The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

""466 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.they are no more two, but one flesh. Our Lord" 1recalls marriage to its primitive institution, as it wasordained by Almighty God (Gen. ii.). Now, marriage in its primitive ordinance, was the union ofone man with one woman ; for, Jehovah created butone helpmate to Adam. He would have createdmore, if His design had been to establish polygamy.The Scripture says that "man shall adhere to hiswife"not his wives. It does not declare that theyshall be three or more, but that they shall be twoin one flesh.Hence Mormonism, unhappily so prevalent in theUnited States, is at variance with the plain teachingsof the Gospel, and isconsequently condemned bythe Catholic Uhurch. Polygamy, wherever it exists,cannot fail to be a perpetual source of family discordand feuds. It fosters deadly jealousy and hateamong the wives of the same household it; derangesthe laws of succession and primogeniture, and breedsrivalry among the children, each endeavoring to supplant the other in the affections and the inheritanceof their common father.Marriageis the most inviolable and irrevocableof all contracts that were ever formed. Every human compact may be lawfully dissolved but this.Nations may be justified in abrogating treaties witheach other merchants ; may dissolve partnerships ;brothers will eventually leave the paternal roof, andseparate from one another, like Jacob and Esau.1Matt. xix. 4-6.