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V.

A vow, which is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone, is of the like nature with a promissory oath, and ought to be made with the like religious care, and to be performed with the like faithfulness."

n Psal. 76 11; Jer. 44: 25, 26; Psal. 50: 14, and 65: 1; Isa. 19 21; Eccl. 5: 4, 5, 6; Psal. 61 8, and 66: 13, 14.

VI.

Popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself."

o Matt. 19: 11, 12; 1 Cor. 7:2, 9; Eph. 4:28; 1 Peter, 4:2; 1 Cor. 7: 23.

CHAP. XXIV.

OF THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE.

I.

GOD the Supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates to be, under him, over the people for his own glory and the public good; and to this end hath armed them with the power of the sword, for

the defence and encouragement of them that do good, and for the punishment of evil-doers.a

a Rom. 13: 1 to 4; 1 Pet. 2: 13, 14.

II.

It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate when called thereunto: in the management whereof, as they ought, especially to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each commonwealth; so, for that end, they may lawfully now, under the New Testament, wage war upon just and necessary occasion.d

b Prov. 8: 15, 16; Rom. 13: 1, 2, 4. c Psal. 2: 10 to 12; 1 Tim. 2:3; Psal. 82:3, 4; 2 Sam. 23:3; 1 Peter, 2:13. d Luke, 3 14; Rom. 13:4; Matt. 89, 10; Acts, 10: 1, 2; Rev. 17: 14, 16.

III.

They who, upon pretence of Christian liberty, shall oppose any lawful power, or the lawful

exercise of it, resist the ordinance of God; and for their publishing of such opinions, or maintaining of such practices as are contrary to the light of nature, or to the known principles of Christianity, whether concerning faith, worship, or conversation; or to the power of godliness; or such erroneous opinions or practices, as either in their own nature, or in the manner of publishing or maintaining them, are destructive to the external peace or order which Christ hath established in the church; they may law

fully be called to an account, and proceeded against by the censures of the church, and by the power of the civil magistrate yet in such differences about the doctrines of the Gospel, or ways of the worship of God as may befall men exercising a good conscience, manifesting it in their conversation, and holding the foundation, and duly observing the rules of peace and order, there is no warrant for the magistrate to abridge them of their liberty.

IV.

It is the duty of the people to pray for magistrates, to honor their persons, to pay them tribute and other dues, to obey their lawful 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 and 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 heretics, or upon any other pretence what

soever.

1 Tim. 2: 12; 1 Pet. 2: 17; Rom. 13: 6, 7, and 13 : 5 Tit. 3: 1; 1 Pet. 2: 13, 14, 16; Rom. 13: 1; 1 Kings, 2: 35; Acts, 25 9, 10, 11; 2 Pet. 2: 1, 10, 11; Jude, 5: to 11; 2 Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13: 15, 16, 17.

CHAP. XXV.

OF MARRIAGE.

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. a

a Gen. 2: 24; Matt. 19 5, 6; Prov. 2: 17.

II.

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

d Gen. 2: 18. c Mal. 2: 15.

III.

b 1 Cor. 7:2, 9.

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 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 such as are wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresy."

e Heb. 13:4; 1 Tim. 4:3; 1 Cor. 7: 36, 37, 38; Gen. 24:57, 58. f1 Cor. 7:39. g Gen. 34: 14; Exod. 34:16; Deut. 73, 4; 1 Kings, 11:4; Neh. 13: 25, 26, 27; Mal. 2: 11, 12; 2 Cor. 6: 14.

h

IV.

Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity forbidden in the Word; nor can such incestuous marriage 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 Lev. 18: 1 Cor. 5: 1; Amos, 2: 7. i Mark, 6: 18; Lev. 18 24 to 29.

CHAP. XXVI.

OF THE CHURCH.

I.

THE Catholic or Universal Church which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ, the Head thereof, and the Spouse, the Body, the fullness of Him that filleth all and in all.a

a Eph. 1 10, 22, 23, and 5: 23, 27, 32; Col. 1: 18.

II.

The whole body of men throughout the world, professing the faith of the Gospel, and obedi

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