CHAP. XXV.
Of Marriage.
1. Marriage is to be between one Man and
one Woman; (a) neither is
it lawful for any man to have more then one Wife, nor for any Woman
to have more then one Husband at the same time.
a Gen. 2.24. Mal. 2 15. Mat. 19.5,6.
2. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help (b)
of Husband and Wife, (c)
for the increase of Man-kind, with a legitimate issue, and for (d)
preventing of uncleanness.
b Gen. 2.18.
3. It is lawful for (e)
all sorts of people to Marry, who are able with judgment to give
their consent; yet it is the duty of Christians (f)
to marry in the Lord, and therefore such as profess the true Religion,
should not Marry with Infidels, (g)
or Idolaters; neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying
with such as are wicked, in their life, or maintain damnable Heresie.
e Heb. 13,4. 1 Tim. 4,3.
4. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees
of consanguinity, (h)
or Affinity forbidden in the word;
nor can such incestuous Marriage ever be made lawful, by any law
of Man or consent of parties, (i)
so as those persons may live together as Man and Wife.
h Levit. 18.
