Nathan Bangs · 53 of 73

Book II. From the First Conference in 1773 to the First Regular General Conference in 1792. · Chapter 3 · On unlawful Marriages

Question 1. Do we observe any evil which has lately prevailed among our societies?

Answer Many of our members have married with unawakened persons. This has produced bad effects; they have been either hindered for life, or turned back to perdition.

Question 2. What can be done to put a stop to this?

Answer

Let every preacher publicly enforce the apostle’s caution, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.”

Let him openly declare whoever does this will be expelled the society.

When any such is expelled, let a suitable exhortation be subjoined

Let all be exhorted to take no step in so weighty a matter, without advising with the most serious of their brethren.

Question 3. Ought any woman to marry without the consent of her parents?

Answer In general, she ought not. Yet there may be exceptions. For if;

A woman be under the necessity of marrying. If;

Her parents absolutely refuse to let her marry any Christian; then she may, nay, ought to marry without their consent. Yet even then a Methodist preacher ought not to be married to her.