Page:Marriage Its Origin, Uses, and Duties.pdf/9

 An antidote to this prevailing naturalism, on a subject interwoven with the best interests of humanity, is, we believe, to be found in the views of the New Church, which place marriage in a much higher and holier light than that in which it is commonly regarded. It is my intention to give a brief outline of these views.

That we may obtain as comprehensive a view of the subject as our limits will permit, I shall consider—

First, The origin and ground of the distinction of sex.

Secondly, The origin and nature of marriage.

Thirdly, The uses of marriage.

Fourthly, The duties of marriage; and

Lastly, The indissoluble nature and everlasting duration of true marriage.

First, then, I am to consider the origin and ground of the distinction of sex.

Sex is commonly supposed to have had its origin in the purpose in the Divine mind that the woman should be a help to the man, and that they should multiply and replenish the earth. Hence, the distinction of sex is considered to be only natural in its character, and therefore to have no existence but in the natural world; whence angels and spirits are supposed to be of neither sex. From this it also follows that the affection which leads the sexes to desire an alliance with each other, is only a natural affection,