who first publishing this his book by Oporinus at Basil (a City for learning and constancy in the the true faith, honourable among the first) added a special note in the title, that there the reader should find the doctrine of Divorce handled so solidly, and so fully, as scars the like in any Writer of that age: and with this particular commendation they doubted not to dedicate the book, as a most profitable & exquisite discourse, to Christian the 3d, a worthy & pious King of Denmark, as the author himself had done before to our Edward the sixth. Yet did not Bucer in that volume only declare what his constant opinion was herein, but also in his comment upon ⟨image 6⟩Matthew, written at Strasburgh divers years before, he treats distinctly and copiously the same argument in three several places; touches it also upon the 7. to the Romans, & promises the same solution more largely upon the 1. to the Corinthians, omitting no occasion to weed out this last and deepest mischief of the Canon law sown into the opinions of modern men against the laws and practice both of Gods chosen people, and the best primitive times. Wheri• his faithfulness and powerful evidence prevailed so far with all the Church of Strasburgh, that they published this doctrine of divorce, as an article of their confession, after they had taught so eight and twenty years, through all those times, when that City flourished, and excelled most, both in religion, learning, and good government, under those first restorers of the Gospel there, Zellius, Hedio, Capito, Fagius, and those who incomparably then governed the Common-wealth, Farrerus and Sturmius. If therefore God in the former age found out a servant, and by whom he had converted and reformed many a city, by him thought good to restore the most needful doctrine of divorce from rigorous and harmful mistakes on the right hand, it can be no strange thing if in this age be stir up by whatsoever means whom it pleases him, to take in hand & maintain the same assertion. Certainly if it be in mans discerning to sever providence from chance, I could allege many instances, wherein there would appear cause to esteem of me no other then a passive instrument under some power and counsel higher and better then can be human, working to a general good in the whole course of this matter.
who first publishing this his book by Oporinus at Basil (a Citie for learning and constancie in the the true faith, honorable among the first) added a special note in the title, that there the reader should finde the doctrine of Divorce handl'd so solidly, and so fully, as scars the like in any Writer of that age: and with this particular commendation they doubted not to dedicate the book, as a most profitable & exquisit discours, to Christian the 3d, a worthy & pious King of Denmark, as the author himself had done before to our Edward the sixt. Yet did not Bucer in that volume only declare what his constant opinion was herein, but also in his comment upon ⟨image 6⟩Matthew, written at Strasburgh divers years before, he treats distinctly and copiously the same argument in three severall places; touches it also upon the 7. to the Romans, & promises the same solution more largely upon the 1. to the Corintbians, omitting no occasion to weed out this last and deepest mischief of the Canon law sown into the opinions of modern men against the lawes and practice both of Gods chosen people, and the best primitive times. Wheri• his faithfulnes and powerful evidence prevail'd so farre with all the Church of Strasburgh, that they publisht this doctrine of divorce, as an article of their confession, after they had taught so eight and twenty years, through all those times, when that Citie flourisht, and excell'd most, both in religion, lerning, and good government, under those first restorers of the Gospel there, Zellius, Hedio, Capito, Fagius, and those who incomparably then govern'd the Common-wealth, Farrerus and Sturmius. If therefore God in the former age found out a servant, and by whom he had converted and reform'd many a citie, by him thought good to restore the most needfull doctrine of divorce from rigorous and harmfull mistakes on the right hand, it can be no strange thing if in this age be stirre up by whatsoever means whom it pleases him, to take in hand & maintain the same assertion. Certainly if it be in mans discerning to sever providence from chance, I could allege many instances, wherin there would appear cause to esteem of me no other then a passive instrument under some power and counsel higher and better then can be human, working to a general good in the whole cours of this matter.
