Paragraph 26.3

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^a to Marry in the Lord; and therefore such as profess the true Religion, should not Marry with Infidels,^b 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.^c

1. a. Hebrews 13:4; 1 Timothy 4:3

   Hebrews 13:4

   ^13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

   ^13:4 Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

   1 Timothy 4:3

   ^4:3 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.

   ^4:3 They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

2. b. 1 Corinthians 7:39

   1 Corinthians 7:39

   ^7:39 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.

   ^7:39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

3. c. Nehemiah 13:25–27

   Nehemiah 13:25–27

   ^13:25 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. ^13:26 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. ^13:27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

   ^13:25 I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, "You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves! ^13:26 Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel-yet foreign women drew him into sin. ^13:27 Must we now hear that you too are doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?"

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible