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 the 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 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

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