133 IV. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of confanguinity or affinity forbidden in the word h; nor can fuch incestuous marriages ever be made lawful by any law of man, or confent of parties, fo as thofe perfons may live together as man and wife i. The man may not marry any of his wife's kindred nearer in blood than he may of his own, nor the woman of her husband's kindred nearer in blood than of her own k. V. Adultery or fornication committed after a contract, being detected before marriage, giveth juft occafion to the innocent party to diffolve that contract 1. In the cafe of adultery after marriage, it is lawful for the innocent party to fue out a divorce m, and, after the divorce, to marry another, as if ther with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteoufnels? and what communion hath light with darkness? IV.h(Lev.18.chapter) Cor5.1. Itis reported commonly that there is fornication among you,andfuch fornication as is notfo much as named amongst the Gentiles, that one should have his fathers wife. Amos 2.7.That pant after theduft of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn afide the way of the meek: and a man, and his fatherwill go in unto the fame maid, to profane my holy name. i Mark 6.18. For John had faid unto Herod, it is not lawful for thee to have thy brothers wife. Lev.18.24. Defile not yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I call out before you. v. 25. And the land is defiled: therefore I do vifit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. v. 26. Ye fhall therefore keep my ftatutes and my judgments, and fhall not commit any of these abominations,neither any of your own nation, nor any ftranger that fcjourneth among you. v.27.(For all thefe abominations have the men of the land done,which were before you, and the the land is defiled.) v.28. Thatthe land fpue not you out alfo, when ye defile it, as it fpued out the nations that were before you. k Lev. 20.19. And thoufhalt not uncover the nakednefs of thy mothers fifter, nor of thy fathers fifter: for he uncovereth his near kin; they fhall bear their iniquity. v,20,Andifa man fhall lie with his uncles wife,he hath uncovered his uncles nakednefs; they fhall bear their fin, they fhall die childlefs. v. 21. And if a man fhall take his brothers wife,it is anunclean thing: he hath uncovered his brothersnakednels, they fhall be childlefs. V.1 Mat. 1.18. Now the birth of Jefus Chrift was on this wife ; When as his mother Mary was efpoufed to Jofeph, before they came together, the was found with child of the holy ghoft.v.19. Then Jofeph her hufband being a juft man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. v. 29. But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared untohimin a dream,faying, Jofeph,thou fon of David,fearnot to take unto thee Mary thy wife : for that which is conceived in her is of the holy Ghoft. m Mat.5. 31. It hath been said, 1.3 Who of chriftians to marry only in the Lord f, and therefore fuch as profels the true reformed religion, fhould not marry with infidels, papists or other idolaters, neither fhould fuch as are godly be unequally yoked,by marrying with fuch as are no toriously wicked in their life, or maintain damnable here* fies g. IV Mar I nourable in all, and the bed undefiled:but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 1 Tim. 4.3. forbidding to marry,& commanding to abitain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. Cor, 7.36. But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely towards his virgin, if the pafs the flower of her age, and need fo require, let him do what he will, he finneth not let them marry.". 37. Nevertheless, he that ftandeth ftedfaft in his heart, having no neceffity, but hath power over his own will, and hath fo decreed in his heart, that he will keep his virgin, doth well. v. 38. So, then he that giveth her inmarriage, doth well; but he that giveth hernot in marriage, doth better. Gen. 24. 57. And they faid, We will call the damfel, and enquire at her mouth. v. 56. And they called Rebekah, and faid unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? and fhe faid, I will go. f1 Cor. 7.39. The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if her busband be dead, fhe is at liberty to be married to whom he will; only in the Lord g Gen. 34. 14.And they faidunto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our fifter to one that is uncircumcifed for that were a reproach unto us. Exod. 34. 16.And thou take of their daughters unto thy lons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods,and make thy fons go a whoring after their gods. Deut. 7. 3. Neither fhalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou fhall not give unto his fon,nor hisdaughter fhalt thou take unto thy lon.. 4. For they will turn away thy fon from following me, that they may serve other gods: fo will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you. anddeftroy thee fuddenly, Kings 11.4. For it cameto pafs when Solomon wasold,that his wives turned away his heartafter other Gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father, Neh. 13. 25. And I contended with them, and curfed them, and imote certain of them, and pluckt off their hair, and madethem fwear by God, faying, Ye fhall not give your daugh ters unto their fons, nor taketheir daughters unto your fons, or for your felves, v. 26. Did not Solomon king of Ifrael fin by these things? Yet among manynations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God. and God made him king over all Ifrael. neiverthelefs,evenhim did outlandeifh women caufe to fin. v. 27. Shall we then hearken unto you to doall this greatevil, totranfgrefs against ourGod,inmarryingftrangewives? Mal. 2. 11. Judah hathdealttreacherously, and an abomination is committed in Ifrael,and in Jerufalem: for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord, which he loved,and hath married the daughter of a ftrange god. v. 12. The Lord will cut off the man that doth this: the mafter and the fcholar out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the Lordof hofts.2 Cor. 6.14. Be ye not unequally yoked toge ther IV. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of confanguinity or affinity forbidden in the word h; nor can fuch incestuous marriages ever be made lawful by any law of man, or consent of parties, fo as thofe perfons may live together as man and wife i. The man may not marry any of his wife's kindred nearer in blood than he may of his own, nor the woman of her husband's kindred nearer in blood than of her own k. V. Adultery or fornication committed after a contract, being detected before marriage, giveth juft occafion to the innocent party to diffolve that contract 1. In the cafe of adultery after marriage, it is lawful for the innocent party to fue out a divorce m, and, after the divorce, to marry another, as if ther with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteoufnels? and what communion hath light with darkness? IV.h(Lev,18.chapter) Cor5.1. Itis reported commonly that there is fornication among you,andfuch fornication as is notfo much as named amongst the Gentiles, that one should have his fathers wife. Amos 2.7.That pant after theduft of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn afide the way of the meek: and a man, and his father will go in unto the fame maid, to profane my holy name. i Mark 6.18. For John had faid unto Herod, it is not lawful for thee to have thy brothers wife. Lev.18.24. Defile not yourfelves in any of these things for in all these the nations are defiled which I calt out before you. ". 25. And the land is defiled: therefore I do vilit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itfelf vomiteth out her inhabitants. v. 26. Ye fhall therefore keep my ftatutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations,neither any of your own nation, nor any ftranger that fejourneth among you. v.27.(For all thefe abominations have the men of the land done,which were before you, and the the land is defiled.) v.28. Thatthe land fpue not you out alfo, when ye defile it, as it fpued out the nations that were before you. k Lev. 20.19.And thoufhalt not uncover the nakednefs of thy mothers fifter, nor of thy fathers fifter: for he uncovereth his near kin; they fhall bear their iniquity. v.20.Andif a man fhall lie with his uncles wife,he hath uncovered his uncles nakednefs; they fhall bear their fin, they fhall die childlefs. V. 21. And if a man shall take his brotherswife,it is anunclean thing: he hath uncovered his brothersnakednels, they fhall be childlefs. V.1 Mat. 1.18. Now the birth of Jefus Chrift was on this wife; When as his mother Mary was efpoufed to Jofeph, before they came together, the was found with child of the holy ghoft.v.19. Then Jofeph her hufband being a juft man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. v. 29. But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared untohimin a dream, faying, Jofeph,thou fon of David, fearnot to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the holy Ghost. m Mat. 5. 31. It hath been faid, 1.3 Who the offending party were dead n. VI. Although the corruption of man be fuch as is apt to study arguments, unduly to put asunder those whom God hath joined together in marriage; yet nothing but adultery, or fuch wilful desertion as can no way be remedied by the church or civil magiftrate, is caufe fufficient of diffolving the bond of marriageo wherein a public and orderly course of proceeding is to be obferved; and the perfons concerned in it, not left to their own wills and discretion in their own case p. . CHAP. XXV. Of the church. HE catholic or univerfal church which is invisible, The catholic confifts of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or fhall be gathered into one, under Christ the n Mat. 19.9.And Ifay unto you, Whofoever fhall put away his wife except it be for fornication, and fhall marry another, committeth adultery and whofoever marrieth her which is put away, doth commit adultery. Rom. 7. 2, For the woman which hath an husband is boundby the law toherhusband fo longas he liveth ;but ifthe hus band be dead, he is loofed from the law of her husband. . 3. So then, if while her husband liveth, The be married to another man, the thall be called an adultrefs: but if her husband be dead, the is free from that law; fo that heis no adufterefs, though the be married to another man. VI. o Mat. 19. 8. He faith unto them, Mofes, becaufe of the hard head nefs of your hearts,fuffered you to put away your wives,but from the beginning it was not lo. v. 9. (See letter n.)i Cor.7.15.But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a fifter is not under bondange in fuch cafes: but God hath called us to peace. Mat.19.6. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh hat therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. p Deut.24. 1. When a man hath taken a wife and married her, and it come to pafs that the find no favou in his eyes, because he hath found fome uncleannefs in her: then let him write her a bill of di vorcement and give it in her hand, and fend her out of his house.v.2. Andwhenfhe is departed out of his house, the may go,and be another man's wife. . 3. And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand,and sendeth her out of his houfe; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which fent her away may not take her a V. head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all a. II. The visible church which is alfo catholic or univerfal under the gofpel (not confined to one nation, as before under the law) confifts of all thofe throughout the world. that profefs the true religion b, together with their children c; and is the kingdom of the Lord Jefus gain to be his wife, after that she is defiled: for that is abomination before the Lord, and thou fhalt not cause the land to fin, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. 1. a Eph.. 10. That in the difpenfation, of the fulness of times, he mightgather together in one all things in Chrift, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him. . 22. And bath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church. v. 23. Which is his body, the fulness of him that fillethallinall.Eph5.23. For the hufband is the head of the wife, even as Chrift is the head of the church; and he is theSavour of the body. v. 27. That he might prefent it to himself a glorious church, not having fpot or wrinkle, or any fuch thing; but that it fhould be holy, and without blemish. 32. This is a great mystery but I fpeak concerning Chrift andthe church. Col. 1. 18. Andhe isthe headofthe body, the church: who is the beginning, the first born from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. : II. b 1 Cor. 1.2. Unto thechurch ofGod which isat Corinth, to them that are fanctified in Chrift Jefus, called to be faints, with all that in every place call up to the name of Jefus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. I Cor. 12.12.For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body,being many, are onebody: fo alfo is Chrift. v. 13.For by Christ, one Spirit, are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bound or free; and have been all made to drink into one fpirit. Pfal. 2. 8. Ask of me, and I fhall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermoft parts of theearth for thy poffeffion. Rev. 7. 9 After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds and people, and tongues.ftood before the throne, and before the lamb, clothed with white robes and palms in their hands. Rom. 15.9. And that the gentilesmight glorify God for his mercy, as it is written, For this caufe I will confels to thee among the Gentiles, & fing unto thy name. v. 10 And again he faith, rejoice ye Gentiles with his people. v. 11. And again, praife the Lordall yeGentiles, and laud him all ye people.v. 12. And again; Efaias faith, There fhall be a root of Jefle, and he that thall rife up to reign over the Gentiles in him fhall the Gentiles trust. CI Cor. 7. 34 Fortheunbelieving husband is fanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is fanctified by the husband: elfe were your children unclean;butnow are they holy.Acts2.39. For the promife is unto you, and to yourchildren, and to all that are afar of, even as many as the Lord our God fhall call. Ezek. 16. 20. Moreover thou hast taken thy fons and thy daughters, whom thou haft born, unto me, and thefe haft thou facrificed unto them to bedevoured: is 1 4 this |