Chapter 25: 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]

[1] Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:15; Matthew 19:5–6

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] Genesis 2:18
[3] Genesis 1:28
[4] 1 Corinthians 7:2, 9

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] Hebrews 13:4; 1 Timothy 4:3
[6] 1 Corinthians 7:39
[7] Nehemiah 13:25–27

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 Corinthians 5:1