Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsGenesis 38

Raise seed to thy brother.

^[1] By this it appeareth, that in the law of nature, when a married man died without issue, his brother might lawfully marry the widow; whose first son should be counted and called the son and heir of his uncle dead before. The same was established by the law of Moyses (Deut. 25) Which being now abrogated, it remaineth in the Church's power to constitute a law in this behalf ^[2], and consequently to dispense in the same, so far as is agreeable with the law of nature. Whereof see more. Levit. 18.

• 1 How a man might marry his brother's wife in the law of nature.
• 2 The Church's decree is now our rule.