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The Philadelphia Confession, 1742
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.
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