o the scripture
standard, "Be not unequally yoked, together with unbelievers." It is even
desirable that husband and wife belong to the same branch of the church,
that they may walk together on the sabbath to the house of God. There is
indeed something repugnant to the feelings of a Christian to see the
husband go in one direction to worship, and the wife in another. They
cannot be thus divided, without serious injury to the religious interests
of their family, as well as of their own souls. It is impossible for them
to train up their children successfully when they are separated by
denominational differences. It is a matter of very common observation that
when persons thus divided, marry, the one or the other suffers in religious
interest. From these and other considerations, we think it Is expedient to
marry, if possible, within the pales of our own branch of the church. Then,
being agreed, they can walk together with one mind and one purpose.

But how much more important that they be united in their pilgrim walk to
eternity,--united In the Lord Jesus Christ, by a common life and faith and
hope! We believe that Christians commit a sin when they violate this law of
religious equality, and unite themselves in matrimony with those who pay no
regard to religion. Who can estimate the peril of that home in which one of
its members is walking in the narrow way to heaven, while the other one is
traveling in the broad road to perdition! Whom, think you, will the
children follow? Let the sad experience of a thousand homes respond. Let
the blighted hopes and the unrequited affections of the pious wife, reply.
Let those children whose infamy and wretchedness have broken the devout
mother's heart, or brought the gray hairs of the pious father down with
sorrow to the grave, speak forth the answer. It will show the importance of
the scripture rule before us, and will declare the sin of violating that
rule.

And does not, therefore, a terrible judgment accompany that indiscriminate
matrimonial union with the unbelieving world, of which so many Christians,
in the present day, are guilty? Parents encourage their pious children to
marry unbelievers, though they are well aware that such unholy mixtures are
expressly forbidden, and that spiritual harmony is essential to their
happiness. "She is at liberty to be married to whom she will, only in the
Lord!" Those who violate this cardinal law of marriage, must expect to
suffer the penalties