What is required in the seventh commandment?

1. What is [chastity]?

It is an abhorrence of all uncleanness, whether in the body, or in the mind and affections.

2. What doth this commandment require with reference to such chastity?

[The preservation] of it, both in ourselves, and in our neighbours.

3. What is the best means for preserving our own and our neighbour’s chastity?

The nourishing in our minds and consciences a continual regard, reverence, and awe of the divine Majesty, and a fear of displeasing him.

4. What influence will this have upon the preservation of chastity?

It will make us boldly resist all assaults or attacks that may be made upon it; as in the instance of Joseph, when sollicited by his master’s wife to lie with her, “he refused; and said,—How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

5. Wherein are we to preserve [our own and our neighbour’s chastity]?

[In heart, speech, and behaviour.]

6. How ought we [in heart] to preserve our own chastity?

By resisting the very first motions of lust in the soul; Proverbs 4:23 by repelling all wanton imaginations; Matthew 5:28 and by essaying both these in the way of praying to God, that he would turn away our hearts and eyes from beholding vanity. Psalm 119:37

7. How ought we to preserve our [neighbour’s chastity] in our heart?

Not only by an ardent wishing the preservation thereof, but by loving one another with a pure heart fervently.

8. How ought we to preserve our own and our neighbour’s chastity in our [speech]?

By letting “no corrupt communication proceed out of our mouth, but that which is good, to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers,”

9. How should we do this in our [behaviour]?

By such an uniform modesty in our conduct and deportment, as may evidence that every one of us doth possess his vessel [that is, his body], in sanctification and honour.

10. Why should we be so careful to preserve our chastity?

Because we should study to have our bodies to be the temples of the Holy Ghost, and therefore should keep them free from these pollutions which are so provoking to a holy God.

11. What is the ordinary mean of divine appointment for the preservation of chastity?

Lawful wedlock, or marriage, “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.”

12. When was marriage first instituted?

Before the fall, in paradise.

13. For what end was it instituted?

“For the mutual help of husband and wife; Genesis 2:18 for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and of the church with a holy seed; Malachi 2:15 and for preventing uncleanness.” 1 Corinthians 7:2 [Confession of faith, chap. xxiv. § 2.]

14. What is necessary to constitute marriage?

The voluntary and mutual consent of both parties.

15. Who may lawfully marry?

“All sorts of people who are able, with judgment, to give their consent,” “Marriage is honourable in all.” [Confession of faith, chap. xxiv. § 3.]

16. What is the duty of Christians with reference to marriage?

It is to marry only in the Lord.

17. What is the native import of marrying only in the Lord?

It plainly imports, that “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.” [Ibid. with the scripture proofs.]

18. What is an incestuous marriage?

It is that which is within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity forbidden in the word.

19. What is the meaning of the words consanguinity and affinity?

CONSANGUINITY is a relation by blood, being betwixt persons descended from the same family: AFFINITY is an alliance by marriage, between persons who were not blood-relations before.

20. What is the general rule for preventing incestuous marriages?

“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.” [Ibidem, § 4.]

21. Is it proper to call marriage a HOLY estate?

No; because they who are without the visible church, such as, Heathens, Turks, and Jews, may marry, as well as the professed members thereof.

22. Was marriage instituted to “signify the mystical union that is between Christ and his church,” as the book of common prayer affirms?

No; because this borders too near upon making marriage a sacrament, as the Papists do; in as much as an outward visible sign, of divine institution, and a spiritual benefit signified thereby, would make it partake of the nature of a sacrament.

23. Doth not the apostle make it a significant sign, when he says, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church, Eph. v. 25.?

He exhorts husbands to have such a love to their wives, as may bear a faint resemblance, in some respects, to the love of Christ; but does not make the one a sign significant of the other.

24. Is not marriage called a great mystery, vers. 32.?

It is not marriage that is called a great mystery, but the union that is between Christ and the members of his mystical body; as will appear by reading the whole verse; “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning CHRIST and the CHURCH.”