An answer to Doctor Piercie's sermon preached before His Majesty at White-Hall, Feb. 1, 1663 by J.S.

The nineteenth Demonstration.

Page 27. 28.

96. In the old Law Priests were permitted to have Wives for continuing on, the Tribe of Levi, of which all Priests were to be: but never to use them upon the dayes of Officiating, or sacrificing in the Temple or Tabernacle: though those Obla∣tions were but beggerly Elements, Shadowes, and Figures, as the Apostle calls them.

Therefore Priests of the new Law, where there is no such restraint to Tribe or Family, and where Priests offer daily to God the dreadfull Sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ Jesus, may have Wives: and the contrary was not from the begin∣ning.

To corroborate this proof are cited in your Margin, Thuanus, a French Lawyer, and as it ap∣peares by the whole thread of his History, little better then a Hugonot, Bishop Hall, a violent Pro∣testant against Catholicks, and Zonaras a Greek Schismatick. Again,

97. Some of the Apostles were married before their calling to the Apostleship, but after Priest∣hood ever abstained from their Wives, as witnes∣seth the second Council of Carthage, at which S. Austin was present. It pleased all, that Bi∣shops, Priests and Deacons abstain from Wives, that, what the Apostles taught, and was observed by antiquity, we also observe. And S. Hierome Epist. 50. The Apostles were either Virgins, or after marriage, continent. Bishops, Priests, and Deacons are chosen either Virgins or Widows, or surely after Priesthood eternally chast.

Therefore Priests may in imitation of the Apo∣stles marry, and the forbidding was not from the beginning. Especially if we consider, how S. Paul exhorts even Lay men to forbear the use of their Wives, for a time, that they may give themselves to Prayer, and attend to the Lord without distra∣ction, 1 Cor. 7. 35. He that is without a Wife, is careful of the things that pertain to our Lord, how to please God. But he that is with a wife, is careful of things that pertain to the world, vers. 32. Should not Priests, whose calling is above the world, be in a state most capable of pleasing God? What sort of m•…•…n be Souldiers to God, but Bi∣•…•…hops and Priests, as Timothy was, to whom St.

Paul sayes, No man being a Souldier to God, in∣tangleth himself in the affaires of this life, that he may please him, who hath chosen him to be a Souldier. What affaires more secular then Wife and Children? who more entangled then Mini∣sters, that, of their Benefices enjoyable onely for their lives, in place of complying with their duties, must provide for Wife and Children? Again,

98. S. Paul asserts his liberty to carry about with him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Sister, a Woman, as well as the rest of the Apostles, &c. that is, to maintain him of her substance, or have a care of his Tem∣porals; as our Saviour had been relieved whiles•…•… he preached. This meaning is clear both by the Apostles design there exprest of living upon his Trade, to burden no body, and by the interpre∣tation of Greek and Latine Fathers; who living so near the Apostles time, are rather to be credit∣ed then Luther and his Broode pleading for Wives. Why do you against the sense of antiquity turn 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 into a Wife, the word, especiallly without an article, importing a woman, whether Wife, or no Wife? else 1 Cor. 7. 'Tis good for a man not to touch 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, why translate you a Woman, and not a Wife? The Fathers are St. Chrysostome, Theodoret, Oecumenius, Theophilact, Tertullian, S. Ambrose, S. Ierome, S. Austin; cited by Bellarmin. Only Clemens Alexandrinus expounds the Text of the Apostle, Wives; but adds, that being Wives, yet lived continent, and were in place of Sisters.

99. The sixth Canon of the Apostles, only or∣ders, that Bishops and Priests 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 do not

turn off their Wives after Priesthood, leaving them to the wide world, without means to subsist in a handsome way, but rather to provide for them carefully; yet abstaining from carnal acquaintance. This sense is rightly deduced from the 27. Canon, ordering thus, praecipimus: we command that if a∣ny promoted to the Clergy will marry, they be Le∣ctors or singers only; and the same is meant of lesser orders. Again,

100. Saint Paul saith, 1 Timoth. 3. 2. and Tit. 1. 6. that a Bishop may be a Husband of one Wife. Sir, your own Bible reads, A Bishop must be blamelesse, the Husband of one Wife. In which words, there is neither command nor counsel to have or use a Wife. Otherwise no man wifelesse could be made Bishop, without disobeying the A∣postles command, or counsel. Yet the words by their tenour sound a precept; but of what? that a Bishop may be a husband of one wife? that's a permission never dream't of by S. Paul, not a precept. Is it then, that he must not have, or have had two wives together? that's a Law common to all Chri∣stians. If you say, not two wives together before his Conversion; then it follows, that when S. Paul, 1 Tim. 5. 9. advises to take a Widow of threescore, having been the wife of one man, he means, not of two men at once, which was never lawful amongst either Iewes or Gentiles. The true sense therefore is, that a Bishop must not be bigamus, or have had more then one wife, before he be made Bishop: And this exposition is wholly consonant to the ho∣ly Fathers, Councils, and practice of the Church.

Therefore Priests may have wives, and the con∣trary was not from the beginning. Nay, according to S. Paul, 1 Tim. 4. 3. 'Tis the doctrine of De∣vils; because Saturninus, the Gnosticks, Mani∣cheans, and other hereticks, forbid all men both Clergy and Layety to marry, the use of marriage coming à malo Deo, from an ill God, or the De∣vil, as they taught.

101. The Fable of Paphnutius his pleading in the Nicene Council, that Priests, if married before their Ordination, might use their wives after Priesthood, hath been long since exploded by Ba∣ronius, Bellarmine, the Protestants Apology and others, as being reported by lying Authours, and clearly against the 3. Canon of the same Synod, for∣bidding Priests to have any women in their houses, but Mother, Grandmother, Sister, or Aunt, who are above all suspition: not a word of a Wife, which certainly would have had women servants to attend her. Yet that very Fable makes against all Mini∣sters, that marry after Ordination: and worthily: for before Luther, there is no authentical example of its lawfulnesse in the whole world.

Notes

• Can. 2.
• •…•…ib. 3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. num. 5.
• S. Chrys. hom. 2. ep. ad Tit. S. Ambrose in 1 Timoth. 3. 2. S. Hie∣rome ep. 83. c. 2. & ep. 2. c. 18. ep. 11. c. 2. S. Austin de bono con∣jugii. c. 18. S. Leo, ep. 87. S. Greg. l. 2. ep. 25.