A17171:111
The gold[n] book of christen matrimony most necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that…The golde[n] boke of christen matrimonye moost necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that…
The gold[n] book of christen matrimony most necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that intend to live quietly and godly in the Christen state of holy wedlock newly set forth in English by Theodore Basil.The golde[n] boke of christen matrimonye moost necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that entend to liue quietly and godlye in the Christen state of holy wedlock newly set forthe in English by Theodore Basille.
London: printed for Joha, 1543London: printed for Ioha, 1543
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 unbeliever regardeth not this cause, but 1feareth he shall have to many children, putteth not his trust in God, will not give himself to labour, and therefore lacketh he the honour and good, ye groweth out of thi•te unto the faith full, whose heart & lust, is set with his marriage to please God, and to plant & bring forth profitable fruit unto men, yet happeneth it many times, that even they which fear God, are dis appointed of this fruit, and that verily because that they (not without the ordinance of God) should have no children together which thing the faithful also doth patiently take at the hand of God giving him thanks for that in troublous time of famine, battle, persecution & pestilence their cross is so much more the easier to carry, aswell as he (to whom God giveth children) doth earnestly thank him for making him fruit ⟨image 38⟩full. Of all this have we a notable ensample in the three holy Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac & Ja cob, which is more manifest unto every man, than that we need to speak further thereof. There fore though this cause fail, so that God will give the no children, yet is thy marriage right in the sight of God. For there be other causes also, for the which wedlock was ordained, and for the which it is contracted.
The vnbeleuer regardeth not this cause, but 1feareth he shall haue to many chyldren, putteth not his trust in God, wyll not giue hymselfe to laboure, and therfore lacketh he the honour and good, ye groweth out of thi•te vnto the fayth full, whose harte & lust, is set with hys mariage to please God, and to plante & brynge forth profitable frute vnto men, yet happenethe it many tymes, that euen they whiche feare God, are dis apoynted of thys frute, and that verely because that they (not without the ordinaunce of God) shulde haue no chyldren togyther whiche thynge the faythfull also doth paciently take at ye hande of God gyuynge hym thankes for that in troublouse tyme of famyn, battayle, persecuciō & pestilence theyr crosse is so muche more thesyer to cary, aswell as he (to whō God gyueth chyldrē) doth ernestly thāke hym for makyng hym frute ⟨image 38⟩