The Second Helvetic ConfessionThe Second Helvetic ConfessionSingle People. Those who have the gift of celibacy from heaven, so that from the heart or with their whole soul are pure and continent and are not aflame with passion, let them serve the Lord in that calling, as long as they feel endued with that divine gift; and let them not lift up themselves above others, but let them serve the Lord continuously in simplicity and humility (I Cor. 7:7 ff.). For such are more apt to attend to divine things than those who are distracted with the private affairs of a family. But if, again, the gift be taken away, and they feel a continual burning, let them call to mind the words of the apostle: "It is better to marry than to be aflame" (I Cor. 7:9).
Marriage. For marriage (which is the medicine of incontinency, and continency itself) was instituted by the Lord God himself, who blessed it most bountifully, and willed man and woman to cleave one to the other inseparably, and to live together in complete love and concord (Matt. 19:4 ff). Whereupon we know that the apostle said: "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled" (Heb. 13:4). And again: "If a girl marries, she does not sin" (I Cor. 7:28).THE SECTS. We therefore condemn polygamy, and those who condemn second marriages.
How Marriages Are To Be Contracted. We teach that marriages are to be lawfully contracted in the fear of the Lord, and not against the laws which forbid certain degrees of consanguinity, lest the marriages should be incestuous. Let marriages be made with consent of the parents, or of those who take the place of parents, and above all for that purpose for which the Lord instituted marriages. Moreover, let them be kept holy with the utmost faithfulness, piety, love and purity of those joined together. Therefore let them guard against quarrels, dissensions, lust and adultery.
Matrimonial Forum. Let lawful courts be established in the Church, and holy judges who may care for marriages, and may repress all unchastity and shamefulness, and before whom matrimonial disputes may be settled.
The Rearing of Children. Children are to be brought
up by the parents in the fear of the Lord; and parents are to provide for
their children, remembering the saying of the apostle: "If anyone
does not provide for his relatives, he has disowned the faith and is worse
than an unbeliever" (I Tim. 5:8). But especially they should teach
their children honest trades or professions by which they may support themselves.
They should keep them from idleness and in all these things instill in
them true faith in God, lest through a lack of confidence or too much security
or filthy greed they become dissolute and achieve no success.
And it is most certain that those works which are done
by parents in true faith by way of domestic duties and the management of
their households are in God's sight holy and truly good works. They are
no less pleasing to God than prayers, fasting and almsgiving. For thus
the apostle has taught in his epistles, especially in those to Timothy
and Titus. And with the same apostle we account the doctrine of those who
forbid marriage or openly castigate or indirectly discredit it, as if it
were not holy and pure, among the doctrine of demons.
We also detest an impure single life, the secret and
open lusts and fornications of hypocrites pretending to be continent when
they are the most incontinent of all. All these God will judge. We do not
disapprove of riches or rich men, if they be godly and use their riches
well. But we reject the sect of the Apostolicals, etc.(10)
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Page edited: 04/22/2003
