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 beginning & first original of holy wedlock, when, where, how, and by whom it was ordained and instituted. ¶ The first Chapter.

¶ The begynnynge & fyrste originall of holy wedlocke, whan, wher, how, and by whome it was ordined and instituted. ¶ The fyrst Chapter.

Wham our Lord Jesus Christ in the r•r. of Matthew, was spoken to in •ertayne points concerning wedlock, he had a respect behind him in to the old Testament, & gave answer ⟨image 20⟩out of Moses, that he said, how that wedlock at the beginning was ordained of God himself. For as much therefore as I now also am mine dead to speak of the beginning and first original of holy wedlock, I •owe no better, than in like manner to stablish the same out of the right excellent Prophet of God Moses, who writeth & testifieth in the second Chapter of his first book, that God made the man Adam altogether perfect, set h• in the Paradise or garden of pleasure, and after ward said immediately: It is not good that man should be alone. I will make him a fellow helper to stand next by him. For when the Lord ¹had shapen man out of the earth, he brought unto him all manner of beasts, that he might give every one his right name, how it should be called, & that he might look upon them. But among them all found he none apt to be joined unto him self, none that he could set his heart upon, none like him self, none that he might dwell by as by an helper and comforter. And upon this said God: It is not good, that man should be alone. And therefore determined he with him self, to make an help and comfort unto man. In the which process we perceive already, where holy ²wedlock was instituted, namely in the Paradise and garden of pleasure: yea and when it was ordained, even in the beginning of the world