A69646:48
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.
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.
Dare to be as great, as ample, and as eminent in the fair progress of your noble designs, as the full and goodly stature of truth and excellence it self: as unlimited by petty presidents and copies, as your unquestionable calling from heaven give ye power to be. What are all our public immunities ⟨image 8⟩and privileges worth, and how shall it be judged that we sight for them with minds worthy to enjoy them, if we suffer our selves in the mean while not to understand the most important freedom that God and Nature hath given us in the family; which no wise Nation ever wanted, till the Popery and superstition of some former ages attempted to remove and alter divine and most prudent Laws for human and most imprudent Canons; whereby good men in the best portion of their lives, and in that ordinance of God which entitles them from the beginning to most just and requisite contentments, are compelled to civil indignities, which by the law of Moses bad men were not compelled to. Be not bound about, and straitened in the spacious wisdom of your free Spirits, by the scanty and unadequat and inconsistent principles of such as condemn others for adhering to traditions, and are themselves the prostrate worshippers of Custom; and of such a tradition as they can deduce from no antiquity, but from the rudest, and thickest barbarism of Antichristian times. But why do I anticipate the more acceptable, and prevailing voice of learned Bucer himself, the pastor of Nations? And O that I could set him living before the in that doctoral chair, where once the learnedest of England thought it no disparagement to sit at his feet▪ He would be such a pilot, and such a father to ye, as ye would soon find the difference of his hand and skill upon the helm of reformation. Nor do I forget that faithful associate of his labours, Paulus Fagius; for these their great names and merits, how precious so ever, God hath now joined with me necessarily, in the good or evil report of this doctrine which I leave with you. It was written to a religious King of this land; written earnestly, as a main matter where in this kingdom needed a reform, if it purposed to be the kingdom of Christ: Written by him who if any since the d•ies of Luther, merits to be counted the Apostle of our Church;
Dare to be as great, as ample, and as eminent in the fair progress of your noble designes, as the full and goodly stature of truth and excellence it self: as unlimited by petty presidents and copies, as your unquestionable calling from heaven giv ye power to be. What are all our public immunities