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synods, to be present at them, and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be according to the mind of God.

IV. It is the duty of people to pray for magistrates," to honour their persons, to pay them tribute and other dues, to obey their lawful

tify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem; Ver. 28. And hath extended mercy unto me before the king and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes: and I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me; and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me. Lev. xxiv. 16. And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death. Deut. xiii. 5. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in: so shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. Ver. 6. If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers. Ver. 12. If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the Lord thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying, &c. 2 Kings xviii. 4. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehustan. [1 Chron. xiii. 1. to the 9th verse. 2 Kings xxiv. 1. to the 26th verse.] 2 Chron. xxxiv. 33. And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the Lord their God. And all his days they departed not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers. 2 Chron. xv. 12. And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all

their heart, and with all their soul; Ver. 13. That whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.

8 2 Chron. xix. 8. Moreover, in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. Ver. 9. And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. Ver. 10. And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the Lord, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass. Ver. 11. And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good. [2 Chron. Chapters xxix. and xxx.] Matt. ii. 4. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. Ver. 5. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet.

IV. h 1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; Ver. 2. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

11 Pet. ii. 17. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

* Rom. xiii. 6. For, for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Ver. 7. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; cus

commands, and to be subject to their authority for conscience' sake. Infidelity, or difference in religion, doth not make void the magistrate's just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to him: from which ecclesiastical persons are not exempted;" much less hath the Pope any power or jurisdiction over them in their dominions, or over any of their people; and least of all to deprive them of their dominions or lives, if he shall judge them to be hereticks, or upon any other pretence whatsoever."

tom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Rom. xiii. 5. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. Tit. iii. 1. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work.

m 1 Pet. ii. 13. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Ver. 14. Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. Ver. 16. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. Ver. 10. But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government: presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities: Ver. 11. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. Jude, ver. 8. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Ver. 9. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. Ver. 10. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Ver. 11. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

a Rom. xiii. 1. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 1 Kings ii. 35. And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host; and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar. Acts xxv. 9. But Festus, • 2 Thess. ii. 4. Who opposeth and willing to do the Jews a pleasure, an- exalteth himself above all that is swered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go called God, or that is worshipped; so up to Jerusalem, and there be judged that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of these things before me? Ver. 10. of God, shewing himself that he is Then said Paul, I stand at Cesar's God. Rev. xiii. 15. And he had power judgment-seat, where I ought to be to give life unto the image of the judged to the Jews have I done no beast, that the image of the beast wrong, as thou very well knowest. should both speak, and cause that as Ver. 11. For if I be an offender, or many as would not worship the image have committed any thing worthy of of the beast should be killed. Ver. death, I refuse not to die: but if there 16. And he caused all, both small and be none of these things whereof these great, rich and poor, free and bond. accuse me, no man may deliver me to receive a mark in their right hand, unto them. I appeal unto Cesar. 2 Pet. or in their foreheads: Ver. 17. And ii. 1. But there were false prophets that no man might buy or sell, save also among the people, even as there he that had the mark, or the name shall be false teachers among you, of the beast, or the number of his who privily shall bring in damnable name.

CHAP. XXIV.—Of Marriage and Divorce.

I. 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.

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II. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife;b for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and of the church with an holy seed; and for preventing of uncleanness.

III. It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry who are able with judgment to give their consent: yet it is the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord. And therefore such as profess the true reformed religion should not marry with infidels, Papists, or other idolaters: neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are notoriously wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresies.

I. Gen. ii. 24. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh. Matt. xix. 5. And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife and they twain shall be one flesh. Ver. 6. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Prov. ii. 17. Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

II. Gen. ii. 18. And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Mal. ii. 15. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the Spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

d1 Cor. vii. 2. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Ver. 9. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

III. Heb. xiii. 4. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 1 Tim. iv. 3. Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 1 Cor. vii. 36. But if any man think that he behaveth himself un

comely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not; let them marry. Ver. 37. Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. Ver. 38. So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage, doeth better. Gen. xxiv. 57. And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth. Ver. 58. And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

11 Cor. vii. 39. The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

8 Gen. xxxiv. 14. And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us. Exod. xxxiv. 16. And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods. Deut. vii. 3. Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. Ver. 4. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods; so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. 1

IV. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity forbidden in the word; 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. 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.

V. Adultery or fornication committed after a contract, being detected before marriage, giveth just occasion to the innocent party to dissolve that contract. In the case of adultery after marriage, it is

Kings xi. 4. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. Neh. xiii. 25. And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. Ver. 26. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. Ver. 27. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? Mal. ii. 11. Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. Ver. 12. The Lord will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the Lord of hosts. 2 Cor. vi. 14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

IV. [Lev. Chapter xviii.] 1 Cor. v. 1. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. Amos ii. 7. That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man

and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name. 1 Mark vi. 18. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. Lev. xviii. 24. Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the na tions are defiled which I cast out before you. Ver. 25. And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. Ver. 26. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you; Ver. 27. (For all these abominations have the men of the land done which were before you, and the land is defiled;) Ver. 28. That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.

* Lev. xx. 19. And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister, nor of thy father's sister; for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity. Ver. 20. And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless. Ver. 21. And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing; he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness: they shall be childless.

V. Matt. i. 18. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Ver. 19. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. Ver. 20. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the

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lawful for the innocent party to sue out a divorce, and, after the divorce, to marry another, as if the offending party were dead."

VI. Although the corruption of man be such as is apt to study arguments, unduly to put asunder those whom God hath joined together in marriage; yet nothing but adultery, or such wilful desertion as can no way be remedied by the church or civil magistrate, is cause sufficient of dissolving the bond of marriage: wherein a publick and orderly course of proceeding is to be observed, and the persons concerned in it not left to their own wills and discretion in their own case.P

I.

CHAP. XXV.-Of the Church.

1. THE on univf the elect that have been, are, or shall be

HE catholick or universal church, which is invisible, consists of

gathered into one, under Christ the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."

Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Matt. v. 31. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: Ver. 32. But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

n Matt. xix. 9. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery; and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. Rom. vii. 2. For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth: but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. Ver. 3. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another

man.

VI. Matt. xix. 8. He saith unto them, Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. Ver. 9. [See letter 1 Cor. vii. 15. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart.

A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. Matt. xix. 6. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

P Deut. xxiv. 1. When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her; then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. Ver. 2. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. Ver. 3. And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Ver. 4. Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the Lord: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

I. Eph. i. 10. That, in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him. Ver. 22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Ver. 23. Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Eph. v. 23. For

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