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AN

ESSAY

ON

MARRIAGE,

OR,

The Duty of Christians to Marry Religiously,

WITH A FEW REFLECTIONS

ON

IMPRUDENT MARRIAGES.

BY WILLIAM JAY.

[FROM THE SECOND LONDON EDITION.]

FROM SIDNEY's press,

PRINTED FOR I. COOKE AND CO. NEW-HAVEN.

1814.

ADVERTISEMENT.

WE, the Ministers of the Wiltshire Association assembled together at Melksham this day, October 22, 1806,-deploring the little regard of late years paid by too many Professors of Religion to the christian rule of Marriage : and deeming it desirable that the attention of the public in general, and our own Churches in particular should be called to this subject, do unanimously request the Rev. Wm. Jay to publish some Strictures upon it, and the more so, as he has already sent forth a Sermon on the Duties of Husbands and Wives which has met with great Acceptance.

Signed,

On behalf of the Association,

GEORGE MANTEL, CHAIRMAN.

ESSAY ON MARRIAGE.

SECTION I.

The peculiarity and importance of the Marriage Relation. The possibility of knowing the will of God in this affair. The Law laid down.

HOW wonderful is it, that two persons, who perhaps never met before, should,, by a train of circumstances be brought together, obtain a peculiar propri. ety in each other, and form one absolute communion of wishes, joys and sorrows.

If we compare this relation with other connexions, we shall find it surpasses them all. Are other unions optional? They may be limited in their continuance, or terminated at pleasure. But this is permanent, and indissoluble. You cannot marry for a given period.-It is for life. Are other unions natural? Intimate indeed is the relation between brother and sister: tender is the relation between parents and children, especially between the mother and "the son of her womb." "But for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. What God hath joined together let no man put asunder."

B

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