Chapter III
Marriage
What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
In the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but
are as the angels of God in heaven. – JESUS.
56:1
WHEN our great Teacher came to him for baptism,
WHEN our great Teacher came to him for baptism,
John was astounded. Reading his thoughts, Jesus
added: "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us
to fulfil all righteousness." Jesus' concessions (in certain
cases) to material methods were for the advancement of
spiritual good.
Marriage temporal
56:7
Marriage is the legal and moral provision for genera-
Marriage is the legal and moral provision for genera-
tion among human kind. Until the spiritual creation
is discerned intact, is apprehended and under-
stood, and His kingdom is come as in the vision
of the Apocalypse, – where the corporeal sense of crea-
tion was cast out, and its spiritual sense was revealed from
heaven, – marriage will continue, subject to such moral
regulations as will secure increasing virtue.
Fidelity required
56:15
Infidelity to the marriage covenant is the social scourge
Infidelity to the marriage covenant is the social scourge
of all races, "the pestilence that walketh in darkness,
. . . the destruction that wasteth at noonday."
The commandment, "Thou shalt not com-
mit adultery," is no less imperative than the one, "Thou
shalt not kill."
57:1
Chastity is the cement of civilization and progress.
Chastity is the cement of civilization and progress.
Without it there is no stability in society, and without it
one cannot attain the Science of Life.
Mental elements
57:4
Union of the masculine and feminine qualities consti-
Union of the masculine and feminine qualities consti-
tutes completeness. The masculine mind reaches a
higher tone through certain elements of the
feminine, while the feminine mind gains cour-
age and strength through masculine qualities. These
different elements conjoin naturally with each other, and
their true harmony is in spiritual oneness. Both sexes
should be loving, pure, tender, and strong. The attrac-
tion between native qualities will be perpetual only as it
is pure and true, bringing sweet seasons of renewal like
the returning spring.
Affection's demands
57:15
Beauty, wealth, or fame is incompetent to meet the
Beauty, wealth, or fame is incompetent to meet the
demands of the affections, and should never weigh
against the better claims of intellect, good-
ness, and virtue. Happiness is spiritual,
born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore
it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to
share it.
Help and discipline
57:22
Human affection is not poured forth vainly, even
Human affection is not poured forth vainly, even
though it meet no return. Love enriches the nature, en-
larging, purifying, and elevating it. The wintry
blasts of earth may uproot the flowers of affec-
tion, and scatter them to the winds; but this severance
of fleshly ties serves to unite thought more closely to
God, for Love supports the struggling heart until it ceases
to sigh over the world and begins to unfold its wings for
heaven.
57:31
Marriage is unblest or blest, according to the disap-
Marriage is unblest or blest, according to the disap-
pointments it involves or the hopes it fulfils. To happify