A17084:26
The gratulation of the most famous clerk M. Martin Bucer a man of no…The gratulation of the mooste famous clerke M. Martin Bucer a man of no…
The gratulation of the most famous clerk M. Martin Bucer a man of no less learning and literature, then godly study and example of living, unto the church of England for the restitution of Christs religion. And his answer unto the two railing epistles of Steve[n], Bishop of Winchester, concerning the unmarried state of priests and cloisterers, wherein is evidently declared, that it is against the laws of God, and of his church to require of all such as be and must be admitted to priesthood, to refrain from holy matrimony. Translated out of Latin in to English.The gratulation of the mooste famous clerke M. Martin Bucer a man of no lesse learninge and lyterature, then godlye studie and example of lyuing, vnto the churche of Englande for the restitucion of Christes religion. And hys answere vnto the two raylinge epistles of Steue[n], Bisshoppe of Winchester, concerninge the vnmaried state of preestes and cloysterars, wherein is euidently declared, that it is against the lawes of God, and of his churche to require of all suche as be and must be admitted to preesthood, to refrain from holye matrimonie. Translated out of Latin in to Englishe.
printed by Richard Jugge, 1549printed by Richard Iugge, 1549
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Finally I laid against him with the scripture of God, both the decrees and authorities of holy fathers, & of such fathers as sought by all means to have priests unmarried, whose decrees and sentences, if they be had in ⟨image 12⟩any estimation, as they ought to be (for they hang upon Gods very word & law) prove that of a thousand priests at this day, scarce on can be found which may remain in this holy ministry: & that not only for their vicious and filthy chastity, but also because they be entangled in the business of the world & are neither learned nor diligent to feed the lords flock, so that they take not their unmarried state upon them for the kingdom of heavens sake, but for fat benefices & ecclesiastical dignities.
Finallye I layde againste him with the scripture of God, both the decrees and aucthorities of holy fathers, & of suche fathers as sought by all meanes to haue preestes vnmaryed, whose decrees and sentences, yf they be had in ⟨image 12⟩any estimatiō, as they ought to be (for they hange vpon Gods verie worde & lawe) proue that of a thousande preestes at this daye, scarse on can be founde whiche may remaine in this holye ministerye: & that not allonlie for their vitious and filthie castitie, but also because they be entangled in the busines of the worlde & are nother learned nor diligent to feade the lordes flocke, so that they take not their v•maried state vpon them for the kingdom of heauēs sake, but for fatte benefices & ecclesiasticall dignities.
And so by thes undoubted principles of holy doctrine,1 & concluded by gods very decrees, I declared that, for so much as it is earnestly sought for in them at this day, which must be admitted to take cure of the churches, to vow chastity, else must be constrained to forsake this ministry, in case (that they may the better live) they take wives according to the lords commandment in their priesthood, or after they have vowed their solitary life: it can be attributed to no church,