A17084:52
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.
The falseness of the first proposition ⟨image 22⟩every man may know hereof: GOD hath pu•te all good arts in mans free power, no less then chastity and matrimony. For if any man chose to him the art of tilling the ground, or any handy craft, or any art which hath the use of reason in it,1 in that forsoeth by it self he sinneth not. For good never prohibited any to learn these arts. Whereof truly can not follow that God therefore giveth to every one the very faculty, that what art soever a man hath chosen to him, the same also he may throughly learn, and that without God give it, he should seem not to be liberal towards some. As for example, if any be made and borne to the works of the body, and very unapt to those arts, whereupon the exercise of the mind consisteth, but if he put his will to, and will pray that he may be endued with the faculty to learn many tongues, and the Philosophical arts must it therefore be granted that god (if he will ⟨image 23⟩not seem to show more liberality to some then to other) will grant him that faculty that he may be shortly cunning in many tongues and arts? But to spread abroad and to furnish Gods kingdom, the knowledge of tongues and good arts are of more effect, then to be without a wife: which thing chanceth both to children and fools, and yet by their chastity may they not profit the church, as the other can that are endued with good arts.
The falsenes of the firste proposytyon ⟨image 22⟩euerye man may knowe hereof: GOD hathe pu•te all good artes in mans fre power, no lesse then chastitie and matrimonye. For yf any man chose to hym the arte of tyllynge the grounde, or any handy craft, or anye arte whiche hathe the vse of reason in it,1 in that forsoeth by it selfe he sinneth not. For good neuer prohibited anye to learne these artes. Wherof truelye can not followe that God therfore geueth to euerye one the verye facultie, that what arte soeuer a man hath chosen to him, the same also he may throughlye learne, and that without God geue it, he shoulde seme not to be liberall towardes some. As for example, yf anye be made and borne to the workes of the bodye, and verye vnapte to those artes, wherevpon the exercyse of the mynde consisteth, but yf he put hys wyll to, and wyll pray that he maye be indued with the facultye to learne many tunges, and the Philosophycall artes muste it therfor be graunted that god (yf he wyll