Chapter 154—Marrying and Giving in Marriage
God has placed men in the world, and it is their privilege to eat, to
drink, to trade, to marry, and to be given in marriage; but it is safe to
do these things only in the fear of God. We should live in this world
with reference to the eternal world. The great crime in the marriages
of the days of Noah was that the sons of God formed alliances with the
daughters of men. Those who professed to acknowledge and revere
God associated with those who were corrupt of heart; and without
discrimination they married whom they would. There are many in this
day who have no depth of religious experience, who will do exactly
the same things as were done in the days of Noah. They will enter into
marriage without careful and prayerful consideration. Many take upon
themselves the sacred vows as thoughtlessly as they would enter into
a business transaction; true love is not the motive for the alliance.
Unholy Infatuation
The thought of marriage seems to have a bewitching power upon
the minds of many of the youth. Two persons become acquainted; they
are infatuated with each other, and their whole attention is absorbed.
Reason is blinded, and judgment is overthrown. They will not submit
to any advice or control, but insist on having their own way, regardless
of consequence.
Like some epidemic, or contagion, that must run its course, is the
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infatuation that possesses them; and there seems to be no such thing as
putting a stop to it. Perhaps there are those around them who realize
that, should the parties interested be united in marriage, it could only
result in life-long unhappiness. But entreaties and exhortations are
given in vain. Perhaps, by such a union, the usefulness of one whom
God would bless in His service will be crippled and destroyed; but
reasoning and persuasion are alike unheeded.
All that can be said by men and women of experience proves inef-
fectual; it is powerless to change the decision to which their desires
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