A defence of the judgment of the Reformed churches. That a man may lawfully…A defence of the iudgment of the Reformed churches. That a man may lawfullie…

The School divines of latter years, & the Canonists, as for the most part they were addicted commonly to S. Austins judgment, did likewise follow him herein & the Popes maintaining their doctrine for Catholic, have possessed the church of Rome with this opinion. But since in our days the light of good learning both for arts & tongues hath shined more brightly by Gods most gracious goodness then in the former ages, and the holy scriptures by the help thereof have been the better understood: the Pastors and Doctors of the reformed Churches have perceived & showed, that if a mans wife defile her self with fornication, he may not only put her away by Christs Doctrine but also marry another. Wherein that they teach agreeably to the truth, and not erroneously, as Jesuits & Papists do falsely and unjustly charge them. I will make manifest and prove (through Gods assistance) by express words of Christ, the truth it self. And because our adversaries do ween that the contrary hereof is strongly proved by sundry arguments and objections, which two of their newest writers Bellarmin the Jesuit & a nameless author of an English pamphlet, have diligently laid together: For the farther clearing therefore of the matter, and taking away of doubts & scruples I will set down all their objections in order, first out of the scriptures then of fathers, last of reasons, and answer every one of them particularly. So shall it appear to such as are not blinded with a fore-conceived opinion and prejudice, that whatsoever show of probabilities ate brought to the contrary, yet the truth delivered by our Saviour Christ alloweth him whose wife committeth fornication to put her away and marry another.

The Schooledivines of latter years, & the Canōists, as for the most parte they were adicted comonly to S. Austins iudgmēnt, did likewise follow him herein & the Popes mainteining their doctrine for Catholique, have possessed the church of Rome with this opinion. But since in our dayes the light of good learning both for artes & tongues hath shined more brightly by Gods most gracious goodnes then in the former ages, and the holy scriptures by the help thereof have bene the better vnderstoode: the Pastors and Doctors of the reformed Churches have percieved & shewed, that if a mans wife defile her self with fornication, he may not onely put her away by Christs Doctrine but also marrie another. Wherein that they teach agreeably to the truth, and not erroneously, as Iesuits & Papists doe falsly and vniustly charge them. I will make manifest and prove (through Gods assistance) by expresse words of Christ, the truth it self. And because our adversaries doe weene that the cōtrarie hereof is strongly proved by sundrie arguments and obiecttions, which two of their newest writers Bellarmin the Iesuit & a namelesse author of an English pamphlet, have dilligētly laid together: For the farther clearing therefore of the matter, and taking away of doubts & scruples I will set downe all their obiections in order, first out of the scriptures then of fathers, last of reasons, and answer everie one of them particularly. So shall it appeare to such as are not blinded with a fore-conceived opinion and prejudice, that whatsoever shewe of probabilities ate brought to the contrarie, yet the truth delivered by our Saviour Christ alloweth him whose wife committeth fornication to put her away and marrie another.