A17219:375
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.
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.