Synopsis papismi, that is, A generall viewe of papistry wherein the whole mysterie of iniquitie, and summe of antichristian doctrine is set downe, which is maintained this day by the Synagogue of Rome, against the Church of Christ, together with an antithesis of the true Christian faith, and an antidotum or counterpoyson out of the Scriptures, against the whore of Babylons filthy cuppe of abominations: deuided into three bookes or centuries, that is, so many hundreds of popish heresies and errors. Collected by Andrew Willet Bachelor of Diuinity.

THE THIRD PART, WHETHER ANY OTHER DE∣grees may be by humane law prohibited, beside those directly forbidden in the law.

The Papists.

1. THey affirme, that by the law of Moses, those degrees onely are vnlawfull to marrie in, which are directly and by name set downe: & therefore it is [error 36] not vnlawfull, by Moses law, for the vncle or Aunts husband to marrie his niece, because it is not by name prohibited: as Abraham married his brother Arams daughter: for Sara was his niece. The marriage also of Cosin germanes was lawfull by Moses law, and practized, Numb. 36. The daughters of Zelophehad married their vncles sonnes. Therefore by Moses law no degrees are forbidden, which are not directly named, Bellarm. cap. 27.

The Protestants.

1. COncerning Abrahams marriage what is to be thought, we haue shewed before: but it is a plaine case, that the vncle is no more to marrie his niece, then the nephew his Aunt: and this being by name prohibited, Leuit. 18, 14.20.2. the other also is necessarily included: for the same rules for degrees of kinred doe proportionably hold both in men and women: wherefore such mar∣riage is vnlawfull, neither to be contracted, and if it be, to be dissolued.

2. Concerning the marriage of brothers and sisters children, there is a grea∣ter question. First, it cannot be proued that Zelophehads fiue daughters married their vncles sonnes, that is, their Cosin germanes: for the Hebrewes call the ne∣phewes, sonnes: as Iethros daughters are called the daughters of Raguel their grandfather, Exod. 2.17. So it is very like that their husbands were their vncles sonnes sonnes, as in the 12. verse it may be gathered, where the text sayth, They were married into the families of the sonnes of Manasses: therfore not into one familie. But as touching the question in hand, the marriage of Cosin ger∣manes seemeth also by some analogie to be forbidden by Moses law: for if the degrees of affinitie be limited to the fourth degree: as it is not lawfull for a man to marrie his wiues daughters daughter, Leuiticus 18.17. why should not the line of consanguinitie hold to the fourth degree likewise? And so neither the sonne to marrie his fathers brothers daughter, or the daugh∣ter the sonne: for heere are also foure degrees: the sonne, one: the

father two, the fathers brother three, the brothers sonne foure. Yet this we grant, that this analogie or proportion is not so strong, nor doth conclude so necessari∣ly as the other. Wherefore we thus determine of this matter, that it is well that the marriages of Cosin germanes are restrained by humane lawe, and so they ought to be: which kind of marriages may lawfully be hindered, and the con∣tract loosed: but the marriage being consummate and finished, it is not for this cause to be dissolued.

* 1.1Augustine also writeth very well of this matter, Quis dubitet, honestiùs hoc tempore consobrinarum prohibita esse coniugia, etiamsi id diuina lex non prohibeat: cuius enim debet causa propinquitatis verecundum honorem, ab ea contineat quam∣uis generatricem libidinem? Who doubteth, but that the marriage of Cosin ger∣manes is honestly forbidden, though the diuine lawe doe not prohibite it? for to whom a man oweth a shamefast reuerence for kinred sake, he ought to re∣fraine his lust.

The Papists.

[error 37] 2. IT is lawful for the Church to restraine other degrees of affinitie and consan∣guinitie, besides those prescribed by Moses, and that the decrees of the Church in such cases doe bind in conscience, Concil. Trident. sess. 24. can. 3. As to prohibite marriage vnto the seuenth degree in naturall kinred. Also their Ca∣nons doe make a spirituall kinred, that commeth in by Baptisme & Confirma∣tion: and suffer not the godfather to marrie the godchild, or the godfather the godmother. Likewise they haue found out an affinitie that commeth in by e∣spousals onely of Matrimonie, which bindeth (say they) in the first degree by the Canon law, which is the first and second by the Ciuill law: as that it is not law∣full for the brother to marrie her which was espoused to his brother. Also ano∣ther kinred and affinitie, by fornication & vnlawfull fleshly knowledge, which bindeth in the 2. degree Canonicall, which is the 3. and 4. Ciuil: as it is not law∣full for the sonne to marrie his fathers bastard, Bellarm. cap. 24. cap. 30.

The Protestants.

1. TO forbid more degrees in marriage, then are either directly or by necessa∣rie consequence prohibited in the law, is a meere Antichristian yoke layd vpon the people of God: for the Lord (the author of that lawe) best did knowe, both what persons were fit for marriage, and how farre the line of marriage was to extend.

2. The inuention of spirituall kinred is but a popish tricke, to get the more monie for their dispensations: for by this reason no Christians ought to marrie together, because they are all of one spirituall kinred in Christ.

3. The new affinitie that commeth by espousals, is also but an humane in∣uention: for the law speaketh onely of the kinred of the flesh, which ariseth of carnall knowledge and copulation, not an intent or purpose onely of marriage, Leuit. 18.6.

4. The last we admit, for the sonne of the father begotten out of marriage, is

of his fleshly kinred, though not lawfully: and therefore in marriage matters there is respect also to be had euen of this kinred of the flesh: as Ruben is cursed of his father because he lay with his concubine, Genes. 49.4. which notwithstan∣ding was not his fathers wife.

Notes

• * 1.1

  De ciuitat. dei lib. 15. cap. 16.