When Counsel is Needed
49
Prayer Necessary to Right Decision—If men and women are in
the habit of praying twice a day before they contemplate marriage,
they should pray four times a day when such a step is anticipated.
Marriage is something that will influence and affect your life, both in
this world and in the world to come....
The majority of the marriages of our time and the way in which
they are conducted make them one of the signs of the last days. Men
and women are so persistent, so headstrong, that God is left out of the
question. Religion is laid aside, as if it had no part to act in this solemn
and important matter
When Infatuation Is Deaf to Counsel—Two persons become ac-
quainted; 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 consequences. Like some epidemic, or contagion, that
must run its course is the 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
lifelong 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
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persuasion are alike unheeded. All that can be said by men and women
of experience proves ineffectual; it is powerless to change the decision
to which their desires have led them. They lose interest in the prayer
meeting and in everything that pertains to religion. They are wholly
infatuated with each other, and the duties of life are neglected, as if
they were matters of little concern
Youth Need the Wisdom of Age and Experience—When so
much misery results from marriage, why will not the youth be wise?
Why will they continue to feel that they do not need the counsel of
older and more experienced persons? In business, men and women
manifest great caution. Before engaging in any important enterprise,
they prepare themselves for their work. Time, money, and much care-
4
Messages to Young People, 460
.
5
The Review and Herald, September 25, 1888
.