Verse 32. Saving for the caeuse of fornication.]
Taken in the* 1.1 largest sense for adultery also. Adulterium est quasi ad alterum, aut alterius locum. This sinne strikes at the very sinew, heart and life of the marriage-knot, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it. Further, it direct∣ly fights against humane society (which the Law mainly respects) and was therefore to be punished with death, as a most notorious theft. Master (lay they) this woman was taken in adulery, in* 1.2 the very act. In the very theft, saith the originall, to intimate,* 1.3 belike, the great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that is in adultery, whiles the childe of a stranger carries away the goods or lands of the family. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from our Saviours words to that woman, ver. 11. (N 〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉) that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is not to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 more then he may, that inheritances are not to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 (who was no 〈◊〉〈◊〉) would not divide them, Luk 12. 14. The marriage-bed is honourable, and should be kept inviolable: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and the purity of posterity cannot o∣therwise 〈◊〉〈◊〉 amongst men; which is well 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be the reason why adultery is named in the Com∣mandment, under it all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 being forbidden; when yet other 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are more 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as Sodomy and be∣stiality.
〈◊〉〈◊〉 it is God that both maketh and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the bonds or wedlock; which is there∣fore called, The Covenant of God, Prov. 2. 17 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are either, 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as when a man tieth himself by vow to God, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 such a sinne, or doe such a duty. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man and man, as in our common contracts, bargains and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Or, 3. Mixt, that are made partly with God, and part∣ly with man. And of this sort is the Marriage-Covenant: the parties 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tie themselves first to God, and then to one ano∣ther. Hence it is that the knot is indissoluble, and cannot be un∣done or recalled at the pleasure of the parties that make it, because there is a third person ingaged in the businesse, and that is God, to whom the bond is made; and if afterward they break, he will