Required reading
Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge (Vol 3) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 19 by reading up to the subheading 'Divorce'.
My summary
Today Hodge begins teaching us matters concerning the seventh commandment.
He touches on:
(i) celibacy (which he does not encourage);
(ii) marriage as a divine institution;
(iii) marriage as a civil institution;
(iv) monogamy.
What grabbed me
In light of same-sex marriage in our day, I appreciated Hodge's points about the relationship of civil law to marriage: 'Because marriage is in some of its aspects a civil institution, to be regulated within certain limits, by the civil law, men have treated it as though it were a mere business engagement. They ignore its character as a divine institution, regulated and controlled by divine laws. Civil legislatures should remember that they can no more annul the laws of God than the laws of nature. If they pronounce those not to be married who, by the divine law, are married ; or if they separate those whom God hath joined together, their laws are absolute nullities at the bar of conscience and in the sight of God.'
Amen.
Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 19 by reading up to the subheading 'Prohibited marriages'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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