Page:Vindicationoflaw00hath.djvu/48

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conclusion I believe to be that of the early Fathers, and also of the early expositors in our Reformed Church, viz. that husband and wife become one flesh, and the nearness of kin therefore to one is nearness of kin to the other. It may be worth while to make this point a little clearer.

Let A. B. be the individual who is desirous of consulting the Code. The following Table represents his possible relations of the first, second, and third degrees, respectively.

A. B.'s Great-grandparent (male or female).
{{{!}}}
A. B.'s Grandparent (male or female).
{{{.-}}}{{{^}}}{{{-.}}}
A. B.'s Parent (male or female).
Parent's brother or sister (i. e.) Uncle or Aunt to A. B.
A. B.
A. B.'s Brother or Sister.
A. B.'s Child.
A. B.'s Nephew or Niece.
A. B.'s Grandchild.
A. B.'s Great-grandchild.

The degrees are estimated by counting either upwards or downwards from A. B. in his direct line; and as to collaterals by counting up to the common ancestors and down again to A. B. Thus you count from the nephew to the brother, from the brother to the father, and from the father to A. B., making three degrees. Or again, from the