A69646:152
The Judgement of Martin Bucer concerning divorce written to Edward the sixth, in his…The Ivdgement of Martin Bucer concerning divorce written to Edward the sixt, in his…
The Judgement of Martin Bucer concerning divorce written to Edward the sixth, in his second book of the Kingdom of Christ, and now Englished : wherein a late book restoring the doctrine and discipline of divorce is here confirmed and justified by the authority of Martin Bucer to the Parliament of England.The Ivdgement of Martin Bucer concerning divorce written to Edward the sixt, in his second book of the Kingdom of Christ, and now Englisht : wherein a late book restoring the doctrine and discipline of divorce is heer confirm'd and justify'd by the authoritie of Martin Bucer to the Parlament of England.
London: printed by Matthew Simmons, 1644
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE JUDGEMENT OF MARTIN BUCER TOUCHING DIVORCE. › Chapter 40
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.
But here the Patrons of wickedness and dissolvers of Christian discipline will object, that it is the part of man and wife to bear one another's cross, whether in calamity, or infamy, that they might gain each other, if not to a good name, yet to repentance and amendment. But they who thus object, seek the impunity of wickedness, and the favour of wicked men, not the duties of true charity; which prefers ⟨p. 19⟩public honesty before private interest; and had rather the remedies of wholesome punishment appointed by God should be in use, then that by remissness the licence of evil doing should increase. For if they who by committing such offences, have made void the holy knot of marriage, be capable of repentance, they will be sooner moved when due punishment is executed on them; then when it is remitted.
But heer the Patrons of wickednes and dissolvers of Christian discipline will object, that it is the part of man and wife to bear one anothers crosse, whether in calamit•e, or infamy, that they might gain each other, if not to a good name, yet to repentance and amendment. But they who thus object, seek the impunity of wickednes, and the favour of wicked men, not the duties of true charity; which preferrs ⟨p. 19⟩public honesty before private interest; and had rather the remedies of wholsom punishment appointed by God should be in use, then that by remisness the licence of evil doing should encrease. For if they who by committing such offences, have made void the holy knott of mariage, be capable of repentance, they will be sooner mov'd when due punishment is executed on them; then when it is remitted.
We must ever beware, lest, in contriving what will be best for the souls health of delinquents, we make our selves wiser and discreeter then God. He that religiously weighs his oracles concerning marriage, cannot doubt that they who have committed the foresaid transgressions, have lost the right of matrimony, and are unworthy to hold their dignity in an honest and Christian family.