Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

Borthwike.

This article hath his seuerall partes, for those things which we haue spoken or answered vnto the article before written, doth sufficiently declare, that the Pope is not on∣ly a vser of Simony, but also a notable deceiuer, which sel∣leth such kynd of merchandise, as can in no place helpe or preuaile. For so much as his pardons are nothyng lesse then such as he faineth them to be. Doth he not then shew himselfe a manifest deceiuer, when as he maketh faires and markets of them, but to the intent I will not seeme in this behalfe vainly to labour or trauaile,* 1.1 I will passe vn∣to the second part, where as I do say, that it is not onely done against the worde of God, but also against equitie and iustice to forbid priests to marry, for so much as it is not lawfull for any man by any meanes to forbid y^t thing, which the Lord hath left at liberty. For S. Paule in the xiij. chapter vnto the Hebrewes, declareth, that matrimo∣ny is lawfull for all men, saying that mariage and the vn∣defiled bed or chamber is honourable amongest all men: and in the first to the Corinthians and vij. chapiter. He sayth, for auoiding of whoredome, Let euery man haue a wife of his owne: but I know what these obstinate and stiffe necked will aunswer vnto me, that the same is spo∣ken and meant of others, and not of priestes. But what will they aunswere vnto me as touching that whiche is written in the first to Timothie, and iij. chapter. A Bishop ought to be without rebuke, the husband of one wyfe, and by and by after he sayeth, Deacons ought to be the hus∣bandes of one wyfe, the which should rule and gouerne their children and family vprightly. Unto these Paule af∣firmeth matrimony to be meete and necessary, let them say what they can vnto the contrary. What could bee more vehemently spoken agaynst their wicked tiranny, then that which by the holy Ghost he declareth in the iiij. chap∣ter of the same Epistle, that in the latter daies there should come wicked men which should forbid matrimonye, and calleth them not onely deceiuers, but also wicked spirites attending vnto the doctrine of wicked spirites: but these men thinke that they haue very well escaped, whē as they wrest this sentence to those old ancient heretikes the Ta∣tianes, they say (these men) did onely condemne matri∣monye, we do not condemne it, but onely forbidde Church men to marry. Unto whome we thinke matrimonye is not conuenient. As though that albeit this prophesie were first of all complete and fulfilled in the Tationes, that it did not also redound vnto them, or as though this theyr subtile sophistication, were worthy to be regarded that they do not deny or prohibite matrimony, because they do not forbid it vnto all men generally. Lyke as if a tyraunt would contend and affirme hys lawe to be good, by the ex∣tremity and violence whereof onely one part of the citie is oppressed, but now let vs heare the reasons of the contrary part, it behoueth say they, a Priest to differ from the common sort of the people by some notable marke or token. But read Saint Paule, where as he describeth the perfect Image of a good Bishop, did he not recken and ac∣count mariage amongest the other good giftes which hee required to bee in them. But I knowe very well howe these men interprete Paule? Uerily that a Bishop ought not to be chosen, which hath married hys second wyfe. But also it appeareth openly by the text, that this inter∣pretation is false, for so much as he doth by and by declare & shew what maner of women the wiues of Byshops & deacons ought for to be. Wherfore Saint Paule nūbereth matrimony amongest the principall vertues pertainyng vnto a Bishop. And these men do teache it to be an intol∣lerable vice amongest the orders of the Church, and not

beyng content with that generall reproche or slaunder, they call it in the Canons, the vncleanlinesse, pollutyng and defilyng of the fleshe. Nowe let euery man consider with himselfe, out of what shop this stuffe is taken. God instituted matrimony, Christ sanctified it with hys pre∣sence, by turnyng water into wyne, and vouchsafed so to honour it, that he would haue it the Image or figure of his loue and friendship with the Church: What can be more famous or notably spoken to the commendation and prayse of wedlocke. But these vnshamefast faces doe call it a filthy and vncleane thyng, alledgyng the Leuitical priestes, which as often as they came vnto the office of mi∣nistration, were bounden to lye a part from their wiues, whereby they beyng cleane and vndefiled, might handle the holy things:* 1.2 and our sacraments, for so much as they are much more noble and excellent then theirs, and daily vsed, it would be a very vncomely thing that they should be handled by maried men. As though that the office of the ministery of the Gospell were all one with the Leuiti∣call priesthoode. For they as figures did represent Christ, which beyng mediator betweene God and man, by hys singular and absolute puritie and cleannes, should recon∣cile the father vnto vs, for so much as on no part sinners could exhibite or shew forth any tipe or forme of his sanc∣tity or holynesse, yet to the intent they might shadow hym out, with certaine similitudes or lineamentes, they were commaunded that when so euer they should come vnto the sanctuary or holy place, they should purify themselues: a∣boue all mens order or fashion, for then did they most nere and properly figurate Christ which appeared in the Ta∣bernacle, as peacemakers to reconcile the people vnto God. This Image or personage, forsomuch as our Ec∣clesiasticall pastors at this day doe not take vpon them or execute, in vayne are they compared vnto them: Where∣fore the Apostle without all exception vpon a sure & good ground, doth pronounce and say, that mariage is honou∣rable amongest all men, and that whoremongers and ad∣ulterers do abide the iudgement of God. Besides all this, the Apostles themselues by their examples do prooue that matrimony is not vnworthy of any office or function, be it neuer so excellent, for S. Paule himselfe is witnes, that they did not only kepe their wyues, but also caried them about with them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pristes m••••riage law∣full.
• * 1.2

  A 〈…〉〈…〉 a∣gain•• Priestes mariage 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Leuit••••••ll Priestes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 time 〈…〉〈…〉 from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wiue•• ••••go Chri•••••••• Prie••te•• must haue no 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I do 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the argum••••••.