Pécuchet stopped him: “In which Gospel? In the Apostolic times they respected it so little that Tertullian compares it to adultery.”
“Oh! upon my word!”
“Yes, certainly! and it is not a sacrament. A sign is necessary for a sacrament. Show me the sign in marriage.”
In vain did the curé reply that it represented the union of God with the Church.
“You do not understand Christianity either! And the law——”
“The law preserves the stamp of Christianity,” said M. de Faverges. “Without that, it would permit polygamy.”
A voice rejoined: “Where would be the harm?”
It was Bouvard, half hidden by a curtain.
“You might have many wives, like the Patriarchs, the Mormons, the Mussulmans, and nevertheless be an honest man.”
“Never!” exclaimed the priest; “honesty consists in rendering what is due. We owe homage to God. So he who is not a Christian is not honest.”