Chapter III - Marriage
Differing duties
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thing to do. Matrimony should never be entered into
thing to do. Matrimony should never be entered into
without a full recognition of its enduring obligations on
both sides. There should be the most tender
solicitude for each other's happiness, and mu-
tual attention and approbation should wait on all the years
of married life.
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Mutual compromises will often maintain a compact
Mutual compromises will often maintain a compact
which might otherwise become unbearable. Man should
not be required to participate in all the annoyances and
cares of domestic economy, nor should woman be ex-
pected to understand political economy. Fulfilling the
different demands of their united spheres, their sympa-
thies should blend in sweet confidence and cheer, each
partner sustaining the other, – thus hallowing the union
of interests and affections, in which the heart finds peace
and home.
Trysting renewed
59:17
Tender words and unselfish care in what promotes the
Tender words and unselfish care in what promotes the
welfare and happiness of your wife will prove more salutary
in prolonging her health and smiles than stolid
indifference or jealousy. Husbands, hear this
and remember how slight a word or deed may renew the
old trysting-times.
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After marriage, it is too late to grumble over incompati-
After marriage, it is too late to grumble over incompati-
bility of disposition. A mutual understanding should
exist before this union and continue ever after, for decep-
tion is fatal to happiness.
Permanent obligation
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The nuptial vow should never be annulled, so long as
The nuptial vow should never be annulled, so long as
its moral obligations are kept intact; but the frequency
of divorce shows that the sacredness of this re-
lationship is losing its influence, and that fatal
mistakes are undermining its foundations. Separation
never should take place, and it never would, if both
60:1
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.
60:29
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