and rashenes The true Christian Aunswere God doeth promyse all those thinges that we doe vowe and promysse in baptisme and therfore are we sure that we shall obteyne them at his handes by faythful prayers But ye must marke good neighbour that god doth in his holy worde requyre of vs all those thinges that ye haue reherced and which we do promysse vowe in our baptisme For his wyl pleasure is that we should forsake the deuil hys workes that we shoulde be at defiaunce wyth the pompes and vanities of the wycked world and wyth the sinnefull lustes of our flesh His wil and pleasure is that we should beleue and credite all thinges that he doth set forthe vnto vs in his word takinge a sure holde through faith vpon his mercy goodnes declared vnto vs in hys Sonne Iesu christ our lord sauiour that all the daies of our life we shold endeuour our selues to the vttermoste of our power to walke sincerely in hys holy lawes and commaundements Therfore we may be sure that he wyll at al times if we do require it of him with faithful praiers assiste vs with his grace that we may to his glory to the saluatioÌ„ of our owne soules performe fulfil al those godly promisses and vowes that we haue made vnto him in oure baptisme wherein we haue so faythfullye and so streightly bouÌ„d oure selues vnto him his seruice that we are no more our owne meÌ„ For why In baptysme we doe become the seruaunts of the lorde so that we are no more our owne men by receauing this holy sacrameÌ„t of baptisme which is a seale of the couenauÌ„t promisses of god we doe acknowledge confesse that we are bought purchased vnto hym with the most dere precious blod of his soÌ„ne Iesu christ our lord what presuÌ„ption is it then sith that we are no more oure owne meÌ„ but the seruauÌ„ts of him that hathe so derelye boughte vs whiche thing as I said before we do acknowledge by takynge vpon vs the seate of the people of God what presumption I saye is it for vs to promysse or enterprise anye thinge wythoute the knowledge wyll and pleasure of oure soueraine lord and master But where haue we anye place yea one iote or sillable in all the whole bodie of the scriptures that doeth certifye vs that it is the wyl and pleasure of god who is oure souerayne lord and Master that we shold vowe and promysse to liue a single and wyue lesse lyfe as longe as we haue any breath in oure bodyes The cruel tyranny of the preachers of oure tyme. It is manyfest then that all those godlye vowes that ye doe so magnifye extolle and which youre Preachers doe defende wyth tothe and nayle persecutyng them most tyrannously and also most cruellye that perceauynge the erroure and parall that they be in do with a good and vpright conscience beynge builded in gods worde vtterlye forsake and abiure them it is moste manyfest I saye that suche vowes are wythoute faythe sythe that they haue no grounde nor foundation in goddes holy worde Therfore away with them for what can they be els but sinne Whatsoeuer sayth saynct Paule is not of faythe Roma xiiii Hebr. xii the same is sinne Againe withoute faythe it is impossible for to please god We mighte saye then and that by good right that they whiche are offended with them that being better instructed in goddes lawe do go from such rashe presumptuous vowes The one standeth with as good reason as the other and are at defiaunce with theym maye with as good a cause be angrye and displeased with theÌ„ that do flye and forsake sinne or that will to the vttermost of theyr power auoyde and eschewe those thinges whyche they knowe to be abhominable and stinking before the face of almighty god Why are they so blinded that they will not see this canon of theyrs Isidorus in sinonimis li. 23. questione 4. capi In male pro. In male promissis rescinde fidem in turpi voto muta decretum quod incaute vouisti ne facias impia est promissio quaescelere adimpletur That is to say In those things that be not wel promised breake thou thi promisse In a shamefull vnhonest vowe chaungâ— thy mind Do not the thing An applienge of the canon vnto the present matter that thou hast vowed vnware or without deliberation aduisemeÌ„t It is an vngodly promisse that is fulfilled with wickednesse Nowe can ye saye that the promisse of your wiue lesse priests is good or that it is well made sith that it is without faythe hath no maner of ground in gods booke why should they not then by the vertue of this canon breake it Agayne howe shameful vnhonest the vowe that they make is it is apparaunt to the sight of all men For by it they are constreined to forsake the honest lawful remedye that god hath appointed for all men for lacke of it to walow theÌ„ selues in al kind of filthy stinking abhomination Why do they not then as this holy decree doth bid theÌ„ chaunge their minde that betimes lest for their stinking filthy abomination they be vtterly cast out of the fauour sighte of god Thirdly the vow that they make they make it so vnaduisedly without al deliberation that many priests can not tel whether thei euer made any vow or not And as for your friers Al seculare priestes that I haue talked wythall haue stedfastly affirmed vnto me that they neuer made vowes sauing onely that when the Byshop gaue them the â—ote he dyd say Accipe iugum castitatis Receyue thou the yoke of chastitye nunnes monks they be faine to make their vowes afore that they knowe the bente of their owne bowe that is to saye afore that they haue examined tried their owne strength or what they be able to abide or do Shal we say that such vowes are aduisedly done with such a deliberation as is required in so high a matter as this is They may then by the auctority and vertue of their holy canones breake such vnaduised vowes For besides the afore rehearced canone these are the wordes of the blessed martir S. Ciprian If the virgins that haue with fayth vowed theÌ„ selues vnto Christ Cipri li. 1. epistolarum epistola 2. can not perseuer or will not it is better that they mary thaÌ„ that they should through their tender nicenesse or deliciousnesse fal into the fier Augu. in libro de bono coniugâ—li ad Iulianum disci 27. capi Quondam And S. Augustine doth alowe the mariage of such inuehing sharpelye agaynst them that cal such mariage aduoutrie and go about to separate them that do mary after theyr vowe The wordes are these Some do suppose that they that mary after theyr vowe are adulterers but I saye vnto you that they whiche separate theÌ„ do offend
¶ A stronge DEFENCE OF THE maryage of Pryestes agaynste the Pope Eustachians and Tatanites of our time made dialogue wise by Iohn Veron betwixte Robin Papyste and the true Christian I. CORIN VII ♣ For auoyding of fornication let euery man haue his wife and euerye woman her husbande HEBRE XIII ¶ Wedlocke is honourable among all and the bed vndefyled but whoremongers and adulterers god wyl iudge ¶ Imprynted at London in Fletestrete nere to Sainct Dunstons Churche by Thomas Marshe ☞ To the worshypful Master George Basford Leather sealer Citezen of London c. Iohn Veron wysheth grace peace of conscyence and encrease in all godlynes from God the father throughe hys Sonne Iesu Chyrste oure Lorde FOr as much as many doe yet nowe at thys time in the whyche it hath pleased God our heauenlye father of hys mere mercye and goodnesse to visyte this floryshynge realme againe with his holy and sacred word and with the gospel of his sonne Iesu Christ kycke against the lawful marryage of the faythful ministers of the church holding stil opinion that it is not lawfull for them which are preachers of gods worde and do minyster the sacramentes to be couppled in Matrimonye A briefe sum of the whole doctrine that is taught in this booke I haue thought good somewhat to write of this matter to proue by manyfeste scriptures and by the autorytyes of the olde auncyent wryters that al they which haue not the gift of chastity may lawfully wythout any offēce of god mary Hebre xiii yea although they had by foolyshe and fonde vowes not commaūded of god bound them selues to the contrary that so they may auoide fornication with all kynde of vnclenlines and kepte them selues in that holy estate vndefiled members of our sauiour Iesu christ First and foremoste these are the wordes of thapostell Maryage is honourabell amonge all and the bed vndefyled Wherby this apostel doth admonish vs that as incontinency is a disease commen to men of all sortes and degrees so maryage beynge the remedie against it is offred by the free mercy and goodnes of god to al maner of men withoute anye respecte The moderate vse of a woman in lawfull Matrimony is reputed for no sinne and that the moderat vse of a womā in lawfull Matrimonie is not reputed for sinne for which cause he calleth the bedde of the godly maried vndefiled Wherunto doth that godlye aunciente father agree I meane Paphnutius who in the councel of Nice withstode those Sozo li. i. echi cap. xxiii Socrate constan Epiphanus li. ii cap. xiiil that wolde haue forbydden maryage vnto the minysters of the church cōfessing wedlocke to be honorabel and the cohabytacion of man with hys lawfull wyfe to be chastity Againe this holy Apostel in his firste epistel to the Corinthiās saieth plainely thus let euerye man haue hys wyfe and let euerye woman haue her housbande i. Cor. vii for auoyding of fornicatiō Which saying as it ought not to be extended to those that haue of God the syngular gifte of chastitie so it perteineth generally to al them that wantinge the same haue neede of the remedye whyche the creatoure of all knowynge best the complexcion and nature of men did institute and ordeine saing Gene ii It is not good for man to be alone And wheras the enemyes do affirme that this ought to be vnderstanded Obiection taken of those that be alredie couppled in Matrymonye that wee shoulde graunte that to be true what cā they gather of it but that the same commaūdmēt is also geuē Aunswere vnto thē that are vnmaryed If a man dyd vse this kynd or that kynd of meate and the phisicion shuld say vnto hym see that ye vse stil that meate and it shal preserue you from this sickenesse or that sicknes that ye are inclinde and geuen to if any other which vsed not that dyet and yet felte him selfe subiecte to that dysease heard this Phisicions counsel woulde not he yf he tendered his health thinke that this were spoken vnto hym also Euen so yf the Apostel should say to them that be alredye maryed See that ye abyde and contynew still in this holye state of Matrimony vsinge with all thankefulnes the remedye that god hathe appoynted for you and ye shal thereby auoyde whoredome and vnclenlynes and consequently euerlastynge damnation whyche is of God prepared for whoremongers and adulterers Who beyng vnmaryed and feelynge them selues subiecte to fornycation yf at leste they dyd tender the health and saluation of theyr owne soules woulde not thinke this to be spoken vnto them And that they are bounde to vse the same remedy against filthines vncleane liuinge i. Cor. vii that the maried folke are cōmaūded to vse this I am sure That is with the fyer of concupiscence I meane when mens will for lacke of the gifte of chastitye doth so geue place to the luste that tempteth that he can not call vpon god with a quyete conscience is spoken generally to al that haue not the gift of chastity Let the vnmaried and widowes yf they cānot absteine mary for it is better to marie then to burne Againe if thou takest a wife thou sinnest not likewyse if a virgine mary she sinneth not neuerthelesse suche shall haue trouble in theyr flesh Whereby he vnderstandeth the troubles and cares of theyr children and family and other lyke which do belong vnto the crosse that god wyl haue to be anexed to this estate Similitude And for the which they that be destitute voide of the gift of continencie ought in no wise to forbeare wediocke For that were as yf a mā belng extremely sicke shold say I haue nede of that Physike but because it is better I wyll not take it I had lyeffer dye than to suffer it to come wythin my lyppes Who would not iudge that man to be worse than madde But this goodly liberty that the holy ghost did geue vnto all men by his holy Apostel who saieth in another place I doe not speake thys to tangle you in a snare is clene taken awaye by the tirannye of that Antichriste of Rome who dyd laye on the neckes of hys cleargie a burdone heauier thā the mount Aethna as the commune by worde goeth Wherof Aethna is a mountaine in in Scicile that burneth continuallye and is of the Italians called mount Gibello many dyd very greuouslie complaine as it doth manyfestly appeare by theyr owne wrytinges These are the wordes of Baptista Mantuanus beinge a Carmelite in the life of Hilarius beinge byshop of Poetiers in Fraunce Baptista Mantuanus in vita Hilarii Integritas vitae legum prudentia cultus Caelituum tutela inopum diadema pedumque Pictauiense tibi dum nil mortalia euras Dum viuis tibi ▪ sorte tua contentus ah omni Ambitione procul populo applaudente tulerunt Non nocuit tibi progenies non obstitit vxor Legitimo coniuncta toro
vii Marke ye nowe this if the incontinencie could be taken away by prayers or fastinges sayncte Paule nede not to saye Come together agayne least for your incontinencie ye be tempted of Sathan but rather continue still in fasting and prayer and so shal ye ouercome and quenche at length the burning concupiscence of your fleshe Agayne he sayeth not i. Cor. vii he that can not absteyne let hym praye and fast but contrarywyse he sayeth i. Cor. vii he that hathe not the gifte of chastitye let him marrye Moreouer he doth not write for auoydynge of fornication let euery man faste and praye or beate him selfe but rather this commaundement doth he geue for auoydinge of fornication let euerye man haue his wife and euerye woman haue her husbande I do alwayes excepte theym Who they be that ought to be accepted frō this lawe that do not tempte God that is to saye whyche can not commodiously come at their wiues by reason of theyr office or vocation as manye gentlemen and other be whych by the commaundemente of theyr prynce are fayne to kepe the warres or marchaundise folowinge theyr marchaundise and other like They that cannot commodyouselye come at theyr owne wyues ought to pray for the gyft of chastytye Suche are bound to pray vnto almightye god that he vouchesafe to geue them the gifte of chastitie duryng the time that they be absent from tdeyr wiues but yet they ought not to separate them selues for to longe a time nor withoute a iust and lawefull cause Robyn Papyst Why doth sainet Paule wryte then that it is good for a mā not to touche a woman The fift argumente of the papyste of oure tyme. i. Cor. vii Here saint Paule semeth to alowe the opinion of theym that saye that it is meritorious or auaylable vnto saluation to liue without the companye of a woman or in the state of single life Math. xix Doth not also our sauiour Iesus Christe say him selfe that there be some whyche haue made thē selues chaste for the kingdome of heauens sake ♣ The true Chrystian All these places make nothyng for the papistes For first and foremost Aunswere Howe the wordes of sainte Paule oughte to be vnderstanded the meaning of sainct Paule is not that to absteyne from a woman is meritorious or auaileable vnto saluation but that it is more commodious for a man if he can liue so or hath the gifte of chastitie to be vnmaryed then to be maryed For i. Cor. vii he that is single and vnmaried hauing the gifte of chastity and continencie careth for the thinges that perteyne vnto the lord that he maye be holy both in body and also in spirite he maye at all times go abrode to preache the gospell Math. x. and if persecutiō doth arise for the wordes sake he shall neyther by wife nor by children be letted to flye from citye to citye as our sauiour Iesus Chryste doth byd and if he fall into the enemies handes he shall with a better minde go to the fyer Manye other cōmodities might I rehearce which they haue that hauinge the gyfte of chastitie do remaine vnmaried But what dothe this pertayne to youre wiuelesse priestes The sayenge of saint paule doth nothyng pertayne to the papistes which as vile stinking goates do walowe them selues in all kinde of Sodomie and whoredome They say that it is not lawefull for them to haue wiues of theyr owne and to touche theym as God hathe ordeyned and appoynted but how they handle other mens wiues commō harlots in their blind and theuishe corners Roma i. th◠very childrē in the streete are able to testifye These are they that for the despising of the lordes institutution and ordinaunce are geuen vp into a reprobate sence that they shuld do the things which are both vnsemely alo too filthye Math. xix abhominable to be vttered out As for the wordes of our sauioure Iesu Christ they are easy to be vnderstanded for there he speaketh of those that hauing receiued the gift of chastitie do absteyne frō mariage that they maye the better spreade abrode and publishe the glad and ioyfull tidinges of the kingedome of heauen But how chastelye doth your wyuelesse marchants liue I beseche you Can any man say thē selues chaste They be as chaste as sparowes or as are lusty stalauntes that runne among mares or that they haue gelded thē selues Let the pore women and maydens whō they seduce deceiue dayly testify of the same And as for the preachings of the gospel of god which our sauiour Iesus christ doth call therin that place the kingdome of heauen that is not the marke that they shot at in absteining frō mariage but that they maye liue at ease pamper vp vp their idell and restye bodies that so they may do the better seruice vnto lady Venus at all times Naye not so for they be oure Ladyes knyghtes whose knightes they do declare thē selues to be This am I sure of that there haue bene more godly sermōs made here in Englād in a weke by honest maried ministers that liued in the feare of god in the holy estate of matrimonye then be nowe made in a hole yeare by your mayden priestes and lusty chāpions of dame Venus Robyn Papyst Question How can ye proue that they which make theym selues chaste or gelde theym selues for the kingedome of heauens sake haue receyued the gift of chastity before The true Christian When the apostles had sayde if she matter be so betwixte the man the wife Aunswere Math. xix thē it is not good to mary our sauiour Iesus christ did aunswere say Al men be not able to cōprehend or receiue this sayenge but they to whom it is geuen Nowe if ye will aske me who they be that geld them selues or that make thē selues chaste for the kingdome of heauens sake I wil aunswere They do geld them selues for the kyngdome of heauens sake to whome it is geuen that they gelde them selues or make theym selues chaste for the kingedome of heauens sake vnto whom it is geuen But thys as I haue sayde before can not be spoken of your vnmaried and wiuelesse shauelinges for they neyther liue chastely nor yet care for the promoting or setting forth of the kyngdome of heauen but to set out theyr owne kingdome glory that they may liue like lordes kinges and haue al mens heads vnder their girdelles Nowe do ye plainely se that the places that ye haue alleadged do no more pertaine vnto your holy priests than the godly documentes of virginitie i. Corin. vii that s Paule geueth in the epistel to the Corinthians do pertaine to the hores of the stewes Wolde God suche a lawe myght be made If kinges and princes woulde once make a lawe that al priestes that be found to liue vnchastely or to lead an vncleane filthy life should be brēt vp as
which as ye saye doeth continew all the dayes of theyr lyfe they shoulde drinke no wine Thys law wold in no wyse please the pryestes of our tyme. For they loue good drinke to well nor no kinde of stronge beere or ale For thus sayth the lord vnto Aeron rhou and thy sonnes shal drinke no wine nor any kind of strong drinke when ye shall come into the tabernakle of witnesse He must also forbyd them to shaue theyr heades Leui. xxi and the corners of theyr beardes For God dyd forbyd the pryestes of the old Testament the same Anye man maye see that the Pope hathe no more iuste cause to forbyd hys priestes to mary than to forbyd them the other thinges heretofore reherced and named Wherefore The ordynaunce of the pope is a ioly bayte for the deuel for to ketche the soules of men and women with all all that he doeth is nothinge elles but a playne tyrannye whereby he doeth caste awaye the soules not onely of hys pryestes but also of manye pore women and maidens and also whereby he doeth engender in the worlde a most detestable whoredom and filthy Sodomy Whe doeth he presume I beseche you to commaunde anye man that hathe not the gyfte of chastytye to liue withoute the remedie that God hathe appoynted for euerye man If a Prieste hathe the gifte of chastetie he nedeth not to commaunde him to liue chastelie yf he hathe it not why doeth he laye suche an heauye yocke vpon his necke Doth the Pope and his priests thinke to rule god as they list He may if he lyst for he is god in earthe if your holy father the pope hath such a delight to haue his priestes to be wiuelesse why doeth not he hym selfe geue them the gift of chastitye Robyn Papyst God onely geueth the gifte of chastitie as he doeth all other giftes Obiection therefore they muste aske it of him with faithfull and earnest prayers and withoute doubte they shall obteine it For oure Sauioure Iesus Christe saieth Math. vii Mar. xi Luke xi Aske and it shall be geuen vnto you Seke and ye shall finde Knocke and it shall be open vnto you The true Christian What soeuer is necessarye vnto saluation we haue a promise in the scriptures that we shall obteine it of God if we doe aske it in faithe Aunswere Agayne where haue they a promyse that god wyll geue the gyft of chastitye vnto all those that the pope doth forbyd to marye But howe shall ye be able to proue that to lyue withoute a wife is a thinge necessarye vnto saluacion Therefore if a man not hauinge the gifte of chastitie or not being called there to of the Lorde doeth wilfullye and for hys owne pleasure seperate or bannyshe hym selfe for euer frome the holye estate of Matrymonye he doeth moste paryllouslye tempte god For whosoeuer he be that wyll not vse in his necessity What it is to tempt god the same natural remedy that god hath ordeined and appoynted withoute all doubte he doeth tempte God Euen as yf a man wolde neither eate nor drinke though hunger dyd come vpon hym neuer so muche but forsakâ—nge all kinde of meates and drynkes that god hath ordeined for the vse of man he should desire of God that he wold take awaye hys hunger by his absolute power Should not suche a man tempte God wold ye not iudge such a man to be a despyser of the ordeynaunces of the Lord. And if he shold dye Murtherers of them selues wolde ye not iudge hym to be a murtherer of him selfe I say that it is as harde for a man whiche hathe not the gifte of chastitie to kepe him selfe from falling into sinne as it is for him to lyue withoute meate and drinke Math. iiii without the speciall gyfte of the Lorde We doe reade that oure sauiour Iesus Christ dyd fast fortye dayes .xl. nygâ—ts and that al that space he did neither eate nor drynke but that he dyd hunger at lengthe and that the Aungels minystred vnto him Whereby it doeth appeare that when he was a hungerd he did both eate and drinke vsing the lawfull remedies and meanes that hys heauenly father hath appointed When the gift of chastitie is taken away from a man he must vse the remedye that God hath appointed So it hapneth many tymes that a man hath the gifte of chastitye for a time but that afterwardes it is taken awaye from hym Then muste he vse the remedye that god hath appoynted and ordeyned is it not to tempe God whan a man feelinge the fyer of concupyscence that burneth and tormenteth hym if he wyll not vse the water that GOD offreth vnto him whiche is maryage Mariage is the lawefull water for to quenche the fyer of concupiscence It is euen as if a man seinge hys house on fier wolde not vse the waters that be rounde aboute it for to quenche the burnynge but wold say let it alone God will quenche it Verelye I say vnto you that whosoeuer doeth in his necessitie despise the ordynaunce of god and hathe lieffer burne than to mary he shal neuer be chaste but his bed shal alwaies be polluted and defiled The punishement of those that despise matrimonye and as long as he shall despise the holye estate of matrimonye or refuse to vse it god will neuer geue him the gift of chastety but suffer him to burne and to be tormented in his fleshe and to fall from one sinne into another For do ye thinke that god doth loue them that do despyse his ordeynaunces in theyr necessitie Do not such persons declare them selues to be most vnthankeful vnto him In dede if a man be constrayned to be awaye from his wife for a time When we oughte to praye most earnestlye for the gifte of chastitye for to folowe his vocation that god hathe called him to it is his duetye to pray vnto god that he vouchesafe to mortifye and quenche suche fyer of concupiscence in him duringe the time that he is awaye from his wife and truly such a man oughte to beleue that god wil heare him if he doth praye wyth a faythfull heart hauinge the feare of God before his eyes ¶ Robyn Papyst This besydes they sayde in theyr sermons that when Dauid came to Abimelech and required him that he would geue him of the holy loues whych they call the shewe breade i. Samu. xxi The thyrd argument of the papistes of our time â–ª or euer Abimelech the highe prieste woulde geue him anye he dyd aske him whether both he and his companions has kept them selues clene from theyr wiues And hereupoâ— did they aledge sayncte Hierome who writinge vppon the epistell to Titus doth saye these wordes The shewe breade did signify and represent the bodye of oure sauioure Iesu Christe Therfore let theym Hierome vppon the epistell to Titus that will eate the bodye of our sauioure Iesu Christe abstayne from theyr
or alowed in the scriptures and worde of god yet onelesse we doe take vppon vs that vowe to the intent that we may the better geue our selfes to the true meditacion of heauenly thinges and agayne to this ende that we maye the better edefye the holye congregation and churche of christe by publishing and preachinge abrode the glad and ioyfull tidinges of saluation al that we do is abominable in the syght of god For if we do it thinking to deserue heauen by it or to this ende that we may liue at ease and without all sollicitude and care or troubles of this world And also because that we will not be burdoned wyth the charges that pertaine to the common wealthe althoughe we coulde liue as chaste a life as euer the blessed virgin Marye the mother of our sauiour Iesu Christ did it is impossible for vs to please god all that we do sith that in it we do not seeke his glorye and the profyte of our neyghbour wil he deteste and abhorre 1. Tim. v. Whye widowes were receyued into the church And as it is of men so it is of women It appeareth by the wordes of s Paule that widowes did promisse their seruice vnto the church to this ende that they might se to the poore which were kept at the costes charges of the faythfull congregation in dede they were most mete for that purpose for to see thē to be washed kept cleane for to see their meate to be handesomly dressed Howebeit saint Paule wil haue none to be chosen to that office vnder thre score yeares of age biddinge the yonger wydowes to marie to bring forth children As for maidens virgins that be endued from aboue with the gift of chastity the chiefe cause why i. Cor. vii S. Paule will haue thē to absteyne frō mariage is that being free from the cares troubles that be commonlye in matrimony they should geue thē selues to the contemplation and study of heauenly thinges also endeuour them selues by diligēt reading and hearinge of the scriptures to be holy both in body and also in spyrite It appeareth by sayncte Hieromes writinges that there were both widowes and maydens in his time which did with the substaunce that was lefte vnto theym eyther by theyr husbandes or elles by theyr parentes and fryendes relyue the poore i. Cor. vii and also maynteyne learning if then eyther widowes or maidens I do here speake onely of those that haue the gift of chastitye do absteine from mariage for any other intent or in any other respect than I haue sayde already that is to saye if they do thinke that by such kinde of life they shall merite or deserue heauen or do embrace it to this ende that they may be free and exempte from all sorowes and paynes that other women suffer in bearyng and brynginge vp of theyr children all that they do is noughte God will haue al thinges to be referred to his glory and to the profyte of our neyghbour and hated of God who will haue all thinges to be done to his glorye onelye and for the profite of our neyghboure Ye may nowe learne by this howe pleasaunte and acceptable the vowes of your priestes Nonnes freeres and Monkes are vnto god For do they not all take this vowe of single life or chastitye vpon them though they be as farre from keping of it as the East is from the West to this ende that they maye liue at ease and be withoute all troubles and cares of this common life pamperinge vp or fattinge theym selues wyth the sweate of other mens browes Agayne do they it not to this ende that they maye be in estimation amonge men and taken as Goddes reckeninge holy matrimonie which hath bene instituted of the lord him selfe to be but filthines and pollution in comparison of theyr counter fayted chastitye Yea they that are of the beste sorte amonge theym do thinke verely that god is greatly in theyr debte because that they do willingly absteine from this holy estate of matrimonye yea if God do not place them in his kingdome of heauen farre aboue his maried electe and chosen they are readye to enter an action in the lawe agaynste him Therfore we maye well conclude that all theyr vowes that they make after the rules doctrines of men The conclusion of vowes without or agaynst gods word or to ani other ende thā for to set forth the glory of god that profite of our neighbour are stinking and abhominable before the face of almighty god and that therefore it is lawefull for anye man or woman that by the meanes of theym hath bene broughte into the snare of the enemy for to breake and forsake theym and if they can not liue chaste to couple theym selues in honest matrimony Robyn Papyst Obiection Deu. xxiii Yet this shall ye finde writen in the scriptures When thou dost make a vowe vnto the lorde thy god do not deferre frō day to daye to perfourme it Ecclesiastes or the preacher ca. v. For verelye the lorde shall require it at thy hande The lyke shall ye reade in Ecclesiastes otherwise called the preacher yea sayeth Moses yf anye thinge be come forthe of thy lippes see that thou doest kepe and perfourme it as thou haste vowed vnto the lorde thy god of thine owne free will and as thou haste spoken wyth thy mouth What are all men able to saye agaynst suche manifeste and playne textes The true Christian This are al the godly able to say Aunswere Wherin the vowes of the olde lawe dyd consist that bothe Moses and Salomon do speake of the vowes of the olde lawe whych did consyst in certayne kinde of sacrafices and ceremonies which our sauiour Iesus Chryste did vtterlye abolyshe and put downe by his comminge so that they pertayne no more vnto vs except ye wil haue all other sacrifices and ceremonyes to pertayne vnto vs also Robyn Papist These be also the wordes of the psalmiste Obiection Offer thou the sacrafice of laude and praise Psal 1. pay thy vowes vnto the highest Againe make vowes and paye theym vnto the lorde your God Wil ye saye nowe Psal 76. that Dauid doth here speak of the vowes of the olde lawe also ¶ The true Christian I will here brynge nothynge of mine owne Fyrste Aunswere Arnobius in psalm 50. ye shall heare olde father Arnobius who expounding the first verse that ye haue alledged writeth on this maner What shalt thou retche vnto me of thine owne This is thine owne if thou doest with a pure hearte poure before me prayses and laudes and paye vnto me to vowe that thou haste made me in baptisme wherein thou didst promisse that thou wouldest forsake the deuel God doth require none other vowe of vs but that which we haue made in baptisme and kepe my commaundementes Here do we learne by this most auncient writer that the vow which god
which hath not the gift of chastitie oughte to be the husbande of one wife Extripartita historia li. 2. capi 13. dist 31. canone nicena that by his chaste and holy conuersacion or dwellinge with his lawefull yokefelowe wife for Paphnutius did call it chastitie to companye with his owne wife onelye whereunto agreeth Chrisostomes sayeng Chrisost ad populum Antiochenam the firste degree of chastitye is virginitie the seconde faythfull matrimony He should be an example of like godlinesse vnto al the hole flocke Robyn Papist Obiection Doth not sayncte Paule saye the like of the widowe whiche he will haue to be receyued vnto the ministerye of the church For there it is written say they on this maner i. Tim. v. Thys goodly texte did gardener aleadge agaynst me Let no widowe be chosen vnder threscore yeres olde and such a one as is the wife of one man Yf ye wil haue this to be taken as it is wrytten and admitte no exposicion how can she be both a widowe and the wyfe of one man As then the blessed apostel saynct Paule must be vnderstanded in this place so must he be vnderstanded in the other textes that haue bene aleadged before The true Cristâ—an Answere This I saye that these Antichristes shall make an aunswere before the iudgement seat of almighty god for falsifyenge and wrastinge his holye and sacred scriptures This is the very texte Let no widowe be chosen vnder three score yeares olde and suche a one as was the wife of one man whiche translation doth agree both with the Greeke and the latine But they are ashamed of nothynge they haue put on whores faces The papistes haue put on whores faces So that they may by hooke or by crooke maynteyne their kingdome whych is altogither leasing and falsehode they care not what they prate or say Be it right wronge it shall out and all for to dasell the eyes of the simple ond ignoraunt people But the most righteous lorde will not alwayes wincke at their wickednesse and vngodlye doinges ii Thesso iii. but will when he seeth his time wake oute of sleepe and wyth the breath of his mouthe ourthrowe their tirannous and vngodly kingdome Robyn Papyst There be some A substantial exposition and worthy to be written in god bachus booke that by the same one wife that the bishop or priest shold haue do vnderstand one benefice As though Paule should saye The byshoppe or priest muste be contente witho one benefice These do vnderdand by the bishops or priestes house nothinge els but the churche and by their children those that are committed vnto their charge Some againe do say that pauls meaning is that they oughte to haue none other wyues but the Church The true Christian Answere Gaye syrs I tel you for to be the husbaÌ„ds of the church How doth it chaunce then that they say that they be maried vnto our ladie The holy scriptures doe testyfye vnto vs the only christ is the husband of the church Therfore she wyll neuer acknowledge such wilde lustye stalantes or rather stincking goates for her husbands Againe yf Sainct Paule doth meane by these wordes let the bishop or priest be the husbaÌ„d of one wife that they oughte to content them selfes with one benefice how doth it come to passe that some of them haue so many benefices that they do scarcely know the nuÌ„ber of them Is this to kepe the Canons rulers of the apostels Moreouer where they say We wil kepe them as long as it is for our profyte yâ— by the bishop or priests house the church nothing els is vnderstaÌ„ded it is a plaine manyfest lye as anye man that doeth but onelye reade the texte shall easelye perceaue The wordes are these i. Timo. iii. If a man can not rule his owne house howe shall he care for the congregatioÌ„ of christ Meaning thereby that if a man can not rule his owne houshold or bring vp his youth godlye and in the feare of god he is not worthy to be put in trust with the church congregation of Christ Ponder and weygh the texte diligentlye your selfe and ye shall finde that it is none otherwise than I saye Robyn Papyst Is this worde oportet or must Obiection of such importaunce that generally all bishops and priestes must mary and haue wiues This question also did Gardener aske me Howe doth it happen then that Latimer Doctour Ridley bishop of London and doctour Tailour bishop of Lincolne wyth many other which I could reherce whom ye do recken al to be honest and godly men had no wiues The true Christian It is of such importaunce Answere that by it all Byshoppes and priestes that haue not the gifte of constinencie or chastitie are bound to marye and haue wyues of theyr owne Wolde God this were obserued and kepte in all places in so much that if there were any bishops or priestes that hauing not the gift of continencie would not mary the magistrates if there were anye godlines or feare of god in their hearts ought to compell them to mary and if they will not obey to depose them least by processe of time they should fall into whoredome and so be an open slaunder to the churche As for those blessed martirs of GOd maister doctour Hugh Latimer and the reuerende father mayster doctour Ridley most worthy byshop of London all their aduersaries can say none other but that they had a most special gifte of chastitye whyche they did so declare in their liuing and conuersation all the dayes of their life that no man could euer laye anye thynge to their charge This can I iustyfye For I haue heard them doe it touchinge that matter and yet both they and also Doctour Taylour with many other mo whyche were gelded or made chaste from aboue did stoutelye defende alwaies the maryages of priestes of al other ministers of the church of Christ ¶ Robyn Papyst Yf so be that al they Obiection that haue not the gifte of chastytye or continencye are bound to mary How doeth thys come to passe that Sainct Paule beinge tempted with the intemperancie of the fleshe did not marry The true Christian Bothe Ignatius Aunswere Eus ecclesiasticae historia li. iii. cap. xxx and also Clemens Alexandrinus whyche were verye nighe the Apostelles time do plainelye testifie that Sainct Paule had a wife But let vs graunte that he had neuer none where doe ye reade in al the newe Testament that Saincte Paule was tempted with the incontinencie of the fleshe Robyn Papyst These be his wordes There was geueÌ„ vnto me vnquietnesse through the flesh euen the messenger of Sathan to buffet me ii Corin. xii What should we vnderstande and by this but the filthy lustes incoÌ„tynency of the flesh The true Christian Howe saynte Paule ought to be vnderstanded in the place afore aleaged There Sainct Paule vnderstandeth no suche