For this cause, Malachi saith, 1that God did create but one Woman for the man, he had power to create moe, but to show that he would have him stick to one, therefore he created of one rib but one wife for one husband: and in the Ark, there were no moe women than men. But four 2wives for four husbands, although it was in the beginning of the world, when many wives might seem necessary to multiply mankind. If any might have a dispensation herein, it seems the King might be privileged before any other, because of succession to the ⟨p. 17⟩Crown, if his wife should happen to be barren. And yet the King is forbidden to take many wives in Deut. 17. 17. as well as 3the Minister in 1. Timo. 3. 2. showing, that the danger of the state, doth not countervail the danger of fornication. For this cause we read of none but wicked Lamech before the Flood, that had moe 4wives than one, whom Jovinian calleth a monster, because he made 2. ribs of one. And another saith, that the name of his second wife doth signify a shadow, because she was not a wife, but the shadow of a wife: for this cause the Scripture never biddeth man to love his wives, but to love his Wife, and sayeth, They shall be two in one flesh, not three, nor 5four, but only two. For this cause, Solomon calleth the whorish ⟨p. 18⟩woman a strange woman, to show that she should be a stranger to us, and we should be strange to her. 6For this cause, children which are borne in marriage, are called Liberi, which signifieth free borne: and they which are borne out of marriage, are called Bastards, that is, base borne, like the Mule which is engendered of an Ass & a Mare. 7Therefore adulterers are likened 8to the Devil, which sowed another mans ground, other sow for a Harvest, but they sow that which they dare not reap. Therefore children borne in Wedlock were counted Gods blessing, because they come by virtue of that 9blessing, Increase and multiply. But 10before Adam and Eve were married, God never said Increase, showing, that he did curse and not bless such increase. Therefore ⟨p. 19⟩we read not in all the Scripture 11of one Bastard that came to any good, but only Jephthah, and to 12show that no inheritance did belong 13to them in heaven, they had no inheritance in earth, neither were counted of the congregation, as other were. Deut. 23. 2.
For this cause, Malachi sayth, 1that God did create but one Woman for the man, he had power to create moe, but to shewe that he woulde haue him sticke to one, therefore he created of one ribbe but one wife for one husbande: and in the Arke, there were no moe women than men. But foure 2wiues for four husbands, although it was in the beginning of the world, when many wiues might seeme necessarie to multiply mankinde. If any might haue a dispensation heerein, it seemes the King might be priuiledged before any other, because of succession to the ⟨p. 17⟩Crowne, if his wife should happen to be barren. And yet the King is forbidden to take many wiues in Deut. 17. 17. as well as 3the Minister in 1. Timo. 3. 2. shewing, that the danger of the state, doth not counteruaile the danger of fornication. For this cause we reade of none but wicked Lamech before the Flood, that had moe 4wiues than one, whome Iouinian calleth a monster, because he made 2. ribs of one. And another saith, that the name of his second wife doth signifie a shadowe, because she was not a wife, but the shaddowe of a wife: for this cause the Scripture neuer biddeth man to loue his wiues, but to loue his Wife, and sayeth, They shall be two in one fleshe, not three, nor 5foure, but onely two. For this cause, Salomon calleth the whorish ⟨p. 18⟩woman a strange woman, to shew that she should be a stranger to vs, and we should be strange to her. 6For this cause, children which are borne in mariage, are called Liberi, which signifieth free borne: and they which are borne out of marriage, are called Bastards, that is, base borne, like the Mule which is ingendred of an Asse & a Mare. 7Therefore adulterers are likened 8
- 1Mal. 2. 15.
- 21. Pet. 3. 20.
- 3Deut. 17. 17. 1. Tim. 3. 2.
- 4Gen. 4. 23.
- 5Math. 9. 5.
- 6Prou. 2. 16.
- 7Gen. 36. 24.
- 8Fornicators like the Devil. Mat. 13. 25.Fornicators like the Deuill. Mat. 13. 25.
- 9Psal. 128. 4.
- 10Gen. 1. 28.
- 11Bastards.
- 12Jud. 11. 1.Iud. 11. 1.
- 13They might be saved, but they had the mark of a curse.They might be saued, but they had the marke of a cursse.
