The orthodox faith and vvay to the Church explaned and iustified in answer to a popish treatise, entituled, White died blacke; wherein T.W. p. in his triple accusation of D. White for impostures, vntruths, and absurd illations, is proued a trifler: and the present controuersies betweene vs and the Romanists are more fully deliuered and cleared. By Francis White Bachelour in Diuinitie, and elder brother of Doctor Iohn White.

Paragr. 2. Concerning Paphnutius.

T. W. For his further patronizing of Priests marriage, he vrgeth that often obtruded place of Saint Paul, Heb. 13. Marriage is honourable among all men, and at these words citeth in the margent Sozomen, as writing, that Paphnutius maintained the Protestants construction of that place, so as that Priests might absolutely marrie at any time.

Answ. Maister White produceth the Storie of Paph∣nutius, out of Sozomen, not to proue that Priests might marrie at any time, as you belye him: but to shew that Papists in the matter of Priests marriage, are varied from the primitiue Church.

And as touching the place of Paul, Heb. 13.4. which you and othersi affirme to be wrongly translated. 1. it is manifest, that Paphnutius vnderstood the place as we do, for otherwise it would not haue serued to proue the law∣fulnesse of Priests marriage, for which he produceth itk. 2. Chrysostome and Theophylact vnderstand the same of persons. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: Marriage is honourable to all, saith Chrysostomel. And Vasques confessethm, that

Theophylact doth interprete it of all men as we do: and the latter part of the verse, Whoremongers and Adulte∣rers God will iudge, being an opposition to the first part, sheweth that it is fittest to expound the same of persons.

T. W. The Councell of Nice did onely tolerate and per∣mit the marriage of Priests, before their entrance into Priest∣hood, but not after their consecration; which doth absolutely crosse the scope of M. White, who will haue it lawfull for men to marrie after they be entred into Orders.

Answ. The learned Papists know, that this Storie of Paphnutius, and decree of the first Nicene Councell de∣pending vpon it, makes against them; otherwise why doe they censure and reiect itn?

2. The Story being admitted, proueth that Matrimo∣nie and Priesthood are compatible; and that a Priest li∣uing in wedlocke, may exercise his ministeriall office, without any offence to diuine law, or the primitiue Eccle∣siasticall law.

3. There can no solid reason be giuen, why the vse of marriage before Priesthood, and continued afterwards; is rather lawful then that which is contracted after Orders.

But the truth is, the best of you are in a wood, and opposing your selues despitefully against Gods ordi∣nance, the Lord hath confounded you, partly by his ex∣presse word. 1. Tim. 3.2.12. Tit. 1.6. which as plainly ap∣proues the matrimonie of Ministers, as of any other per∣sonso: and also by giuing vp your Popes and Cleargie to such intollerable filthinesse, as hath made your single life ridiculous to all the worldp. And the best you are a∣ble

to performe in this Argument, is to ieare and mow, and to befable your sectators with the fat conceipt of a woman and a steeple; fitter to be vttered by the wiseman of a morrice, then a Catholike Priest: of which Bernard saithq; Toyes and idle words are vanitie in secular persons, but in a Priests lips they be blasphemies.

Notes

• i

  Greg. Martin. ag. transl. Rhem. Heb. 13. ann. 3.
• k

  Sozom. hist. l. 1. c. 23. Grece. & Latine, c. 22. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• l

  Chrys. in Heb. hom 33.
• m

  Vasq. paraphr. in Heb. 13.3. Theophylactus interpretatur in om∣nibus hominibus. Lira. Caietan. D. Fulke ag. Rhem. Heb. 13. citeth more.
• n

  Bosius de sig. l 5. c 9. Figmentum est quod de Paph∣nutio narratur. Baron. to. 3 an. 325. n. 128. Alan. Copus dial. 1. pa. 154.
• o

  Tertul. exhort ad cast. c. 7. Va∣ni erimus, si pu∣tanerimus, quod sacerdotibus non liceat, laicis licere.
• p

  Reade the story of Ioh. Cremon. Cardinall, the Popes legat, who hauing the day before, in a sy∣nod at London, condemned Priests mariage, was himselfe taken at night in bed with a queane, &c. Henrie. Hunting. hist. Angl. l. 7. Math. Paris. in Henric. 1. an. 1125. Math. Westmon. Henric. 1. pa. 31. Fabian chronicle pa 326.
• q

  Bernard. de consid ad Eu∣gen. l. 2.