That God first instituted, and blessed the band of Mariage. CHAP. 22.
BVt wee doubt not at all, that this increase, multiplying and filling of the earth, was by Gods goodnesse bestowed vpon the marriage which hee ordeined in the beginning, ere man sinned, when hee made them male and female; sexes eui∣dent in the flesh. This worke was no sooner done, but it was blessed: for the scripture hauing said. He created them male, and female, addeth presently: And God blessed them, saying, Increase and multiply &c. (a) All which though they may not * 1.1 vnfitly be applied spiritually, yet male and female can in no wise be appropriate to any spirituall thing in man: not vnto that which ruleth, and that which is rul∣ed: but as it is euident in the reall distinction of sexe, they were made male and female, to bring forth fruite by generation, to multiply and to fill the earth. This plaine truth none but fooles will oppose. It cannot bee ment of the spirit ruling, and the flesh obeying, of the reason gouerning and the affect working: of the con∣templatiue part excelling, and the actiue seruing, nor of the mindes vnderstand∣ing and the bodies sence: but directly, of the band of marriage, combining both the sexes in one. Christ being asked, whether one might put away his wife for a∣ny cause, because Moses by reason of the hardnesse of their hearts suffred them to giue her a bill of diuorce, answered saying, Haue you not read, that he which made * 1.2 them at the beginning, made them male and female? and sayd for this cause shall •…•…∣man leaue father and mother and sleaue vnto his wife, and they tvvaine shalbe one flesh? So that now they are no more two but one. Let no man therefore sunder what God hath coupled together. Sure it ts therefore that male and female were ordained at the beginning in the same forme, and difference that mankinde is now in. And they are called one, either because of their coniunction, or the womans originall, who came of the side, of man: for the Apostle warnes all maried men by this example, to loue their wiues.