A09377:165
Christian economyChristian oeconomie
Christian economy: or, A short survey of the right manner of erecting and ordering a family according to the scriptures. First written in Latin by the author M. W. Perkins, and now set forth in the vulgar tongue, for more common use and benefit, by Tho. Pickering Bachelor of Divinity.Christian oeconomie: or, A short survey of the right manner of erecting and ordering a familie according to the scriptures. First written in Latine by the author M. W. Perkins, and now set forth in the vulgar tongue, for more common vse and benefit, by Tho. Pickering Bachelar of Diuinitie.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston, 1609
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The fifth essential Sign of a person marriageable, is freedom from marriage; whereby both the parties which enter contract, are so at liberty, that neither the man hath in present another wife, or is promised to another; nor the woman hath another husband, or is promised to another. The reason is, because God himself esteemeth that marriage only lawful, wherein one man is joined to one woman, and they both into one flesh; & consequently judgeth it unlawful, as for one man to have more wives; so for one woman at the same time to have more husbands.
The fifth essentiall Signe of a person mariageable, is freedome from mariage; whereby both the parties which enter contract, are so at libertie, that neither the man hath in present another wife, or is promised to another; nor the woman hath another husband, or is promised to another. The reason is, because God himselfe esteemeth that mariage only lawfull, wherein one man is ioyned to one woman, and they both into one flesh; & consequently iudgeth it vnlawfull, as for one man to haue more wiues; so for one woman at the same time to haue more husbands.
Hence it followeth, that it is against the law of God, and the first institution of marriage, that a contract should be made between such persons, whereof the one is formerly betrothed to another. For so long as the first promise stands in force, the man can no more be betrothed to two women, then he may be the husband of two wives; because the spouse by the bond of her promise to the man, becomes a wife; and the man by the bond of his promise to the woman, becomes an husband, Deut. 22. 23. 24.
Hence it followeth, that it is against the law of God, and the first institution of mariage, that a contract should bee made betweene such persons, whereof the one is formerly betrothed to another. For so long as the first promise stands in force, the man can no more be betrothed to two women, then he may be the husband of two wiues; because the spouse by the bond of her promise to the man, becomes a wife; and the man by the bond of his promise to the woman, becomes an husband,