A17219:379
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.
And yet the order of the younger widows in the primitive Church is not to be compared with the order of your Priests, Monks, and Nuns, because they had their institution from God, but the order of your Priests, Monks, and Nuns, was never instituted by God. Last of all the Apostle doth open his own meaning, saying: Therefore I vvill that the younger widows marry to bring forth children. &c. And that Paul speaketh in this place of them which have dedicated ⟨p. 138⟩them selves to the ministry of the Church, the whole circumstances of the words do declare.
And yet the order of the yonger widowes in the primatiue Churche is not to be compared with the order of youre Priestes, Munkes, and Nunnes, bicause they hadde their institution from God, but the order of youre Priestes, Munkes, and Nunnes, was neuer instituted by God. Laste of all the Apostle dothe open his owne meaning, saying: Therefore I vvill that the yonger vvidovves marrie to bring forthe children. &c. And that Paule speaketh in this place of them which haue dedicated ⟨p. 138⟩them selues to the ministerie of the Church, the whole circumstances of the woordes doe declare.
When in time paste it was asked1 of Saint Cyprian the Martyr, what should be done with those Virgins, which had vowed to keep their virginity, but by reason of the continual resort of men, they lived in an evil name: a Synod of godly learned Bishops being called together, he answered: If by Faith they did vow them selves to Christ, they would continue chaste and unspotted without any deceit. But if they will not, neither yet can so continue, it is better they marry than burn in their unsatiable lusts. Cyp. lib. 1. Epist. 11. And S. Augustine in his book de bono viduitatis in his ninth chap. upon the words of S. Paul in his first Epistle to Timothy, and the fifth chapter, hath interpreted the same place even as we have done: and also he addeth more, saying: that those men do not rightly weigh this matter, which deny such marriages to be true wedlock.