Page:Maymanmarryhisde00mack.djvu/17

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its advocates, the presumptions are so strong, and the arguments in favour of which rest on one verse of doubtful interpretation, and one specific case, which does not apply. And I hardly think any Christian can examine the question impartially without coming to the conclusion that such a marriage is directly contrary to the revealed Law of God, and therefore no marriage at all. To sum up the question—

I.—Man and wife are one.

Gen. ii. 26; Matt. xix. 4; Mark x. 7; Eph. 1 Cor. xi. 3; Lev. xviii. 8, 14.

This identity is the reason assigned against marrying a father's, brother's, or uncle's wife.


II.—The kindred of the one are therefore equally the kindred of the other. Lev. xviii. 14.

A man is forbidden to marry his uncle's wife, "for she is thine aunt." This proves that relationship by blood and relationship by marriage are reckoned as the same by the Lord.

If your aunt-in-law is your aunt, your sister-in-law must be your sister.

No man may ally himself with any "that is near of kin to him."

A sister is a near kinswoman v. 12, 13.

Near kinswomen of the wife are expressly prohibited v. 17.

The reason against marrying a wife's daughter or granddaughter is, that they are her "near kinswomen." So is her sister. Marriage with a brother's wife or an uncle's wife is pronounced "an unclean thing."