A10322:37
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…
A defence of the judgment of the Reformed churches. That a man may lawfully not only put away his wife for her adultery, but also marry another. / Wherein both Robert Bellarmin the Jesuits Latin treatise, and an English pamphlet of a nameless author maintaining the contrary are co[n]futed by John Raynolds. A taste of Bellarmins dealing in controversies of religion: how he depraveth Scriptures, misalleagthe [sic] fathers, and abuseth reasons to the perverting of the truth of God, and poisoning of his Church with error..A defence of the iudgment of the Reformed churches. That a man may lawfullie not onelie put awaie his wife for her adulterie, but also marrie another. / Wherin both Robert Bellarmin the Iesuites Latin treatise, and an English pamphlet of a namelesse author mainteyning the contrarie are co[n]futed by Iohn Raynolds. A taste of Bellarmins dealing in controversies of religion: how he depraveth Scriptures, misalleagthe [sic] fathers, and abuseth reasons to the perverting of the truth of God, and poisoning of his Churche with errour..
Dordrecht: printed by George Walters, 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.
The firstk they deny to wit that the clause of exception in Christs speech [except it be for whoredom] doth argue that the man committeth not adultery, who, having put away his wife for whoredom, marrieth another. And to overthrow this proposition, they do bring sundry answers and evasions. The best of all which as Bellarmin avoucheth, is, that those words [except it be for whoredom] are not an exception. For Christ (saith he) meant those words 1[except for whoredom] not as an exception, but as a negation. So that the sense is whosoever shall put away his wife. except for whoredom; that is to say 2without the cause of whoredom, & shall marry another doth commit adultery. Whereby it is affirmed that he is an adulterer who having put away his wife without the cause of whoredom, marrieth another: but nothing is said touching ⟨p. 4⟩him who marrieth another, having put away his former wife for whore dome. In deed this evasion might have some colour for it, if these words of Christ [except it be for whoredom] were not an exception. But neither hath Bellarmin ought that may suffice for the proof hereof and the very text of the scripture it self is soe clear against him, that he must of necessity give over his hold. For the principal pillar wherewith he under proppeth it, is S.l Austins judgment, who hath so expounded it in his first book touching adulterous marriages: Now of that treatise S. mAustin saith himself in his retractations I have written two books touching adulterous marriages, as near as I could according to the scriptures being desirous to open and loose the knots of a most difficult question. Which whether I have done so that no knot is left therein, I know not: nay rather I perceive that I have not done it perfectly, and throughly, although I have opened many creeks thereof, as whosoever readeth with judgment may discern. S. Augustin then acknowledgeth that there are some wants & imperfections in that work which they may see who read with judgment. And whether this that Bellarmin doth allege out of it, deserve not to fall within the compass of that censure I appeal to their judgment who have eyes to see: For S. Augustin thought that the word in the original of S. Mathews gospel, had, by the Proper signification of it, imported a negation rather then an exception.