The Confession of the Faith of the Germans

¹Sixthly, though we have so many causes of disproving the law of perpetual abstinence from marriage: yet besides these causes there be many jeopardies of souls and open slanders and occasions of hurt, which, although the law were not unrighteous, yet it ought to fear away good men from the approving of such manner of burden, which hath destroyed innumerable souls. All good men have complained long of this burden, as well for their own cause, as for other mens cause, whom they did see to be in jeopardy. But these complaints no bishops do hear. And it is not unknown, how greatly this law doth hurt the common and public manners, what vices, what ungracious kinds of lechery it hath engendered and brought up. There be yet remaining the Roman satires. In these satires, Rome even these days also doth know and espy her manners touched. Thus god avengeth and punisheth the contempt and despising of his gift, and of his ordinance in those persons, which forbid wedlock. And sith in other laws the custom hath ben to change them, if evident utility have so required: why do they not the same in this law, in which there be so many weighty causes running together (namely these last days) why it ought to be changed? Nature waxeth old & is made daily weaker and weaker, and vices do increase / wherefore the remedies taught and given by god were the more to be used. We see what vice god doth accuse before the flood / what vice he doth accuse before the burning of the five Cities / Like vices have gone before the destructions ⟨image 173⟩of many other cities, as of Sybaris / of Rome. And in these is set forth an image or similitude of the times, which shall be next to the worlds end. Therefore principally at this time they ought to strengthen & to fortify wedlock with most sharp laws and ensamples, & to provoke men to wedlock. This appertaineth to the head officers and rulers, which ought to maintain good order in a common •eale. In the mean season, the preachers and teachers of the gospel, let them do both two things, I mean, let them exhort those that be uncontinent to wedlock / and again let them exhort other, that they do not despise the gift of continence. The bishops of Rome do daily dispense, do daily change other laws, yea although already they be very good:

¹Sixtely, though we haue so many causes of disprouynge the lawe of perpetuall abstinence from maryage: yet besydꝭ these causes there be many ieopardies of soules and open slaunders and occasions of hurte, whiche, althoughe the lawe were not vnryghtuous, yet it ought to feare away good men from the approuynge of suche maner of burden, whiche hath destroyed innumerable soules. All good men haue complayned longe of this burden, as wel for theyr owne cause, as for other mennes cause, whom they dyd se to be in ieoꝑdie. But these complaintes no byshops do heare. And it is not vnknowen, howe greatelye this lawe dothe hurte the comen and publyke maners, what vices, what vngratious kyndes of lecherye it hath engendred and broughte vp. There be yet remaynīg the Romayn satyres. In these satyres, Rome euen these dayes also dothe knowe and espie her maners touched. Thus god auengeth and ponysheth the contempte and despisinge of his gyfte, and of his ordenaunce in those persones, whiche forbyd wedlocke. And sythe in other lawes the custome hath ben to chaunge them, if euidente vtilitie haue so required: why do they not the same in this lawe, in whiche there be so many weyghtye causes rennynge together (namely these last dayes) why it ought to be chaūged? Nature waxeth olde & is made daylye weyker and weyker, and vices do encrease / wherfore the remedies taughte and gyuen by god were the more to be vsed. We see what vice god dothe accuse before the floode / what vice he dothe accuse before the brennyng of the fyue Cities / Lyke vices haue gone before the destructions