tion. We have said, that the above Christian
conjugial principle perishes by polygamical adultery: we thereby mean,
that with the Christian polygamist it is closed and intercepted; but
still it is capable of being revived in his posterity, as is the case
with the likeness of a grandfather or a great-grandfather returning in a
grandson or a great-grandson. Hence, that conjugial principle is called
the most precious jewel of the Christian life, and (see above, n. 457,
458,) the storehouse of human life, and the reservoir of the Christian
religion. That that conjugial principle is destroyed with the Christian
who practises polygamical adultery, is manifest from this consideration;
that he cannot like a Mahometan polygamist, love a concubine and a wife
equally; but so far as he loves a concubine, or is warm towards her, so
far he does not love his wife, but is cold towards her; and, what is yet
more detestable, so far he also in heart acknowledges the Lord only as a
natural man, and the son of Mary, and not at the same time as the Son of
God, and likewise so far he makes light of religion. It is, however,
well to be noted, that this is the case with those who add a concubine
to a wife, and connect themselves actually with each; but it is not at
all the case with those, who from legitimate, just, and truly excusatory
causes, separate themselves, and keep apart from a wife as to actual
love, and have a woman in keeping. We now proceed to treat of this kind
of concubinage.

467. V. CONCUBINAGE APART FROM A WIFE, WHEN IT IS ENGAGED IN FROM CAUSES
LEGITIMATE, JUST, AND TRULY EXCUSATORY, IS NOT UNLAWFUL. What causes we
mean by legitimate, what by just, and what by truly excusatory, shall be
shewn in their order: the bare mention of the causes is here premised,
that this concubinage, which we are about to treat of, may be
distinguished from that which we have previously described. (See note to
No. 450, and the Preliminary note.)

468. VI. THE LEGITIMATE CAUSES OF THIS CONCUBINAGE ARE THE LEGITIMATE
CAUSES OF DIVORCE, WHILE THE WIFE IS NEVERTHELESS RETAINED AT HOME. By
divorce is meant the annulling of the conjugial covenant, and thence an
entire separation, and after this a full liberty to marry another wife.
The one only cause of this total separation or divorce, is adultery,
according to the Lord's precept, Matt. xix. 9. To the same cause are to
be referred manifest obscenities, which bid defiance to the restraints
of modesty,