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the death of his wife before marrying the other, if he elects to do so, and he has the means. Divorce is not permissible (c.f. Gen. 3. 12; Mark 10. 11 & 12; 1 Cor. 7. 39 & etc.) He has no law to encourage prostitution. All women are Wives. No "women of the under world."
The difference between the two is, while the wives of the Englishman are disallowed to live together, as was usual with the wives of many godly men we read of in the Bible, the wives of the Native are permitted to live together.
Jacob (Israel) married four wives together and none of them was his Concubine; he remained their husband, even as Christ is the Bridegroom, the Shepherd of his Flock. His flock comprises many folds—many Churches.
When we read of the genealogy of Jesus the Christ and when we read: "And I heard the number of them which were sealed; and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel" (Rev. 7.4.) We must also remember that plural marriage is righteousness. The question: "Is it better to marry than to burn?" is clearly answered by St. Paul (in 1 Cor. 7. 2. i.e. Let every man have his own wife or wives!)
Marriage is no sin; "it is honourable in all." The nearer a nations laws about marriage approach to the law of God the higher has the moral tone of that nation always proved to be.
Claims of marriages celebrated in the House and in the Church
In the Native Custom, after the consent of the daughter's parent has been obtained and the dowry paid, the bride is blessed by her parents before taken to her husband's house on the day fixed for Igbeyawo. The Church of Ethiopia honours marriage celebration with Christian rites performed in the house of the Bride's parent.
