Our Lord Christ after he had1 in the. 19. of Matthew, taught that a man might not put away his wife for every cause ⟨p. 121⟩and there upon the disciples had said, If the matter be so then is it better not to marry. He answereth: All men cannot receive this saying save they too whom it is given: and then making mention of three sorts of chaste, addeth: He that is able to receive this, let him receive it. By which words in deed, he testifieth and manifestly teacheth, that the gift to live chaste and without marriage is not common or given to all men as that any who list might abstain from marriage & lead an acceptable life unto God. For every man ought first too examine him self, whether he have this gift given unto him of GOD or not. And then if he perceive him self too be chaste, that is to say unfit for marriage, either by birth, or because he was so made by men, or because he hath received this gift of God to live chastely, and knoweth that he is able so to do, then may the same live without marriage. And I therefore say, that he may if he can, because S. Paul thus writeth. 1. Cor. 7. Nevertheless he that stā death firm in his heart, that he hath no ⟨image 132⟩need, but hath power over his own vvill, and hath so decreed in his heart, that he vvil keep his virginity, he doth well. But if any man feel not him self to be such, to them hath Christ taught, that Matrimony is the institution of God, that so they which are able thereunto, may live therein. And in like sort doth Paul in the alleged place, write, saying: Of Virgins or of Virginity, I have no commandment, but I give you my counsel. &c. And again, But for the avoiding of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and every woman her own husband. Again: If they have not the gift of chastity, let them marry: it is better to marry than to burn. Wherefore we say that Matrimony is left free to all men of God, neither ought any man to be forbidden the same, if they have not the singular gift of God to live chaste.
OUr Lord Christ after he had1 in the. 19. of Mathewe, taught that a man mighte not put away his wife for euery cause ⟨p. 121⟩and there vppon the disciples had said, If the matter bee so then is it better not to marie. He answereth: All men cannot receiue thys saying saue they too whome it is geuen: and then making mention of thrée sorts of chast, addeth: Hee that is able to receiue this, let hym receiue it. By which wordes in déed, he testifieth and manifestly teacheth, that the gifte to liue chast and without mariage is not common or giuen to all mē as that any who list might abstein from mariage & leade an acceptable life vnto God. For euery man ought first too examine him self, whether he haue this gifte geuen vnto him of GOD or not. And then if hée perceiue him selfe too be chaste, that is to say vnfitte for mariage, either by byrthe, or bycause hée was so made by men, or bicause he hath receiued this gift of God to liue chastly, and knoweth that he is able so to doe, then may the same liue without mariage. And I therfore say, that he may if hée can, bycause S. Paule thus writeth. 1. Cor. 7. Neuerthelesse he that stā deth firme in hys harte, that hee hath no ⟨image 132⟩neede, but hathe povver ouer his ovvne vvill, and hathe so decreed in his heart, that he vvil keepe his virginitie, he doth vvell. But if any man feele not him self to be suche, to them hath Christ taught, that Matrimonie is the institution of God, that so they which are able thereunto, may liue therein. And in like sort doth Paule in the aleaged place, wryte, saying: Of Virgines or of Virginitie, I haue no commaundemente, but I giue you my counsell. &c. And againe, But for the auoiding of fornication, lette euery manne haue his ovvne vvife, and euery vvoman hir ovvne husbande. Againe: If they haue not the gifte of chastitie, lette them marrie: it is better to marrie than to burne. Wherefore wée say that Matrimonie is lefte frée to all menne of God, neyther ought any man to be forbidden the same, if they haue not the singulare gifte of God to liue chaste.
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