If plural marriage be unlawful, then is the whole plan of salvation, through the house of Israel, a failure, and the entire fabric of Christianity without foundation. God said to Abraham, "I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, as for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations;" _Gen_. 17. 1-4. Here we are informed that God talked with Abraham, told him to be perfect, bestowed upon him the blessings of a numerous posterity, and, as a sequence, future power and glory. If polygamy was contrary to his law, it is remarkable that God should have condescended to talk with and greatly bless a man who had, but a short time before, taken a second wife, while the first was living; a fact of which we are informed in the second and third verses of the previous chapter. If this was criminal, Sarai, the mother of all Israel, was involved in the transgression, for she gave Hagar to her husband for a wife; _Gen_. 16. 3. The Lord told Joseph, the Seer, that he commanded, "And Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to wife;" _Doc. & Cov_. 132. 34. This is also the testimony of Josephus, the Jewish historian; _Ant_. B. 1. C. 10. When Hagar was in distress, on account of difficulty with her mistress, the Lord did not treat her as a profane, cast off woman, but sent an angel to counsel and comfort her, by assuring her that her posterity should not be numbered for multitude; _Gen_. 16. 8-10. The Lord further promised to bless Ishmael, the fruit of this polygamic marriage, and said, "I will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget and I will make him a great nation;" 17. 20. We find that this great and good man, Abraham, whom the Lord especially favored, had concubines: for "Unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son;" 25. 6. Jacob, the grandson and heir to all the blessings of Abraham, was a polygamist. He served seven years for Rachel the daughter of Laban, but being deceived, and Leah given him instead, he served other seven years for Rachel. Each of these wives had a handmaid, which they gave to their husband for wives; _Gen_. 29. 18-35. _Chap_. 30. 3-12. Moses was conversant with the Lord, and was the great lawgiver of Israel; in his laws especial provision was made for polygamous children; _Deut_. 21. 15-17. In them polygamy is not mentioned as one of the crimes for which penalties were provided. Elkanah was a polygamist, yet his son, Samuel, was a great prophet, and judge in Israel. He was born, and lived under the special favor of God.