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…

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to destroy the works of Satan, send down his Spirit upon all Christians, and principally upon Christian Governors both in Church and Common-wealth (for of the clear judgement of your royal Majesty I nothing doubt, revolving the Scripture so often as ye do) that they may acknowledge how much they provoke the anger of God against us, when as all kind of unchastity is tolerated, fornications and adulteries winked at: But holy and honourable wedlock is oft withheld by the mere persuasion of Antichrist, from such as without this remedy, cannot preserve themselves from damnation! For none who hath but a spark of honesty will deny that Princes and States ought to use diligence toward the maintaining of pure and honest life among all men, without which all justice, all fear of God, and true religion decays.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to destroy the works of Satan, send down his Spiritupon all Christians, and principally upon Christian Governours both in Church and Common-wealth (for of the cleer judgement of your royall Majesty I nothing doubt, revolving the Scripture so often as yee doe) that they may acknowledge how much they provoke the anger of God against us, when as all kind of unchastity is tolerated, fornications and adulteries winkt at: But holy and honourable wedlock is oft withheld by the meer persuasion of Antichrist, from such as without this remedy, cannot preserve themselves from damnation! For none who hath but a spark of honesty will deny that Princes and States ought to use diligence toward the maintaining of pure and honest life among all men, without which all justice, all fear of God, and true religion decayes.

And who knows not that chastity and pureness of life, can never be restored, or continued in the Common-wealth, unless it be first established in private houses, from whence the whole breed of men is to come forth. To effect this, no wise man can doubt that it is necessary for Princes and Magistrates first with severity to punish whoredom and adultery; next to see that marriages be lawfully contracted, and in the Lord, then that they be faithfully kept; and lastly, when that unhappiness urges, that they be lawfully dissolved, and other marriage granted, according as the law of God, and of nature, and the Constitutions of pious Princes have decreed; as I have shown both by evident authorities of Scripture, together with the writings of the ancient Fathers, and other testimonies. Only the Lord grant that we may learn to prefer his ever just and saving Word, before the Comments of Antichrist, too deeply rooted in many, and the false and blasphemous exposition of our Saviours words.