A preparative to marriage The sum whereof was spoken at a contract, and enlarged…A preparatiue to mariage The summe whereof was spoken at a contract, and inlarged…

Lastly, if Marriage be a remedy against sin, then Marriage it self is no sin: for if Marriage it self were a sin, we might not marry for any cause, because we must not do the least evil that the greatest ⟨p. 23⟩¹good may come of it: and if Marriage be not a sin, then the ^*duties of Marriage are no sin, that is, the secret of Marriage is not evil, and therefore Paul saith not only Marriage is honourable, but the bed is honourable, that is, even ³the action of Marriage is as lawful, as Marriage. Besides Paul saith, Let the Husband give unto the Wife ⁴due benevolence: here is a commandment to yield this duty: that which is commanded, is lawful; and not to do it, is a breach of the commandment. Therefore Marriage was instituted before any sin was, to show that there is no sin in it if it be not abused: but because this is rare, therefore after women were delivered, God ⁵appointed them to be purified, showing, that some stain or other doth creep into this action, which ⟨p. 24⟩had need to be repented, and therefore when they prayed, Paul would not have them come together, ⁶least their prayers should be hindered.

Lastly, if Mariage be a remedie against sinne, then Mariage it selfe is no sinne: for if Mariage it selfe were a sinne, we might not marrie for any cause, because we must not do the least euill that the greatest ⟨p. 23⟩¹good may come of it: and if Mariage be not a sinne, then the ^*