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TO ,TAMES LAWRENCE, ESQ. 69
foremothers, before the introduction of popecraft
and priest-craft.—" Sigma " asks, " why
marriage is not put on the same footing with
every other regulation for the well-being of
society 1 " Were he to put twenty " why's,"
he would, in return, have as many " wherefore's."
If the ceremony consisted in, " wilt
thou have me to be thy husband," and " thou
me to be thy wife," with a " yes " or " amen,"
the marriage, according to the usage in the
good primitive patriarchal times, ay, and by
the law of this land, would bind the parties,
man and wife, as effectual as Pope Innocent's
rhodomontade. But then the man that makes
a merchandise of heaven—that sells even to
his prayers and blessings,—would, Hke Demetrius,
plead for the workmen who made silver
models for Diana's temple. How—
"Money, being the common scale
Of things by measure, weight, and tale.
In all the affairs of church and state,
Is both the balance and the weight."