A confutation of a popishe, and sclaunderous libelle in forme of an apologie: geuen out into the courte, and spread abrode in diuerse other places of the realme. VVritten by VVilliam Fulke, Bacheler in Diuinitie, and felowe of S. Ihons Colledge in Cambridge.

The aunswere.

Concernyng diuorses, if that whiche wee wishe, might take place, all contro∣uersies should bee cutte of. For we wishe that adulterers, accordyng to the lawe of God, should be punished with death. But if the Ciuile Lawe dooeth faile in that poincte, the nexte remeadie for the inno∣cente partie, is diuorcemente, and after deuorcement, marriage, if he can not liue vnmarried. For our sauiour Christ excep∣teth the case of fornication, as well for marriage after deuorcemente, as for the diuorcemente it self. Math. xix. And for a∣mendemente of the partie offendant, the Ecclesiasticall sworde of Excommunica∣tion, muste bee drawne out: whiche muste continue so longe vpon the offendour, vn∣till his vnfeigned, and hartie repentance, doe sufficiently appeare to the Congrega∣tion. Whiche in that case, maie not refuse to receiue him againe. The partie then so receiued, bothe of god, and the church, and

not beyng able to leade to a continente life, is at libertie, to marrie also in the Lorde. For the firste marriage by the diuorce∣mente, is as clearely dissolued, as if it had neuer been. And as concernyng the recon∣ciliation sainct Paule speaketh of, he mea∣neth not betwene them, that are lawful∣ly diuorced. But betwene those that se∣parate them selues, without a sufficiente cause, whiche is onely fornication. Like as our sauiour Christ, when he saith, that who so marrieth her, that is putte awaie, committeth adulterie, vnderstandeth of her that is vnlawfully putte awaie, for a∣ny other cause, beside fornication, in all whiche causes (the case of adulterie onely excepted) she continueth still wife to hym that did putte her awaie so that he whiche marrieth her, marrieth an other mannes wife, and so committeth adulterie. But she that is diuorsed for adulterie, is no mannes wife, and therefore he that mar∣rieth her, committeth none adulterie.