Howbeit in this case, the rule of the Apostle is to be followed; That nothing be done, even in things that are otherwise lawful, whereby a mans brother may stumble, or be offended, or made weak, Rom. 14. 21. Wherefore it is convenient, that such marriages should not be, because sometimes they may give offence in regard of the law of the Magistrate; and because they come somewhat near to the bonds and terms of blood and stock, which God hath set down in his word. Augustine in his 15. book, De civitate Dei, chap. 16. saith to this purpose, Experti autem sumus, &c. that is, We have found by experience, that in regard of that nearness of blood, which cousin-germans have unto the degrees of ⟨p. 38⟩brothers and sisters, how rarely custom hath admitted those marriages, which were warrantable by laws, because the law of God hath not forbidden them, nor as yet the law of man. Nevertheless the practise lawful in it self, was forborne the rather, because it came near to that which was unlawful, and therefore marriage with the cousin-german, seemed in a manner to be marriage with a mans own brother or sister, &c. Howbeit, there is no question, but in these times it hath been well provided by laws, that such marriages should not be undertaken. For as the multiplication of alliance is hindered thereby, so this inconvenience also groweth from them, that friendship and love which is procured by affinity, between men that are strangers; cannot be enlarged and increased, where men go not out of the limits, and terms of their own blood; Yea, there is naturally in man a commendable measure of shamefastness, whereby upon consideration of nearness in blo•d, he acknowledgeth a due debt of modesty and honour to his next kindred, and consequently estraineth himself in regard of them from he occasions and actions of concupiscence, ⟨p. 39⟩whereunto he is inclinable in respect of others. And hence it is, that generally the modesty that ought to be in those which intend marriage, avoideth as much as may be, these and such like conjunctions.
Howbeit in this case, the rule of the Apostle is to be followed; That nothing be done, euen in things that are otherwise lawfull, whereby a mans brother may stumble, or bee offended, or made weake, Rom. 14. 21. Wherefore it is conuenient, that such mariages should not be, because sometimes they may giue offence in regard of the law of the Magistrate; and because they come somewhat neare to the bonds and termes of blood and stocke, which God hath set downe in his word. Augustine in his 15. booke, De ciuitate Dei, chap. 16. saith to this purpose, Experti autem sumus, &c. that is, We haue found by experience, that in regard of that neerenesse of blood, which cousin-germans haue vnto the degrees of ⟨p. 38⟩brothers and sisters, how rarely custome hath admitted those mariages, which were warrantable by lawes, because the law of God hath not forbidden them, nor as yet the law of man. Neuerthelesse the practise lawfull in it selfe, was forborne the rather, because it came neare to that which was vnlawfull, and therfore mariage with the cousin-german, seemed in a manner to be marriage with a mans own brother or sister, &c. Howbeit, there is no question, but in these times it hath been well prouided by lawes, that such mariages should not be vndertaken. For as the multiplication of alliance is hindered thereby, so this inconuenience also groweth from them, that friendship and loue which is procured by affinitie, betweene men that are strangers; cannot be enlarged and encreased, where men goe not out of the limits, and termes of their owne blood; Yea, there is naturally in man a commendable measure of shamefastnesse, whereby vpon consideration of nearenesse in blo•d, hee acknowledgeth a due debt of modestie and honor to his next kindred, and consequently estraineth himself in regard of them from he occasions and actions of concupiscence, ⟨p. 39⟩whereunto hee is inclinable in respect of others. And hence it is, that generally the modestie that ought to be in those which intend mariage, auoideth as much as may be, these and such like coniunctions.
