Divorce
263
can obtain a divorce without making their own cases and that of their
children, if they have them, worse by so doing, they should be free.
2. If they would be liable to place themselves and their children
in worse condition by a divorce, we know of no scripture that would
make the innocent party guilty by remaining.
3. Time and labor and prayer and patience and faith and a godly life
might work a reform. To live with one who has broken the marriage
vows and is covered all over with the disgrace and shame of guilty love,
and realizes it not, is an eating canker to the soul; and yet a divorce is a
lifelong, heartfelt sore. God pity the innocent party! Marriage should
be considered well before contracted.
4. Why! oh, why! will men and women who might be respectable
and good and reach heaven at last sell themselves to the devil so cheap,
wound their bosom friends, disgrace their families, bring a reproach
upon the cause, and go to hell at last? God have mercy! Why will not
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those who are overtaken in crime manifest repentance proportionate
to the enormity of their crime and fly to Christ for mercy and heal, as
far as possible, the wounds they have made
5. But, if they will not do as they should, and if the innocent have
forfeited the legal right to a divorce, by living with the guilty after
his guilt is known, we do not see that sin rests upon the innocent in
remaining, and her moral right in departing seems questionable, if
her health and life be not greatly endangered in so remaining. [
Note:
this is one of the very few statements to be issued jointly by James
and Ellen White. Inasmuch as it was signed by both, it is evident
that the views expressed had full sanction of Mrs. White. It should
be noted that the restoration of church membership referred to in the
introductory paragraph of the section is not against a background of
divorce, but of adultery. The paragraph makes no reference whatsoever
to divorce. The references to divorce and church membership in the
succeeding paragraphs relate, not to the offending husband, but to the
offended wife and her church membership should she decide to divorce
or should she decide to remain with her husband.—Compilers.
]
[348]
13
The Review and Herald, March 24, 1868
.