CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION to the Essay

Page.

1

General Division of the Subject

Definition of the terms Adultery and Divorce

SECTION I.

Regulations of the MOSAIC LAW, and the Customs

of the Ancient Hebrews

....

State of that people, antecedent to the Law, in the

Patriarchal Ages

8

Mosaic Law.

1. In reference to Adultery:

Distinction between the Moral and the Judicial Law

The Prohibition of the Crime in the Decalogue

Definition and Derivation of the Term in the Original

Penalties attaching on this Crime

......

Modes of Punishment in use among the Jews

The Test of Adultery in the Waters of Jealousy

Particulars of this Test

The Punishment in later times

9

11

12

13

15

16

17

21

Alterations introduced by the Glosses of the Rabbies

ib.

2. The Hebrew Laws and Customs in reference to

Divorce :-

-

Divorce, not practised by the Patriarchs

in after ages, so multiplied as to become a

subject of reproof by the Prophets

The permission of Divorce by the Law

The Causes for it

Definition of the terms in the original

....

Page.

22

23

ib.

26

27

The two great divisions of sentiment on this point in the

Schools of the Rabbies, Hillel and Shammai

28

Other Laws of the Jews tended to render the Liberty

less frequent

36

Cases of the Levite, Samson, David, and Ezra, consi-

dered

37

SECTION III.

The Doctrines of the NEW TESTAMENT; the usages
of the Christians in the early ages of the Church,
and the Edict of the Christian Emperors:

-

The Sermon on the Mount contained the Saviour's

View of Adultery and Divorce

Effect of his Doctrine on the Mosaic Law

....

Page.

74

The conversation with the Pharisees as further ex-

planatory of the Saviour's Doctrine

Original Institution of Marriage referred to

Observations of Dr. Clarke on the word Husband,

....

77

78

בראשית and the term

......

78-80

....

78

80

on the word ανθρωπος

Explanation of the permission of the Mosaic Law

Result of these opinions, a permission of Divorce,
but a restriction of it to one cause; that cause

proved to be incontinence

From the terms employed

Impossible to mean simple fornication committed

before Matrimony

Also from the nature of the Crime

The opinions of the best writers, Selden, &c.

Various Versions cited

The Question, as to the Liberty of Re-marriage, fol-
lowing this Divorce, considered:

It was
so under the Jewish covenant, and no

change in this respect was intimated in the re-

stricting clauses of the New Testament

Division of sentiment on this subject between the

Catholic and the Protestant Churches

The former not agreed in their opinions

84

85

86

90

91

ib.

93

96

97 and 153

Argued further from the nature of the crime, and also

of the remedy

....

The equality of duties and advantages assigned to
both Sexes by the New Testament

The effect of reciprocity of crime considered

Opinions of various commentators on this part of the

subject

Page.

99

ib.

104

105

The Doctrine of the New Testament summed up in the

Speech of the Archbishop of Canterbury

110 and 111

St. Paul particularly, the others generally

Epistle to the Corinthians :-

113

Two cases stated by St. Paul;

1. Divorces for less causes than Adultery

114

These deprecated; but, if practised, confer no

Remarks on the opinions of the commentators on

this latter case

119