Paragraph 32.1

1. By the word of God it is lawfull for Bishops, and all other ecclesiasticall Ministers, to marrie at their owne discretion.

2. It is lawfull by the word of God for all Christian men, and women to marrie at their owne discretion in the feare of God.

The proofe from Gods word.

Neither the single, nor the wedded life is enioined any man, much lesse any calling of men by the word of God. And that ecclesiasticall ministers in particular may marry, it is euident both from the old, and the newe Testament.

From the old Testament, both by the Commandements giuen vnto the Priests for the choise of their wiues,^a and by the examples also of the religious Priests, as Aaron,^b Eli,^c Zacharias,^d &c. & Prophets, which were all married, as it is thought except Ieremie.

From the newe Testament, by the words of S. Paul, who saith, A Bishop must be the husband of one wife; one that hath childrē vnder obediēce.^e An Elder must be vnreproueable: the husband of one wife; hauing faithfull children.^f Deacons must be the husbands of one wife; and haue wiues that be honest, not euill speakers &c..^g and by the example of Peter,^h Paul,,ⁱ yea of the Apostles,^j who were all married men, Iohn the Euangelist onely except, as some thinke.

All sincere Churches, and professors subscribe hereunto.^*

Adversaries vnto this truth.

And none of Gods churches, or people be of the mind.

Either of the vigilantians, that all, and euerie one of the Clerge, is necessarily to marrie, or not to be admitted for a Minister.^†

Or of the Iouinians, whose Elect, or Preists might not marrie.^‡

Or of the Papists who teach, that.

From the Apostles time it was neuer lawfull for Priests to marrie.⁴

The three orders of Deacons, Subdeacons, and Preists are bound not to marrie.⁵

After Orders to marrie it is not lawfull;⁶ it is to turne back vnto Satan, and Apostacie.⁷

None may be a priest, though hee will vowe a single life, if he haue bin a married man.⁸

For a priest to play the whore-maister it is lesse offence then to take a wife. This was the speech of Cardinall Campeius^k9 And most infamous is the Romish Clergie for their vnclean, and vncontinent. Hence written is it Of Pope Paul the 2. Anxia testiculos Pauli, ne Roma requiras, Filia huic nata est; haec docet esse marem Of Pope Innocent the 8: Bis quattuor Nocens genuit puellulos, Totidem sed et Nocens genuit puellulas. O’ Roma, possis hunc meritó dicere Patrem. Of Pope Alex. the 6: Non spado Alexander fuerat, Lucretia nempe Illius coniux nata nurusque fuit: Of the Priests: Multi vos sanctos, multi vos dicere Patres Gaudent, et vobis nomina tanta placent, Ast ego vos sanctos non possum dicere, Patres Possum, cùm natos vos genuisse sciam. Of the Iesuites: With women yee lie not, but with Males rather, Speake Iesuit, how canst thou be a Father? &c..¹⁰

The proofe from Gods word.

The Spirite of God saith vnto men, and women in all ages,

Bring foorth fruite, and multiplie, and fill the earth.^l

Marriage is honorable among all men, and the bed vndefiled.^m

To auoide fornication, let euery man haue his wife; and euery woman haue her husband.ⁿ

If they cannot abstaine, let them marrie.^o11

Notwithstanding, in saying that Christians may marrie at their discretion, the meaning is not, that any may marry, if they thinke good, either within the degrees of kinred, and affinitie, prohibited by wholesome lawes; or without the consent of parents, or of others in the roome of parents if they be vnder tuition; or to other ends then God hath praefixed.

So testifie with vs the reformed Churches.¹²

Errors & Adversaries to this truth.

Greatly hath this truth bin crossed, and contradicted. For

Some, leaue it not to men, and womens discretions, but compell them whether they will, or no to marrie: so did the Ossenes.¹³

Some vtterly doe condemne marriage; as did the Gnostikes;¹⁴ the Hieracites;¹⁵ the Priscillianistes;¹⁶ the Montanistes;¹⁷ the Saturnians;¹⁸ the Aerians;¹⁹ the Apostolikes.²⁰

Some allowe of the wedded life: yet not in all sorts of persons. For

The Papistes forbid all Clergie men to marrie:²¹ as also all Godfathers, Godmothers, and whosoeuer be of spirituall kinred.²²

Some will haue none to marrie but Virgins, and single persons; as the Henricians.²³

Some condemne all alteration of marriage, or twice marrying, the husband or wife being dead; such haeretickes were the Catharans.²⁴ &c.

Some would haue women, though married, to be all common, as the Nicolaitans,²⁵ and Daui-georgians.²⁶

Some will nor marrie according to Gods ordinance, but thinke that one man, at one, and the same time, may haue manie wiues. In which were the Hermogenians;²⁷ and are the Ohinites.²⁸