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become the easier. We all know that powerful influence has been brought to bear upon this question in favour of it, and as far as any of us know, this powerful influence may again be exerted in the same direction, unless, indeed, it be the will of God to overrule the hearts and minds of such supporters; and we indeed may pray that such may be the case if it be His will, or we may at least lift up our hearts to God in prayer for our Church and nation, for "our Sovereign and her dominions, that all things may be so ordered and settled, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us".
It is my purpose in this Address to confine myself to the arguments and reasons against "marriage with a deceased wife's sister" becoming the law of this country, or at least only incidentally to allude to any points that may be urged in favour of it, by way, it may be, of refuting them. It is not that I wish to deprive myself of the opportunity of hearing or listening to any solid and good arguments (if indeed there are any such) on the opposite side to that which I am taking, but one side of the question is enough, and more than enough, for me to address you upon on this occasion. All I would ask of all who speak on this subject, whichever side they may espouse, is that they would do so with the deepest seriousness and consideration, with care and forethought—on a subject which I venture to think is one of very great ecclesiastical and national moment and concern. For my own part, my mind is fully made up to side with the opponents of this measure, and I hope I shall be able to vindicate my position in doing so, by reference (1) to the Law of Moses, that is, to the Levitical precepts taken as part of the moral law, binding on Jews and Gentiles; (2) to the attitude of the Christian Church as regards this question down to the present time; and (3) to the importance of not relaxing the law as it now stands in regard to the best interests of our social life. I have a good deal of literature on this subject, both in favour of and against this measure, and if it had not been the case that I had at my hand the thoughts and views of so many others, I should probably not have thought of writing upon this matter, and not have ventured to
