Page:Marriage Its Origin, Uses, and Duties.pdf/10

 in some way peculiar to the body, by the death of which, the tie of marriage, the most sacred of all ties, is believed to be at once and for ever dissolved. It is true that married partners, who tenderly love each other, look forward to reunion after death; few, however, even of these will be found disposed to admit that marriage exists, as marriage, in the spiritual world.

But if we attentively examine the testimony of Scripture on this point, we shall be enabled to discover that the distinction of sex had a far higher origin, and exists for a far higher end. In the book of Genesis it is written that "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (i., 27). If then, man was created in the image of God, and male and female are both included in the term "man," we must look for the divine image, not only in each singly, but in both unitedly. Considered as human beings, each is equally an image of God; but, considered as male and female, each is an image of God, more especially as to a distinct principle of his Divine nature.

What, then, is that distinction in the Divine nature in which the distinction of sex had its origin, and of which it is the image? There are two principles which constitute the nature or essence of God,—LOVE and WISDOM. As God is Love itself, and Wisdom itself, man was created to be a recipient of love and wisdom from Him. Man, has, therefore, two distinct faculties for the reception of life from God,—a will