A14992:55
A care-cloth
A care-cloth: or a treatise of the cumbers and troubles of marriage intended to advise them that may, to shun them; that may not, well and patiently to bear them. By William Whately, preacher of the word of God in Banbury, in Oxfordshire.A care-cloth: or a treatise of the cumbers and troubles of marriage intended to aduise them that may, to shun them; that may not, well and patiently to beare them. By William Whately, preacher of the word of God in Banbury, in Oxfordshire.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, 1624
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.
CHAP. VI. Containing the second use.
CHAP. VI. Containing the second vse.
Use 2 And this is one use to the unmarried, arising from the consideration of this point,1 that they may lawfully marry, from which also there followeth unto them a second instruction, to wit, that seeing they may lawfully marry, they take care to marry lawfully: for even a sinless action, may be made sin, to him that doth it in a sinful manner. When Paul affirmeth; ⟨p. 28⟩If thou marriest, thou sinnest not: He meaneth this, of marriage it self; in it self considered, nor also of the manner and other circumstances of marriage: for in these, whosoever disorders themselves, doth sin grievously, though marriage it self be not sin. Let us therefore propound some necessary directions, which if the unmarried observe, in the making of their marriage, they may be sure to do this lawful work lawfully. And, forbearing to mention those, which are common to all actions (viz. that the doer be in Christ, do them in faith, aim at the right end, and such like) let us name alone those that do particularly concern this present matter.2 Whosoever then is yet unmarried, and would be sure to marry lawfully, must have special care of two things: First, that he marry with a fit person: Secondly, that if he have parents, he take their consent with him. Now, in the persons to be thus joined, three properties are requisite; the first two being so absolutely needful, that without them, marriage is no marriage, but alone in name: the third, in such a degree needful, that it cannot be neglected, without great sin against God. Of these three, the first is, sufficient distance in blood and affinity; the second entire freedom from all other persons; the last, agreement in the same true Religion. For the first of these, the Lord hath expressly prohibited men and women, to come near any the kindred of their flesh. Whosoever therefore presumeth to be joined to any such, doth