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MAtrimony or wedlocke is a state or a degree ordeined of God, and an office wherein the husband serueth the wife, and the wife the husband. It was ordeined for a remedy and to en∣crease the worlde, and for the man to helpe the woman, and the woman the man with all loue and kyndnes, and not to signifie any promise that euer I heard or redde of in y• scripture. Ther∣fore * 1.1 ought it not to be called a Sacra∣ment. It hath a promise that we sinne not in that state, if a man receaue hys wise as a gift geuen to him of God, & the wife her husband likewise: as all maner meates and drinkes haue a pro∣mise that we sinne not, if we vse them measurably with thankes geuing. If they call matrimony a Sacrament be∣cause the scripture vseth the similitude of matrimonie, to expresse the mariage or wedlocke that is betwene vs and Christ. (For as a woman though she be neuer so poore, yet when she is ma∣ried, is as rich as her husband: euen so we whē we repent and beleue the pro∣mises of God in Christ, though we be neuer so poore sinners, yet are as rich as Christ, all his merits are ours with all that he hath). If for that cause they call it a sacrament: so will I musterde seede, leuen, a net, keyes, bread, wa∣ter, and a thousand other things which Christ and the Prophetes, and all the scripture vse, to expresse the kingdome of heauen and Gods worde wythall. They prayse wedlocke wyth their * 1.2 mouth, and say it is an holy thyng, as it is verely: but had leuer be sanctified wyth an whore, then to come wythin the sanctuary.