Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Nothing is so much to be desired in ed in those who are young and inexfamilies as peace, love, and union: perienced in the cares and vicissitudes they are essential to happiness here of a married life. They, as weaker and hereafter. And, in order to pro- vessels, are given to him as the stronmote these desirable objects, we would ger, to nourish, cherish, and protect; recommend the observance of the fol- to be their head, their patriarch, and lowing rules. their saviour; to teach, instruct, counsel, and perfect them in all things relating to family government, and the welfare and happiness of themselves and their children. Therefore, let him realize the weighty responsibility now placed upon him, as the head of a family; and also let him study diligently the disposition of his wives, that he may know how to instruct them in wisdom for their good.

Rule 1st.-Let that man who intends to become a husband, seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and learn to govern himself, according to the law of God: for he that cannot govern himself cannot govern others: let him dedicate his property, his talents, his time, and even his life to the service of God, holding all things at His disposal, to do with the same, according as He shall direct through the counsel that He has ordained.

Rule 4th.-Betray not the confidence of your wives. There are many ideas in an affectionate confiding wife which she would wish to communicate to her husband, and yet she would be very unwilling to have them communicated to others. Keep each of your wives' secrets from all the others, and from any one else, unless in cases where good will result by doing otherwise.

Rule 2nd.-Let him next seek for wisdom to direct him in the choice of his wives. Let him seek for those whose qualifications will render him and themselves happy. Let him look not wholly at the beauty of the countenance, or the splendor of the apparel, or the great fortune, or the artful Rule 5th.-Speak not of the faults smiles, or the affected modesty of fe- of your wives to others; for in so doing, males; for all these, without the gen- you speak against yourself. If you uine virtues, are like the dew-drops speak to one of your wives of the imwhich glitter for a moment in the sun, perfections of the others who may be and dazzle the eye, but soon vanish absent, you not only injure them in away. But let him look for kind and her estimation, but she will expect that amiable dispositions; for unaffected you will speak against her under like modesty; for industrious habits; for circumstances: this is calculated to sterling virtue; for honesty, integrity, weaken their confidence in you, and and truthfulness; for cleanliness in per- sow division in the family. Tell each sons, in apparel, in cooking, and in ev- one of her faults in private in a spirit ery kind of domestic labor; for cheer- of kindness and love, and she will most fulness, patience, and stability of char-probably respect you for it, and enacter; and above all, for genuine reli- deavor to do better for the future; and gion to control and govern their every thus the others will not, because of though and deed. When he has your reproof, take occasion to speak refound those possessing these qualifica-proachfully of her. There may be cirtions let him seek to obtain them law-cumstances, when reproof, given in the fully through the counsel of him who presence of the others, will produce a holds the keys of the everlasting priest-salutary influence upon all. Wisdom hood, that they may be married to is profitable to direct, and should be him by the authority of Heaven, and sought for earnestly by those who thus be secured to him for time and for have the responsibility of families. all eternity. Rule 6th.--Avoid anger and a fretRule 3rd-When a man has ob-ful peevish disposition in your family. tained his wives, let him not sup- A hasty spirit, accompanied with harsh pose that they are already perfect in words, will most generally beget its all things; for this cannot be expect- own likeness, or, at least, it will, eventu

ness which are so necessary to happiness and salvation.

Rule 10th.-Remember, that notwithstanding written rules will be of service in teaching you your duties, as the head of a family, yet without the Holy Ghost to teach and instruct you, it is impossible for you to govern a family in righteousness; therefore, seek after the Holy Ghost and He shall teach you all things, and sanctify you and your family, and make you one, that you may be perfected in Him and He in you, and eventually be exalted on high to dwell with God, where your joy will be full forever.

ally, sour the feelings of your wives and children, and greatly weaken their affections for you. You should remember that harsh expressions against one of your wives, used in the hearing of the others, will more deeply wound her feelings, than if she alone heard them. Reproofs that are timely and otherwise good, may lose their good effect by being administered in a wrong spirit, indeed, they will most probably increase the evils which they were intended to remedy. Do not find fault with every trifling error that you may see; for this will discourage your family, and they will begin to think that it is impossible to please you; and, after a Rule 11th.-Let no woman unite while, become indifferent as to whether herself in marriage with any man, unthey please you or not. How unhappy less she has fully resolved to submit and extremely wretched is that family herself wholly to his counsel, and to let where nothing pleases-where scolding him govern as the head. It is far bethas become almost as natural as breath-ter for her not to be united with him ing! in the sacred bonds of eternal union, than to rebel against the divine order of family government, instituted for a higher salvation; for if she, altogether turn therefrom, she will receive a greater condemnation.

Rule 7th.-Use impartiality in your family as far as circumstances will allow; and let your kindness and love abound towards them all. Use your own judgment, as the head of the family, in regard to your duties in relation to them, and be not swayed from that which is right, by your own feelings, nor by the feelings of others.

Rule 8th.-Suffer not your judgment to be biased against any one of your wives, by the accusations of the others, unless you have good grounds to be lieve that those accusations are just. Decide not hastily upon partial evidence, but weigh well all things, that your mind may not become unjustly prejudiced. When one of your wives complains of the imperfections of the others, and endeavors to set your mind against them, teach her that all have imperfections, and of the necessity of bearing one with another in patience, and of praying one for another.

Rule 12th.-Never seek to prejudice the mind of your husband against any of his other wives, for the purpose of exalting yourself in his estimation, lest the evil which you unjustly try to bring upon them, fall with double weight upon your own head. Strive to rise in favor and influence with your husband by your own merits, and not by magnifying the faults of others.

Rule 13th.-Seek to be a peacemaker in the family with whom you are associated. If you see the least appearance of division arising, use your utmost efforts to restore union and soothe the feelings of all. Soft and gentle words, spoken in season, will allay contention and strife; while a hasty spirit and harsh language add Rule 9th-Call your wives and fuel to the fire already kindled which children together frequently, and in-will age with increasing violence. struct them in their duties towards Rule 14th-Speak not evil of your God, towards yourself, and towards one husband unto any of the rest of the another. Pray with them and for them family for the purpose of prejudicing often; and teach them to pray much, their minds against him; for if he be that the Holy Spirit may dwell in their informed thereof, it will injure you in midst, without which it is impossible his estimation. Neither speak evil of to maintain that union, love, and one- any members of the family; for this

will destroy their confidence in you. Rule 16th.-Let each mother correct Avoid all hypocracy; for if you pre- her own children, and see that they do tend to love your husband and to honor not dispute and quarrel with each other, and respect his wives, when present, nor with any others; let her not cor but speak disrespectful of them when rect the children of the others without absent, you will be looked upon as a liberty so to do, lest it give offence. hypocrite, as a tattler, and as a mis- The husband should see that each chief-making woman, and be shunned mother maintains a wise and proper as being more dangerous than an open discipline over her children, especially enemy. And what is still more de- in their younger years: and it is his testable, is to tattle out of the family, duty to see that all of his children are and endeavor to create enemies against obedient to himself and to their rethose with whom you are connected. spective mothers. And it is also his Such persons should not only be con- duty to see that the children of one sidered hypocrites, but traitors, and wife are not allowed to quarrel and their conduct should be despised by abuse those of the others, neither to be every lover of righteousness. Remem-disrespectful or impudent to any branch ber also, that there are more ways than of his family. one to tattle; it is not always the case Rule 17th.-It is the duty of parents that those persons who are the boldest to instruct their children, according to in their accusations that are the most their capacities in every principle of dangerous slanderers; but such as the gospel, as revealed in the Book of hypocritically pretend that they do not Mormon and in the revelations which wish to injure their friends, and at the God has given, that they may grow up same time, very piously insinuate in in righteousness, and in the fear of the dark indirect sayings, something that Lord, and have faith in Him. Suffer is calculated to leave a very unfavorable no wickedness to have place among prejudice against them. Shun such a them, but teach them the right way, spirit as you would the very gates of hell. and see that they walk therein. And Rule 15th.-If you see any of your let the husband, and his wives, and all husband's wives sick or in trouble, use of his children that have come to the every effort to relieve them, and to ad-years of understanding, often bow beminister kindness and consolations, re-fore the Lord around the family altar, membering that you, yourself, under and pray vocally and unitedly for whatthe same circumstances, would be ever blessings they stand in need of, thankful for their assistance. Endeavor remembering that where there are union to share each others burdens, according and peace, there will also be faith, and to the health, ability, and strength hope, and the love of God, and every which God has given you. Do not be good work, and a multiplicity of blessafraid that you will do more than yourings, imparting health and comfort to share of the domestic labor, or that the body, and joy and life to the soul. you will be more kind to them than

they are to you.

(Concluded in our next number.)

[blocks in formation]
[graphic][merged small][merged small]

All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, See Ye, when He lifteth up an Ensign on the Mountains.-Isaiah xvIII, 3.

VOL. I.

DECEMBER, 1853.

No. 12.

CHRISTIAN POLYGAMY IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

Among the distinguished Christian | dependence of mind, so necessary to the Reformers and celebrated Divines of improvement and happiness of man; the sixteenth century, may be mention- it was to open a door for advancement ed the names of Luther, Melancthon, in the sciences and arts without beBucer, and Melanther. These won- ing trammelled with the bigoted opderful men distinguished themselves in position of priest craft. Though they their persevering, bold, and fearless were raised up to accomplish these opposition to the corrupt powers of great and desirable purposes, yet they Catholicism. Although not called and could not restore the Church of God ordained of God with the authority of to the earth; for this was not their Apostles and Prophets to restore the calling. They were called to lay the Church of God to the earth, yet they foundation of a reformation which were Reformers; and with a noble en- should eventually terminate in the esergy and perseverance, exposed, in a tablishment of Governments favorable degree, the superstitions and wicked- to liberty of conscience, that when the ness of the Romish Church; they protes- Church should be restored, men might ted against their blasphemous doctrines be free to embrace its principles. They and pretentions; they revolted from and their successors who have followed the jurisdiction and tyrannical power of in their steps, were called as fore-runthe Romish Priesthood; they weaken-ners to prepare the way before the ed its corrupting influence among the Church when it should once more have nations: they laid the foundation of place on the earth. more liberal principles; opened the way for the nations to burst the bonds of religious despotism; and planted the seeds of civil and religious liberty, which have continued to grow and spread until millions now bask under the extended branches. It was for these great and noble purposes that God moved upon the hearts of these men to boldly protest against a power that had become tyrannical and formidable to an alarming degree it was to restore, in some small degree, that freedom and in

These celebrated Reformers advocated Christianity so far as they understood its principles. Many Romish superstitions which had been palmed upon the world for Christianity, were abolished: many Christian institutions which had been abolished by the Romish Priesthood, were, in a measure, restored, at last in form; among which may be mentioned Polygamy. The Romanists had not only forbidden marriage to her priests, but had abolished the Divine institution of Polygamy

which was practiced in early ages when pure Christianity was on the earth.

While the world was thus overwhelmed in darkness, following the false traditions and superstitions of the Papists, the great Reformers, Martin Luther, Philip Melancthon, Martin Bucer, Dennis Melanther, and numerous other German Divines, introduced a wonderful reformation in many things: among which they re-established the right of their priests to marry; and again permitted the Divine institution of Polygamy to exist in the Church.

While Polygamy flourished in the Christian Church, the Roman nation were in favor of Monogamy or the one wife system, and established laws, prohibiting a plurality of wives among their citizens. The Christian Church in that nation were obliged to relinquish the Divine institution of Polygamy, and submit to the Roman laws under heavy penalties. At length, through priest craft and tradition the Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, one of Church was made to believe that the the principal Lords and Princes of Monogamy, established by the Roman Germany, wrote to the great Reformer, civil law, was actually a part of Chris- Martin Luther, and to the principal tianity. This delusion, concocted at heads of the reformation, anxiously the head quarters of the so-called imploring them to grant unto him the Christian Church, gradually extended privilege of marrying a second wife, itself to the surrounding nations, and while the first wife, his Princess, was other branches of the Christian Church yet living. Many arguments were adopted it, and relinquished the Polyg- urged by the Landgrave, showing that amic system. The one wife system the practice was in accordance with did not originate in the Christian the Bible, and not prohibited under Church, but was adopted from the the Christian dispensation. Upon the practice of the Roman nation by the reception of this information, Luther, Romish Priesthood, and by them palm- who had from the beginning of the ed upon the nations as originating in reformation favored Polygamy, met in Christianity. "Julius Caesar attempt-council with the principal Christian ed to have a law passed in favor of Divines to consult upon the propriety Polygamy, but could not effect it." of granting the request of Lord Philip; The Romans were too much opposed after considering upon the subject, they to the practices of Jews and Christians to permit this Divine institution to have free tolerance. And the Romish Church followed in the footsteps of their nation and were unwilling to have this Christian and Jewish practice continued within their ecclesiastical code. Many centuries passed away, during which the common people were not permitted to read the manuscript copies of the Bible for themselves, and they were traditioned by their priests to believe that Monogamy was a Christian "I. We have been informed by institution, and that Polygamy was Bucer, and in the instruction which forbidden. This delusive tradition your Highness gave him, have read, was riveted more and more firmly upon the trouble of mind and the uneasiness the minds of the people by the practi- of conscience your Highness is under ces and teaching of each succeeding at this present; and although it seemed generation of Christendom, until even to us very difficult so speedily to anwhole nations in the western world were influenced to make laws prohibiting Polygamy, as something which tradition had taught them was unchristian.

addressed to him a lengthy letter, granting him his request; at the same time earnestly exhorting him to live a virtuous and upright life. The letter commences as follows:

“To the most serene Prince and Lord Philip Landgrave of Hesse, Count of Catzenlembogen, of Diets, of Ziegenhain, and Nidda, our gracious Lord, we wish above all things the Grace of God through Christ:

swer the doubts proposed; nevertheless we should not permit the said Bucer, who was urgent for his return to your Highness to go away without an answer in writing."

« AnteriorContinuar »