A Goodly Heritage

Well might Paul say ( Hebrews 13:4 ), "marriage is honourable"; for God hath honoured it Himself. It is honourable for the author, honourable for the time, and honourable for the place. Whereas all other ordinances were appointed of God by the hands of men, or the hands of angels ( Acts 12:7 ;  Hebrews 2:2 ), marriage was ordained by God Himself, which cannot err. No man nor angel brought the wife to the husband, but God Himself ( Genesis 2:12 ); so marriage hath more honour of God in this than all other ordinances of God beside, because He solemnized it Himself. Then it is honourable for the time; for it was the first ordinance that God instituted, even the first thing which He did, after man and woman were created, and that in the state of innocency, before either had sinned: like the finest flower, which will not thrive but in a clean ground. Then it is honourable for the place; for whereas all other ordinances were instituted out of paradise, marriage was instituted in p...

A pragmatic test:- By this you shall know whether you have given your heart to God or not ; If the heart be gone , all will follow . As the sun rises first , and then the beasts arise from their dens , the fowls from their nests , and men from their beds ; so when the heart sets forward to God all the members will follow after it , the tongue will praise Him the foot will follow Him , the ear will attend Him , the eye will watch Him , the hand will serve Him , nothing will stay after the heart , but every one goes .