Beyond  this,  the  Christian  friend  or  the  church  counsellor  may  not  feel
called  upon  to  go,  and  to  more  than  this  the  individuals  interested
may  not  be  required  as  Christians  to  yield  obedience.  We  may
sum  up  these  remarks  with  the  wise  words  of  Harless  :  '  Instead  of
wishing  to  recognise  in  outward  behaviour  the  presence  of  the  grace
of  God,  one  will  at  once  proceed  in  God's  name  to  the  bond  of  wed-
lock, where  no  actual  evidence  is  given  in  word  or  deed,  in  sentiment
or  mode  of  behaviour,  that  the  object  of  our  choice  has  consciously
abandoned  the  grace  of  that  kingdom  in  whose  community  he  has
been  planted  by  the  sacrament  of  Baptism.'  {Christian  Ethics,  p.  436.)

IV. — Marriage  ought  not  to  be  within  the  degrees  of  consanguinity
or  affinity  forbidden  i7i  the  word;  nor  caft  such  ittcestuous
marriages  ever  be  made  lawful  by  any  law  of  matt,  or  co7isent
of  parties,  so  as  those  persons  may  live  together  as  matt  and  wife.
The  man  may  not  marry  any  of  his  wife's  kindred  nearer  in
blood  tha7i  he  inay  of  his  owtt,  nor  the  wo?na?i  of  her  husband' i
ki7idred  fiearer  in  blood  than  of  her  own.
We  have  here  affirmed  very  strongly  and  distinctly  the  principles


OF  MARRIAGE  AND  DIVORCE.  I4I

which  those  maintain  who  oppose  what  is  known  as  the  Marriage
Affinity  Bill.  The  Free  Church  of  Scotland  has  by  the  resolutions
of  her  Assemblies  very  determinedly  taken  up  this  position,  and  this
has  been  argued  on  precisely  the  same  lines  as  our  Confession.
