Choosing of a Husband or Wife
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question. Religion is laid aside, as if it had no part to act in this solemn
and important matter.
The Counsel of God-fearing Parents
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 careful study are devoted to the subject, lest they shall make a
failure in their undertaking.
How much greater caution should be exercised in entering the
marriage relation—a relation which affects future generations and the
future life? Instead of this, it is often entered upon with jest and levity,
impulse and passion, blindness and lack of calm consideration. The
only explanation of this is that Satan loves to see misery and ruin in
the world, and he weaves this net to entangle souls. He rejoices to
have these inconsiderate persons lose their enjoyment of this world
and their home in the world to come.
Shall children consult only their own desires and inclinations ir-
respective of the advice and judgment of their parents? Some seem
never to bestow a thought upon their parents’ wishes or preferences,
nor to regard their matured judgment. Selfishness has closed the door
of their hearts to filial affection. The minds of the young need to be
aroused in regard to this matter. The fifth commandment is the only
commandment to which is annexed a promise, but it is held lightly and
is even positively ignored by the lover’s claim. Slighting a mother’s
love, dishonoring a father’s care are sins that stand registered against
many youth.
One of the greatest errors connected with this subject is that the
young and inexperienced must not have their affections disturbed, that
there must be no interference in their love experience. If there ever
was a subject that needed to be viewed from every standpoint, it is
this. The aid of the experience of others and a calm, careful weighing
of the matter on both sides are positively essential. It is a subject that
is treated altogether too lightly by the great majority of people. Take