A09377:174
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.
First of Age; because though the marriage of persons, whose years are far unequal, is not expressly forbidden in ⟨p. 63⟩the word; yet is it agreeable to the rules of expediency and decency, that the aged should match with the aged, the younger with the younger.
First of Age; because though the mariage of persons, whose yeares are farre vnequall, is not expresly forbidden in ⟨p. 63⟩the word; yet is it agreeable to the rules of expediencie and decencie, that the aged should match with the aged, the yonger with the yonger.
Reasons are these. First, because the comforts of this society in likelihood will by this means always be equal, and consequently bring the more contentment to either party. Secondly, these unequal marriages are often times offensive to others. Thirdly, they cannot but in some cases prove offensive even to themselves. For when a man of great years matcheth with a woman very young, or a young stripling marrieth an aged woman; the elder party growing weak and impotent, may the sooner come to be unfit for marriage duties; and the younger being of greater strength and ability,, the more in danger of being exposed to incontinence, and that in the highest degree, unless he be restrained by Gods special grace. For this cause it was a great fault, wherewith one Apuleius was justly charged, that being but a very young man, he was married to a wife of 60. years of age.
Reasons are these. First, because the comforts of this societie in likelihood will by this meanes alwaies be equall, and consequently bring the more contentment to either partie. Secondly, these vnequall mariages are often times offensiue to others. Thirdly, they cannot but in some cases proue offensiue euen to themselues. For when a man of great yeares matcheth with a woman very yong, or a yong stripling marrieth an aged woman; the elder partie growing weake and impotent, may the sooner come to be vnfit for mariage duties; and the yonger being of greater strēgth and abilitie,, the more in danger of being exposed to incontinencie, and that in the highest degree, vnlesse he be restrained by Gods speciall grace. For this cause it was a great fault, wherewith one Apuleius was iustly charged, that being but a very yong man, he was married to a wife of 60. yeares of age.