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Counsels for the Church - Ellen G. White

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cannot love and respect. Be very careful how you enter into conditional<br />

engagements; but better, far better, break <strong>the</strong> engagement be<strong>for</strong>e marriage<br />

than separate afterward, as many do.<br />

You may say, "But I have given my promise, and shall I now retract it?"<br />

I answer, If you have made a promise contrary to <strong>the</strong> Scriptures, by all means<br />

retract it without delay, and in humility be<strong>for</strong>e God repent of <strong>the</strong> infatuation<br />

that led you to make so rash a pledge. Far better take back such a promise, in<br />

<strong>the</strong> fear of God, than keep it, and <strong>the</strong>reby dishonor your Maker.<br />

Let every step toward a marriage alliance be characterized by modesty,<br />

simplicity, sincerity, and an earnest purpose to please and honor God.<br />

Marriage affects <strong>the</strong> afterlife both in this world and in <strong>the</strong> world to come. A<br />

sincere Christian will make no plans that God cannot approve.<br />

The heart yearns <strong>for</strong> human love, but this love is not strong enough, or<br />

pure enough, or precious enough to supply <strong>the</strong> place of <strong>the</strong> love of Jesus.<br />

Only in her Saviour can <strong>the</strong> wife find wisdom, strength, and grace to meet<br />

<strong>the</strong> cares, responsibilities, and sorrows of life. She should make Him her<br />

strength and her guide. Let woman give herself to Christ be<strong>for</strong>e giving<br />

herself to any earthly friend, and enter into no relation which shall conflict<br />

with this. Those who would find true happiness must have <strong>the</strong> blessing of<br />

Heaven upon all that <strong>the</strong>y possess and all that <strong>the</strong>y do. It is disobedience to<br />

God that fills so many hearts and homes with misery. My sister, unless you<br />

would have a home where <strong>the</strong> shadows are never lifted, do not unite yourself<br />

with one who is an enemy of God.<br />

Counsel to One Who Alone Becomes Converted After Marriage<br />

He who has entered <strong>the</strong> marriage relation while unconverted is by his<br />

conversion placed under stronger obligation to be faithful to his companion,<br />

however widely <strong>the</strong>y may differ in regard to religious faith; yet <strong>the</strong> claims of<br />

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