Page:The ancient interpretation of Leviticus XVIII. 18 - Marriage with a deceased wife's sister is lawful.djvu/12

2 the Church held the precepts of this chapter which relate to marriage to be moral, and, therefore, not to be tampered with or reversed." Another learned and devout writer says that his object was "chiefly to bring before them [Her Majesty's Commissioners ] the weight of what was said or implied by Holy Scriptures upon this subject, and to show how those Scriptures had been understood by the whole body of the Christian Church down to the Council of Trent." Even with this addition to Scripture, "as understood by the whole body of the Christian Church down to the Council of Trent," I do not quarrel. The testimony of the whole body of the Christian Church from the days of the apostles ought always to have great weight, and where it cannot be had, the testimony of a number of grave writers in various ages and branches of the Church must be received with respect. It is satisfactory to see that these writers reject that notion of St. Basil's, that these marriage-laws are no more binding on the Christian Church than circumcision or other ceremonial rites. When pressed with the argument from Levit. xviii. 18, that Father says:—"In answer to this, I will say, first, that whatsoever the law saith it saith to them that are under the law, else, by parity of reasoning, circumcision, too, and the Sabbath, and abstinence from meats, might be urged upon us; for it will hardly be pretended, I suppose, that if we find anything in the