Science and Health
by Mary Baker Glover
Chapter VI
Marriage
314:1
When our great Teacher went to John to be baptized,
not having reached his motives, the good patriarch was
astounded, and reading his thoughts, Jesus prefaced his
purpose saying, "Suffer these things to be so now, for
thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness," that is,
yield obedience to common forms, until you reach the
understanding of their spiritual significance. Marriage
is the only legal and moral form among the higher
species, for generation, and until the spiritual creation
is discerned and the union of male and female appre-
hended in its Soul-sense, this rite should continue un-
der such moral regulations as secure increasing virtue.
Infidelity to the marriage covenant is the social scourge
of all peoples; the pestilence that wasteth and walketh
at noon-day. The commandment, "Thou shalt not
commit adultery," is not less imperative, than "Thou
shalt not kill." Virtue is the basis of civilization and
progress; without it there is no true foundation to so-
ciety, and it were utterly impossible to attain the
Science of Life; but virtue should be recognized; and
the fear to take responsible posts of duty lest the vicious
misjudge you, be wholly removed. Owing to the
shocking depravity of mankind, chastity is looked at
suspiciously; it requires more moral courage for woman
to meet the low estimates in society of virtue, than to
help lift its standard from the dust.
315:1
The last infirmity of error that would fasten itself on
society, to see it hop and hobble under a new burden
of guilt, is named "free love"; wherein "they declare
their sin as Sodom, and hide it not," but the boldness of
depravity will show its deformity. A union of the
masculine and feminine mind seems requisite for com-
pleteness; the former reaches a higher tone from com-
munion with the latter; and the latter gains courage
and strength from the former; therefore, these different
individualities meet and demand each other, and their
true harmony is oneness of Soul. Woman should be
loving, pure, and strong. Man, tender, intellectual,
controlling; the attraction between the sexes will be
perpetual only as it is pure and true, and like the sea-
sons, brings its sweet changes and renewal. Beauty,
wealth, or fame is incompetent to meet the demands of
the affections, and should never waver the balance
against the more honest claims of intellect, goodness,
and virtue. Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and
Love; it is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone,
but requires an object to cherish. Our affections are
not poured forth vainly, when meeting no return; they
enrich the being, enlarging, purifying and elevating it.
The wintry blasts of earth may transplant the flowers
of affection, or scatter them to the winds; but sun-
dering ties of flesh, unites us to God, where Love sup-
ports the struggling heart, until it ceases to sigh over
earth, and folds its wings for heaven.
315:29
Marriage is blest or unblest, according to the dis-
appointment it incurs, or the motive it fulfills. To
happify existence by constant intercourse with those
adapted to elevate it is the true motive for marriage;
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