Can polygamy (having many wives) or bigamy (having two wives at once) have any good warrant in the face of such an explicit law against them? Are not both of them against the first institution of marriage, so that we may say, “from the beginning it was not so” (Matt. 19:8)? Yes, and also against other particular laws (Deut. 17:17; Lev. 18:18)? Lamech, one of Cain’s cursed offspring, was the first that we read of to have presumed against that ancient law (Gen. 4:19).

Objection: Afterwards many patriarchs and other saints took that liberty to themselves.

Answer: It was their sin, and a great blemish in them. The common error of the time and their insatiable desire of children made them fall into it. Many inconveniences followed. . . .

Considering the heinousness of this sin, our laws have justly made it a felony for a man to have more wives than one, or a woman more husbands.

William Gouge, Building a Godly Home: A Holy Vision for Family Life, 138-139.