(Kersten, The Heidelberg Catechism in 52 Sermons, Vol.2, Part 15) The Sanctity of Marriage Lord's Day 41 Psalter No. 236 st. 1, 2 Read Ephesians 5:15-33 Psalter No. 322 st. 1-4 Psalter No. 384 st. 5 Psalter No. 389 st. 1, 5 Beloved, When John baptized Jesus, his disciples came to him and said, "Rabbi, He that was with Thee beyond Jordan, to whom Thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to Him." Apparently John's disciples were not pleased that Jesus made more disciples than their master. But John, instead of nourishing the thought they advanced, showed them that Christ must have the preeminence, saying, "I am not the Christ, but I am sent before Him. He that has the bride is the bridegroom, and I am the friend of the bridegroom. This my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease." In these words, John refers to his ministry, and the ministry of all God's servants, who are as friends of the Bridegroom. Their work is to bring the bride to the Bridegroom, the church to Christ. They must not seek their own interests. They must stand aside. He must increase, but they must decrease. Christ is preeminent; so that God's chosen church may be placed in true communion with Christ by faith and by that faith find all things in Him. There is a tender relationship between Christ and His church which is often spoken of in God's Word as a marriage relationship. In John 3 Christ is called the Bridegroom Who has His bride; Who accepts His bride, Who delivers His church from under the law and gives Himself in the greatness and fulness of His mediatorial ministration, thus fulfilling all the service of the shadows and all that the prophets had spoken of Him. He is the heavenly Bridegroom to Whom God, the Father, gave and entrusted His church before the foundation of the world. That Bridegroom had to pay the dowry, and He did so in His bitter suffering and death. Thereby He paid the debt of His church, took away her iniquity and brought her back into communion with His Father. He takes His church as His bride in order to exercise communion with her, and the church exercises communion with the Bridegroom of her soul by faith. Thus Christ is all and in all. The apostle Paul tells us that the fellowship between Christ and His chosen church serves as an example for us, even in this life, particularly in married life, in order that, as Christ loved His church, we, too, shall be bound together by the bonds of matrimony, and the husband shall be the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church. How much value is put upon marriage when we see it in this light! How firmly does the Lord demand sanctity in marriage, according to the law of the ten commandments of which we shall now consider the seventh, according to the explanation given us in the forty-first Lord's Day. Lord's Day 41 Q. 108. What does the seventh commandment teach us? A. That all uncleanness is accursed of God; and that therefore we must with all our hearts detest the same, and live chastely and temperately, whether in holy wedlock, or in single life. Q. 109. Does God forbid in this commandment, only adultery and such like gross sins? A. Since both our body and soul are temples of the Holy Ghost, He commands us to preserve them pure and holy; therefore He forbids all unchaste actions, gestures, words, thoughts, desires, and whatever can entice men thereto. The law of matrimony must be kept holy I. In honour of God's ordinance, II. By reason of a holy aversion to sin, III. Because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I In the first place marriage is an institution of God. It is not an invention of man which, if it fails to satisfy, may be broken. A marriage may not be broken, because it is a divine institution, and not a human agreement. In the beginning God gave the woman to the man as a help says God's Word, according to the description of Moses. The Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and God took one of his ribs and made a woman out of it. The woman was created as a creature of God in the state of rectitude in God's image, after His likeness. The Word of God describes the woman in these terms so that she shall not be despised nor disregarded. It is an exposure of wicked Lamech where we read that he terrified both his wives by saying he had slain a man for his wounding and a young man for his hurt. The Word of the Lord teaches us that the woman was made of Adam's rib, formed as it were from under his heart, so that the man shall not despise or disregard her. The woman is a creature of God. In the second place the Word teaches us that the Lord Himself brought the woman to Adam. The first marriage was performed in Paradise. God Himself performed it. He not only created the woman, but with His own hand He brought her to Adam. Marriage therefore is an institution of creation, an institution from Paradise, when there was no sin as yet. Now because of sin, we are subject to the judgment of God in every aspect of our lives. Nevertheless, in spite of the judgment which we have brought upon ourselves, God wants us to honour His own institutions. The Form for the Confirmation of Marriage states plainly that God, as with His hand, brings unto every man his wife, sometimes by very wonderful and remarkable ways. It is true for everyone that the Lord still does what He did in Paradise, and brings to every man his own wife. Therefore we must notice very particularly the leadings of God in marriages. While we are young, we must seek earnestly that the Lord may lead and guide us in declaring His goodness and mercy, so that we may not enter the marriage state carelessly, and unrestrained, yield ourselves to the lusts of the flesh. We may indeed seek matrimony, but we should be concerned whether we can discern God's hand in it. How much concern did Abraham have to find a wife for Isaac, not among the daughters of the land, however high their station in life might be; but he sought a woman who feared God, so that with Isaac she might walk in the ways of the Lord. He made Eliezer swear that he would not take one of the daughters of the Canaanites for a wife for his son, as he would not have his son return there. The Lord Himself showed Eliezer the way, and caused him to understand how that certain woman was destined to be Isaac's wife, and that she would dwell in the house of Isaac. It is still true, therefore, that the Lord brings the man his wife as it were with His own hand. For this reason we must respect and honour marriage so that we do not yield to the notions of our wicked hearts, but preserve those bonds all the days of our lives. Moreover, the Lord Jesus honored it highly with His divine presence in Cana of Galilee when He performed His first miracle, changing water into wine. He did so in order that the bridegroom might honour His Father's institution of marriage. Is this not a clear token, in spite of sin, in spite of the fact that we have subjected ourselves throughout our lives to the judgment of God, the Lord still maintains the sanctity of His own institution of marriage and crowns it with His favour and high approbation? He does so for the purpose of building a generation of men, wherein He shall glorify His sovereign good pleasure by justice and grace. The angels were created by the Lord in large numbers in a moment, but in the beginning God made but two people on earth. He brought the woman to the man and instituted marriage, to bring forth a generation in which His divine attributes would shine forever, a generation of people created for eternity. God has given marriage a value which holds for the whole life of man on earth, for family, civil and political life. He especially gave to marriage a value for eternity. Scripture tells us that man has both soul and body, a soul which can not be killed, even though the body can. But the body shall arise from the dead, to be reunited with the soul eternally. God's institution, which He had given in Paradise and which He maintained after the fall is valid for every man, whether He reckons with it or not, whether he considers it or not; but in that institution God executes His providence, His direction and His government, to fulfill His eternal counsel. How ought we then to oppose all those who are against matrimony! In olden times there were such, and there are still people who despise marriage. But marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled. We may not neglect it, even if we fear adversity and cares and worry how we shall get through the world. As the Lord leads, we ought to enter matrimony when the Lord awakens a desire for it in the heart, so that man and wife may live together as one, bound by that bond of love which the Lord Himself still gives in natural kite as a fruit of His common grace. God the Father maintains all things in the way of His divine providence, and therein are His acts of preservation, cooperation and government. We conclude then that God the Father, in His common grace and by His work of providence, has laid natural love in the hearts of men. He awakens natural love in the hearts of persons whom He makes one in the closest bond of matrimony. For shall not they two be one flesh? The divine blessing rests upon the wife who knows how to do her work. Just read what is written about the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. Contrary to all who despise marriage as an institution of God; contrary to those who seek to withdraw themselves from the bonds of matrimony; contrary to those who wish to live in iniquity without restraint and claim that free marriage consists of companionship; God in His Word shows us that marriage is His institution. If Christ has shown that He was willing to sanctify marriage; if marriage was sought by the saints in the Bible, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Peter (hence both in the old and the new dispensation); if the godly have sought and honored it; moreover if the Lord has given His approval of it, then we are told that the Lord will bless marriage if we walk in His ways. Despising of marriage leads to the undermining of a nation; the entire nation weakens and sinks away. Why must we keep the law of matrimony? In the first place because marriage as an institution of God must be sanctified and honored, and because we must submit ourselves to that which God has given for the maintenance of the human race. In the second place the law of matrimony must be kept holy II By reason of a holy aversion to sin. This is our second main thought. Read what the Catechism says about this. The seventh commandment teaches us that all uncleanness is accursed of God, therefore we must with all our hearts detest the same, and live chastely and temperately. When we undertake to speak about sins in relation to this commandment, only a few of which can be mentioned, we speak in the first place of uncleanness. I have already stated that matrimony is an institution of God for our entire life. It may not be terminated except by death, or adultery, in which case the marriage is broken by sin. Adultery, as God's Word teaches us, is the only cause for which marriage may be dissolved and a new marriage made. Although the civil authorities think differently, God's Word says there is only one sin for which a marriage may be dissolved: the sin of adultery or fornication, by which contact is had with others. Thereby the close tie of marriage is broken. The Lord's displeasure rests upon such persons and He will show them His holy indignation. But then there is no obligation to obtain divorce. If the marriage is dissolved because of adultery, it does not mean that person may not marry again. It is indeed written, "Whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery", but this word does not apply here. In the days in which the Lord spoke these words, conditions were such that a man often sent away a wife because he hated her. The law of Moses says, "Then let him write her a bill of divorcement", and do not merely put her out. Moses permitted them to give a bill of divorcement, but from the beginning it was not so." Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fortification, and shall marry another, committeth adultery; and whose marrieth her which is put away does commit adultery." The Lord means: If you take a woman to wife, you can not at will give her a divorce, but you are bound to her for life. Breaking the bond of marriage so easily is an evil, and ignoring it to enter into another marriage may not be done. Let us give this our attention. Remember that we may never seek divorce except for the reason God has given us, and then I must repeat what was said before, that there is no obligation to obtain divorce, but in this case it is permitted. This means that if a man and wife can forgive and again accept each other, it is not forbidden to prolong the marriage; in fact, the Lord may even grant a return of marital bliss. But if one or the other cannot overlook the injury, then God's Word permits divorce and a right given to sue for it. When anyone, contrary to God's institution, obtains divorce for any other reason, he may not enter into another marriage. In this connection God's Word speaks of "her that is put away", who must leave though there is no ground for divorce. Let us take this matter seriously. May the Lord prevent us from ever coming to such a separation. Yet if there is a falling into adultery and continuing in it, this is the only reason for dissolving the marriage bond. At this point we must also consider incest. In Leviticus 18 and 20, we are given the rules governing forbidden marriages. As we read these chapters to which our fathers adhered strictly, we must remember one thing, namely, that what is written there belongs to the ceremonial laws, and all that is commanded there contains a standard of conduct which still holds true and renders a given sinner guilty, but the rules are not applicable in every case. For instance, the church formerly ordained on the basis of Leviticus 20 that the marriage of a man to his deceased wife's sister is forbidden because that they shall be childless. However, this judgment does not hold true. We have many examples to the contrary, as they do have well-born children. If the Lord Himself does not literally bring to pass what is written in Leviticus 20, it is a proof among other things that this rule does not apply to the time of the New Testament. Therefore the church has made other regulations in this matter, regulations which state the relationships which are too close for marriage. We must always use caution, even though certain close relationships are permitted. For example, think of marriage between cousins. We should not easily consent to it, lest we contribute to the weakening of the generation. Let us remember that the Lord keeps a watchful eye upon the marriage covenant. I ask your attention for one more matter, that of mixed marriages. We find in Scripture the example of Esau, who took a wife of the daughters of the land. This was a source of much grief to Isaac and Rebekah. Jacob went out to find a wife from among a family that feared the Lord. Sometimes our young people act so inconsiderately that you know nothing of their plans until they have been carried out. They seek no advice and say not a word, but proceed without the marriage being confirmed in church. They marry without notifying the Consistory of their intentions. Can they expect the Lord's blessing upon such a course? They keep company with persons who do not live under the truth and show no concern for God's Word. What is to be expected from such marriages? Some marry Roman Catholics, which causes much grief, and ends in separation. Let us avoid mixed marriages. Read your church manual and see how our fathers sought to prevent it. I will go a step further. Let us avoid marriages with people of other denominations, because such marriages cause so much quarreling and trouble in families. Be sure to lay a good foundation at the outset and say firmly: "I want to remain under the truth where it is heard, and I will never forsake it." I am saying these things from experience. It happens occasionally in the congregations that one marries a person of a different faith. It causes untold grief and one thing leads to another. There is much quarreling in such families, because one will not give in to the other. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers", but considering the cases I mention here, be not yoked together with anyone of another denomination. We have also the sin of adultery which is committed when married persons have intercourse with others. Thus David committed adultery with Bathsheba. What sorrows it bore for David! First he tried to shield himself by placing Uriah in the front line of battle so that he fell and died. God saw it and charged David with it, then visited him with much grief. Think of the adultery committed by Herod the Great. John the Baptist admonished him because he had his brother's wife. God's own institution was involved. If marriage were an institution of man, the violation would not be so serious, but a divine institution was attacked. Therefore we must enter into marriage in order to lead a married life. The Apostle Paul says in I. Corinthians 7:5: "Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer." Some have given a pious tint to this defrauding, but it is a false colour for if you bring in arguments that are contrary to the ordinance of God, they are false, and you can expect no blessing in this way. Others defraud one another because they want no cares, troubles or burdens. It is an evil that is creeping into our congregations. I have my fears when I see how many children are baptized in a year. When we see the ratio between the number baptized and the size of the congregation, then we must take these things to heart. Our women ought to be concerned about it. Withdrawal has often been the beginning of deep misery, when the close life of marriage was marred and the responsibilities of marriage were neglected. Is it not written, "And they shall be one flesh?" The eyes of the Lord are upon us and He knows our most secret thoughts, also when we are alone and in our inner chamber. Let us not heap sin upon sin. There is much more that the Lord brings to our attention in this Catechism, based on the seventh commandment which we shall touch upon briefly. All uncleanness is accursed of God. God forbids not only adultery, but also all unchaste actions. Read Deuteronomy 25 and note what judgment God brought upon touching another. Further, unchaste gestures are forbidden, wanton eyes, tripping feet, of which Scripture speaks. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but let your words be few and seasoned with salt, lest they stir up lusts in our heart. Finally the instructor says that the seventh commandment forbids whatever can entice man to uncleanness. In this commandment God forbids all that which we meditate upon in our hearts and in which we secretly find delight. In this connection think also of the books that are read. There is a popular kind of books that are called love stories. Do our boys also read them? Let us also watch our clothing. Notice how the styles of our day prescribe clothing that arouses evil lusts in our hearts. Compare what is written about Jezebel. Let us wear simple clothing and remember that God gave us clothing to cover ourselves. Let us take heed lest we follow the world in hair styles. Let us not be the first to follow a fashion. Let our heart be set upon being adorned with the garments of righteousness and holiness and humility. Oh, that this garment were the ornament of our women. Let us not walk in the way of vain amusements as in theaters and dance halls. Why are they so dangerous? Because our hearts are evil and so little is needed to bring us upon the wrong way. There is an aversion against sinning which the Lord lays in the heart. We would say, there is still a natural aversion to sin, sometimes even a natural fear of impurity, and we must seek to nurture it. There is also a holy abhorrence of sin, which flows from the fact that The Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts. This is the third point for which I ask your attention. III In question 109 of our Catechism it says that our body and soul are temples of the Holy Ghost, so He commands us to preserve both of them pure and holy. We read in Exodus 29 where the Lord says, "I will dwell among the children of Israel." The Lord still dwells in the congregation when His Word has dominion and His testimony is bound upon the conscience so that we hate and flee from sin. When God had His dwelling among the people of Israel, were the people then not greatly obliged to walk according to God's commandments? Has He not said that it would be a double judgment upon Israel if they forsook His ways? Let us not think it a small matter that the Lord still dwells among us. In a very special sense it is true of God's children that they are temples of the Holy Ghost. The Lord dwells in their hearts to their salvation. In regeneration, God the Holy Spirit enters into their hearts and renews them, drawing them out of sin and iniquity. I am here speaking of sanctification, based upon Exodus 29, for certainly it is God Who sanctifies His people and works in their hearts a loathing of all that displeases Him. From this flows the upright desire of heart to live perfectly before God and to destroy sin, root and branch. It is the work of God to sanctify men, and by way of sanctification to wash and cleanse them from iniquity. If God's work is lacking in our soul and the Lord has not taken up His abode in us, then there cannot be a true zeal to keep God's commandments; we transgress against them in words, in thoughts and in deeds. There is a passive and an active sanctification. The passive sanctification is that in which we are acted upon and in which God glorified His work in the heart of sinners. What flows out of passive sanctification? The active sanctification in the exercises of faith by the people of the Lord. The will being renewed becomes itself active. The Lord has no passive people who say, "The Lord has to do it", but they have exercises and are zealous to keep God's commandments. The will thus renewed longs to live and walk according to God's commandments. God is the renewer of the will, but in dependence on the ministrations of the Holy Spirit, God's people receive exercises in active sanctification and in the keeping of God's commandments. What do they experience then in their own heart? That all evil dwells in it and frequently to their sorrow, that the old man still has very much power. The old man is the corruption which has spread itself over the whole man. That corruption is not taken away from them, for sanctification in this life is only in part and the old man rules whenever the Lord withholds a little of His protecting grace. How many examples do we have in Scripture, which show that God's children sometimes plunge into the worst evil and sin. In that way they must learn to be exercised continually to seek shelter under the Lord's wings, and to be preserved by Him, so they may not be given over to the fitness of their evil hearts and that the flesh may not have dominion over them. When in our Catechism it is written that we must preserve our body and soul as temples of the Holy Ghost, the reference is to the exercises of God's people, so that they may withdraw themselves from all that which might stir up sinful lusts, and walk conscientiously according to the commandments of the Lord, continually employing Christ as Prophet, Priest and King. Thus they learn to need Him for instruction, for guidance and as a continual propitiation for their sins, so that He may increase in stature more and more in their hearts. They continually sigh to be made temples of the Holy Spirit in which God Himself has His abode; for when they forsake His commandments, God hides His face from His people, and visits them with chastisements. "But if my children e'er forsake My law appointed, then truly will I chastise them with rods for all their provocation." Therefore the constant prayer of God's upright people is what we shall now sing from Psalm 139: "Search me, 0 God, and know my heart, Try me, my thoughts to know; 0 lead me, if in sin I stray, In paths of life to go." Psalter No. 384 st. 5 Do you not perceive how profitable it is that we examine the law of the Lord together year after year, and examine ourselves thereby? It is profitable for old and young, for the families and for so ciety, for parents and their children. The whole world is concerned about the rising generation, and especially in our days the church is giving all its attention to the youth. Also in our congregations we hear the cry, "0, our young people, our young people!" There is one thing I could wish, namely, that the labor bestowed upon the youth would be directed into the right channels and that the direction would be tested by the Word of God. I should like to impress this upon your hearts, young people, that you try these directions by the old writers. I commend them to you with so much liberty because they agree with God's Word. If it were not so, I would say so, but I want to preserve our young people. I should like to advise, "Boys, come together." I have no objection to young people's societies, if they are under the direction of the consistory. There should be much more interest shown in the old truth, but many would rather roam the streets. Let the young people's societies grow, but only in searching the truth, and in approving the old doctrine, so that it may not be taken away from us. Be grounded in the fundamental doctrines of the truth, and never forget that man by nature is dead in sins and trespasses, and that he must be born again. It may be that God will use it as a means to dwell in your hearts so that you may walk in the ordinances of the Lord. This means for all our boys and girls in general, that they must walk cautiously. Do not visit the places of vanity. Snares are laid there. Do not say, "What is wrong with this or that performance at the theater? It was very instructive." Rather notice the company you are in. One thing leads to another. Do not expose yourselves to the slippery places of vanity. Consider what happens there. You can see what the fruits are each time you hear young people confessing their sin before the congregation. The crown is taken from their heads, for the rest of their lives. Let us beware of sin, for it causes so much pain, grief and sorrow. What is more, our secret sins are recorded before God. When you are seeking the way of marriage, first bow your knees and say, "Lord, although I am unconverted, grant that I may walk in Thy ways, so that I shall not regret it later." Sometimes you can tell your troubles to someone whom you trust, but it is better to bring all your problems to God's throne of grace. Many married persons have a secret sorrow. When the marriage is planned and your heart is engaged, do not give it to another in the false hope that it will end well, for it will not end well. Let us be honest before God and man. Confess honestly to yourself how matters stand when you are going to be married. Test yourself whether there is true love in your heart, for only the tie of true love can help carry the burdens of an entire life together. Do not think the path of married life is strewn with roses. The form for marriage states so truthfully that married persons, by reason of sin, are subject to many troubles and afflictions. Adversities are sure to come, through sickness and cares, troubles and sorrows. But if husband and wife are one, they can bear the circumstance together. When children are born, they will not say, "It is too much, the burden is too heavy." Remember that children are a heritage of the Lord, and they who practice birth control bring God's judgment upon themselves. Let our women walk carefully. Let them learn what God's Word teaches them, namely, that a meek and quiet spirit is of great price in the sight of God. Oh, may arguments and trouble depart from married life. If we are willing to submit to the truth and yield to the Word of God, peace will come into our homes. Do you know of a sweeter peace than that which God gives in our families between father, mother and children? I am not now speaking about the people of the world, but about our congregations. We sometimes learn from outside sources that children cannot get along with each other. When that point is reached, the parents suffer much pain and grief and no remedy can be found. What is the reason? It is because we do not want to esteem others better than ourselves and especially that we do not want to submit to the Word of God. Be persuaded of this, parents. Lead your children in such paths that they learn to live in harmony with each other. Keep your children from mixed marriages. Let not the desire to become great in the world be the motive for your so-called good marriage. Let it be our concern that our children walk in the ways of the Lord. God cares for our marriage, because it is His institution, and therefore He will hear our petitions. "In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." But the most important thing is, as the Catechism says, that both our body and soul are temples of he Holy Ghost. Indeed, in a broader sense, it is true that God dwells in the midst of the congregation and of the visible church, where His Word and sacraments are administered according to the institution of Christ, and where discipline is exercised. With some liberty I may say, although there are many shortcomings, God still dwells among us. Therefore, children, while you are in your youth, take counsel with your parents, with your minister, with your consistory, that they instruct you. Let the Word of God make an impression upon your consciences, that you may turn away from sin. May the Lord protect you on all sides. If you are married, do not lightly seek a divorce. It is better to tell your troubles to the Lord. May He grant you the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in your heart. Then God will sanctify you from all sin and enable you to walk carefully before Him. If we can look the whole world in the face, there are in our hearts the thoughts of evil, and especially of this sin against the seventh commandment. In this we are guilty, every one of us. What is it we need? To be washed and cleansed in the blood of Christ. It is this that God works in the hearts of His people. He Himself says in His Word, "I am the Lord that; does sanctify you." The Lord Himself draws His people out of the servitude of sin, and delivers them from unrighteousness. Thus a sincere desire is wrought in them to keep all God's commandments. They are placed as it were, in the presence of Him Who knows the heart. This causes them to confess their transgressions with sincere sorrow, and truly to strive for the mortification of sin in the active exercise of sanctification, so they may keep themselves holy in both soul and body. In their heart is that holy race after perfection, if that they may apprehend, says the apostle Paul, that for which also they are apprehended of Christ. But even the holiest men while in this life, have only a small beginning of this perfect obedience. Therefore God's people bow in deep humility before God because of all the unholy affections and workings in their hearts, with the sincere desire that body and soul be made the temples of the Holy Ghost. This abasement keeps God's people from self-exaltation, but enables them to find a foundation upon which God's law is perfectly glorified, namely in Christ. Perhaps you have thought at times, "How can such a one as Manasseh, or the thief on the cross, or even David go to heaven? This shows that you do not know your own heart. By grace God's children learn to know themselves by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, Whose work it is to convince of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. In His strength the flesh is crucified and slain, so that they may walk uprightly in God's commandments and rejoice in God. May we in all the grief and trouble that comes upon us and in all cares that beset us, lose ourselves more in the Lord, and entrust ourselves more into His fatherly hand. May He by the work of His Spirit, write His law in our hearts as with a pen of iron, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." This is to say, you must live holy and mortify your members which are upon the earth, putting away your fleshly desires, and seeking that spiritual marriage which Christ performs with His church. He is the Bridegroom and His church is the bride. In this marriage, this holy union of faith with Him, God's children receive the remission of sin, the purification of their hearts and deliverance out of troubles; but also the preparation for perfect glory in that place where they neither marry nor are given in marriage, and where they only shall come who are bought by the blood of Christ. There they shall be as the angels of God to glorify and praise the only Triune God and the Lamb eternally. Amen. Kersten, Heidelberg Catechism in 52 Sermons, Vol.2 (continued in part 16...) ---------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/epl-02: krhc2-15.txt .