Catholique traditions. Or A treatise of the beliefe of the Christians of Asia, Europa, and Africa, in the principall controuersies of our time In fauour of the louers of the catholicke trueth, and the peace of the Church. Written in French by Th. A.I.C. and translated into English, by L.O.

QVESTION. XXXIIII. Whether Priests and Deacons may marry, as well by Gods law, as by Ecclesiasticall law.

THE EAST CHVRCHES.

THeuet.y 1.1 The Priests in India are married, and neuerthelesse cease not to execute their duties and offices.

Item.z 1.2 The Priests of the Armenians are married, as all the rest of the East Countreyes.

Item.a 1.3 No man is made Deacon in Moscouia, that is not married: neuerthelesse he is not permitted to mar∣ry twise, and he that marrieth twise, remaineth amongst the Lay people: and he that remaineth continent, al∣though he cannot sacrifice by reason of age, yet doth he assist at the Sacrifice.

Vilam.b 1.4 In Syria the Priests are married as in Greece, in briefe they doe imitate very neare the vse and cu∣stomes of the Grecians.

Scarga.c 1.5 The Russians and Moscouites admit no man to be Priest, that hath not a wife.

Theuet.d 1.6 In Cyprus the Bishops haue in all ages bin married, as well as the Priests.

THE SOVTH CHVRCH.

ZAga Episcopus.e 1.7 The reason why Priests are marri∣ed with vs, is because that Saint Paul thought it better both for the Clergie and Laitie to marrie then to burne. He himselfe saith, that a Bishop ought to be the husband of one wife, irreprehensible and sober: and the Deacons likewise.

Item. The Bishops and Priests cannot marry twise, vnlesse the Patriarke will dispence with them.

Aluares.f 1.8 It was demaunded of me (in the presence of Prester-Iohn) wherefore we doe not obserue the Sta∣tutes of the holy Councell of Nice, seeing therein it was ordained that Priests should marrie: and a little after hee saith thus. Besides his Maiesty caused me to speake more concerning the marriages of Priests, asking me if it was euer knowen that the Apostles were married. Where∣vnto I answered, that I remembred not that euer they married any woman, after that they were called by Ie∣sus Christ: and although that Saint Peter had a daugh∣ter, that was before such time as he was of the number of the Apostles: but they told me, that their bookes did commaund that they should marry, the which ex∣presly Saint Peter had in charge.

THE REFORMED CHVRCH.

THe Confession of England.g 1.9 We say that marriage is holy and honourable, in all kind of people, and

each estate: and as Saint Chrysostome saith, that it is law∣full for a married man to mount vp to the Episcopall Chaire.

THE LATIN CHVRCH.

POpe Lucius.h 1.10 Let such Ministers, Priests and Dea∣cons of the Altar be chosen, for the seruices of the Lord, as obserue and keepe continency.

ANNOTATION.

THe Latines do note aboue all the rest, that the Christians of the East South and North, are contrary to them in this point, as well as the Protestants. The vulgar thinke that there is no other difference. The foresaid people not∣withstanding doe differ from the Protestants in this one point, that is to say, that they neuer receiue or admit any in∣to the gouernment of the Chrurch, but onely those men that are married. This hath bene practised in all ages, perad∣uenture the Church hath had respect to that which S. Paul saith, that a wise Bishop must gouerne well his owne family, so that they would haue none but aged and approued men. And whereas they admit not them that are twise married, it is because they want not conuenient and fit men for that charge, vnto the which the most continent are preferred: one may therefore say,

That Church men may marry both by Diuine law, and by Ecclesiastical law, but cannot marie twise, and conti∣nue in their office without dispensation.

Notes

• y 1.1

  Li. 10. c. 15.
• z 1.2

  Li. 8. ca. 15.
• a 1.3

  Li. 4. ca. 2.
• b 1.4

  Li. 2 ca. 22.
• c 1.5

  De vno past. lib. 2. cap. 12.
• d 1.6

  Lib. 7. ca. 3.
• e 1.7

  Dam à Goes de mor. Aethiop.
• f 1.8

  Cap 26.
• g 1.9

  Art. 7.
• h 1.10

  Dist. 81. Ministri.