him Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, the son of David, to wife, and Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, the son of Jesse; Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamarlah, and Zalam. And after that he took Maachab the daughter of Absalom, which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. . . . . . . And he desired many wives. 2 Chron. xiii, 21. But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters. 2 Chron. xx1, 12, 14. And there the prophet, saying..... Behold, came a writing to him from Elijah with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods. 2 Chron. xxiv, 2, 8. And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters. Ezek. xxiii, 4. And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister; and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah. Gen. xxv, 6. But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, (while he yet lived,) eastward, unto the east country." Judges vili, 31. And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. Judges xix, 1-3, 10. And it came to pass in those days, when ther was no king in Israel, that ther was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephrain, who took to him a concubine out of Beth-lehem-judah. And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away in him unto her father's house to Beth-lehem-judah, and was then four whole months. And b husband arose, and went after her to speak friendly unto her, and 10 bring her again, having his s vant with him, and a couple c asses: and she brought him int her father's house; and when tfather of the damsel saw him rejoiced to meet him. But i' man would not tarry that ti but he rose up and departed, st came over against Jebus, (whi him two asses saddled; his co is Jerusalem, (and there were wi cubine also was with him. Judges xx, 3-6. (Now the c? dren of Benjamin heard that dren of Israel, Tell us, how v children of Israel were gener to Mizpeh.) Then said the ce the husband of the woman t was slain, answered and said came into Gibeah that belong to Benjamin, I and my concr to lodge: And the men of Gibe rose against me, and beset t house round about upon me night, and thought to have ski me; and my concubine have ti forced, that she is dead. And took my concubine, and cut k in pieces, and sent her throug all the country of the inherita of Israel; for they have commi lewdness and folly in Israel. this wickedness? And the Ler! Mal. ii, 15. And did not be 2 Sam. ill, 6, 7. And it came make one? Yet had he the resi-pass, while there was war betw due of the Spirit. And wherefore the house of Saul and the b one? That he might seek a goodly of David, that Abner made seed. Therefore take heed to self strong for the house of > your spirit, and let none deal And Saul had a concubine, wi treacherously against the wife of name was Rizpah, the dangt his youth. of Aiah: and 18kbosketh sid Abuer, Wherefore hast thou ge in unto my father's concubine? CONCUBINES OR 2 Sam. xv, 16. And the ty went forth, and all his houselig after him." And the king kell ú women, which were concubines, keep the house. 2 Sam. xvi, 21. And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then stall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. 2 Sim. xix, 5. And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubipes. 9 Sam. xx, 3. And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went hat in unto them: so they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood. 1 Kings xi, 3. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and Cares hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 1 Caron. 1, 32. Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: he bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ish Bak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan. Caleb's concubine, bare Haran, And they made their father drink wine that night... Gen. xx, 12. And yet indeed she. is my sister: she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. Gen. xxxv, 22. And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that with Bilhah his father's concubine: land, that Reuben went and lay and Israel heard it. Now the shall approach to any that is near | father. thou shalt not uncover her naked- 1 Chron. ii, 46-48. And Ephah, it is thy brother's nakedness. 1 Chron. vii, 14. The sons of Vanasseh; Ashriel, whom she bure, but his concubine the Aramitess bare Machir, the father of Gilead. 2 Chron. xi, 21. And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives and threescore concuMoss, and begat twenty and eight kas, and threescore daughters.) Cant. vi, 8, 9. There are threeMore queens, and fourscore conrabines, and virgins without number. My dove, my undefiled 1 but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughlers saw her and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her. 1 Chron. ii, 3, 4. The sons of Judah; Er, and Ónan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD, and he slew him. And Tamar his daughterin-law bare him Pharez and Zerah, All the sons of Judah were five. 1 Gor. v, 1. It is reported commouly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among one should the Gentiles, that have his father's wife. PUNISHMENT. Gen. xlix, 4. Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. Lev. xx, 11-14, 20-22. And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. And if a man lie with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them. If a man also lie with mankind Gen. xix, 30-33. And Lot went as he lieth with a up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters woman, both of them have comwith him; for he feared to dwell mitted an abomination: they shall in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, surely be put to death; their blood he and his two daughters. And shall be upon them. And if a man the take a wife and her mother, it is the first born said unto younger, Our father is old, and wickedness: they shall be burnt there is not a man in the earth with fire, both he and they; that to come in unto us after the there be no wickedness among manner of all the earth: Come, you. And if a man shall lie with let us make our father drink his uncle's wife, he hath uncoverwine, and we will lie with him, ed his uncle's nakedness: they Lev. xviii, 6-19. None of you that we may preserve seed of our shall bear their sin; they shall die VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW INCEST. |