Chapter 26
Of Marriage
- Marriage is to be between one man and one woman; neither is it lawful for any man to
have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the same time.1
- Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife,2 for
the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue,3 and for preventing of
uncleanness.4
- It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their
consent;5 yet it is the duty of Christians to marry in the Lord;6 and therefore such as profess the true religion, should not marry with
infidels, or idolators; neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying
with such as are wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresy.7
- Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity, forbidden in
the Word;8 nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful, by
any law of man or consent of parties, so as those persons may live together as man and
wife.9
Footnotes:
1. Ge 2:24; Mal 2:15; Mt 19:5-6.
2. Ge 2:18.
3. Ge 1:28.
4. 1Co 7:2,9.
5. Heb 13:4; 1Ti 4:3.
6. 1Co 7:39.
7. Ne 13:25-27.
8. Lev 18:1-30.
9. Mk 6:18; 1Co 5:1.