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…

But why the whole tractat is not beer brought entire, but this matter of divorcement selected in particular, to prevent the full speed of some mis-interpreter, I hasten to disclose. First, it will be soon manifest to them who know what wise men should know, that the constitution and reformation of a common-wealth, if Ezra and Nehemiah did not mis-reform, is, like a building, to begin orderly from the foundation thereof, which is marriage and the family, to set right fi•st what ever is amiss therein. How can there else grow up a race of warrantable men, while the house and home that breeds them, is troubled and disquieted under a bondage not of Gods constraining with a natureles conste•int (if his most righteous judgements may be our rule) but laid upon us imperiously in the worst and weakest ages of knowledge, by a canonical tyranny of stupid and malicious Monks: who having rashly vowed themselves to a single life, which they could not undergo, invented new fetters to throw on matrimony, that the world thereby waxing more dissolute, they also in a general looseness might sin with more favour. Next, there being yet among many, such a strange iniquity and perverseness against all necessary divorce, while they will needs expound the words of our Saviour not duly by comparing other places, as they must do in the resolving of a hundred other Scriptures, but by persisting deafly in the abrupt and Papistical way• of a literal apprehension against the direct analogy of sense, reason, law and Gospel, it therefore may well seem more then time to apply the sound and holy persuasions of this Apostolic man, to that part in us, which is not yet fully disposest of an error as absurd, as most that we deplore in our blindest adversaries; and to let his authority and unanswerable reasons be vulgarly known, that either his name, or the force of his doctrine may work a wholesome effect. Lastly, I find it clear to be the authors intention that this point of divorcement should be •eld and received as a most necessary and prime part of discipline in every Christian government. And therefore having reduced his model of reformation to 14. heads, he bestows almost as much time about this one point of divorce, as about all the rest; which also was the judgement of his heirs and learned friends in Germany, best acquainted with his meaning;

But why the whole tractat is not beer brought entire, but this matter of divorcement selected in particular, to prevent the full speed of some mis-interpreter, I hasten to disclose. First, it will be soon manifest to them who know what wise men should know, that the constitution and reformation of a common-wealth, if Ezra and Nehemiah did not mis-reform, is, like a building, to begin ordrly from the foundation therof, which is mariage and the family, to set right fist what ever is amisse therein. How can there els grow up a race of warrantable men, while the house and home that breeds them, is troubl'd and disquieted under a bondage not of Gods constraining with a natureles consteint (if his most righteus judgements may be our rule) but laid upon us impeiously in the worst and weakest ages of knowledge, by a canonicall tyranny of stupid and malicious Monks: who having rashly vow'd themselves to a single life, which they could not undergoe, invented new fetters to throw on matrimony, that the world thereby waxing more dissolute, they also in a general loosnes might sin with more favor. Next, there being yet among many, such a strange iniquity and perversnes against all necessary divorce, while they will needs expound the words of our Saviour not duly by comparing other places, as they must doe in the resolving of a hunder'd other Scriptures, but by persisting deafely in the abrupt and Papistical way of a literal apprehension against the direct analogy of sense, reason, law and Gospel, it therfore may well seem more then time to apply the sound and holy persuasions of this Apostolic man, to that part in us, which is not yet fully dispossest of an error as absurd, as most that we deplove in our blindest adversaries; and to let his autority and unanswerable reasons be vulgarly known, that either his name, or the force of his doctrine may work a wholsom effect. Lastly, I find it cleer to be the authors intention that this point of divorcement should be eld and receav'd as a most necessary and prime part of discipline in every Christian government. And therfore having reduc't his model of reformation to 14. heads, he bestows almost as much time about this one point of divorce, as about all the rest; which also was the judgement of his heirs and learned friends in Germany, best acquainted with his meaning;