with his mother? Only during his father's life-time? May he marry his mother after his father's decease, and thus render sexual intercourse with her who bare him and brought him into the world lawful and honorable? Nature abhors the idea; the divine statute prohibits forever all such unnatural commerce between a parent and her child, as peremptorily when his father is dead, as while he is living. Is not the prohibition perpetual too in regard to a father's wife? in regard to an aunt, the wife of a father's brother? in regard to a son's wife? Can any form of marriage cover the iniquity of intercourse between such near relations? Is not sexual commerce forever forbidden between a man and such females, as well when they are widows, as while their husbands are living? Do not these statutes prohibit even the thought of such intimacy, under any circumstances?
8. The Puritan asks, Why the term marriage was not used, if the Lawgiver intended by these statutes to prohibit marriage? We promised an answer to his question. The preceding remarks will suggest one. Infinite Wisdom, designing by these statutes, to fix the mark of reprobation on
