Human Law Not the Measure of Christian Judgment; Marriage With a Deceased Wife's Sister

The recklessness with which these cases have been dealt with is frightful, and their bearing on other brethren. The basing the decision on the law of the land is alike folly, and the relinquishment of their position as Christians. The practical question of continuing fellowship with England has already been raised abroad as to this question.
March 10th..
Human Law Not the Measure of Christian Judgment; Marriage With a Deceased Wife's Sister
I think the passage should be borne in mind, " What God hath joined together let not man put asunder." A suggestion was made to me which I think well worthy of consideration, that where there exists on the consciences of brethren a doubt as to the present fact of their being man and wife before God, but have been married and such in their own thought, they should come before the assembly and declare that they hold themselves such before God, and have ever done so and beg the assembly to take knowledge of and recognize their declaration. They would thereafter be married before God at any rate; supposing, of course, that there is nothing wrong in it before Him - that it is not a divinely forbidden case. This would make the consciences of all clear. The law, of course, leaves them necessarily where they were.