There is* no Law in the Church, that by constraint taketh away from men liberty to Mary. For S. Pauls words be plain,2 If thou take a wife, thou sinnest not. And likewise, If a Virgin marry, she sinneth not. But if any Persons have of their own will, and devotion Vowed to God chastity, the same have imbarred them selves of this general liberty, and by their Voluntary Promise, have bound themselves never to Mary. And in such, not only Marriage it self, but also a will to Mary is damnable, as S. Paul saith of Widows, which have Vowed to live chaste, that they have their damnation (not for that they Mary, but) for that they will marry. If the Gospellers allege against this Doctrine the words of S. Paul, If a Virgin marry, she sinneth not: We answer with Chrysostom, and other Fathers, that a Virgin by a Vow of Chastity dedicated to ⟨p. 181⟩God, if she marry,3 doubtless she sinneth much, for that beside Christ she hath surmaried an adulterer. If they object. It is better to Marry then to Burn: Let S. Ambrose answer: Who saith, that this saying pertaineth to her, that hath not promised, to her that is not yet veiled. And by restraining them from Marriage,4 the Church useth no tyranny: nor if it teach, that such ought to forebear Marriage, is that to be accounted the Doctrine of Devils, but of the Holy Ghost, whereby men are kept from wilful damnation. To forbid Marriage wholly, Universally, and altogether, that is the Doctrine of Devils. But to judge Marriage for some state, and Order, of less convenience, then the Single Life, or after Vow of chastity made, to require perpetual continency, this is not the Doctrine of Devils. For S. Paul him self did both. If these Defenders will not admit this answer, and being loth to forsake their fleshly pleasure, pretend to be moved with the Authority of S. Paul, who calleth the forbidding of Marriage the Doctrine of Devils: I send them to S. Augustine for an answer in his thirteenth Book, and Six the Chapter against Faustus the Manichee. Where for a sufficient solution of their objection, they shall find these plaine words: Ille prohibet, qui hoc malum esse dicit: non qui huic bono aliud melius anteponit. That is to sate, He forbiddeth (Marriage) which saith it is evil:
There is* no Lawe in the Churche, that by constrainte taketh awaye from men libertie to Marie. For S. Paules woordes be plaine,2 If thou take a wife, thou sinnest not. And likewise, If a Virgine marie, shee sinneth not. But if any Persons haue of theire owne wil, and deuotion Vowed to God chastitie, the same haue imbarred them selues of this general libertie, and by theire Voluntarie Promise, haue bounde themselues neuer to Marie. And in sutche, not onely Marriage it selfe, but also a wil to Marie is damnable, as S. Paule saithe of VVidowes, whiche haue Vowed to liue chaste, that they haue theire damnation (not for that they Marie, but) for that they wil marie. If the Gospellers alleage against this Doctrine the woordes of S. Paule, If a Virgine marie, shee sinneth not: VVee answeare with Chrysostome, and other Fathers, that a Virgine by a Vowe of Chastitie dedicated to ⟨p. 181⟩God, if she marrie,3 doubtlesse she sinneth mutche, for that beside Christe shee hathe surmaried an aduouterer. If they obiecte. It is better to Marrie then to Burne: Let S. Ambrose answeare: VVho saith, that this saieinge perteineth to her, that hath not promised, to her that is not yet vailed. And by restraininge them from Marriage,4 the Churche vseth no tyrannic: nor if it teache, that sutche ought to forebeare Marriage, is that to be accoumpted the Doctrine of Diuels, but of the Holy Ghoste, whereby men are kepte from wilful dammation. To forebidde Marriage wholy, Vniuersally, and altogeather, that is the Doctrine of Deuils. But to iudge Marriage for somme state, and Order, of lesse conuenience, then the Single Life, or after Vowe of chastitie made, to require perpetual continencie, this is not the Doctrine of Diuels. For S. Paule him selfe did bothe. If these Defenders wil not admitte this answere, and beinge lothe to forsake theire fleashly pleasure, pretende to be moued with the Auctoritie of S. Paule, who calleth the forebiddinge of Marriage the Doctrine of Diuels: I sende them to S. Augustine for an answere in his thirteenthe Booke, and Six the Chapter againste Faustus the Maniche. VVhere for a sufficient solutton of theire obiection, they shal finde these plaine woordes: Ille prohibet, qui hoc malum esse dicit: non qui huic bono aliud melius anteponit. That is to sate, He forebiddethe (Marriage) whiche saithe it is euil:
- *Manifest Untruth. For all Priests are restrained from Marriage: And Priests be men.Manifeste Vntruthe. For al Priestes are restreined from Marriage: And Priestes be menne.
- 21. Cor. 7. Voluntary Vow imbarreth liberty of the contrary.1. Cor. 7. Voluntarie Vovve imbarreth libertie of the contrary.
- 31. Cor. 7. Ad Virginē Lapsam ca. 5.1. Cor. 7. Ad Virginē Lapsam ca. 5.
- 4The Doctrine of Devils.The Doctrine of Deuils.
