A68831:1854
The whole works of W. Tyndall, John Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs,…The vvhole workes of W. Tyndall, Iohn Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs,…
The whole works of W. Tyndall, John Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs, and principal teachers of this Church of England collected and compiled in one tome together, being before scattered, [and] now in print here exhibited to the Church. To the praise of God, and profit of all good Christian readers.The vvhole workes of W. Tyndall, Iohn Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs, and principall teachers of this Churche of England collected and compiled in one tome togither, beyng before scattered, [and] now in print here exhibited to the Church. To the prayse of God, and profite of all good Christian readers.
London: printed by John Daye, 1573London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1573
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.
Why may not a widow of fifty do service unto the poor? Paul which knitteth no snares nor leadeth us blind nor teacheth us without a reason giving of his doctrine, answereth, for fear of occasions of evil, lest she be tempted or tempt other: And then if she be taken in misdoing, the doctrine of Christ be evil spoken of thereto and the weak offended.
Why may not a widow of fifty do seruice vnto the poore? Paule whiche knytteth no snares nor leadeth vs blind nor teacheth vs without a reason geuing of his doctrine, aunswereth, for feare of occasions of euill, lest she be tempted or tempt other: And then if she be taken in misdoyng, the doctrine of Christ be euill spoken of therto and the weake offended.
And when M. More mocketh with my reason that I would have every Priest to have a wife because few men can live chaste, I answer, that if he loved the honour of Christ and his neighbour as he doth his own covetousness, he should find that a good Argument. Paul maketh the same and much more slenderly then I after your sophistry. For he disputeth thus, some young widows 1do dishonest the congregation of Christ and his doctrine, therefore shall no young widow at all minister in the common service thereof: But shall all be married & bear children and serve their husbands. And it is a far less rebuke to the doctrine of Christ and his congregation, that a woman should do amiss, then the Bishop or Priest. I am not so mad, to think that there could no Priest at all line chaste. Neither am I so foolish to think that there be not as many women that could live chaste at fifty, as Priests as xxiiij. And yet though of a thousand widows of fifty year old ix. hundred xc. & ix. could live chaste, Paul because he knoweth not that one will let none at all minister in the common service among occasions of unchastity. Christs Apostles considered all infirmities and all that might hinder the doctrine of Christ, and therefore did their best to prevent all occasions. Wherefore, 2as fish is no better then flesh, nor flesh better then fish in the kingdom of Christ, even so virginity wedlock and widowed are none better then other to be saved by in their own nature