Westminster Daily

Confession of Faith Chapter 24: Of Marriage and Divorce 2. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife, 1 for the increase of mankind with legitimate issue, and of the church with an holy seed; 2 and for preventing of uncleanness. 3 Genesis 2:18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Ephesians 5:28 In the same...

Confession of Faith Chapter 24: Of Marriage and Divorce 1. 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. 1 Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Matthew 19:4-6 He answered, “Have y...

Confession of Faith Chapter 23: Of the Civil Magistrate 4. It is the duty of people to pray for magistrates, 1 to honor their persons, 2 to pay them tribute or other dues, 3 to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority, for conscience' sake. 4 Infidelity, or difference in religion, doth not make void the magistrates' just and legal authority, nor free the people from their d...

Confession of Faith Chapter 23: Of the Civil Magistrate 3. Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and sacraments; or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven; 1 or, in the least, interfere in matters of faith. 2 Yet, as nursing fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the church of our common Lord, without giving the preference to any den...

Confession of Faith Chapter 23: Of the Civil Magistrate 2. It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate, when called thereunto: 1 in the managing whereof, as they ought especially to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each commonwealth; 2 so, for that end, they may lawfully, now under the new testament, wage war, upon just and nec...

Confession of Faith Chapter 23: Of the Civil Magistrate 1. 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 defense and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evildoers. 1 Romans 13:1-4 Let every p...

Confession of Faith Chapter 22: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows 7. No man may vow to do anything forbidden in the Word of God, or what would hinder any duty therein commanded, or which is not in his own power, and for the performance whereof he hath no promise of ability from God. 1 In which respects, popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far fr...

Confession of Faith Chapter 22: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows 6. It is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone: 1 and, that it may be accepted, it is to be made voluntarily, out of faith, and conscience of duty, in way of thankfulness for mercy received, or for the obtaining of what we want, whereby we more strictly bind ourselves to necessary duties; or, to other things, so far and so long as...

Confession of Faith Chapter 22: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows 5. A vow 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. 1 Numbers 30:2 If a man vows a vow to the Lord , or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. Isa...

Confession of Faith Chapter 22: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows 4. An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation, or mental reservation. 1 It cannot oblige to sin; but in anything not sinful, being taken, it binds to performance, although to a man's own hurt. 2 Nor is it to be violated, although made to heretics, or infidels. 3 Jeremiah 4:2 and if you swear, ‘As...

Confession of Faith Chapter 22: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows 3. Whosoever taketh an oath ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he is fully persuaded is the truth: 1 neither may any man bind himself by oath to anything but what is good and just, and what he believeth so to be, and what he is able and resolved to perform. 2 Exodus 20:7 “You sh...

Confession of Faith Chapter 22: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows 2. The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear, and therein it is to be used with all holy fear and reverence. 1 Therefore, to swear vainly, or rashly, by that glorious and dreadful Name; or, to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred. 2 Yet, as in matters of weight and moment, an oath is warranted by the...

Confession of Faith Chapter 22: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows 1. A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, 1 wherein, upon just occasion, the person swearing solemnly calleth God to witness what he asserteth, or promiseth, and to judge him according to the truth or falsehood of what he sweareth. 2 Deuteronomy 10:20 You shall fear the Lord your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by h...