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Rh general consideration is particularly relevant to a discussion of the Christian doctrine of marriage. We must start by attempting to recover the view of marriage which obtained in Palestine in the time of Christ.

It goes without saying that the Jews based their practice on the Scriptures of the Old Testament, and therein principally on the legislation of the Pentateuch. The legislation was regarded as the work of the Law-giver, Moses, and its character as a gradual modification of existing practice was not recognised. Thus injustice was done to the legislation itself, and a grave difficulty in the development of morals was created.

Viewed historically, the laws contained in the Pentateuch represent a moral advance, for they correct and mitigate a traditional practice which was in many respects barbarous and immoral. So far we may fairly claim that they form part of the great process of education effected through the Prophets, but the fact that that process was gradual and progressive