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VERS. XXVI.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
For the present necessity.
AND by and by, vers. 29. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The time is short, it remaineth. The Corinthians enquired of the Apostle by a letter in the case of marriage, as it seems by his answer.
I. Concerning Marriages between a believer, and an unbeliever, whether they were to be continued, or not continued.
II. Concerning the Marriages of Virgins, or single persons. But now, how a scru∣ple should arise to them in this latter, is somewhat obscure. Among the Jewish Christi∣ans a scruple might arise, whether it were lawful for a single man to abstain from mar∣riage, because in that nation, as we have observed, they commanded matrimony by Law. But if the question were, whether it was lawful for a Virgin, or a single man to contract Matrimony (For the Apostle answereth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Thou hast not sin∣ned, as though it were asked rather, whether it were lawful to marry, than whether it were lawful not to marry) then you will scarcely conjecture whence it should arise but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, From the present necessity.
Our Apostle teacheth, that some forbad marriage, 1 Tim. IV. 3. But under what pretence? Either under this, that they babbled that marriage opposed the purity of the Gospel, as Satur••ilus in Jereny; or that they avoyded marriages for those calamities that hung over them. They forbid marriage, saith the Apostle, and command to ab∣stain* 1.1 from meats. Hear the Gemarists a little.
From i 1.2 the time that the second Temple was destroyed, Pharisees (Separatists) were mul∣tiplyed in Israel, who eat not flesh, nor drunk wine. To whom R. Josuah, Why, O my Sons, do ye not eat flesh, nor drink wine? And they answered, should we eat flesh, of which we were wont to offer on the Altar, and now it is perished? And shall we drink wine, of which we were wont to pour out upon the Altar, and now it is ceased.—When a wicked Empire ruled over Israel, and decreed rough things against them, and made the Law, and the pre∣cept cease from them, and permitted them not to circumcise their children, they said to R. Jesus, It is fit, that we resolve among our selves, not to contract marriage, nor beget Sons, &c.
Behold men prepared, and sworn almost to perpetual abstinence from marriage by reason of calamities. From the like cause also I suspect, some Christians might be in doubt, in the times of the Apostles. Our Saviour had foretold, that those times should be very rough, that went before the Destruction of Jerusalem, Mat. XXIV. And that not within the bounds of Judea only: but that judgment should begin from the Temple of God every where, 1 Pet. IV. 17. and a day of Temptation should come upon the whole world, Revel. III. 20. So that that prediction being known to the Churches, and the times now inclining towards those calamities, it is no wonder, if concern and care about those straits invaded the Christians, and deterred very many single persons from marriage.