A09377:239
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.
For the first sort. According to the law of God, marriage is not only a civill and politic, but also a divine and spiritual conjunction, the author and ordainer whereof, upon special cause, was God himself: This our Saviour Christ witnesseth, when he saith, Those whom God hath joined together, let no man separate, Matth. 19. 6. That therefore marriages may be soundly ratified and confirmed, the authority and power of God himself is necessarily to be interposed.
For the first sort. According to the law of God, mariage is not only a ciuill and politike, but also a diuine and spirituall coniunction, the author and ordainer whereof, vpon speciall cause, was God himselfe: This our Sauiour Christ witnesseth, when he saith, Those whom God hath ioyned together, let no man separate, Matth. 19. 6. That therefore mariages may be soundly ratified and confirmed, the authoritie and power of God himselfe is necessarily to be interposed.
If it be asked, How God that is in heaven, should bring and join together man and wife upon the earth?
If it be asked, How God that is in heauen, should bring and ioyne together man and wife vpon the earth?
I answer, that he doth it not immediately by himself, as he brought Eve unto Adam, but in & by some solemn and lawful means. And this mean, is that great and ancient power and prerogative of parents. And the law of God hath given them this power, not in civill contracts and compositions alone, but even in the beginning and accomplishing of marriages.