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Love Stands the Test, September 8
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me
was love.”
Song of Solomon 2:4
.
Before giving her hand in marriage, every woman should inquire
whether he with whom she is about to unite her destiny is worthy. What
has been his past record? Is his life pure? Is the love which he expresses
of a noble, elevated character, or is it a mere emotional fondness? Has he
traits of character that will make her happy? Can she find true peace and
joy in his affection? Will she be allowed to preserve her individuality, or
must her judgment and conscience be surrendered to the control of her
husband? As a disciple of Christ, she is not her own; she has been bought
with a price. Can she honor the Saviour’s claims as supreme? Will body
and soul, thoughts and purposes, be preserved pure and holy? These
questions have a vital bearing upon the well-being of every woman who
enters the marriage relation.
If you are blessed with God-fearing parents, seek counsel of them.
Open to them your hopes and plans, learn the lessons which their life
experiences have taught, and you will be saved many a heartache. Above
all, make Christ your counselor. Study His Word with prayer.
Under such guidance let a young woman accept as a life companion
only one who possesses pure, manly traits of character, one who is
diligent, aspiring, and honest, one who loves and fears God.
The heart yearns for human love, but this love is not strong enough,
or pure enough, or precious enough, to supply the place of the love of
Jesus. Only in her Saviour can the wife find wisdom, strength, and grace
to meet the cares, responsibilities, and sorrows of life. She should make
Him her strength and her guide. Let woman give herself to Christ before
giving herself to any earthly friend, and enter into no relation which
shall conflict with this.
It is only in Christ that a marriage alliance can be safely formed.
Human love should draw its closest bonds from divine love. Only where
Christ reigns can there be a deep, true, unselfish affection.
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