Marital Duties and Privileges
87
The Privileges of the Marriage Relation—Those professing to
be Christians ... should duly consider the result of every privilege
[
Note: On another occasion Mrs. White speaks of the “Privacy And
Privileges Of The Family Relation.” See
Testimonies for the Church
2:90
.—Compilers.] of the marriage relation, and sanctified principle
should be the basis of every action
In very many cases the parents ... have abused their marriage
privileges, and by indulgence have strengthened their animal passions
Duty to Avoid Excesses—It is carrying that which is lawful to
excess that makes it a grievous sin
Many parents do not obtain the knowledge that they should in
the married life. They are not guarded lest Satan take advantage of
them and control their minds and their lives. They do not see that
God requires them to control their married lives from any excesses.
But very few feel it to be a religious duty to govern their passions.
They have united themselves in marriage to the object of their choice
and, therefore, reason that marriage sanctifies the indulgence of the
baser passions. Even men and women professing godliness give loose
rein to their lustful passions and have no thought that God holds them
accountable for the expenditure of vital energy, which weakens their
hold on life and enervates the entire system
[123]
Let Self-denial and Temperance Be the Watchword—Oh, that
I could make all understand their obligation to God to preserve the
mental and physical organism in the best condition to render perfect
service to their Maker! Let the Christian wife refrain, both in word and
act, from exciting the animal passions of her husband. Many have no
strength at all to waste in this direction. From their youth up they have
weakened the brain and sapped the constitution by the gratification of
animal passions. Self-denial and temperance should be the watchword
in their married life
We are under solemn obligations to God to keep the spirit pure and
the body healthy, that we may be a benefit to humanity and render to
God perfect service. The apostle utters these words of warning: “Let
5
Ibid., 2:380
.
6
Ibid., 2:391
.
7
Testimonies For The Church 4, 505
.
8
Testimonies For The Church 2, 472
.
9
Testimonies For The Church 2, 477, 478
.