Chapter XXVOf Marriage

The 1689 text, original spelling

About this text

Text public domain · U.S.

The 1689 text with original spelling and punctuation, copied and reformatted from CCEL’s microfilm transcription of the 1677 edition. Source: Bible Researcher transcription.

The source text was published in 1677/1689; the electronic transcription declares the confession text public domain. Rights evidence. Verified 2026-07-14.

Marriage is to be between one Man and one Woman;^a neither is it lawful for any man to have more then one Wife, nor for any Woman to have more then one Husband at the same time.

Scripture proofs

aGen. 2.24. Mal. 2 15. Mat. 19.5,6.

Marriage was ordained for the mutual help^b of Husband and Wife,^c for the increase of Man-kind, with a legitimate issue, and for^d preventing of uncleanness.

bGen. 2.18.

cGen 1.28.

d1 Cor. 7 2,9.

It is lawful for^e all sorts of people to Marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent; yet it is the duty of Christians^f to marry in the Lord, and therefore such as profess the true Religion, should not Marry with Infidels,^g or Idolaters; neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are wicked, in their life, or maintain damnable Heresie.

eHeb. 13,4. 1 Tim. 4,3.

f1 Cor. 7.39.

gNeh. 13 25,26,27.

Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity,^h or Affinity forbidden in the word; nor can such incestuous Marriage ever be made lawful, by any law of Man or consent of parties,ⁱ so as those persons may live together as Man and Wife.

hLevit. 18.

iMar. 6.18. 1 Cor. 5.1.