MARRIAGE BY CONTRACT. 469

in the sight of God; and it was a great neglect that it was not
done.

But I thought to have gotten off with my young priest by tell-
ing him that all that part was done when I was not here; and they
had lived so many years with them now, that if it was an adultery,
it was past remedy, they could do nothing in it now.

“ Sir,” says he, “asking your pardon for such freedom, you
are right in this, that it being done in your absence, you could not
be charged with that part of the crime. But, I beseech you, flatter
not yourself that you are not therefore under an obligation to do
your utmost now to put an end to it. How can you think but
that, let the time past lie on whom it will, all the guilt for the
future will lie entirely upon you? Because it is certainly in your
power now to put an end to it, and in nobody’s power but yours.”

I was so dull still that I did not take him right ; but I imagined
that by putting an end to it he meant that I should part them,
and not suffer them to live together any longer. And I said to
him, “TI could not do this by any means, for that it would put the
whole island into confusion.” He seemed surprised that I should
so far mistake him. “No, sir,” says he, “Edo not mean that you -
should now separate them, but legally and effectually marry them
now. And as, sir, my way of marrying them may not be so easy to
reconcile them to, though it will be as effectual, even by your own
laws, so your way may be as well before God, and as valid among
men; I mean by a written contract, signed by both man and
woman, and by all the witnesses present, which all the laws of
Europe would decree to be valid.”

I was amazed to see so much true piety and so much sincerity
of zeal, besides the unusual impartiality in his discourse as to his
own party or church, and such true warmth for the preserving
people that he had no knowledge of, or relation to; I say, for pre-
serving them from transgressing the laws of God—the like of
which I had indeed not met with anywhere. But recollecting
what he had said of marrying them by a written contract, which I
knew would stand too, I returned it back upon him, and told him
I granted all that he had said to be just, and on his part very kind;
that I would discourse with the men upon the point now, when I