and he determines, by contributing to her happiness as much as possible, to ensure his own. If any man think that the restriction operates unfavourably on him, let him compare the tumultuous passions of a lawless libertine with the chaste enjoyments of conjugal fidelity : and he will soon see the one is " like the crackling of thorns under a pot," whilst the other is a source of steady and increasing comfort to the latest hour of his life.]
III. It provides for the happiness of the rising gene- ration—
[What must be the effect of that licentious intercourse of which we have spoken ? Would men feel much regard for children whose mothers they had ignominiously dismissed? Would even the mothers themselves feel that regard for their children, which they would have done, if they had still retained the affections of their cruel father? The women, reduced to great extremities, would doubtless in many instances leave their children to perish with cold and hunger, if not put a period to their existence with their own hands.
But how different the condition of children under the pre- sent system ! Now both the parents become their guardians, and equally exert themselves to make provision for them. They look upon their children as their dearest treasure ; and expect from them their richest comforts. Hence they feel interested in imbuing their minds with Christian knowledge, and in regulating their conduct according to the Christian code. In short, their happiness being bound up in their off- spring, they, for their own comfort's sake, instruct them in whatever is necessary to make them good members of society at least, if not also members of the Church above. We say not indeed that this effect is universally produced : but we do say, that the restriction in our text, if duly considered, has a direct tendency to produce it.]
From this view of our subject we may see,
1. How great are our obligations to Christianity!
[God, even under the law, bore strong testimony against the licentious cruelty of his people': but our Saviour has de- cided the point for ever. None can henceforth inflict, or suffer, such injuries as the Jews inflicted on their wives. Even those who have no regard whatever for religion, are partakers of these benefits, in common with the whole Church. Chris- tianity has raised the tone of morals, and made those things infamous, which are approved and applauded where tlie light of the Gospel is not known But if the ungodly and
i Mai. ii. 13—16.