Chapter 25 “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; Matt. 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 Lev. 18; 9 Mark 6:18; 1 Cor. 5:1