-----::ff::--. _T_h-= 1 ~_E--'p'-:- 1 ift'-l-:-Ae _D::-- 1 e_di-;-c)a_tlfi_ry_. -~b;--;-l.:;-k--:-~.,~~~-,. I' /1. the private Su rages o wore 1y ut wrs came to a pu 1 e treaty in '"' c,u'im,~ . 1 . the Komane Church, amidfl: the throng of their late Tridmtine Coun- ~~;;;;:.;:,~dt' cell, and iris worth the while to oblerve on wh_at PTOU_nds_ it received ""''fif"'c,, · I 11 d ( Ph { 1 L l ) cb~,ti!It'i'!!olta[-. a repullc: IfPricfl:s Owu d be a owe Mariage lay t o c Wl y ta i,znJ tm• Polfiuo · it would follow that they would cafl: their affeCl:ions on their Wives t,;;:;;;;'::j;;~, and!Children,& con!cquenrly on their Families and Countrie~wh~- ~!:;,:,"!·,._ upon would cea(e that !l:rait dependance which the Clergy.hat!t-upon J•,&<>~lpm;,, th.c See Apofi:olikc; lnfotnuch as to grant their Mariages,wcr~a~ much :;~e;~~~~; as to defl:roy the Hierarchy ofthe Church,& to•: reduce the Pope wirh- ~;:';;'::,~~,- 8 in the meerc bounds of the Romam Biihoprick. This.was the plea of ~,;;;;;~:';. the Clergy; their thrifty Laitie (together with them) enemies to the '""" fM<.'i• bldling (or, as they confhue it, the curfe) offruitfulnelfe, are wont to f:;;.;:~:~~~i plead, Troppo t':fle: our Gregory Martin ofold computes the prejudi- j~"';;',~;f;;.gciall incrcafC: that might ari!e from thele Mariages to the Common- ;::::::J:~;1 1;. wealth. It is not Religion but wit that now lies in our way. Fond ron• ,, y,ffo #u ~~~:;,,._ 1 men that dare offer thu~ to controll the wi(edome of their Maker, t•v•di<,m.! and will be tying the God ofHeaven to their rules of llatc!. As it is, ~'!fZ,:";;,;: 110 Church in ihc whole world (except the R9mane) llands upon this r,,,, f•,q,, C refiraint , whereofthe confequ_5nces have been fo notorioufly fhatne- ~;:~~t:fn·;;rftt. full, chat we might well hope, experience would:havc wrought, ifnot :;t,:::~:,f" redrdfc oftheir ownc courlcs, yet filence ofours ; And furely, if this t':i!~~t.n. man had not prcfumcd that (by rcafon ofthe long dilconcinuance of ~~~p,, Popery) time had worne out ofmens mindtthe memory of their odious filthine!Te, he durll: not thus boldly havepleaded for their abomi- ' nable Cclcbatc; The qucfl:ion whereof, after all bufie difcuffions, and pretences ofage, muft be refolved intono other then this; How furre . the Tradition ofa particular Church is worthy to prevaile againll: D Scripture : yea, and againft other Churches. A point, which a•very we~ke judgement will be abls= to determine. In this return ofmy Defence,! doe neither anfwer every idle claufe, nor omit any etfentiall: this lengt~ ofmine is no le!Te forced then mine Adverlariescontinency : where.(n yet my Reader lhallnot figh under an irkefome loquacity. I prcfumc to dedicate this unworthy labor to your Grace, whom this famous Church daily ble!Teth, as her wife, faithfult, and vigilant Qverfecr, as a renowned Patterne ofholy VirE ginity, and P.atron of holy Mariage. The God qfl-leaven (whole watch you carefully keep)preferve you long to his Church; and make us long happy in ourGrace, and you ever happy in his plentiful! bleffings. Such !hall ever be the Prayer of r OHr Graces moft h11mbly devoted, J 0 s: HALL. V > ,\:. . .
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=