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 mind, it gives birth to conjugial love. But as the spiritual mind is opened, or as man becomes spiritually minded, only by regeneration, the regenerate only can be the subjects of conjugial love. Those who have not entered on the religious life can have no true knowledge of the nature of this love; for natural love can never, by any restrictions or refinements, become spiritual, and none but spiritual love can be attended with spiritual delight and blessedness.

Two who are united in the bond of marriage are said to be no more twain but one flesh. Flesh is a Scriptural term for human nature, specifically as to the principle of love or goodness which constitutes the life of the human will. To be one flesh is to be so united as to be one in heart and mind—to have one will and one way. This, however, is a state which can only be effected by degrees, during the progress of the conjugial life; and to form the youth into a husband and the virgin into a wife, is one of the uses which are to be wrought out in marriage. These we now proceed to consider.

III. The uses of marriage may be considered as natural and spiritual, or such as relate to the body and the world, and such as relate to the soul and heaven. Yet its natural uses, though distinct from those which are spiritual, were designed to make one with them; and some of its uses, which are commonly regarded as only natural, are, at the same time,