at the option of the parties. The wife had no right to leave her husband ; nor had the husband the right to repudiate his wife. But although the marriage bond cannot be dissolved by any human authority, because it is, in virtue of the law of God, a covenant for life between one man and one woman ; yet it can be annulled, not rightfully indeed, but still effect- ually. Adultery annuls it, because it is a breach of the specific contract involved in marriage. And so does, for the same reason, wilful desertion, as the apostle teaches in a following verse. This is the Protestant doctrine concerning divorce, founded on the nature of marriage and on the explicit instruc- tions of our Lord, Matt. 5, 32. 19, 3-9. Mark 10, 2-12. Luke 16, 18. According to this doctrine nothing but adultery or wilful desertion is a legitimate ground of divorce, first, be- cause the Scriptures allow of no other grounds ; and secondly, because incompatibiUty of temper, cruelty, disease, crime, and other things of like kind, which human laws often make the occasion for divorce, are not in their nature a destruction of the marriage covenant. Romanists teach that divorce a vin- culo Tnatrimonii^ where both parties were baptized, is never allowable. As this rule is contrary to Scripture, it is found injurious in practice \ and therefore it is evaded by declaring marriages on frivolous grounds void ah initio ; or by granting separation without dissolution of the marriage tie, for reasons not sanctioned by Scripture. The plain doctrine of the pas- sage before us, as well as other portions of the word of God, is that marriage is an indissoluble covenant between one man and one woman for life, admitting neither of polygamy nor o^ divorce. If the covenant be annulled, it can only be by the sinful act of one of the parties.
But and if she depart. The law of Christ is that she should not depart ; but if in violation of that law, or if from necessity she be obliged to depart, she has but two things to choose between, — she must remain unmarried, or she must be reconciled to her husband. This is not intended as an excep- tion to the law, but it contemplates a case which may occur in despite of the law. ' In case a woman has actually de- parted, with or without just cause, then she must remain un- married, or be reconciled to her husband.' There are cases undoubtedly which justify a woman in leaving her husband, which do not justify divorce. Just as there are cases which justify a child leaving, or being removed from, the custody