approach] By this here is meant, the neerest degree of naked communion. thine aunt] When thine uncle is dead; by the same reason that a man is forbidden the bed of his fathers brothers, or uncles wife, or aunt; a woman is forbidden the like neernesse to her aunts husband; for as in Logick, so in Divinitie, the difference of sexe varieth not the case so much, as to make it unlawfull in the one, and lawfull in the other; somewhat it doth, for where the Aunt is married by the Cousen or nephew, there a superior relation is brought under an inferior; but where the uncle marrieth his neece, there a superior is made head of an inferior, which is more decent; but that which here is most respected, is not so much the relation of a superior and inferiour, (for a mistris might marry a servant of the same religion and tribe, as well as a maister might marry a maid-servant) but the neernesse of blood, which is the same betwixt Aunt and nephew, as betwixt Uncle and Neece; so much the Hebrew phrase imports, vers. 6. see the text and margin, and therefore it is as unlawfull for the father to marry his own daughter, as for the mother to marry her own sonne; yet of the marriage of the Uncle and Neece there are divers examples, as of Nachor with his neece Melcham, Abraham with Sarah his neece, (as is most probable) and Amram, the father of Moses, married his Aunt; Exodus 6:20. but this was before this law was made; and for the Jewes, who at this day observe it not, it may be thought to be a part of their apostasie from true religion. By this prohibition of marriage with the Aunt, some conceive the marriage with Cousen Germans is forbidden, because there is consanguinitie betwixt them, but onely affinity betwixt the Aunt and the husbands sonne; but the husband and wife being one flesh, Genesis 2:24. this affinity may make more for prohibition of marriage then any other; howsoever, it is safe to forbear what is doubtfull, and to keep aloof from what is unlawfull; especially the choice of lawfull marriages being large enough, without the hazard of so great a sinne as Incest. If it be said, that this is a Leviticall law, which doth not oblige us under our christian condition; it may be answered, that the Jewes had allowance for neerer matches then other people, especially Christians; for among them a man might, or rather must marry his brothers wife (when he was dead) to raise up seed unto him; Deuteronomy 25:5. which in Christianity is condemned, Matth. 14. 3, 4. as well as marrying the fathers wife. 1 Corinthians 5:1. But what in this is forbidden to the Jewes, is much more forbidden to the Christians; who, having more latitude, and libertie of choice then they had, who were to marry, not onely with their own nation, but within their own tribe, and sometimes (as hath been said) two brothers must successively be husbands to one wife; are lesse capable of excuse, if in carnall concupiscence they transgresse these prohibitions: and in the generall, (since the gospel is the law of love and charity, not to one nation onely, but all the world over) as far as consanguinity, or affinity will work in affection, without a new tye of matrimony, so far reacheth matrimoniall prohibition, and should there first begin, where the relations are so remote, that they have little, or no operations of love; that, so charity might be more diffusive, and not so contracted to ones kindred, as it was among the Jews.