A09377:199
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.
Error of the quality of the person, is, when she which was in the espousals taken to be a virgin, is afterward found to be with child by another, before they come together. By this error the Covenant is made void, and becomes a mere nullity; so as the man cannot be compelled, upon true and certain knowledge thereof, to marry the woman; but may renounce her, unless both parties come to a new agreement, or have privately known each other upon mutual consent. For first, God did in express terms command the Jews, that such a woman should be stoned to death: Deut. 22. 20. If the maid (that was given to wife) be not found a virgin, vers. 21. then shall they bring the maid to the door of her fathers house, and ⟨p. 74⟩the men of her city shall stone her with stones to death, because she hath wrought folly in Israel, by playing the whore in her fathers house. Therefore it was not the will of God, that she should be retained as a wife, but utterly rejected and forsaken. Again, this was so usual a practise in Israel upon Gods commandment, that godly and righteous men, upon the discovery of this error, would not in conscience be persuaded, to marry them to whom they had been betrothed, Matth. 1. 18. Joseph her husband (having found, before Mary and he came together, that she was with child) being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.
Error of the qualitie of the person, is, when she which was in the espousals taken to bee a virgin, is afterward found to be with child by another, before they come together. By this error the Couenant is made void, and becomes a meere nullitie; so as the man cannot be compelled, vpon true and certaine knowledge thereof, to marrie the woman; but may renounce her, vnlesse both parties come to a new agreement, or haue priuately knowne each other vpon mutuall consent. For first, God did in expresse tearmes command the Iewes, that such a woman should be stoned to death: Deut. 22. 20. If the maid (that was giuen to wife) be not found a virgin, vers. 21. then shall they bring the maid to the doore of her fathers house, and ⟨p. 74⟩