If these duties be performed in Marriage, then I need not speak 1of Divorcement, which is the rod of Marriage, and divideth them which were one flesh, as if the body and soul were parted a sunder. But because all perform not their Wedlock vows, therefore he which appointed Marriage, hath appointed Divorcement, as 2it were taking our privilege from us when we abuse it. As God hath ordained remedies for every disease, so he hath ordained a remedy for the disease of Marriage. ⟨p. 108⟩The disease of Marriage is Adultery, and the medicine hereof is Divorcement. Moses licensed them to depart for hardness of heart, but 3Christ licenseth them to depart for no cause but Adultery. If they might be separated for discord, some would make a commodity of strife; but now they are not best to be contentious, for this law will hold their noses together, till weariness make them leave struggling, like two spaniels which are coupled in a chain, at last they learn to go together, because they may not go a sunder. As nothing might part friends, But if thine eye offend thee pull it cut, that 4is, if thy friend be a tempter: so 5nothing may dissolve Marriage but Fornication, which is the breach of Marriage: for Marriage is ordained to avoid Fornication, ⟨p. 109⟩6and therefore if the condition be broken, the obligation is void. And beside, so long as all her children are his children, she must needs be his wife, because the father and mother are man & wife: but when her children are not his children, she seems no more to be his wife but the others, whose children she bears, and therefore to be divorced from him. In all the old Testament we read of no divorce between any, which showeth that they lived chaster than we: yet no doubt this law was better executed amongst them, than amongst us. Such a care God hath had in all ages & callings to provide for them which live honestly: for Divorcement is not instituted for the carnal, but for the chaste, least they should be tied to a plague while they live. As for the Adulterer ⟨p. 110⟩and Adulteress he hath assigned 7death to cut them off, least their breath should infect others. Thus he which made Marriage, did not make it unseparable, for then Marriage were a servitude. But as Christ saith of the Sabaoth, The Sabaoth was made for man, that is, 8for the benefit of man, and not for the hinderance of man:
If these dueties bee performed in Marriage, then I need not speak 1of Diuorcement, which is the rod of Marriage, and diuideth them which were one flesh, as if the bodie and soule were parted a sunder. But because all performe not their Wedlocke vowes, therfore hee which appoynted Marriage, hath appoynted Diuorcement, as 2it were taking our priuiledge frō vs when we abuse it. As God hath ordained remedies for euery disease, so he hath ordained a remedie for the disease of Marriage. ⟨p. 108⟩The disease of Marriage is Adulterie, and the medicine hereof is Diuorcement. Moses licenced thē to depart for hardnes of heart, but 3Christ licenseth them to depart for no cause but Adulterie. If they might bee separated for discorde, some would make a commoditie of strife; but now they are not best to bee contentious, for this lawe will hold their noses together, till wearines make them leaue strugling, like two spaniels which are coupled in a chaine, at last they learne to goe together, because they may not goe a sunder. As nothing might part friends, But if thine eye offend thee pull it cut, that 4is, if thy friend bee a tempter: so 5nothing may dissolue Marriage but Fornication, which is the breach of Marriage: for Marriage is ordained to auoid Fornication, ⟨p. 109⟩6and therefore if the condition bee broken, the obligation is voide. And beside, so long as all her children are his children, she must needes be his wife, because the father and mother are man & wife: but when her children are not his children, she seemes no more to be his wife but the others, whose children she beares, and therefore to be diuorsed from him. In all the old Testament we reade of no diuorce betweene any, which sheweth that they liued chaster thā we: yet no doubt this lawe was better executed amōgst thē, than amōgst vs. Such a care God hath had in al ages & callings to prouide for thē which liue honestly: for Diuorcement is not instituted for the carnall, but for the chast, least they should bee tied to a plague while they liue. As for the Adulterer ⟨p. 110⟩
- 1Divorcement the physic of Marriage.Diuorcement the phisicke of Marriage.
- 2Math. 18. 9.
- 3Math. 19. 8
- 4Mat. 5. 32.
- 5Mat. 19. 9.
- 61Cor. 7. 10.
- 7Leu. 20. 10.
- 8Mar. 2. 27.
