That marriage and adultery are opposites has already
been shewn in the chapter concerning their opposition;
and the quantity and quality of their opposition cannot
be learnt but from their intermediates, of which concubinage
is one; but as there are two kinds of concubinage,
which are to be carefully distinguished, therefore
this section, like the foregoing, shall be arranged
into its distinct parts as follows; I.
There are
two kinds of concubinage, which differ exceedingly
from each other, the one conjointly with a wife, the
other apart from a wife. II.
Concubinage conjointly
with a wife, is altogether unlawful for Christians,
and detestable. III.
That it is polygamy which
has been condemned, and is to be condemned, by the
Christian world. IV.
It is an adultery whereby
the conjugial principle, which is the most precious
jewel of the Christian life, is destroyed. V.
Concubinage
apart from a wife, when it is engaged in from causes
legitimate, just, and truly excusatory, is not unlawful.
VI.
The legitimate causes of this concubinage are
the legitimate causes of divorce, while the wife is
nevertheless retained at home. VII.
The just
causes of this concubinage are the just causes of
reparation from the bed. VIII.
Of the excusatory
causes of this concubinage some are real and some not.
IX.
The really excusatory causes are such as are
grounded in what is just. X.
The excusatory
causes which are not real are such as are not grounded
in what is just, although in the appearance of what
is just. XI.
Those who from causes legitimate,
just, and really excusatory, are engaged in this concubinage,
may at the same time be principled in conjugial love.
XII.
While this concubinage continues, actual connection
with a wife is not allowable. We proceed to an
explanation of each article.
463. I. THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF CONCUBINAGE, WHICH
DIFFER EXCEEDINGLY FROM EACH OTHER, THE ONE CONJOINTLY
WITH A WIFE, THE OTHER APART FROM A WIFE. That
there are two kinds of concubinage, which differ exceedingly
from each other, and that the one kind consists in
taking a substituted partner to the bed and living
conjointly and at the same time with her and with
a wife; and that the other kind is when, after a legitimate
and just separation from a wife, a man engages a woman
in her stead as a bed-fellow; also that these two
kinds of concubinage differ as much from each other
as dirty linen from clean, may be seen by those who
take a clear and distinct view of things, but not
by those whose view of things is confused and indistinct:
yea, it may be seen by those who are in conjugial
love, but not by those who are in the love of adultery.
The latter are in obscurity respecting all the derivations
of the love of the sex, whereas the former are enlightened
respecting them: nevertheless, those who are
in adultery, can see those derivations and their distinctions,
not indeed in and from themselves, but from others