DEVARIM

Words [of Moses]

6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.

The law of the land forbids marriage with a deceased wife's sister, and we are commanded to be subject to the law of the land where it is not inconsistent with the law of God.

Consequently, it is a matter of duty for brethren to abstain from alliances of the character in question. But the divine marriage law allowed of such alliances, and some contend that the human law is in this particular against the divine law, and that therefore they are at liberty to disregard it. There seems enough force in this to call for mutual forbearance in the matter, leaving each to his own conscience.

Offenders are punished enough in the legal incapacities entailed. On this, brother Andrew, of London, observes: "Human laws may be divided into the following:—1 Those commanding acts about which the Scriptures say nothing. 2. Those forbidding actions, compliance with which does not involve the infraction of any Scriptural principle. 3. Those commanding or forbidding actions in contravention of Scriptural principles.

Of No. 1, vaccination is an illustration. If the law is put into operation, we must comply; but if dormant I suppose we are free to do or not to do; if we abstain, our attitude is negative: we commit no overt act.

Of No. 3, the law (now obsolete) requiring regular attendance at church is an illustration of the 'commanding section, and if brethren there prohibited meeting together, it would represent the 'forbidding' class. Such laws as these it is our duty to disobey.

No. 2 is represented by marriage with a deceased wife's sister. To comply with it does not bring anyone into antagonism with divine law; it simply constitutes a further restriction not imposed by the Bible. To violate the human law is an overt act which results in penalties. I am not aware that these include fine or imprisonment, but it is certain that any offspring are treated by the law as illegitimate."

The Christadelphian, Nov 1886