A09377:214
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.
Now, if the disease do not for the present take away the use of the body, and yet in time proves incurably contagious, and so loathsome, that the one may justly fear to keep and converse with the other; as it falleth out when one is tainted with leprosy; then the contract is utterly to be dissolved, as if God himself should have commanded it, though the promise was formerly made, & the parties themselves should be unwilling. God hath ordained Matrimony ⟨p. 79⟩to help, not to hurt either the persons themselves, or others. Where therefore these diseases be, which may infect, hurt, or destroy others, there God hath, as it were, testified from heaven, that the act done is not pleasing unto him, and that presently it ought to be frustrate.
Now, if the disease do not for the present take away the vse of the body, and yet in time proues incurablie contagious, and so lothsome, that the one may iustly feare to keepe and conuerse with the other; as it falleth out when one is tainted with leprosie; then the contract is vtterly to be dissolued, as if God himself should haue commanded it, though the promise was formerlie made, & the parties themselues should be vnwilling. God hath ordained Matrimonie ⟨p. 79⟩to helpe, not to hurt either the persons themselues, or others. Where therefore these diseases be, which may infect, hurt, or destroy others, there God hath, as it were, testified from heauen, that the act done is not pleasing vnto him, and that presently it ought to be frustrate.
The contract being thus once dissolved, the sounder party shall be at his, or her liberty to marry again. But the diseased is by the Magistrates authority, to be forbidden society with any other in way of marriage, and commanded to lead his life, where he may conveniently from company, for fear of infection. And withal he is for his own part, to sue unto God by prayer in faith for the gift of continency. For certain it is, that he to whom God hath denied the power of using marriage with good conscience, is thereby even called to continency and single life.