oppose, and often ridicule, the pious efforts of the believer.  Partiality will be produced, and godliness will decline; for, says Peter, unless we dwell as heirs together of the grace of life, our prayers will be hindered.  The pious one cannot rule in such a home.  Thus divided and striving with each other, their house must fall.  Where one draws heavenward and the other hellward, opposite attractions will be presented, and the believer will find constant obstructions to growth in grace, to the discharge of parental duty, and to the cultivation of Christian graces in the heart.  How can the unbeliever return, like David, to bless his household?  How can he bring up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?  Can he be the head of a Christian home?  And, tell me, does the true Christian desire any other than a Christian home?  “How can two walk together, except they be agreed?” And are you, then, in your marriage, agreed to walk with the unbeliever in the broad road of sin and death?  You are not, if you are a true Christian!

We see, therefore, the importance of a rigid adherence to the scripture standard, “Be not unequally yoked, together with unbelievers.”  It is even desirable that husband and wife belong to the same branch of the church, that they may walk together on the sabbath to the house of God.  There is indeed something repugnant to the feelings of a Christian to see the husband go in one direction to worship, and the wife in another.  They cannot be thus divided, without serious injury to the religious interests of their family, as well as of their own souls.  It is impossible for them to train up their children successfully when they are separated by denominational differences.  It is a matter of very common observation that when persons thus divided, marry, the one or the other suffers in religious interest.  From these and other considerations, we think it Is expedient to marry, if possible, within the pales of our own branch of the church.  Then, being agreed, they can walk together with one mind and one purpose.

But how much more important that they be united in their pilgrim walk to eternity,—­united In the Lord Jesus Christ, by a common life and faith and hope!  We believe that Christians commit a sin when they violate this law of religious equality, and unite themselves in matrimony with those who pay no regard to religion.  Who can estimate the peril of that home in which one of its members is walking in the narrow way to heaven, while the other one is traveling in the broad road to perdition!  Whom, think you, will the children follow?  Let the sad experience of a thousand homes respond.  Let the blighted hopes and the unrequited affections of the pious wife, reply.  Let those children whose infamy and wretchedness have broken the devout mother’s heart, or brought the gray hairs of the pious father down with sorrow to the grave, speak forth the answer.  It will show the importance of the scripture rule before us, and will declare the sin of violating that rule.