But M. Harding hath further to say, that S. Augustine calleth this kind of marriage Worse then Adultery: An other calleth it Incest: & an other Sacrilege. That the Ancient Fathers have thus written, it is true, & not denied. ⟨p. 170⟩How be it,1 good Reader, as I have partly showed before, these, and other like words have proceeded, more of a zeal, and heat of mind, then of profound consideration, and Judgement of the cause. Neither may we always strain such sayings to the uttermost. For whereas S. Augustine saith, Such Marriage is worse, then Adultery, he saith nevertheless immediately after in y• same place, It is true, and very Marriage in deed before God, and Man, and no Adultery. His words be these:2 Non quòd ipsae Nuptiae vel talium damnandae judicentur. Damnatur Propositi fraus: Damnatur fracta Voti Fides: &c. Damnantur tales, non quia Coniugalem Fidem posteriùs inierunt, sed quia Continentiae Primam Fidem irritam fecerunt: Not that the Marriage of such persons is to be blamed. The defrauding of their purpose, and the breach of their Vow is blamed. Such are blamed, not for that they have entered into the Faith of Matrimony: but for that they have broken their First Faith, or promise of continent Life. So likewise S. Augustine saith of a Woman,3 that used to paint her face: Etsi impudica circa homines non sis, tamen corruptis, violatisque, quae Dei sunt, Peior Adultera detineris: Although thou be no evil woman, as touching men, yet thus colouring, and corrupting thy face, which thou haste of God, thou art worse then an Aduoutresse. Here, by way of comparison, and in heat of speech, S. Augustine saith. That painting of the face is worse then Adultery. 4In like sense S. Cyprian saith, Diabolo peior est, qui foeminarum aspectibus feritur: He that is stricken, or moved with the sight of Women, is worse then the Devil. Likewise again he saith, Multò gravior, & Peior est Moechi causa, 5quàm Libellatici: An Adulterers case is worse, then is the case of him, that hath betrayed the Faith.
But M. Hardinge hath further to saie, that S. Augustine calleth this kinde of marriage VVoorse then Aduouterie: An other calleth it Inceste: & an other Sacrilege. That the Ancient Fathers haue thus written, it is true, & not denied. ⟨p. 170⟩How be it,1 good Reader, as I haue partely shewed before, these, and other like woordes haue procéeded, more of a zele, and heate of minde, then of profounde consideration, and Iudgemente of the cause. Neither maie wée alwaies straine sutche saicinges to the vttermoste. For whereas S. Augustine saithe, Sutche Marriage is woorse, then Aduouterie, he saithe neuerthelesse immediately after in y• same place, It is true, and very Marriage in deede before God, and Man, and no Aduouterie. His woordes be these:2 Non quòd ipsae Nuptiae vel talium damnandae iudicentur. Damnatur Propositi fraus: Damnatur fracta Voti Fides: &c. Damnantur tales, non quia Coniugalem Fidem posteriùs inierunt, sed quia Continentiae Primam Fidem irritam fecerunt: Not that the Marriage of sutche personnes is to be blamed. The defraudinge of theire pourpose, and the breache of theire Vowe is blamed. Sutche are blamed, not for that they haue entred into the Faithe of Matrimonie: but for that they haue broken their Firste Faithe, or promisse of continente Life. So likewise S. Augustine saithe of a Woman,3 that vsed to painte her face: Etsi impudica circa homines non sis, tamen corruptis, violatisque, quae Dei sunt, Peior Adultera detineris: Although thou be no euil woman, as touchinge menne, yet thus colouringe, and corruptinge thy face, whiche thou haste of God, thou arte vvoorse then an Aduoutresse. Here, by waie of comparison, and in heate of speeche, S. Augustine saithe. That paintinge of the face is woorse then Aduouterie. 4In like sense S. Cyprian saithe, Diabolo peior est, qui foeminarum aspectibus feritur: He that is striken, or moued with the sighte of Wemen, is vvoorse then the Diuel. Likewise againe he saithe, Multò grauior, & Peior est Moechi causa, 5quàm Libellatici: An Aduouterers case is vvoorse, then is the case of him, that hath betraied the Faithe.
- 1Worse then Adultery.VVoorse then Aduouterie.
- 2August. De Bono Viduitatis, Ca. 9.
- 3August. De Doctrina Christiana, Lib. 4. Ca. 21.
- 4Cyprian. De singularitate Clericorum.
- 5Cyprian. Lib. 4. Epist. 2.
