be our guide; or that the Old Testament is not to be held binding as to the question. He accepts the Bible as the judge — the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. He further believes that Scripture teaches that there is such a thing as Incest; that God has given a law of Incest, forbidding marriage in certain relations; that in Leviticus xviii. chiefly this law is found; and that this law is of permanent obligation, binding on Christians.
On this understanding we propose to consider the marriage of a man with his deceased wife's sister, in connexion with the standards of the Canada Presbyterian Church, and the ordinance of that church, which excommunicates parties so married. As our Church professes to "sincerely own and believe the whole doctrine contained in the Confession of Faith to be founded on "the word of God," we do well to examine the Scripture basis for the statements of the Confession. This is our main design. If other matter shall be introduced, it will be sparingly, not as discussing other points, as of History, Law, or Expediency, but only as throwing some light on the principal subject of consideration.
II. — The Standards of the Church.
The enquiry regarding the standards is three-fold. 1. Is the marriage in question forbidden by the Confession of Faith? 2. On what ground is the prohibition based in the Confession? 3. Is that ground found in the Word of God? Such enquiry is legitimate, as we are told (Conf, chap, i. 10) that "all decrees of councils and "doctrines of men," as well as articles of synods and assemblies, "are to be examined by Holy Scripture as "supreme judge."
1. Does the Confession forbid the marriage in question?
