divided me from a most unanimous friend one truly according to mine own heart My minde is over-prest with grief in so much that I have not power to write more I bid thee in Christ farewell and wish thou maist be able to beare the losse of Bucer better then I can beare it Testimonies giv'n by learned men to Paulus Fagius who held the same opinion with Martin Bucer concerning Divorce Paulus Fagius born in the Palatinate became most skilfull in the Hebrew tongue Beeing call'd to the Ministery at Isna he publisht many ancient and profitable Hebrew Books being aided in the expenses by a Senator of that Citie as Origen somtime was by a certain rich man call'd Ambrosius At length invited to Strasburgh he there famously discharg'd the office of a Teacher until the same persecution drove him and Bucer into England where he was preferr'd to a Professors place in Cambridge and soon after died Melchior Adamus writes his life among the famous German Divines Sleidan and Thuanus mention him with honour in their History And Verheiden in his Elogies To the PARLAMENT THE Book which among other great and high points of reformation contains as a principall part thereof this treatise here presented Supreme Court of Parlament was by the famous Author Martin Bucer dedicated to Edward the sixt whose incomparable youth doubtless had brought forth to the Church of England such a glorious manbood bad his life reacht it as would have left in the affairs of religion nothing without an excellent pattern for us now to follow But since the secret purpose of divine appointment hath reserv'd no lesse perhaps then the just half of such a sacred work to be accomplisht in this age and principally as we trust by your succesful wisdom and authority religious Lords and Commons what wonder if I seek no other to whose exactest judgement and revieu I may commend these last and worthiest labours of this renowned teacher whom living all the pious nobility of those reforming times your truest and best imitated ancestors reverenc't and admir'd Nor was be wanting to a recompence as great as was himself when both at many times before and especially among his last sighs and prayers testifying his dear and fatherly affection to the Church and Realm of England he sincerely wisht in the hearing of many devout men that what he had in this his last book written to King Edward concerning discipline might have place in this Kingdom His hope was then that no calamity no confusion or deformity would happen to the Common-wealth but otherwise he fear'd lest in the midst of all this ardency to know God yet by the neglect of discipline our good endeavours would not succeed These remarkable words of so godly and so eminent a man at his death as they are related by a sufficient and well known witnes who heard them and inserted by Thuanus into his grave and serious history so ought they to be chiesly consider'd by that nation for whose sake they were utter'd and more especially by that general Counsel which represents the body of that nation If therfore the book or this part therof for necessary causes be now reviv'd and recommended to the use of this undisciplin'd age it hence appears that these reasons have not err'd in the choyee of a fit patronage for a discourse of such importance 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 ordâ—rly from the foundation therof which is mariage and the family to set right fiâ—st 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 consteâ—int if his most righteâ—us judgements may be our rule but laid upon us impeâ—iously 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 wayâ— 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 â—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 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 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 Wheriâ— his faithfulnes and powerful evidence prevail'd so farre with all the Church of Strasburgh that they
THE IVDGEMENT OF MARTIN BUCER CONCERNING DIVORCE Writt'n to Edward the sixt in his second Book of the Kingdom of Christ And now Englisht Wherin 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 JOHN 3. 10. Art thou a teacher of Israel and know'st not these things Publisht by Authoritie LONDON Printed by Matthew Simmons 1644. Testimonies of the high approbation which learned men have given of Martin Bucer Simon Grynaeus 1533 AMong all the Germans I give the palm to Bucer for excellence in the Scriptures Melanchton in human learning is wondrous fluent but greater knowledge in the Scripture I attribute to Bucer and speak it unfainedly Iohn Calvin 1539 Martin Bucer a most faithfull Doctor of the Church of Christ besides his rare learning copious knowledge of many things besides his cleernes of wit much reading and other many and various vertues wherein he is almost by none now living excell'd hath few equalls and excells most hath this praise peculiar to himself that none in this age haâ—h us'd exacter diligence in the exposition of Scripture And a little beneath Bucer is more large then to be read by over-busied men and too high to be easily understood by unattentive men and of a low capacitie Sir Iohn Cheek Tutor to K. Edw. the sixth 1551 Wee have lost our Master then whom the world scarce held a greater whether we consider his knowledge of true Religion or his integrity and innocence of life or his incessant study of holy things or his matchless labour of promoting piety or his authority and amplitude of teaching or whatever els was praise-worthy and glorious in him Script Anglicana pag. 864. Iohn Sturmius of Strasborrow No man can be ignorant what a great and constant opinion and estimation of Bucer there is in Italy France and England Whence the saying of Quintilian hath oft come to my minde that he hath well profited in Eloquence whom Cicero pleases The same â—ay I of Bucer that he hath made no small progress in Divinitie whom Bucer pleases for in his Volumes which he wrote very many there is the plain impression to be discern'd of many great vertues of diligence of charitie of truth of acutenes of judgment of learning Wherin he hath a certain propâ—r kind of writing wherby he doth not only teach the Reader but affects him with the sweetness of his sentences and with the manner of his arguing which is so teaching and so logical that it may be perceiv'd how learnedly he separates probable reasons from necessary how forcibly he confirms what he has to prove how suttly he refutes not with sharpnes but with truth Theodore Beza on the portraiture of M. Bucer This is that countnance of Bucer the mirror of mildnes temper'd with gravitie to whom the Câ—tie of Strasburgh owes the reformation of her Church Whose singular learning and eminent zeal joyn'd with excellent wisdom both his learned books and public disputations in the general diets of the Empire shall witness to all ages Him the German persecution drove into England where honourably entertain'd by Edward the sixt he was for two years chief professor of Divinity in Cambridge with greatest frequency and applause of all learned and pious men untill his death 1551. Bezae Icones Mr Fox book of Martyrs Vol. 3. p. 763. Bucer what by writing but chiefly by reading and preaching openly wherin being painfull in the Word of GOD he never spar'd himself nor regarded his health brought all men into such an admiration of him that neither his friends could sufficiently praise him nor his enemies in any point find fault with his singular life sincere doctrine A most certain tok'n wherof may be his sumptuous burial at Cambridge solemniz d with so great an assistance of all the Universitie that it was not possible to devise more to the setting out and amplifying of the same Dr Pern the Popish Vicechancelour of Cambridge his adversary Cardinal Pool about the fourth year of Queen Mary intending to reduce the Universitié of Cambridge to Popery again thought no way so effectuall as to cause the bones of Martin Bucer and Paulus Fagius which had been foure years in the grave to be tak'n up and burnt openly with thir Books as knowing that those two worthy men had bin of greatest moment to the reformation of that place from Popery and had left such powerfull seeds of thir doctrine behind them as would never die unless the men themselvs were diggd up and openly condemn'd for heretics by the Universitie it self This was put in execution and Doctor Pern Vicechancelor appointed to preach against Bucer Who among other things laid to his charge the opinions which he held of the marriage of Priests of divorcement and of usury But immediatly after his Sermon or somwhat before as the Book of Martyrs for a truth relates Vol. 3. p. 770. The said Doctor Pern smiting himself on the breast and in manner weeping wisht with all his heart that God would grant his soul might then presently depart and remain with Bucers for he knew his life was such that if any mans soul were worthy of heaven he thought Bucers in special to be most worthy Histor. de Combust Buceri Fagii Acworth the Vniversitie Orator Soon after that Queen Elizabeth came to the crown this condemnation of Bucer and Fagius by the Cardinal and his Doctors was solemnly repeal'd by the Universitie and the memory of those two famous men celebrated in an Oration by Acworth the Universitie Orator which is yet extant in the Book of Mattyrs Vol. 3. p. 773. and in Latin Scripta Anglic. p. 936. Nicolas Carre a learned man Walter Haddon Maister of the Requests to Queen Elizabeth Matthew Parker afterwards Primate of England with other eminent men in their funeral Orations and Sermons expresse abundantly how great a man Martin Bucer was what an incredible losse England sustain'd in his death and that with him dy'd the hope of a perfet reformation for that age Ibid. Iacobus Verheiden of Grave in his Elogies of famous Divines Though the name of Martin Luther be famous yet thou Martin Bucer for piety learning labour care vigilance and writing art not to be held inferior to Luther Bucer was a singular instrument of God so was Luther By the death of this most learned and most faithfull man the Church of Christ sustaind a heavy losse as Calvin witnesteth and they who are studious of Calvin are not ignorant how much he ascribes to Bucer for thus he writes in a Letter to Viretus What a manifold losse beâ—ell the Church of God in the death oâ—Bucer as oft as I call to minde I feel my heart almost rent asunder Peter Martyr Epist. to Conradus Hubertus He is dead who hath overcome in many battells of the Lord God lent us for a time this our Father and our Teacher never enough prais'd Death hath
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 For that I ow no light or leading receav'd from anyman in the discovery of this truth what time I first undertook it in the doctrine and discipline of divorce and had only the infallible grounds of Scripture to be my guide he who tries the inmost heart and saw with what severe industry and examination of my self I set down everâ— period will be my witnes When I had almost finisht the first edition I chanc't to read in the notes of Hâ—go Grotius upon the 5. oâ— Matth. whom I strait understood inclining to reasonable terms in this controversie and somthing be whisper'd rather then disputed about the law of charity and the true end of wedlock Glad therfore of such an able assistant how ever at much distance I resolv'd at length to put off into this wild and calumnious world For God it seems intended to prove me whether I durst alone take up a rightful cause against a world of disesteem found I durst My name I did not publish as not willing it should sway the reader either for me or against me But when I was told that the stile which what it ailes to be so soon distinguishable I cannot tell was known by most men and that some of the Clergie began to inveigh and exclaim on what I was credibly inform'd they had not read I took it then for my proper season both to shew them a name that could easily contemn such as indiscreet kind of censure and to reinforce the question with a more accurat diligence that if any of them would be so good as to leav rayling and to let us hear so much of his lerning and Christian wisdom as will be strictly demanded of him in his answering to this problâ—me care was had he should not spend his prepâ—rations against 〈◊〉 pamphlet By this time I had lâ—rnt that Paulus Fagius one of the chief Divines in Germany sent for by Frederic the Paâ—tine to reforme his dominion and after that invited hither in King Edwards dayes to be Professor of Divinity in Cambridge was of the same opinion touching divorce which these men so lavishly traduc't in me What I found I inserted where fittest place was thinking sure they would respect so gâ—ave an author at lest to the moderating of their odious inferences And having now perfected a second edition I referr'd the judging therof to your high and impartial sentence honour'd Lords and Commons For I was confident if any thing generous any thing noble and above the multitude were left yet in the spirit of England it could be no where sooner found and no where sooner understood then in that house of justice and true liberty where ye sit in câ—unsel Nor doth the event hitherto for some reasons which I shall not â—eer deliver faile me of what I conceiv'd so highly Nevertheless being farre otherwise dealt with by some of whose profession and supposed knowledge I had better hope and esteem'd the deviser of a new and pernicious paradox I felt no difference within me from that peace firmnes of minde which is of neerest kin to patience and contentment both for that I knew I had divulg'd a truth linkt inseparably with the most fundamental rules of Christianity to stand or fall together and was not un-inform'd that divers lerned and judicious men testify'd their dâ—ily approbation of the book Yet at length it hath pleas'd God who had already giv'n me satisfaction in my self to afford me now a means wherby I may be fully justify'd also in the eyes of men When the book had bin now the second time set forth wel-nigh three months as I best remember I then first came to hear that Martin Bucer had writt'n much concerning divorce whom earnestly turning over I soon pâ—rceav'd but not without amazement in the same opinion confirm'd with the same reasons which in that publisht book without the help or imitation of any precedent Writer I had labour'd out and laid together Not but that there is some difference in the handling in the order and the number of arguments but still agreeing in the same conclusion So as I may justly graâ—ulat mine own mind with due acknowledgement of assistance from above which led me not as a lerner but as a collateral teacher to a sympathy of judgement with no lesse am in then Martin Bucer And he if our things heer below arrive him where he is does not repâ—nt him to see that point of knowledge which he first and with an uncheâ—t freedom preacht to those more knowing times of England now found so necessary though what he admonisht were lost out of our memory yet that God doth now again create the same doctrin in another unâ— table and raises it up immediatly out of his pure oracle to the convincement of 〈◊〉 pâ—rvers age eager in the reformation of names and ceremonies but iâ— realâ—ies as traditional and as ignorant as their forefathers I would ask now the foremost of my profound accusers whether they dare affirm that to be licâ—ntious new and dangerous which Martin Bucer so often and so urgently avoucht to be most lawfull most necessary and most Christian without the lest blemish to his good name among all the worthy men of that age and since who testifie so highly of him If they dare they must then set up an arrogance of their own against all those Churches and Saints who honour'd him without this exception If they dare not how can they now make that licentious doctrin in another which was never blam'd or confuted in Bucer or in Fagius The truth is there will be due to them for this their unadvised rashnes the best donative that can be giv'n them I mean a round reproof now that where they thought to be most Magisterial they have display'd their own want both of reading and of judgement First to be so unacquainted in the writings of
Bucer which are so obvious and so usefull in their own faculty next to be so caught in a prejudicating weaknes as to condemn that for lewd which whether they knew or not these elect servants of Christ commended for lawfull and for new that which was taught by these almost the first and greatest authors of reformation who were never taxt for so teaching and dedicated without scruple to a royall pair of the first reforming Kings in Christendom and confest in the public confession of a most orthodoxall Church state in Germany This is also another fault which I must tell them that they have stood now almost this whole year clamouring a farre off while the book hath bin twice printed twice bought up never once vouchsâ— a friendly conference with the author who would be glad and thankfull to be shâ—wn an error either by privat dispute or public answer and could retract as well as wise men before him might also be worth the gaining as one who heertofore hath done good service to the Church by their own confession Or if he be obstinat their confutation would have render'd him without excuse and reclam'd others of no mean parts who incline to his opinion But now their work is more then doubl'd and how they will hold up their heads against the sudden aspect of these two great and reverend Sâ—ints whom they have defam'd how they will make good the censuring of that for a novelty of licence which Bucer constantly taught to be a pure and holy law of Christs kingdom let them advise For against these my adversaries who before the examining of a propounded truth in a fit time of reformation have had the conscience to oppose â—ght 〈◊〉 but their blind reproaches and surmises that a single innocence might not be opprâ—st and overborn by a câ—ow of mouths for the restoring of a law and doctrin falsely and unlernedly reputed new and scandalous God that I may ever magnifie and record this his goodnes hath unexpectedly rais'd up as it were from the dead more then one famous light of the first reformation to bear witneâ— with me and to dâ—e me honour in that very thing wherin these men thought to have blotted me And hath giv'n them the proof of a capacity which they despis'd running equal and authentic with some of thir chiefest masters unthought of and in a point of sagest moment However if we know at all when to ascribe the occurrences of this life to the work of a special providence as nothing is more usual in the talk of good men what can be more like to a special providence of God then in the first reformation of England that this question of divorce as a main thing to be restor'd to just freedom was writt'n and seriously câ—mmended to Edward the sixt by a man call'd from another Countrey to be the instructer of our nation and now in this presâ—nt renewing of the Church and Common-wealth which we pray may be more lasting that the same question should be again treated and presented to this Parlament by one enabl'd to use the same reasons without the lest sight or knowledge of what was done before It were no trespas Lords and Commons though something of lesse note were attributed to the ordering of a heavnly power this question therfore of such prime concernment both to Christian and civil welfare in such an extraordinary manner not recover'd but plainly twise born to these latter ages as from a divine hand I tender to your acceptance and most considerate thoughts Think not that God rais'd up in vain a man of greatest aâ—ority in the Church to tell a trivial and licentious tale in the eares of that good Prince and to bequeath it as his last will and testament nay rather as the testamont and royall law of Christ to this Nation or that it should of it self after so many yeares as it were in a new feild where it was never sow'n grow up again as a vitious plant in the minde of another who had spoke honestest things to the Nation though he knew not that what his youth then reason'd without a pattern had bin heard already and well allow'd from the gravity and worth of Martin Bucer till meeting with the envy of men ignorant in thir own undertak'n calling God directed him to the forgott'n Writings of this faithfull Evangelist to be his defence and warrant against the gross imputation of broaching licence Ye are now in the glorious way to high vertu and matchless deeds trusted with a most inestimable trust the asserting of our just liberties Ye have a nation that expects now and from mighty suffrings aspires to be the example of all Christendom to a perfetest reforming 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 givâ— ye power to be What are all our public immunities and privileges worth and how shall it be judg'd that we sight for them with minds worthy to enjoy them if wee suffer our selvs in the mean while not to understand the most important freedom that God and Nature hath givn 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 tâ—ir lives and in that ordinance of God which entitles them from the beginning to most just and requisite contentments are compell'd to civil indignities which by the law of Moses bad men were not compell'd to Be not bound about and straitn'd in the spatious wisdom of your free Spirits by the scanty and unadequat and inconsistent principles of such as condemn others for adhering to traditions and are themselvs the prostrate worshippers of Custom and of such a tradition as they can deduce from no antiquitie but from the rudâ—st and thickâ—st barbarism of Antichristian times But why doe I anticipate the more acceptable and prevailing voice of lerned Bucer himself the pastor of Nations And O that I could set him living before ye in that doctoral chair where once the lernedest 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 doe I forget that faithfull associate of his labours Paulus Fagius for these thir great names and merits how pretious so ever God hath now joyn'd with me necessarily in the good or evil report of this doctrin which I leav with you It was writt'n to a religious King of this land writt'n earnestly as a main matter wher in this kingdom needed a reform if it purpos'd to be the kingdom of Christ Writt'n by him who
if any since the dâ—ies of Luther merits to be counted the Apostle of our Church whose unwâ—aried pains and watching for our sakes as they spent him quickly heer among us so did they during the shortnes of his life incredibly promote the Gospel throughout this Realm The autority the lerning the godlines of this man consulted with is able to out-ballance all that the lightnes of a vulgar opposition can being to counterpoise I leav him also as my complete suretie and testimonial if Truth be not the best witnes to it self that what I formerly presented to your reading on this subject was good and just and honest not licentious Not that I have now more confidence by the addition of these great Authors to my party for what I wrote was not my opinion but my knowledge evn then when I could trace no footstep in the way I went nor that I think to win upon your apprehensions with numbers and with names rather then wiâ—h reasons yet certainly the worst of my dâ—tracters will not except against so good a baile of my integritie and judgement as now appeares for me They must els put in the fame of Bucer and of Fagins as my accomplices and confederats into the same endightment they must dig up the good name of these prime worthies if thir names could be ever buried they must dig them up and brand them as the Papists did thir bodies and those thir pure unblamable spirits which live not only in heaven but in thir writings they must attaint with new attaintures which no Protestant ever before aspers't them with Or if perhaps wee may obtain to get our appeachment new drawn a Writ of Error not of Libertinism that those two principal leaders of reformation may not come now to be su'd in a bill of licence to the scandal of our Church the brief result will be that for the error if thir own works be not thought sufficient to defend them there livs yet who will be ready in a fair and christianly discussive way to debate and sift this matter to the utmost ounce of lerning and religion in him that shall lay it as an error either upon Martin Bueer or any other of his opinion If this be not anough to qualifie my traducers and that they think it more for the wisdom of thir virulence not to recant the injuries they have bespoke me I shall not for much more disturbance then they can bring me intermitt the prosecution of those thoughts which may render me best serviceable either to this age or if it so happ'n to posteritie following the fair path which your illustrious exploits Honourd Lords and Commons against the brest of tyrany have open'd and depending so on your happy successes in the hopes that I have conceiv'd either of my self or of the Nation as must needs conclude me one who most affectionately wishes and awaits the prosperous issue of your noble and valorous counsels JOHN MILTON THE JUDGEMENT OF MARTIN BUCER TOUCHING DIVORCE Taken out of the second Book entitl'd Of the kingdom of Christ writt'n by Martin Bucer to Edward the 6th K. of England CHAPTER XV The 7th Law of the sanctifying and ordering of mariage BEsides these things Christ our King and his Churches require from your sacred Majesty that you would take upon you the just care of mariages For it is unspeakable how many good consciences are heerby entangl'd afâ—licted and in danger because there are no just laws no speedy way constituted according to Gods Word touching this holy society and fountain of mankind For seeing matrimony is a civil thing men that they may rightly contract inviolably keep and not without extreme necessitie dissolv mariage are not only to be taught by the doctrine and discipline of the Church but also are to be acquitted aided and compell'd by laws and judicature of the Common-wealth Which thing pious Emperours acknowledgeing and therin framing themselvs to the law of Nations gave laws both of contracting and preserving and also where an unhappy need requir'd of divorcing mariages As may be seen in the Code of Justinian the 5 Book from the beginning through 24 titles And in the Authentic of Justinian the 22 and some others But the Antichrists of Rome to get the imperial power into thir own hands first by fraudâ—lent persuasion afterwards by force drew to themselvs the whole autority of determining and judging as well in matâ—imonial causes as in most other matters Therfore it hath bin long beleiv'd that the care and government therof doth not belong to the civil Magistrate Yet where the Gospel of Christ is receav'd the laws of Antichrist should be rejected If therfore Kings and Governours take not this care by the power of law and justice to provide that mariages be piously contracted religiously kept and lawfully dissolv'd if need require who sees not what confusion and trouble is brought upon this holy society and what a rack is prepar'd evn for many of the best consciences while they have no certain laws to follow no justice to implore if any intolerable thing happen And how much it concerns the honour and safety of the Common-wealth that mariages according to the will of Christ be made maintain'd and not without just cause dissolv'd who understands not for unlesse that first and holiâ—st society of man and woman be purely constituted that houshold discipline may be upheld by them according to Gods law how can wee expect a race of good men Let your Majesty therfore know that this is your duty and in the first place to reassume to your self the just ordering of matrimony and by firm laws to establish and defend the religion of this first and divine societie among men as all wise law-givers of old and Christian Emperours have carefully don The two next Chapters because they chiefly treat about the degrees of Consanguinity and affinity I omit only setting down a passage or two concerning the judicial laws of Moses how fit they be for Christians to imitate rather then any other CHAP. XVII toward the end I Confesse that wee beeing free in Christ are not bound to the civil Laws of Moses in every circumstance yet seeing no laws can be more honest just and wholsom then those which God himself gave who is eternal wisdom goodnes I see not why Christians in things which no lesse appertain to them ought not to follow the laws of God rather then of any men Wee are not to use circumcision sacrifice and those bodily washings prescrib'd to the Jews yet by these things wee may rightly learn with what purity and devotion both Baptism and the Lords Supper should be administerd and receay'd How much more is it our duty to observ diligently what the Lord hath commanded and taught by the examples of his people concerning mariage wherof wee have the use no lesse then they And because this same worthy Author hath another passage to this purpose in his Comment