The Quarterly Review Volume 102 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1857 edition. Excerpt: ...sanctions, we can look into what we call the law of nature as into a dictionary, which will yield to us, when asked, a certain, and clear, and safe response. The law of nature, that is, its perpetual and universal law, does not, as we know, prohibit much that we now justly repel as incest. The law of nature does not prohibit polygamy or concubinage, or they would not have been permitted to the patriarchs. The law of nature fixes no particular limit to divorce; and we may be travelling towards the time when it will be demanded and obtained for many causes, none of which are forbidden by the law of nature: for sterility; for sensual offences other than adultery; for attempts on life and other cruelty and violence; for crime; for lengthened absence; for lunacy and idiocy; for contagious or incurable disease: lastly, for that which Scripture seems to place first, for change of religion. We might even add to the dismal catalogue. If we desire to shut up these sources of progressive innovation, it is not the law of nature which will stand us in stead. The truth is, that our conception of the law of nature itself is, in the main, formed by Christian traditions, habits, and ideas; and that, as we unbind and let down our standard of Christian law, our standard of the natural law will spontaneously sink in proportion. London, 1815, Hatchard., ot We shall conclude by the brief mention of two other points. One of them is the momentous character of this change as regards woman. One of the noblest social achievements of the Gospel has been to elevate the ' ministering angel' of the world to a position of perfect equality with man in all that relates to the essential prerogatives of personal and spiritual being. It is the most splendid example, without...