A69646:154
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 if any husband or wife•see such signs of repentance in their transgressor, as that they doubt not to regain them by continuing with them, and partaking of their miseries and attaintures, they may be left to their own hopes, and their own mind, saving ever the right of Church and Common-wealth, that it receive no scandal by the neglect of due severity, and their children no harm by this invitation to licence, and want of good education.
But if any husband or wife•see such sigues of repentance in thir transgressor, as that they doubt not to regain them by continuing with them, and partaking of thir miseries and attaintures, they may be left to thir own hopes, and thir own mind, saving ever the right of Church and Common-wealth, that it receav no scandal by the neglect of due severity, and thir children no harm by this invitation to licence, and want of good education.
From all these considerations, if they be thought on, as in the presence of God, and out of his Word, any one may perceive, who desires to determine of these things by the Scripture, that those causes of lawful divorce, which the most religious Emperors Theodosius and Valentinian set forth in the forecited place, are according to the law of God, and the prime institution of marriage. And were still more and more straitened, as the Church and State of the Empire still more and more corrupted and degenerated. Therefore pious Princes & Common-wealths both may and ought establish them again, if they have a mind to restore the honour, sanctity, and religion of holy wedlock to their people, and dis-entangle many consciences from a miserable and perilous condition, to a chaste and honest life.
From all these considerations, if they be thought on, as in the presence of God, and out of his Word, any one may perceav, who desires to determine of these things by the Scripture, that those causes of lawfull divorce, which the most religious Emperours Tbeodosius and Valentinian set forth in the forecited place, are according to the law of God, and the prime institution of mariage. And were still more and more straitn'd, as the Church and State of the Empire still more and more corrupted and degenerated. Therfore pious Princes & Common-wealths both may and ought establish them again, if they have a mind to restore the honour, sanctitie, and religion of holy wedlock to thir people, and dis-intangle many consciences from a miserable and perilous condition, to a chaste and honest life.