OF MARRIAGE

 

Paragraph 1. 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

1 Gen. 2:24; Mal. 2:15; Matthew 19:5,6

 

Paragraph 2. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife,2 for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue,3 and the preventing of uncleanness.4

2 Gen. 2:18

3 Gen. 1:28

4 1 Cor. 7:2,9

 

Paragraph 3. 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 idolaters; neither should such as are godly, be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresy.7

5 Heb. 13:4; 1 Tim. 4:3

6 1 Cor. 7:39

7 Neh. 13:25-27

 

Paragraph 4. 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

8 Leviticus 18

9 Mark 6:18; 1 Cor. 5:1

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