That there should never fail succession / and posterity to preserve the commune wealth that God had ordained for man / as well before his fall in Paradise / as after in this vale of misery: he ordained matrimony between man and woman. Which is the institution and ordinance of God / approved by the law of nature / the law of Moses / and the law of Man / and the law of the Gospel. Meaning / and willing this ordinance to be reverently observed of all men hath given this precept: that no man should dishonour / defile / or contaminate himself with any undecent / or intemperate kind of life. This is the end / and purpose Why this law was given. to avoid a dissolute / commune / and libidinous lief with other uncleanliness. To love / and keep chastity / and purity of life: which consisteth / ether in sincere virginity / or faithful matrimony / as Chrysost. writeth Homil. de inuent. cruc. Primus gradus casti tatis est, syncera uirginitas. Secundus, fidele matrimonium. That is to say: The first degree of chastity is / pure virginity. The second / faithful matrimony the same division of chastity / approveth the scripture / 1. Corin. 7. where as Paul defineth / and showeth / that virginity is a chastity of the body / conjoined with the purity of the mind. By these words: Caelebs cogitat, quae domini sunt, quomodo sancta sit corpore ⟨p. CLVIII⟩& spiritu. That is to say: she that is unmarried thinketh the things that be of God / how she may be holy / both in body / and in sprite. Of matrimony / and the purity thereof: it is written / Ebr. 13 Honorabile est inter oens matrimonium, & cubile impollutum. That is to say: Matrimony is honourable / among all (nations) and the bed impollutid. no man should continue in a sole lief / but such as hath no need of matrimony / following the word of God / and ordinance in mans nature / according to the examples of the Patriarchs / Prophets / and the Apostles: which were not excluded from matrimony / although they were ministers of the church. nor never made / law to exclude there successors. but reciteth the matrimony of the ministers / among the virtues and necessary gifts that is required in the minister. 2. Timo. 3. Tit. 1. and calleth the prohibition of matrimony the doctrine of the devil. The which the iniquity of our Doctors.
THat there shuld neuer faile successiō / and posterite to preserue the commune wealthe that God had ordainyd for man / as well before his fall in Paradice / as after in this vale of miserie: he ordainid matrimonie betwene man and woman. Whiche is the instituciō and ordinaunce of God / aprouid by the law of nature / the law of Moses / and the law of Man / and the law of the Gospell. Meanyng / and wyllyng this ordinaunce to be reuerentlye obseruyd of all men hathe yeuen this precept: that noman shuld dishonor / defile / or contaminat himselfe withe ony vndecent / or intemperat kynd of liffe. This is the end / and purpose Why this law was yeuen. to auoyde a dissolute / commune / and libidinous liefe with other vnclenlinis. To loue / and kepe chastite / and purite of life: whiche consistithe / ether in syncere virginite / or faithfull matrimonie / as Chrysost. writite Homil. de inuent. cruc. Primus gradus casti tatis est, syncera uirginitas. Secundus, fidele matrimonium. That is to say: The fyrst degre of chastite is / pure virginite. The second / faithfull matrimonie the same diuision of chastite / aprouithe the scripture / 1. Corin. 7. where as Paule definithe / and shewithe / that virginite is a chastite of the bodie / coniunyd withe the purite of the mynd. By these wordes: Caelebs cogitat, quae domini sunt, quomodo sancta sit corpore ⟨p. CLVIII⟩& spiritu. That is to say: she that is vnmaryd think•the the thinges that be of God / how she may be holie / boothe in bodie / and in sprite. Of matrim•nie / and the purite therof: it is wrotē / Ebr. 13 Honorabile est inter oēs matrimonium, & cubile impollutum. That is to say: Matrimonie is honorable / among all (nations) and the bed impollutid. no man shuld continew in a sole liefe / but souche as hathe no nede of matrimonie / folowing the word of God / and ordinaunc in mannes nature / according to the exāples of the Patriarches / Prophetis / ād the Apostelles: whiche were not excludid frō matrimonie / althowghe they were ministers of the churche. nor neuer made / law to exclude there successours. but recitithe the matrimonie of the ministers / among the vertews and necessarie giftes that is requirid in the minister. 2. Timo. 3. Tit. 1. and callithe the prohibition of matrimonie the doctrine of the deuill. The whyche the iniquite of oure Doctors.
