We read in Scripture of one of the best of men having been guilty of this crime, but God suffered him not to go unpunished, for king David very much displeased the Lord for the treatment of Uriah the Hittite for the sake of Bathsheba, and besides the crime of adultery he was hypocritical and perfidious and ungrateful, and for this very purpose it is mentioned so very strong in holy writ, to prevent in future, the very best of men in every other respect from committing this crime. David became penitent and sorrowful, for having displeased the Lord, for as his crime was of the highest nature, it called aloud for his severe vengeance, and he punished him in the most feeling manner, for the little child which he had born unto him in which his soul delighted, the Lord struck with sickness and it died: this is scripture evidence of temporal punishment, but what makes this crime the greater, it is generally attended with hypocrisy, for the very person that performs it pretends to be the most sincere friend, to him, in whose heart he pierces the most sharp pointed dart, and secretly bereaves him of that peace of mind the world can never restore, and that confidence the greatest of all happiness, which he vainly thought no time or circumstances could ever remove; remember this, O ye dealers in iniquity, it was not an open enemy that had done me this dishonor, but it was even thou my companion, mine own familiar friend. Men are exhorted in scripture to love their wives, as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for her, and to forsake father and mother, and cleave to their wives; as for the female part of the creation, let them remember, a virtuous woman is a crown of glory to her husband, but she that maketh him ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. Be wise now therefore, O ye sons and daughters of Abraham and attend to the proverbs of Solomon, the Lord giveth wisdom and discretion unto thee, to preserve thee, from the ways of the evil man, whose ways are darkness and sorrow, and from the strange woman, which flattereth with her words, and forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God; whose house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead, none that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the path of life. Marriage is reduced by our Saviour to its original institution, as it was in the beginning, before the passions of men had broken through the rules, which right reason prescribed, and by polygamy had brought poverty and discord into houses, and many troubles and wickedness into the world, to which had been added another evil, that of frequent divorces. The Gospel requires of all those who enter into this holy state, that they pass their days together in sacred love, fidelity, and friendship, and in a joint care of their families.