A09453:258
A Reformed Catholic
A reformed Catholic: or, A declaration showing how near we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundry points of religion: and wherein we must for ever depart from them with an advertisement to all favourers of the Roman religion, showing that the said religion is against the Catholic principles and grounds of the catechism.A reformed Catholike: or, A declaration shewing how neere we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundrie points of religion: and vvherein we must for euer depart from them with an advertisment to all fauourers of the Romane religion, shewing that the said religion is against the Catholike principles and grounds of the catechisme.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1598Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1598
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.
Lastly, we think that if any having the gift of continency, do make a vow to live single and yet afterward marry (the said gift remaining) they have sinned. Yet not because they are married but because their vow is broken. And thus said Augustine of widows that married after their vow. lib. de bono viduit. cap. 9.
Lastly, we thinke that if any hauing the gift of continencie, doe make a vowe to liue single and yet afterward marry (the said gift remaining) they have sinned. Yet not because they are married but because their vowe is brokē. And thus said Augustine of widowes that married afrer their vow. lib. de bono viduit. cap. 9.
The second is the vow of poverty and monastical life, in which men bestow all they have on the poor: and give themselves wholly and only to prayer and fasting. This vow is against the will of God, Act. 20. 35. It is a more blessed thing to give them to receive. Prov. 28. 7. Give me neither riches nor poverty. Deut. 28. 22. Poverty is numbered among the curses of the law; none whereof are to be vowed. And it is the rule of the holy Ghost, 2. Thess. 3. 10. He that will not labour, namely in some special and warrantable calling, must not eat. And v. 12. I exhort that they work with quietness and eat their own bread. Now when as men live apart from others, giving themselves only to prayer and fasting, they live in no calling. And it is against the general vow made in baptism, because it freeth men from sundry duties of the moral law, and changeth the proper end of mans life. For every man must have two callings. The first is the general calling of a christian, by virtue of which he performeth worship unto God, and duties of love to men. The second is a particular ⟨p. 167⟩