Of domesticall duties eight treatises. I. An exposition of that part of Scripture out…

1. As for this supposed Sacrament, no Papist could ever ⟨p. 127⟩show when or where God ordained it to be a Sacrament. Nay, they agree not among themselves about the time, how long it hath been a Sacrament. ^*Some of them hold, that ever since the first institution of marriage in Paradise, it hath been a Sacrament. But the greater number of Papists hold it to be a Sacrament ²of the new Testament under the Gospel, because their Tridentine Council hath so decreed it. Where we may note how the greater number of them, when two absurdities are questioned, are ready to fall into the worst. Under the Law the nonage of the Church needed, and had more Sacraments then under the Gospel: yet that which was in use as much under the Law as under the Gospel, and had then as much to make it a Sacrament as now, was then none, yet now is one.

1. As for this supposed Sacrament, no Papist could euer ⟨p. 127⟩shew when or where God ordained it to be a Sacrament. Nay, they agree not among themselues about the time, how long it hath beene a Sacrament. ^*Some of them hold, that euer since the first institution of mariage in Paradise, it hath beene a Sacrament. But the greater number of Papists hold it to be a Sacrament ²of the new Testament vnder the Gospell, because their Tridentine Councell hath so decreed it. Where we may note how the greater number of them, when two absurdities are questioned, are readie to fall into the worst. Vnder the Law the nonage of the Church needed, and had more Sacraments then vnder the Gospell: yet that which was in vse as much vnder the Law as vnder the Gospell, and had then as much to make it a Sacrament as now, was then none, yet now is one.

1. *Alphons. à Castro contr. haer. lib. 3.