The Nevv Testament of Iesus Christ, translated faithfully into English, out of the authentical Latin, according to the best corrected copies of the same, diligently conferred vvith the Greeke and other editions in diuers languages; vvith arguments of bookes and chapters, annotations, and other necessarie helpes, for the better vnderstanding of the text, and specially for the discouerie of the corruptions of diuers late translations, and for cleering the controversies in religion, of these daies: in the English College of Rhemes

CHAP. VII.

That maried folke may aske their debt,* 1.1 and must pay it,* 1.2 though it be better for them to conteine, 8 as also for the vnmarried and vvidovves to continevv single, though they may marrie. 10 That the married may not depart from one an other (nor in any case marrie an other, during the life of the former) 12 vnles it be from one that is vnbaptized, vvhich yet he dissua∣deth: 17 counseling also euery one to be content vvith his state vvherein he vvas Christened. 25 Virginitie is not commaunded, but counseled as the better and more meritiorious then Mariage, 39 as also vvidovvhod.

[verse 1] AND concerning the things vvhereof you vvrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a vvoman. ✝ [leftJustify 2] But because of forni∣cation let euery man haue ″ his ovvne vvife, and let euery vvoman haue her ovvne hus∣band. ✝ [leftJustify 3] ″ Let the husbandc 1.3 render his dette to the vvife: and the vvife also in like ma∣ner to her husband. ✝ [leftJustify 4] The vvoman hath not povver of her ovvne body: but her husband. And in like maner the man also hath not povver of his ovvne body: but the vvoman. ✝ [leftJustify 5] Defraude not one an other, except perhaps by consent for a time,∷ 1.4 that you may ″ giue your self` 1.5 to praier': and returne againe together, lest Satan tempt you for your incon∣tinencie. ✝ [leftJustify 6] But I say this ″ by indulgence, not by commaun∣dement. ✝ [leftJustify 7] For I vvould al men to be as my self: but euery one hath ″ a proper gift of God: one so, and an other so.

✝ [leftJustify 8] ∷ 1.6 But I say to the vnmaried and to vvidovves: it is good for them if they so abide euen as I also. ✝ [leftJustify 9] But ″ if they doe not conteine them selues, let them marie. For it is ″ better to marie thenc 1.7 to be burnt.

✝ [leftJustify 10] But to them that be ioyned in matrimonie, not I giue commaundement,* 1.8 but our Lord, * that the vvife depart not from her husband: ✝ [leftJustify 11] and if she depart, ″ to remaine vnma∣ried,* 1.9 or to be recōciled to her husband. And let not the hus∣band put avvay his vvife.

✝ [leftJustify 12] For to the rest, ″ I say, not our Lord. If any brother haue a vvife an infidel, and she consent to dvvel with him: let him not put her avvay. ✝ [leftJustify 13] And if any vvoman haue a husband an infidel, and he consent to dvvel vvith her: let her not put avvay her husband. ✝ [leftJustify 14] For the man an infidel is sanctified by the faithful vvoman: and the vvoman an infidel ″ is sancti∣fied by the faithful husband: otherwise your children should be vncleane: but novv they are holy. ✝ [leftJustify 15] But if the infidel depart, let him depart. for the brother or sister is not subiect to seruitude in such, but in peace hath God called vs. ✝ [leftJustify 16] For how knowest thou woman, if thou shalt saue thy husbād? or how knowest thou man, if thou shalt saue the vvoman? ✝ [leftJustify 17] But to euery one as our Lord hath deuided, as God hath called euery one, so let him vvalke, and as in al Churches I teach. ✝ [leftJustify 18] Is any man called being circumcised? let him not procure prepuce. Is any man called in prepuce? let him not be circumcised.

✝ [rightJustify 19] Circumcision is nothing, and prepuce is nothing: but the obseruation of the commaundements of God. ✝ [rightJustify 20] Euery one in the vocation that he vvas called, in it let him abide. ✝ [rightJustify 21] Vvast thou called being a bondman? care not for it: but and if thou canst be made free, vse it rather. ✝ [rightJustify 22] For he that in our Lord is called, being a bondman, is thec 1.10 franchised of our Lord. like∣vvise he that is called, being free, is the bondman of Christ. ✝ [rightJustify 23] You vvere bought vvith price, be not made the∷ 1.11 bōdmen of men. ✝ [rightJustify 24] Euery` 1.12 brother' vvherein he vvas called, in that let him abide before God.

✝ [rightJustify 25] And as concerning virgins, a commaundement of our Lord I haue not: but ″ counsel I giue, as hauing obteined mercie of our Lord to be faithful. ✝ [rightJustify 26] I thinke therfore that this is good for the present necessitie, because it is good for a man so to be. ✝ [rightJustify 27] Art thou tied to a vvise? seeke not to be loosed. Art thou loose from a vvife? seeke not a vvife. ✝ [rightJustify 28] But if thou take a vvife,∷ 1.13 thou hast not sinned. And ″ if a virgin marie, she hath not sinned. neuerthelesse ″ tribulation of the flesh shal such haue. but I spare you. ✝ [rightJustify 29] This therfore I say brethren, the time is short, it remaineth, that they also which haue vviues, be ″ as though they had not: ✝ [rightJustify 30] and they that vveepe, as though they vvept not: and they that reioyce, as though they reioyced not: and they that bye, as though they possessed not: ✝ [rightJustify 31] and they that vse this vvorld, as though they vsed it not. for the figure of this vvorld passeth avvay. ✝ [rightJustify 32] But I vvould haue you to be vvithout carefulnes. He that is without a vvife, is ″ careful for the things that pertaine to our Lord, how he may please God. ✝ [rightJustify 33] But he that is vvith a vvife, is careful for the things that pertaine to the vvorld, hovv he may please his vvife: and he is deuided. ✝ [rightJustify 34] And the vvoman vnmaried & the virgin, thinketh on the things that pertaine to our Lord: that she may be holy both in body and in spi∣rit. ⊢ But she that is maried, thinketh on the things that per∣taine to the vvorld, hovv she may please her husband. ✝ [rightJustify 35] And this I speake to your profit: not to cast a snare vpon you, but to that vvhich is honest, & that may giue you povver vvith∣out impediment to attend vpon our Lord. ✝ [rightJustify 36] But if any man thinke that he seemeth dishonoured vpon his virgin, for that she is past age, and if it must so be, let him doe that he vvil. He sinneth not if she marie. ✝ [rightJustify 37] For he that hath de∣termined in his hart being settled, not hauing necessitie, but

hauing povver of his ovvne vvil, and hath iudged this in his hart, to keepe his virgin, doeth vvel. ✝ [leftJustify 38] Therfore both he that ioyneth his virgin in matrimonie, doeth vvel: & he that ioy∣neth not, doeth better.

✝ [leftJustify 39] * A vvoman is bound to the lavv so long time as her husband liueth:* 1.14 but if her husband sleepe, she is at libertie: let her marie to vvhom she vvil: only in our Lord. ✝ [leftJustify 40] But c 1.15 more blessed shal she be, if she so remaine, according to my counsel. and I thinke that I also haue the Spirit of God.

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VII.

2. His ovvne vvise.]* 1.16 He saith not, as the Protestants here pretend to excuse the vnlavvful con∣iunction of Votaries,* 1.17 Let euery one mary: but, let euery one haue, keepe, or vse his ovvne vvise to vvhom he vvas maried before his conuersion. for the Apostle ansvvereth here to the first question of the Corinthians, vvhich vvas not, vvhether it vvere lavvful to mary, but vvhether they vvere not bound vpon their conuersion, to absteine from the company of their vviues married before in their infidelitie, as some did persuade them that they ought to doe. Hiero. li. 1 cont. Iouin. c. 4. Chrys. in hunc locum be. 19.

3. Let the husband render.] These vvordes open the Apostles intention and talke to be onely of such as are already maried, and to iustruct them of the bond and obligation that is betvvene the maried couple for rendring of the dette of carnal copulation one to an other: declaring that the maried persons haue yelded their bodies so one to an other, that they can not vvithout mutual con∣sent, neither perpetually, nor for a time, defraude one the other.

5. Giue your self to praier.]* 1.18 This time, & the Heretikes doctrine, and high estimatiō of matrimo∣nial actes, are far from the puritie of the Apostolike and primitiue Church, vvhen the Chrisians to make their praiers and fastings more acceptable to God, abstained by mutual consent euen from their lavvful vviues. our nevv Maisters not much absteining (as it may be thought) from their vviues for any such matter. And yet S. Augustine saith, the Prelate should passe other in this case, and thinke that not to be lavvful for him, that may be borne in others, because he must daily supply Christes roome, offer, baptize, and pray for the people. So saith he li. 1. q. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vtroque test. q. 127 in fine. See S. Hiero. li. 1 c. 19 aduers. Iouin. S. Ambr. li. 1 Offic. c. vlt. But alas for the people, vvhose maried Pastors are in this point far vvorse then the vulgar folke, neither teaching continencie, nor giuing good example.

6. By indulgence,* 1.19 not commaundement.] Lest some might misconstre his former vvordes, as though he had precisely commaunded maried persons not to abstaine perpetually from carnal copulation, or not to giue their consent one to an other of continencie but for a time onely: he de∣clareth plainely that he gaue no rule or precept absolutely therein, but that he spake al the foresaid, condescending to their infirmities onely, insinuating that continencie from carnal copulation is much better, and that him self kept it continually, Aug. de bon. coniug. c. 10. Enchirid. c. 78.

7. A proper gift.] To such as may lavvfully mary, or be already maried, God giueth not al∣vvaies that more high and special gift or grace of continencie, though euery one of them al that duely aske and labour for it, might haue it: but such are not bound to endeuour or seeke for it alvvaies,* 1.20 and therfore can not be commaunded to abstaine further then they like, but vvhensoeuer a man is bound to abstaine, either by vovv or any other necessarie occasion (as if one of the parties be in prison, vvarre, banishment, siknos, or absent perpetually by lavvful diuorce) the other must needes in paine of damnation abstaine, and can not excuse the vvant of the gift of chastitie. for * 1.21 he is bound to aske it and to seeke for it of God by fasting, praying, and chastising his body: and so labouring duely for it, God vvil giue the grace of chastitie. So had S. Paul it, and so had al the holy men that euer liued chast. Therfore detest the doctrine of the Protestants in this point, that vvhen they list not fast nor pray for it, say they haue not the gift. And it vvere a great maruel vvhy so fevv of the nevv Sectes or rather none novv a daies haue that gift, but that vve see it is obtained by those meanes vvhich our forefathers vsed, & they vse not at all. To liue in mariage continently

vvithout the breach of coniugal fidelitio, is a gift of God also, but men must not breake their faith of vvedlocke for vvant of it, but must knovv that God giueth that gift to such as humbly aske it of him. August. de gras. & lib. arbitrio c. 4. De continent. c. 1.

9. If they conteine not.] He meaneth of such as be free: for if they marry after they haue made vow or promes to God of chastitie,* 1.22 they are vvorthely damned, such being bound to conteine, and so may conteine if they list. August. de bono viduit. c. 8. 9. & de adult. coniug. li. 1. c. 15. & de fide ad Petrum c. 3. infine. Ambros. ad virg. lapsam c. 5.

9. Better to marry.] It is better to marry for the said persons that be free, then to be ouer∣throvven and fall into fornication, for, to burne, or, to be burnt, is not to be tempted onely (as the Protestants thinke that picke quarels easely to marry) but it signifieth * to yeld to concu∣piscence either in minde or external vvorke.* 1.23 Vvse say also, for such as be free, for concerning others lavvfully made Priests, and such as othervvise haue made vow of chastitie, they cannot marry at al, and therfore there is no comparison in them betvvixt mariage and fornication or burning. for their mariage is but pretensed, and is the vvorst sort of continencie and fornication or burning.

11. To remaine vnmarried.] Neither partie may dimisse the other and mary an other for any cause.* 1.24 for though they be separated for fornication, yet neither may marry againe. August. de adult. coniug. li. 1 c. 8. 9. and li. 26. 5. 19. See Annotat. Mat. 19. and S. Augustine in his vvhole bookes. de adulter, coniugijs to. 6.

12. I say, not our Lord.]* 1.25 By this vve learne, that there vvere many matters ouer and aboue the things that Christ taught or prescribed, left to the Apostles order and interprecation: vvherein they might, as the case required, either commaund or counsel, and vve bound to obey accordingly.

14. Sanctified.] Vvhen the infidel partie is said to be cleane or sanctified by the faithful, or the children of their mariage to be cleane,* 1.26 vve may not thinke that they be in grace or state of salua∣tion thereby,* 1.27 but onely that the mariage is * an occasion of sanctification to the infidel partie and to the children. for S. Augustine (li. 3 de pec. mer. & remis. c. 12.) concludeth against the Pelagians, as vve may doe against the Caluinists, holding Christian mens children to be holy from their mo∣thers vvombe and not to neede Baptisme, that vvhat other sanctification soeuer it be that is here meant, it can not be ynough to saluation vvithout saith, Baptisme, &c.

19. But the obseruation.] Neither to be Ievv nor Gentil, bond or free, maried or single, nor the faith it self vvhich is proper to Christian men, vvil serue to saluation, vvithout good vvorkes and keeping the commaundements. S. Hierom adu. Iouin. li. 1 c. 16.

25. Counsel I giue.]* 1.28 A counsel is one thing, a commaundement is an other. To doe that vvhich is counseled, is not necessarie, because one may be saued notvvithstanding. but he that vvil doe that vvhich he is counseled vnto, shal haue a higher degree of glorie. He that fulfilleth not a cōmaun∣dement, except he doe penance. can not escape punishment. August. li. de virg. c. 13. & 14.

28. If a virgin marrie.]* 1.29 He speaketh not of that virgin vvhich hath dedicated her self to God, (for if any, such mary, she shal be damned for breaking her first vow) but onely of yong maides vnmaried in the vvorld. Hiero. adu. Iouin. li. 1 c. 7. Chrys. ho 20. Theodorete, Photius, and the other Greeke Doctors vpon this place apud Oecum. Epiph. hares. 61.

28. Tribulation of the flesh.]* 1.30 They are matuelously deceiued (saith S. Augustine li. de virg. c. 1••) that thinke the Apostle counseleth virginitie rather then mariage, onely for that mariage hath ma∣ny miseries and molestations ioyned vnto it, which by virginitie shal be auoided, & not in respect of the greater reward in heauen. for the Apostles prouident counseling to virginitie, is for the next life, and he alleageth these troubles of mariage in that sense specially as they be a hinderance from the seruice of God here, and therfore an impediment to vs toward the next life and the more ample ioyes thereof.

29. As though they had not.]* 1.31 He exhorteth that such as haue vviues, should not vvholy bestovv them selues in the vaine transitorie pleasure and voluptuousnes of their flesh, but liue in such moderation, that their mariage hinder them as litle as may be, from spiritual cogitatiōs. Vvhich is best fulfilled of them that by mutual consent do vvholy conteine,* 1.32 vvhether they haue had chil∣dren or none, contemning carnal issue for the ioyes of heauen. And these mariages be more blessed then any other, saith S. Augustine de Ser. Do. in monte li. 1 cap. 14.

32. Careful for the things of our Lord.] The Protestants might here learne if they list, first that virginitie is not onely preferred before mariage,* 1.33 for that it is a more quiet state of life in this world, but for that it is more conuenient for the seruice of God. Secondly that virginitie hath a grateful puritie and sanctitie both of body & soule, vvhich mariage hath not. Thirdly, they may learne the cause why the Church of God requireth chastitie in the clergie,* 1.34 and forbiddeth not onely fornica∣tion, but al carnal copulation euen in lavvful vvedlocke: Vvhich is not onely to the end that Gods Priests be not diuided from him by the clogges of mariage, but also that they be cleane and pure from the fleshly actes of copulation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The 3. part.
• * 1.2

  Of Mariage and conti∣nencie.
• c 1.3

  debitū reddat
• ∷ 1.4

  If the lay man can not pray, vnles he abstaine from his vvife: the Priest that al∣waies must of∣fer sacrifices, and alvvaies pray, must ther¦fore alvvaies be free from matrimonie. Hiero. li. 1 c. 1•• aduer. Iouin.
• ` 1.5

  to fa∣sting & praier:
• ∷ 1.6

  Before he treated of the continencie of such as vvere married, novv he giueth les∣sons for the vnmarried also.
• c 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.8

  Mt. 5, 32 19, 9.
• * 1.9

  Mr. 10, 9. Lu. 16, 18.
• c 1.10

  libertus
• ∷ 1.11

  You must not serue men so that you obey & please them more then God. The Epistle for holy Vir∣gins not Mar∣tyrs.
• ` 1.12

  one, bre∣thren,
• ∷ 1.13

  Virginitie counseled as the better: Mariage not forbidden, be∣cause it is no sinne.
• * 1.14

  Ro. 7, 2.
• c 1.15

  The state of vvidovvhod more blessed, then the state of matrimo∣nie.
• * 1.16

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.17

  The Apostle biddeth not al to marie, but to keepe their vviues before maried.
• * 1.18

  Continence in maried folkes for praier sake.
• * 1.19

  Perpetual con∣tinencie, euen in maried fol∣kes, better then carnal copulation.
• * 1.20

  Who are boūd to liue conti∣nently: and that God gi∣ueth this gift to al that aske it.
• * 1.21

  See S. Augusti∣ne li. ••. c. 19. 20. de Adult. Coniug to. 4.
• * 1.22

  The Apostle permitteth ma¦riage to them that be free, not to vovved persons.
• * 1.23

  Theodore•• in hunc locum.
• * 1.24

  After diuorce not to marie.
• * 1.25

  The Apostles precepts.
• * 1.26

  Hovv the infi∣del, or infidels childe, are sā∣ctified by the Christian.
• * 1.27

  Hiero. li. 1. c. 5 aduers. Iouin.
• * 1.28

  The differēce of counsels & precepts.
• * 1.29

  A professed virgin may not marrie.
• * 1.30

  Virginitie counseled as more merito∣rious.
• * 1.31

  The continen∣cie of married folke.
• * 1.32

  Their perpe∣tual continen∣cie, best.
• * 1.33

  Virginitie preferred, and vvhy.
• * 1.34

  Vvhy conti∣nencie is re∣quired in the clergie.