upon cuS'Om, education or profession. The mind revolts at the transaction, as contrary to all order in society ; and pronounces it to be indecent and fihhy — infamous and wicked- — an offence which cruelly invades the sacred recesses of families and, endangers the purity of the most protected members. It is a crime not only punishable in civil society ; but a sin which will bring down the judgments of God upon any land, where it is tolerated and prac- tised — that very sin which served to fill the cup of the Amorites, and render them obnoxious to exter- mination.^
-' " Incest is llie first da?s of those siiis wLich make a laud mourn, unci bring the wrath of God on the children of disobedience. — Whether it be lawful for a roan to marry his wife's sister, is doubtless a question of great magnitude, of high and general concern.— A question in which e.e:ry person is deeply ialeregted, lest by such a marriage he should involve liiaiself in great guilt, live a course of gross wickedness, and bring on hinaseif and others the vengeance of Almighty God. Families are no less interested than individuals ; because if the marriage of such a relative be incest, they become, by this meanp, guilty and exposed to the curse of God. Ninisters of the gospel are deeply concerned in it, as they are set to keep the doors of God's house, and to make a difference between the clean and the unclean, the holy and the profane. If the marriage connection with a wife's sister be inceft, they are not only under indispensable obligations to avoid it themselves; but o bear a united, firm and decided testimony against it.— The Churches of Christ are greatly concerned in the question, lest they become contaminated by such 'ncestuous persons, and bring en themselves the divine abhorrence and curse. Pastors and churches are called immediately to act relative to them. It highly concerns them to know and do their duty. As communities are composed of individuals and families, so, as they are corrupted and become exposed to divine judgments, the great body becomes corrupt and exposed to the judg
