I Beseech you speak more favourably,1 for this kind of speech is too filthy, declareth what you are, and increaseth most grievous judgement ⟨image 139⟩against you. For that marriage which is done in the fear of god, and for lawful causes, is both just and lawful, and being celebrated between those whom no cause which God hath ordained doth separate. And the lawful causes are declared Gen. 2. 3. &. Cor. 7. But the vows of the Spirituality are never once named amongest the impediments of marriage: wherefore they may marry, notwithstanding their vows. And the marriage of those are true and holy, and such a mans wife is not a wife only in name, or by supposition, but is so in deed, except the word of God deceive us. But whereas the authors of these questions whosoever they were, did call the lawful marriage of such men whoredom, or double adultery, it is horrible sin, and detestable impudency, yea heinous blasphemy, and proceedeth from most bitter malice. I pray you let them remember the words of Isaiah, saying: Woe be to those which call good evil, and evil good. And call you the marriage of such as in times paste had made vows a ⟨p. 137⟩doubled whoredom and incest, & judg• ye the lascivious, wicked, and adulterous life of these spiritual men which never a whit observe their vows, for a thing of nothing or a trifle? For what have they suffered for any such matter? Or who hurteth them for any such thing? But those which have married, ye seek utterly to destroy both with fire and sword, and yet in the mean time ye suffer horrible, and things worthy to be punished, which for the reverence of the godly ears I let slip and will not once name. But if ye be so bent to the earnest punishing of wickedness and ungodliness, why then do ye not punish those faults which God him self, and equity, and justice, commandeth to be punished? For where there is no lawful impediment found, no man ought to be punished for marriage.
I Beseche you speake more fauourably,1 for this kynde of speache is too filthy, declareth what you are, and encreseth most gréeuous iudgement ⟨image 139⟩agaynst you. For that mariage whiche is done in the feare of god, and for lawfull causes, is bothe iuste and lawefull, and béeing celebrated betwéene those whom no cause which God hath ordeyned dothe separate. And the lawefull causes are declared Gen. 2. 3. &. Cor. 7. But the vowes of the Spiritualtie are neuer once named amongest the impediments of mariage: wherefore they may marry, notwithstanding their vowes. And the mariage of those are true and holy, and suche a mans wyfe is not a wife onely in name, or by supposition, but is so in déede, except the word of God deceiue vs. But whereas the authors of these questions whosoeuer they were, dyd call the lawful mariage of such men whordome, or double adulterie, it is horrible sinne, and detestable impudencie, yea haynous blasphemie, and procéedeth from moste bytter malice. I pray you let them remember the words of Esay, saying: VVo be to those which call good euyll, and euyll good. And call you the mariage of such as in tymes paste had made vowes a ⟨p. 137⟩doubled whoredome and incest, & iudg• yée the lasciuious, wicked, and adulterous life of these spirituall men which neuer a whit obserue their vowes, for a thing of nothing or a trifle? For what haue they suffered for any such matter? Or who hurteth thē for any such thing? But those which haue maried, yée séeke vtterly to destroy bothe with fire and swoorde, and yet in the meane time yée suffer horrible, and things woorthy to be punished, which for the reuerence of the godly eares I let slippe and wil not once name. But if yée be so bent to the earnest punishing of wickednesse and vngodlynèsse, why then doe yée not punishe those faults which God him selfe, and equitie, and iustice, commaundeth to be punished? For where there is no lawfull impediment founde, no manne ought to be punished for marriage.
- 1The marriage of Priests is lawful.The mariage of Priestes is lavvefull.
