Among other thy creatures (O everlasting God) when thou hadst made man according to thine own similitude,1 likeness & image,2 thou saidest: it is not good that man be alone: let us make him a helper like unto him self, and shortly after thou ⟨p. xxxvi⟩formedst a woman of the mans rib, and broughtest her unto Adam, which said: This now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called a woman, for she is taken of man.3 Wherefore man shall forsake father and mother, and cleave unto his wife, and they shall be, ii, in one flesh, And thou blessing them gavest them commandment,4 saying: Increase & multiply, & fulfil the earth. Here learn we (o heavenly father) that thou art the author of marriage, and that so many as marry in thy fear, are coupled together of thee,5 blessed and defended, and that thou hast joined them together to this end, that they should increase the earth and bring forth sons & daughters unto the glory of thy name. Thy holy apostle also commandeth,6 that to avoid fornication every man ⟨image 52⟩should have his own wife & every woman her own husband, so that if they can not live single they should marry, for it is better to marry then to burn. Here learn we again (O heavenly father) that thou hast ordained matrimony to be as alue unto the infirmity and weakness of our flesh and haste given it as a present remedy unto us against the raging lusts of old Adam, that we taking upon us the holy order of Matrimony, and by this means eschewing whoredom and all uncleanness,7 might serve the in holiness and pureness all the days of our life. We therefore considering how grievous an offence it is before thy divine Majesty for such as be married dissolutely to live, and contrary unto their profession to abuse them selves, most heartily pray thee, favourably to behold ⟨p. xxxvii⟩all such as have taken upon them the yoke of honourable wedlock, & to give them grace to order their life according to thy holy word.
AMonge other thy creatures (O euerlastinge God) when thou hadst made man accordynge to thine owne similytude,1 lykenes & image,2 thou saydest: it is not good that mā be alone: let vs make hym a healper like vnto him selfe, and shortlye after thou ⟨p. xxxvi⟩formedst a woman of the mans rib, and broughtest her vnto Adam, whych saide: Thys nowe is bone of my bones, and fleshe of my fleshe. She shall be called a woman, for she is taken of man.3 Wherfore mā shal forsake father and mother, and cleaue vnto hys wyfe, and they shall be, ii, in one flesh, And thou blessing them gauest them commaundement,4 saying: En•rese & multiply, & fulfyll the earth. Here learne we (o heauenly father) that thou art the author of mariage, and that so many as mary in thy feare, are coupled together of the,5 blessed and defended, and that thou hast ioyned them together to thys ende, that thei should encrese the earth and bryng forth sōs & daughters vnto the glorie of thy name. Thy holy apostle also commaūdeth,6 yt to auoyde fornicacion euery man ⟨image 52⟩shuld haue his owne wife & euery woman her owne husband, so that if they cā not liue single they shuld mary, for it is better to mary then to burne. Here learne we againe (O heauenly father) that thou hast ordeyned matrimonye to be as alue vnto the infirmytye and weakenes of oure flesh and haste geuen it as a present remedy vnto vs agaynste the raginge lustes of olde Adam, that we takynge vpon vs the holye order of Matrimony, and by this means exchuing whoredome and al vnclennes,7 might serue the in holynes and purenes all the dayes of our life. We therfore considering how greuous an offence it is before thy diuine Maiesty for suche as be maryed dissolutely to lyue, and contrary vnto theyr professyon to abuse them selfs, most hertelye praye the, fauourably to beholde ⟨p. xxxvii⟩
- 1Gene. i.v.
- 2Gene. ii.
- 3[…]〈…〉
- 4Gene. ii.
- 5Math. xix.
- 6i, Cor. vii.
- 7•uke▪ •.
