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MISCELLANEOUS. 215
and modern, dissent. Not to go back to the reign of
universal polygamy, which is still everywhere practiced,
we quote two or three more modern instances. Lu
ther, the Reformer, says, " For my part, I can not con
demn the man who may wish to marry several wives,
and I do not think such plurality contrary to the Holy
Scriptures." our Accordingly, Christian missionaries
no longer attempt to enforce monogamy upon the con
verted heathen. Dr. Samuel Johnson, who is some
times quoted as a great Christian moralist, says, "A
husband's infidelity is nothing." Napoleon, in discuss
ing the civil code, said, "
Marriage
is not founded in
nature. The oriental family relation is entirely differ
ent from the occidental. The laws are made to conform
to customs, and everywhere customs vary."
The world is changing its ideas on these subjects.
There is an influx of light from the spiritual world, and
this light brings us knowledge, freedom, and purity.
Thousands of couples live together as friends, who once
believed themselves to be married—
giving each other
freedom and protection ; thousands more, caring less
for the conservative world, or more having violent re
pulsions, break the bonds and separate ; and divorces
are becoming more frequent and easier to procure.
There is even growing up a literature, made up of dis
cussions of this subject. The works of Swedenborg
on conjugal love, those of Fourier on social relations,
the writings of the disciples of St. Simon, of Owen,
Marv Wolstoncraft, her husband, Godwin, her son-in-
law, Shelley, the novels of George Sand, Eugene Sue,
etc, with their various views and presentations of social
discords, have awakened inquiry. One such divorce