Marriage #46
46. On the plurality of wives among Mohammedans
I spoke with Mohammedans about spiritual marriage, saying that it is a marriage of good and truth; that good loves truth and truth good like a married couple; and that these wish to be joined and bring forth goods and truths like daughters and sons, and as it were to procreate families. They understood this well, as also that conjugial love comes down from that spiritual origin, and that everything spiritual in man undergoes a change, so that it is scarcely recognisable, when it comes down to the natural; it can only be recognised by correspondences. From these facts it is plain that they, having several wives allowed by their religion, cannot have truly conjugial love. It was said that they are allowed several wives, that is, polygamy is permitted, because they live in hot climates and therefore are more heated with lust than those who live in cold climates. 1 Therefore if they were not permitted polygamy, more of them would rush into adultery than would Europeans, and thus act contrary to their religious tenets; and to act contrary to one's religious tenets is to profane what is sacred. It was shown further that all their love of marriage is lascivious, and so not spiritual; nor can it become spiritual unless they acknowledge the Lord.
Footnotes:
1. Two clauses have been inverted, with suppression of the word 'and' in order to make sense here. It is also possible that a word is missing from the text.
Psalms 148
1
Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: Praise him in the heights.
2
Praise ye him, all his angels: Praise ye him, all his hosts.
3
Praise ye him, sun and moon: Praise him, all ye stars of light.
4
Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
5
Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
6
He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
7
Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
8
Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
9
Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
10
Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
11
Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
12
Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
13
Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
14
He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. praise ye the LORD.
