Chapter III - Marriage
Permanent obligation
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husband and wife were genuine Christian Scientists.
husband and wife were genuine Christian Scientists.
Science inevitably lifts one's being higher in the scale of
harmony and happiness.
Permanent affection
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Kindred tastes, motives, and aspirations are necessary
Kindred tastes, motives, and aspirations are necessary
to the formation of a happy and permanent companion-
ship. The beautiful in character is also the
good, welding indissolubly the links of affec-
tion. A mother's affection cannot be weaned from her
child, because the mother-love includes purity and con-
stancy, both of which are immortal. Therefore maternal
affection lives on under whatever difficulties.
From the logic of events we learn that selfishness
and impurity alone are fleeting, and that wisdom will
ultimately put asunder what she hath not joined
together.
Centre for affections
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Marriage should improve the human species, becoming
Marriage should improve the human species, becoming
a barrier against vice, a protection to woman, strength to
man, and a centre for the affections. This,
however, in a majority of cases, is not its
present tendency, and why? Because the education of
the higher nature is neglected, and other considerations,
– passion, frivolous amusements, personal adornment,
display, and pride, – occupy thought.
Spiritual concord
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An ill-attuned ear calls discord harmony, not appreciat-
An ill-attuned ear calls discord harmony, not appreciat-
ing concord. So physical sense, not discerning the true
happiness of being, places it on a false basis.
Science will correct the discord, and teach us
life's sweeter harmonies.
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Soul has infinite resources with which to bless mankind,
Soul has infinite resources with which to bless mankind,
and happiness would be more readily attained and would
be more secure in our keeping, if sought in Soul. Higher
enjoyments alone can satisfy the cravings of immortal
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man. We cannot circumscribe happiness within the
man. We cannot circumscribe happiness within the
limits of personal sense. The senses confer no real
enjoyment.
Ascendency of good
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The good in human affections must have ascendency
The good in human affections must have ascendency
over the evil and the spiritual over the animal, or happi-
ness will never be won. The attainment of
this celestial condition would improve our
progeny, diminish crime, and give higher aims to ambi-
tion. Every valley of sin must be exalted, and every
mountain of selfishness be brought low, that the highway
of our God may be prepared in Science. The offspring
of heavenly-minded parents inherit more intellect, better
balanced minds, and sounder constitutions.
Propensities inherited
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If some fortuitous circumstance places promising chil-
If some fortuitous circumstance places promising chil-
dren in the arms of gross parents, often these beautiful
children early droop and die, like tropical
flowers born amid Alpine snows. If perchance
they live to become parents in their turn, they may re-
produce in their own helpless little ones the grosser traits
of their ancestors. What hope of happiness, what noble
ambition, can inspire the child who inherits propensities
that must either be overcome or reduce him to a loath-
some wreck?
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Is not the propagation of the human species a greater
Is not the propagation of the human species a greater
responsibility, a more solemn charge, than the culture of
your garden or the raising of stock to increase your flocks
and herds? Nothing unworthy of perpetuity should be
transmitted to children.
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The formation of mortals must greatly improve to
The formation of mortals must greatly improve to
advance mankind. The scientific morale of marriage is
spiritual unity. If the propagation of a higher human
species is requisite to reach this goal, then its material con-