Sermons of Robert Murray MCheyne 13. 'Time is Short'

Extract

“But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away” 1 Cor. 7:29-31.
In this chapter the apostle is discoursing concerning marriage. The mind of God upon this subject seems to be:

(1). That in ordinary times marriage is honourable in all, provided it be in the Lord. There are some who seem to imagine that there is peculiar holiness about an unmarried life; but this seems quite contrary to the Word of God. In the sinless world before man fell, God said: “It is not good for man to be alone;” and the closest walker with God in Old Testament times was a married man: “Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.”

(2). That in a time of distress and trouble to the Church it is better not to marry: “I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress.” (Verse 26.) When the ark of God is in danger, as at present in our Church, it seems the mind of the Spirit, that all who can should keep themselves as much as possible disentangled from earthly engagements. When the wife of Phinehas heard that the ark of God was taken, she travailed in birth, and died, calling her child Ichabod — The glory is departed. So, brethren, it does not become those who love Zion to be marrying and giving in marriage when the ark of God is in danger.

(3). That even in such times it is lawful to marry: “But and …