Page:Dissertationonma00livi.djvu/19

Rh ; and often inculcate the reciprocal duties of man and wife, as essential to the welfare of society and the honour of religion.

The has always honoured marriage, and considered it as the fountain of social comfort and prosperity. All the civilized governments on earth, both ancient and modern, have taken it under their immediate protection. They have made it a prominent article in their civil codes, and enacted laws to ascertain with precision what constituted a lawful marriage, and what determined a legitimate offspring. Even the most barbarous nations have received the institution, and were never without some laws, which, although not written, were well known and defined by maxims and customs, whereby the interests of husband and wife were rendered secure, and it became criminal for strangers to interrupt or violate them.

But among the properties essential to marriage, the creation of an union, whereby two persons, who were previously strangers, become one, is the most singular. As this is the source of affinity, and the basis upon which our conclusions in the discussion