The Apologie, Cap. 8. Diuision. 1.
Wee saie, that Matrimonie is Holy, and Honorable in al sortes and states of Personnes: as in the Patriarches, in the Prophetes, in the Apostles, in the Holy Martyrs, in the Ministers of the Churche, and in Bishoppes: & that it is an honest and lawful thinge (as Chrysostome saithe) for a man liuinge in Matrimonie, to take vpon him therewith the Dignitie of a Bishop.
M. Hardinge.
Matrimonie is Holy and Honorable in al persons,* 1.1 and an vndefiled bedde, as saithe S. Paule. Yet is it not lauful for them to marie* 1.2 whiche either haue by deliberate vowe dedicated al maner their chastitie vnto God.* 1.3 or haue receiued Holy Order. For the vowed be forbidden Mariage by ex∣presse VVoorde of God: Those that haue taken Holy Orders, by Tradition of the Apostles, and Aun∣cient ordinaunce of the Churche.
Touchinge the firste,* 1.4 the Scripture is plaine: because a Vowe is to be performed, Vouete & red∣dite Domino Deo vestro: Vowe ye and paye (or render that ye vowe) to your Lorde God. Christe also saithe in the Gospel,* 1.5 there be some Eunuches that haue made thē selues Eunuches for the Kingedome of Heauens sake. He that can take, let him take. Againe S. Paule speakinge of younge VVidowes, whiche haue vowed and promised Chastitie, saithe, that when they waxe wanton against Christe, they wil marie,* 1.6 hauinge danmation, because they haue broken their firste Faithe. VVhether these Scriptures perteine hereto, and be thus to be vnderstanded, we referre vs to the Primitiue Churche, and to al the Holy Fathers.
Sutche Mariages, or rather slidinges and falles from the holier Chastitie, that is Vowed to God, S. Augustine doubteth not but they be woorse then aduoutries. S. Cyprian calleth this case plaine in∣ceste. S. Basile accompteth the mariages of vailed virgins to be voide, of no force, and Sacrilegious.
She that hath despoused her selfe to our Lorde (saithe S. Basile) is not free. For her husbande is not deade, that shee maye marie to whome she liste. And whiles her immortal husbande liueth,