• As a Christian you have no right to assume any other attitude than that of the Christian man or woman—pure, chaste, upright in character, worthy of the best, the promoter and protector of others' chastity.

• Courtship with curtains drawn, lights dimmed, in late hours of the night, especially with those of the opposite sex whose morals are questionable, should never be countenanced by Christian people. Such practices have been the means of ruining many people.

• When it comes to exclusive associations with one of the opposite sex of questionable morals, that is unthinkable for any pure-minded man or woman. "Evil communications corrupt good manners."

• There are those who from the standpoint of intelligence and virtue are in every way worthy of you: but because your standards of religion are different and your views of life and life plans are not the same as those of the other party, you are putting yourself in the way of temptation when you consider marriage with such persons.

• It is not treating the other party right if you keep exclusive company with him or her for any considerable length of time, unless you are seriously considering marriage.

• There is no scriptural "double standard" in morals. What is right for a man is right for a woman, and vice versa. Never treat any other man's sister in a different way from what you would have another man treat your sister, and never excuse or justify in your own life that which you would condemn in the life of one of the opposite sex. In all things, "Keep thyself pure."

The Betrothal

• A continual prayer for divine guidance and confidential relationship with your parents are two essentials for safety and best results.

• Be sure that you know your intended before you put to her the momentous question. Therefore be not hasty in your proposals.

• Never consider marriage with any one where you would have to violate Scripture to do so. Better remain single all your days than to lightly esteem God's Word and wisdom on a question so vital as this one.

• Courtship before the betrothal should not be too long. After you have convictions that marriage under the circumstances would be wise or otherwise, either put the question or quit the courtship. It is a matter that is too serious for either yourself or the other party to be wasting time, to say nothing about the serious misunderstandings and heartaches occasioned by breaking off courtships after one of the parties interested expected the courtship to culminate in marriage.

• When one desires to discontinue the courtship (before definite obligations are assumed) it should be made known to the other party directly interested in such a way as not to humiliate him or her. Affections are something too sacred to be trifled with. At all times be courteous, and use judgment.

• Remember that the betrothal is not marriage. "Keep thyself pure."

• Your pledge of hand and heart to one of the opposite sex is the most sacred of your promises.

• To break an engagement because, for a trivial or selfish reason you "change your mind," or because you see some one else that you like better, is evidence of fickle-mindedness or unworthiness of character that merits the contempt of all right-thinking people. Such a person is not worthy of any standing in either society or Church. Keep your promise sacred. Except in cases of pure deception or fraud, on the part of the other party to the engagement, or where the unwisdom of the engagement becomes so apparent that both parties to the agreement recognize it and freely release each other from further obligation, no one should ever think of discontinuing an engagement, any more than to violate or prove unfaithful to any other sacred promise. Should you find yourself betrothed to another contrary to Scripture, wait with the marriage till conditions are such that you can go on with the marriage without violating Scripture. Show yourself worthy of the best by being as good as your word.

• Courtship, after the betrothal, should not be delayed unduly. People who allow this matter to drag on for years, without a good reason for so doing, are disqualifying themselves for ideal life-companionship. Marriage is something serious as well as delightful, and for this reason should not be unduly delayed. Be deliberate but not dilatory.

The Ceremony

The ceremony should be in keeping with Gospel simplicity and piety. The idea that wedding ceremonies are either a mere compliance with the laws of the land or an occasion for festivities unbecoming a child of God was hatched out in the mind of the enemy of souls. If there ever is a time where I Cor. 10:31 has a practical place in the lives of Christian men and women it is on wedding occasions. Certainly wedding ceremonies should be looked upon as happy occasions, even if they do mean the giving up of old associations that new ones may be formed, but "fun and foolishness" are not a necessary part of the real enjoyment that should characterize marriages "in the Lord."