Divorce
by Ellen White
I saw that Sister Johnson as yet has no right to marry another man, but if she or any
other woman should obtain a divorce legally on the ground that her husband was guilty of
adultery, then she is free to be married to whom she chooses. 17MR 156
God gave only one cause why a wife should leave her husband, or the husband leave his
wife, which was adultery. Let this ground be prayerfully considered. Marriage was from the
creation, constituted by God, a divine ordinance. The marriage institution was made in
Eden. The Sabbath of the fourth commandment was instituted in Eden, when the foundations
of the world were laid, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God
shouted for joy. Then let this, God's institution of marriage, stand before you as firm as
the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. [ Letter 8, 1888 ], pp. 1, 2. 1MR 160
In regard to the marriage of your daughter with A_____, I see where you are troubled.
But the marriage took place with your consent, and your daughter, knowing all about him,
accepted him as her husband, and now I can see no reason why you should carry any burden
over this matter. Your daughter loves A_____, and it may be that this marriage is in the
order of God in order that both A_____ and your daughter may have a richer Christian
experience, and be built up where they are deficient. Your daughter has pledged herself to
A_____ in marriage, and to break her marriage vows would be far from right. She cannot now
disannul her obligations to him. . . . I had a personal knowledge of his former relations
with his first wife B_____. A_____ loved B_____ far too well; for she was not worthy of
his regard. He did all in his power to help her, and sought in every possible way to
retain her as his wife. He could not have done more than he did do. I pleaded with her,
and tried to show her the inconsistency of her course, and begged her not to obtain a
divorce; but she was determined and wilful and stubborn, and would have her own way. While
she lived with him, she sought to secure all the money possible from him, but she would
not treat him kindly as a wife should treat her husband. 1MR 162
While Jesus is teaching, there are pleasure-boats upon the water, and it is evident to
all that the idlers who occupy them are disreputable characters. The listening people
expect Jesus to severely denounce this class, but are surprised when he declares: "Ye
have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say
unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with
her already in his heart." Those who have looked upon the guilty characters who lead
lives of sensual dissipation as sinners above all others, are astonished to hear Jesus
assert that those who cherish lascivious thoughts are as guilty at heart as the shameless
violators of the seventh commandment. Jesus condemned the custom then existing of a man
putting away his wife for trivial offences. This practice led to great wretchedness and
crime. Jesus strikes at the primary cause of the laxness with which the marriage relation
was held, when he condemns the unholy passions which find the marriage institution a
barrier to the gratification of their lust. Christ would have the marriage relation hedged
about with judicial restrictions, so that there could be no legal separation between
husband and wife, save for the cause of adultery. 2SP 221
Your ideas in regard to the marriage relation have been erroneous. Nothing but the
violation of the marriage bed can either break or annul the marriage vow. We are living in
perilous times, when there is no assurance in anything save in firm, unwavering faith in
Jesus Christ. There is no heart that may not be estranged from God through the devices of
Satan, if one does not watch unto prayer. AH 341
I saw that Sister _____, as yet, has no right to marry another man, but if she, or any
other woman, should obtain a divorce legally on the ground that her husband was guilty of
adultery, then she is free to be married to whom she chooses. [ Ms 2, 1863 ], p. 4.
("Testimony to Monterey Church," June 6, 1863.) AH 344
I have received a letter from your husband. I would say that there is only one thing
for which a husband may lawfully separate from his wife or a wife from her husband, and
that is adultery. AH 345
But, if they will not do as they should, and if the innocent have forfeited the legal
right to a divorce, by living with the guilty after his guilt is known, we do not see that
sin rests upon the innocent in remaining, and her moral right in departing seems
questionable, if her health and life be not greatly endangered in so remaining. AH 347
Among the Jews a man was permitted to put away his wife for the most trivial offences,
and the woman was then at liberty to marry again. This practice led to great wretchedness
and sin. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus declared plainly that there could be no
dissolution of the marriage tie, except for unfaithfulness to the marriage vow.
"Everyone," He said, "that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of
fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away
committeth adultery." R.V. MB 63
In regard to the case of the injured sister, A.G., we would say in reply to the
questions of_____that it is a feature in the cases of most who have been overtaken in sin,
as her husband has, that they have no real sense of their villainy. Some, however, do and
are restored to the church, but not till they have merited the confidence of the people of
God by unqualified confessions and a period of sincere repentance. This case presents
difficulties not found in some, and we would add only the following:
1. In cases of the violation of the seventh commandment where the guilty party does not
manifest true repentance, if the injured party can obtain a divorce without making their
own cases and that of their children, if they have them, worse by so doing, they should be
free.
2. If they would be liable to place themselves and their children in worse condition by
a divorce, we know of no scripture that would make the innocent party guilty by remaining.
3. Time and labour and prayer and patience and faith and a godly life might work a
reform. To live with one who has broken the marriage vows and is covered all over with the
disgrace and shame of guilty love, and realises it not, is an eating canker to the soul;
and yet a divorce is a lifelong, heartfelt sore. God pity the innocent party! Marriage
should be considered well before contracted.
4. Why! oh, why! will men and women who might be respectable and good and reach heaven
at last sell themselves to the devil so cheap, wound their bosom friends, disgrace their
families, bring a reproach upon the cause, and go to hell at last? God have mercy! Why
will not those who are overtaken in crime manifest repentance proportionate to the
enormity of their crime and fly to Christ for mercy and heal, as far as possible, the
wounds they have made? RH MAR.24,1868
My heart is sick when I see the loose way that the marriage vows are held. We are
nearing the judgement. I ask you to consider carefully, candidly, your position. There is,
perhaps, upon more thorough acquaintance, a dislike of your husband's ways and manners.
Will not many people find the same, after the marriage novelty has passed? But when you
made your vow before God and holy angels, you knew you were not perfect and your husband
was not perfect; but this is no excuse for breaking your marriage vow. There is a need of
training your mind and heart that you shall bear with one another, to be kind to one
another, and not to allow distrust and hatred to come in. TSB 55
Now, I tell you that you cannot break your marriage vow and be guiltless before God.
Unite your interest with your husband. Love him and bear with him and work with him. Bid
the evil advisers depart. The case is between you and your husband and your God. It is a
pride of heart that shuts your eyes that you cannot and do not discover the justice and
righteousness in the case of fidelity to your husband. Adhere faithfully to your marriage
vows because you are upright of heart, and will you regret this keeping of your vows when
you shall be clothed in the garments of Christ's righteousness? TSB 56
A woman may be legally divorced from her husband by the laws of the land and yet not
divorced in the sight of God and according to the higher law. There is only one sin, which
is adultery, which can place the husband or wife in a position where they can be free from
the marriage vow in the sight of God. Although the laws of the land may grant a divorce,
yet they are husband and wife still in the Bible light, according to the laws of God. TSB
78
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