A Brief and Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith

Of marriage.

Of mariage.

For marriage it hath been said before in what reverence we have it according as it is Printed in our service Books, plainly to be seen. But these men be for the most part, as great contemners of marriage, as they are great lovers of all kind of lechery and whoredom (as heaven and earth can witness) putting marriage when they list, in the place and number of the Sacraments, by a very apish and ignorant manner. As it hath been declared to them, I think a thousand times. Yet notwithstanding will ⟨image 168⟩they permit the spiritualty as they call them, to use this sacrament? No truly, least that Christendom should be lost. So much seemeth this sacrament to them to be polluted and filthy. And in deed I confess that whoredom of all kinds appertaineth and agreeth better with them: I leave out the means by the which they pollute the holy state of matrimony, as much as in them is, their foolish benedictions, their false opinion touching the second marriages, the bondage and servitude laid upon the conscience touching affinity, both spiritual and temporal. I pray them of one thing, if they would not be angry with that I shall say, that they would accord & show me their opinion that marriage is a sacrament, with one sentence registered in their decrees, (whom it maketh author one of their Popes named Sircius) to wit, whether that which Saint Paul said, those which be in the flesh can not please God, be understand of marriage or not.

For mariage it hath bene sayde before in what reuerence we haue it according as it is Printed in our seruice Bookes, plainly to be séene. But these men be for the most parte, as great contempners of maryage, as they are great louers of all kinde of lechery and whoredome (as heauen and earth can wytnes) puttyng maryage when they lysfe, in the place and number of the Sacramentes, by a verie apishe and ignoraunt manner. As it hath bene declared to them, I thynke a thousande tymes. Yet notwithstanding wyll