The second cause why matrimony 1was ordained, is the begetting of children for the preservation of mankind by increase, and the bringing of them up in the fear of the Lord. For the Lord blessed Adam and Eva, saying: Increase and multiply, & replenish the earth. Paul the Apostle in his Epistle to Titus sayeth: Speak to the elder women that they may teach honest things, that they may make the younger women to be sober minded, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discrete, house keepers, good, obedient to their husbands. And again to Timothy: Adam was not deceived, but the woman was seduced, notwithstanding through bearing of children she shall be saved, if they continue in faith, and charity, and holiness, with modesty. But the begetting of children were altogether unprofitable, if they were not well brought up. For she, that loveth her children in deed, doth bring them up in the fear of the Lord Which bringing up is no small commodity to the common weal & Church of God. The glory also and worship of God, is greatly augmented, when ⟨p. 226⟩as by wedlock there doth spring up a great number of men that acknowledge call upon, & worship god as they ought to do. The third cause why matrimony was ordained, yt Apostle Paul 2expresseth in these words: To avoid whoredom let every man have his own wife, & every woman her own husband. It were good and expedient for a man not to touch a woman, and to live single, but because this is not given to all men, as yt Lord in the gospel testifieth, and that concupiscence of the flesh doth for the most part, burn the greatest sort of men, the Lord hath appointed marriage to be as it were a remedy against that heat, as the Apostle in an other place witnesseth, saying: Let them marry which cannot abstain: for it is better to marry than to burn. By this we learn that the natural company of a man with his own wife, is not reputed for a fault or uncleanness in the sight of God. Whoredom is uncleanness in the eyes of the Lord, because it is directly contrary to the law of God. But God hath allowed wedlock and blessed it, therefore married folks are sanctified by y• blessing of God through faith and obedience. Neither lack we here any evident arguments, and testimonies of Paul to prove it by. For to the Hebrews he said: Wedlock is honourable among all men, and the bed undefiled:
The second cause why matrimonie 1was ordeyned, is the begetting of children for the preseruation of mankinde by increase, and the bringing of them vppe in the feare of the Lord. For the Lord blessed Adam and Eua, saying: Increase and multiplie, & replenishe the earth. Paule the Apostle in his Epistle to Titus saieth: Speake to the elder women that they maye teache honest thinges, that they may make the younger women to be sober minded, to loue their husbandes, to loue their childrē, to be discrete, hous keepers, good, obedient to their husbands. And againe to Timothie: Adam was not deceiued, but the woman was seduced, notwithstandinge through bearing of children she shal bee saued, if they continue in faith, and charitie, and holines, with modestie. But the begetting of children were altogether vnprofitable, if they were not wel brought vppe. For shée, that loueth her children in déede, doth bring them vp in ye feare of the Lord Which bringing vppe is no small cō moditie to the comon weale & Church of God. The glorie also and worship of God, is greatly augmented, when ⟨p. 226⟩as by wedlocke there doth spring vp a great number of men yt acknowledge cal vpon, & worship god as they ought to do. The third cause whie matrimonie was ordeyned, yt Apostle Paul 2expresseth in these words: To auoide whoredome let euery man haue his owne wife, & euery woman her owne husband. It were good and expedient for a man not to touch a woman, and to liue single, but because this is not giuen to al men, as yt Lord in the gospel testifieth, and that cōcupiscence of the flesh doth for the most part, burne the greatest sort of mē, the Lord hath appointed mariage to be as it were a remedie against that heate, as the Apostle in an other place witnesseth, saying: Let them marrie which cānot absteine: for it is better to marrie than to burne. By this we learne that the natural cōpany of a man with his owne wife, is not reputed for a fault or vncleanesse in the sight of God. Whoredom is vncleannesse in the eyes of the Lord, because it is directly contrary to the lawe of God. But God hath allowed wedlocke and blessed it, therefore married folkes are sanctified by y• blessing of God throughe faith and obedience. Neither lacke we here any euident argumentes, and testimonies of Paule to proue it by. For to the Hebrewes he said: Wedlock is honourable among al men, and the bed vndefiled:
- 1The begetting and bringing up of children.The begetting and bringing vp of children.
- 2The bed •• wedlock undefiled.The bedd •• wed•ocke vn•efiled.
