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.

Vntruth 19. Touching Priests marriage.

T. W. The Doctor much apologizing and defending the marriage of the Cleargie, affirmeth that the Church of Rome

holdeth contrarie herein, to that which was taught in the pri∣mitiue Church.

But contrary to this, Cartwright confesseth of the first Ni∣cene Councell, that it prohibited marriage to such as were en∣tred into Orders, although it allowed the marriage of such as were contracted before. And Maister Iewell confesseth, that in the matter of Priests marriage, Harding had many Fa∣thers on his side. And Chemnici••s granteth, that Origen, Ambrose, Epiphanius, and Siritius, teach this doctrine of single life of the Cleargie.

Now I referre it to the iudgement of any indifferent Rea∣der, whether he will beleeue the former learned Protestants, confessing the practise of this our Catholike doctrine in the primitiue Church, or Maister White denying the same.

Answ. If that which you say were to the purpose, you might with credit request your Reader to take notice of it: but that which you haue brought out of learned Pro∣testants (whose words, because they are impertinent it is needlesse to examine) is heterogenious to the question.

Doctor White affirmeth truly, that you are varied from the primitiue Church in the matter of the matrimo∣ny of the Cleargie; and by the primitiue Church he vn∣derstandeth the whole primitiue Church, the flower and principall part whereof was the first 300. yeares. Now your owne Doctorsn grant, that in the primitiue church thus vnderstood, marriage of the Cleargie was reputed lawfull. Bonouenture saith; Continency was not inioyned the Cleargie in the primitiue Church: And with him a∣gree Gratian, Scotus, Gerson, Hugo Cardinal: and in a manner all your Doctors, of which I haue cited many beforeo. And this being so, why do you berayle Doctor

White for affirming an euident truth, which Papists themselues deliuer?

T. W. But learned Protestants acknowledge, that sun∣drie primitiue Fathers maintaine single life of the Cleargie.

Answ. 1. It followeth not, from some primitiue Fa∣thers after the 300. yeare, to the primitiue Church in ge∣nerall, whereof Doctor White speaketh: for although some primitiue Fathers taught, that Christ preached forgiuenesse of sinnes to those which were in hellp, yet you wil not admit that the same was the general doctrine of the Church.

2. None of the primitiue Fathers maintaine your Po∣pish doctrine of single life of the Cleargie: to wit, that their marriage is simply vnlawfull, and they are to be re∣puted Heretickes if they marrie; and that it is better for a Priest to be a fornicatorq, and to vse 600. queanes, then to keepe his owne wifer: and especially that Priests marriage is therefore vnlawfull, because the Pope hath decreed it to be so I suppose in these assertions, you shall not by confession of learned Protestants, haue many primitiue Fathers consenting with you.

Notes

• Briarly pag. 78.
• n

  Bonauent. 4. d. 37. ar. 1. q. 3. Sot. 4. d. 37 q 1. Gratian. d. 56. cont. Cenoman. Caietan. opusc. to. 1. tr. 27.
• o

  Part 1. chap. 6, paragr. 1. obseru. touching mar∣riage, &c.
• p

  Iren. l. 4. c. 45.
• q

  Pigh loc. 15. pag. 223. Tole∣rabilius in for∣nicationem in∣cidere quam coniugem fieri.
• r

  Auentin. an∣nal l. 5. Coster. de coeli∣bat c. 17. prop. 9. Bonauent. 4. d. 37. ar 1. q. 3. Hic morbus maxime viget in elericis.
• Bonauent. ib. Istud statutum impositum fuit authoritate praelatorum, sed maxime pontificis summi.