Essex Congregational Remembrancer 1 Corinthians 7:39-40 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will… I. THIS COMMAND MUST BE EXPLAINED. 1. In what respects it allows freedom. A believer may marry — (1) A second time. This is the particular case here referred to. (2) Under various circumstances of inequality. If he marry "in the Lord," he "is at liberty to marry whom he will." There may be inequality of mind, age, station in life. Marrying "in the Lord" is of such infinite importance that in comparison with it every other consideration is almost trivial. Yet it should be seriously considered that any great inequality, though not expressly forbidden, is yet very undesirable. The God of grace is also the God of nature — the God of order, too, and not of confusion. "All these things are lawful for me, but all these things are not expedient." 2. In what respect it binds. "Only in the Lord."(1) Only to a Christian. For a believer to marry an unconverted person may be to marry in carnality, or in covetousness, or in pride, or in the world; but certainly not in the Lord. It is against the Lord; in opposition to one of His plainest commandments, and also to all reason and propriety. Such a junction (for union it cannot be) partakes of the monstrous. For the difference between a regenerate and an unregenerate person is next to infinite (2 Corinthians 6:14-16). (2) Only as a Christian — religiously and with the fear of God. They, there-fore, who anxiously desire to marry only in the Lord, will remember that "a prudent wife (or husband) cometh from Him"; they will, therefore, by prayer seek this good gift from the only Giver. II. THIS COMMAND MUST BE ENFORCED. Obedience here — 1. Tends to the glory of God. God is glorified in this world by the visible holiness of His people. When professors marry persons "of the world," for money, or connection, or personal attraction, how is the mouth of the ungodly opened, the Church scandalised, and the cause of Christ dishonoured! 2. Prevents many most deplorable evils. He who obeys this precept will be saved from the shame of inconsistency before the world, from the loss of the esteem of holy persons, and from the remorse of his own conscience. Even in those cases of mixed marriages where the professing partner is not drawn aside by the other into apostacy; usually, he suffers great spiritual loss, and loses all zeal in doing good. And should there be children, the mischief spreads. 3. Promotes the true interest and happiness of those who obey it. The advantages that attend the spiritual and holy union of two believing persons are inestimable. They walk together, for they are agreed. They are helpers of each other's faith and joy, being made, through grace, the instruments of each other's spiritual growth in fruitfulness and happiness. They have their sorrows; but these they lessen by dividing them, bearing each other's burden. They have their faults; but these "they confess, the one to the other, and pray one for another, that they may be healed." But among all the changing scenes of life, they have a look that penetrates "within the veil," where their union will be perfected, and crowned with immortality. Hence they habitually walk, "as being heirs together of the grace of life." If children are given to them, they cordially unite in the work of bringing them up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Exhortations: 1. To Christians who are yet free to obey this command. You see what the will of the Lord is. Regard with horror the thought of being united to an unconverted person. 2. To those who have already transgressed this command. If, by having married inconsistently, you have awakened in your partner's mind the suspicion that your religion is all a delusion, now seek to dislodge that suspicion, and to implant in its stead the conviction that religion is a great reality. 3. To those who have married in accordance with this precept. "Happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you." (Essex Congregational Remembrancer.) Parallel Verses KJV: The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. |
    |