A17219:349
Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the sameQuestions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same
Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the same: and answered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into English by John Cox. 1572Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same: and aunswered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into Englishe by Iohn Coxe. 1572
London: printed by Henry Bynneman for George Byshop, 1572London: printed by Henrie Bynneman for George Byshop, 1572
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 Answer.
The Answere.
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.