LETTER II.
THE LAW VINDICATED ON SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES.
"But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."—1 Cor. xi. 16.
Dear Mr. Dean,
The first of these Letters was commenced during the late Session of Parliament, in the expectation that a Bill would be introduced for the purpose of altering the law as regards marriage within the prohibited degrees; but when, to my great satisfaction, I found the attempt was not to be made, I gladly postponed the preparation of my defence of our social institutions. In the mean time, the Rev. Dr. M'Caul has published a Letter addressed to myself, which commences as follows: "Your recently-published Speech on the Marriage Law, though obviously not intended as an answer to 'The Ancient Interpretation of Leviticus xviii. 18,' is yet considered by many, who share your views, as the best and most satisfactory answer to that pamphlet."
Certainly, Dr. M'Caul does me no more than
