1. 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.a
a Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:15; Matthew 19:5,6
2. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife,b for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue,c and the preventing of uncleanness.d
b Genesis 2:18
c Genesis 1:28
d 1 Corinthians 7:2, 9
3. It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent;e yet it is the duty of Christians to marry in the Lord;f 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.g
e Hebrews 13:4; 1 Timothy 4:3
f 1 Corinthians 7:39
g Nehemiah 13:25-27
4. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity, forbidden in the Word;h 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.i
h Leviticus 18
i Mark 6:18; 1 Corinthians 5:1