Skip to the text
Ember
PT

Of the Sacrament of Matrimony

1. What is Matrimony?

MAtrimony, is a laweful1 coniunction of a man & a woman instituted by God, that they maie leade together an vndeuided society of life. I say, lawefull, that there may be mutual2 consent of both partes: and that there be not found betweene them the degrees, as they call them, of3 Consanguinity & Affinity, and other thinges of the like sort, either prohibiting, or disanulling Matrimony. Of which Matrimoniall Coniunction, if thou wouldest knowe the first author, it is4 God himselfe, most excellent and mightie, who ioyned the first Couple and Parents of mankind in Paradise it selfe, and honored them with his benediction. But if thou regard the ende why it was instituted, it is no other but the propagation of5 mankind to the glory of God: and a familiar and faithfull liuing together6 of Man & Wife: And finally, the auoiding7 of fornication, in this imbecillitie of a corrupted nature.

2. Howe is Matrimony a Sacrament?

IN that the8 most strait coniunction, which is betweene Man & Wife, is an holy and conuenient signe ordained by God, whereby is signified the most holy and firme coniunction of Christ the Bridegroome & the Church his Spouse. This very signe profiteth vnto Christian Couples, to receiue the grace of God, when they doe rightly enterprise9 Matrimony. Which grace maketh perfecte10 naturall loue, & confirmeth an indissoluble vnity betweene them, and sanctifieth them, that they may not onely bee, & abide11 two in one fleshe according to their vocation, but euer preserue mutual fidelity, peace, loue, and singular concorde. And so that is accomplished in them, which the Apostle teacheth;12 Marriage honourable in all, and the bedde vndefiled.

Wherefore the same Apostle13 S. PAVL, where hee handleth the mystery of such coniunction, saith plainly: This is a great Sacrament: But I speake in Christ & in the Church. So also S. AVGVSTINE: Not 14 only (saieth he) fruitefullnes; the profite wherof consisteth in Issue: not only Chastitie; whose band is fidelitie: but also a certain Sacrament of mariage is commended vnto faithfull couples. Whereupon the Apostle saith, 15 Husbands loue your wiues as Christ also loued the Church. And16 againe the same holy Father: In mariage; of more value is the holinesse of the Sacrament then the fruitfullnesse of the wombe.

3. Can Matrimonie euer be dissolued?

THat Matrimonie cannot be dissolued, but that the bond therof is perpetuall: those wordes of the first man ADAM doe declare:17 A man shall leaue his father and mother and shall cleaue to his wife, and they two shalbe in one fleshe. Which thing18 Christ also confirmed, when he repeated the wordes of ADAM, euen as the wordes of God himselfe, adding this also; That which God hath ioined togither, let not man separate. And in an other place he teacheth:19 Euery one that dimisseth his wife, and marieth an other: committeth aduoutrie: and he that marieth her that is dimissed from her husband, committeth aduoutrie. Moreouer S. PAVL setting forth this lawe of God, and inuiolable ordinance touching the perpetuall firmnes of the knotte of wedlocke, saith: To them 20 that be ioined in matrimonie not I giue commandement, but our Lorde; that the wife depart not from her husband: and if shee departe, to remaine vnmaried, or to be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife. And afterwarde he addeth:21 A woman is bounde to the lawe so long time as her husband liueth.

Therfore, euen although there be noe hope at all of any ishue,22 and neuer so many discommodities of life and hard chaunces doe fall out: yet Matrimonie once contracted standeth in force, & is so firme and sure, especially if it be consummate; that so long as life lasteth, it can neuer be dissolued. And for that cause, one partie cannot wholly be diuorced from the other, vnlesse happilie it be, (before any carnall copulation had betweene them) for to take in hand some rule23 of religious life. But where certaine causes doe occurre for which sometimes maried folkes maye be separated, the band is not therfore broken; but the24 communitie of the bed, and cohabitation which was before, is hindered. The cause wherof, we say, doth consist in Christ himselfe who hath ioined, and lincked vnto himselfe with a speaciall, perpetuall, and most inseperable vnion the Church25 his onely spouse and euer most deare vnto him. And not only this same coniunction, which is between man and wife, hath such firmenesse of a matrimoniall bond: but it doth also vtterly exclude, all polygamie, (that is to wit) that diuers women doe not marry to one man,26 or one woman be espoused to diuers husbands. Wherfore Christ to the intente that he mighte both more firmelie establish and reduce matrimony to that more pure, and primitiue estate, which it had at the begining: very significantlye hath said:27 They two shall be in one fleshe. And againe: Nowe are they not two but one fleshe.

4. Is Matrimonie permitted to euery one?

NOe surely, for the holy Apostles haue deliuered, as28 EPIPHANIVS saith, that it is a sinne to turne vnto mariage after Virginitie once decreed and established by vowe. And S. HIEROME29 affirmeth it to be such and so greate a sinne, that he saith, that Virgins that marrie after consecration they are not so much aduoutresses, as incestuous persons. And S. AVGVSTINE saith:30 A Virgin, which if she had maried had not sinned: being once a Nunne; if she marrie, shalbe reputed an aduoutresse from Christ. For she hath looked backe from the place, vnto which she came before.

Therefore that which the Apostle hath:31 It is better to marrie then to be burnt: (as S. AMBROSE doth learnedly declare)32 appertaineth to her that is not yet promised; to her that hath not as yet receiued the veile. But shee that hath espoused her selfe to God, and hath receiued the holy veile: she is now married; she is now ioined to an immortall husband. And if now she will marrie, according to the common lawe of wedlock: she committeth aduoutrie, she becometh the handmaide of death. Thus writeth S. AMBROSE.

Wherefore that was a very worthy decree of IOVINIAN the Emperour,33 and put into the Codex by the Emperour IVSTINIAN:34 If any man dare presume, I will not saye to rauishe, but euen to assaile by inticementes, holye Virgins for to marrye them: let him be punished with death.

Now the same reason in euery respect and the same Iudgemente standeth in force concerning35 Mounkes, and those that36 haue receiued holy orders. For they haue damnation, if letting lose the bridle to licentiousnes, they frustrate or (as the Apostle speaketh)37 make voide their first faith giuen to God and to the Church. Who haue voluntarily barred themselues of wedlocke, either expresly by vow binding themselues to the obseruance of a sole and single life: or by taking of holy orders, at the least virtually and in effecte38 approuing & protesting the same.

Let them therefore giue care vnto the word of God.39 If thou hast vowed any thing to God: delay not to performe. 40 And whatsoeuer thou hast vowed; doe thou performe. Then in an other place:41 Vow yee, and pay your vowes to your Lord God. Yea & Christ himselfe teacheth:42 No man putting his hande to the plough, and loking backe; is apte for the kingdome of God.

5. Doth the Church therefore compell any to liue single?

SHe truely being a most kinde & careful mother constraineth not: as binding no man by lawe to liue single, but of those that haue of their owne accorde receiued that lawe (as hath bene saide) she requireth that they doe not breake43 Religion, nor violate and cut off that couenant which they haue religiously made with Christ & his Church.

Therefore are they iustly vrged to stand to their promises, and to keepe that Euangelicall Councell which they haue once firmely embraced: whereof S. PAVL saieth: And 44 he that ioineth his Virgin in Matrimony, doth wel, (to wit, so long as she is not bound45 with the vow of single life) and he that ioineth not, doth better. And againe:46 It is good for a man not to touch a woman. For47 which cause, the Euangelicall Eunuches48 or as TERTVLLIAN49 calleth them, Voluntarij spadones, that haue cutte themselues for the kingdome of heauen, that they may bee holie50 in bodie and spirite; in flesh, & yet without flesh, warfaring vnto God: are both commended by Christ: and haue alwaies beene highly commended in the Church. And in this matter, is a double error that we haue to take heede of: The one is of those men which with IOVINIAN do so extol Matrimonie, that they either51 matche, or52 preferre this estate before single-life or Virginity: whereas53 S. PAVL certes, and all the Fathers doe euidently affirme the contrary. Another is of those which cauil, that con tinency & single life can hardly bee performed by Christian men, and therfore they contend that no man ought easily to vndertake it, or religiously to promise it. For these men vnderstand not, the plenty & abundance, of the grace of the Gospell: which is such, and so great, giuen by Christ so many Ages, & daily giuen to those that beleeue,54 aske, seeke & knocke: that these men finde the yoake of our Lord sweet; & the way of continency, no lesse pleasant, than holesome. In the number of whom S. PAVL was, who plainly affirmeth.55 God is faithful, who wil not suffer you to be tempted aboue that which you are able: but wil make also with temptation, Ishue. Wherfore S. AVGVSTINE explicating56 in a certaine place this sentence, Vowe, & pay your vowes vnto our Lord God: writeth thus: Bee yee not slothfull to Vowe: for you shal not, by your own strength fulfil the same. You shal sail, if you presume of your selues. But if you presume of him to whom you doe vow: spare not to vow: you shal performe it with security. And againe in another place:57 A happy necessity which forceth a man to that which is better.

6. What is the summary Doctrine of the Premises?

THose thinges that haue beene hitherto spoken according to our purposed breuity; are onely to this end, that the simpler sorte maie haue the Catholike verity, touching the seauen Sacramentes of the Church. Which are founde, certes, to be of two sortes.

For58 some, as the first fiue doe aduaunce the particular welfare of euery faithfull man: And the rest (to wit the two latter) doe serue for the multiplying of Gods people, & propagation of the Church. Both which effectes they doe worke by Gods holy ordinance for our behoofe most necessarie.

For,59 Baptisme doth regenerate to the spirituall life, which is in Christ. Confirmation doth adde force and60 strength vnto the regenerate. The Eucharist is meat,61 drincke, and voiage prouision vnto the waifaring man. Penance being a present62 remedie against all the maladies of the minde, doth erecte a man when he is fallen, and cure him when hee is wounded. Then succedeth63 Extreame Vnction, which in the laste conflicte with death, doth fence & comforte the Passenger. Then holy Orders64 yeeldeth Ministers vnto the Church, which may haue authority in holy thinges, and may rightly gouerne, dispence, conserue, & apply, all those things which we spoke of before. Finally Matrimony, increaseth the65 Christian people, and prouideth for mans incontinencie.

Where also this difference is to be obserued, that Baptisme, Confirmation, and Orders, being once giuen, can neuer be66 iterated. Also Baptisme must of necessitie be taken67 of all. The Eucharist of those that haue68 the vse of reason. Penance69 of those that are fallen. But it is at thy discretion to vse any of the rest, so that thou haue none in contempte, or doest neglect then against Iustice & equitie when the time requireth.

These are therefore the preseruatiues and diuine remedies, which that Samaritane 70 full of all mercie hath ordained, & committed to the Prelates of the Church to be dispensed, for the well curing vndoubtedly of the sicke, that is to saye of all sinners in the Church, euen vntill that, they obtaine if they will their true and perfite health. Which remedies rightly to vnderstand, holsomely to receiue, and faithfully to apply vnto others: is not a pointe certes of humane cunning, but of Christian wisdome. Of which wheras we haue now spoken enough, according vnto the scope of our present purpose: It now remainethe that by the helpe of Christ, we passe ouer to the other part of this worke, which containeth Christian Iustice.

Ecclesiastici 4 ver. 12. WISDOME inspireth life into her children, and entertaineth those that seeke her: and she will goe before in the way of IVSTICE: and he that loueth her, loueth life.

Footnotes

  1. Aug. li. de fid. & op. ca. 7. & lib. 1. de nupt. & con cup. cap. 10. & 21. lib. de bono coniug. ca. 24. Amb. in c. 5. Eph. Pet. Damia. ser. 1. de dedic. Lucius. 3 in 5. Decret. tit. 7. c. 9. Con stant. Conc. ses. 15. artic. 8. Trid. ses. 24. can. 1. ↩

  2. Gen. 24, 57 Tob. 7, 15. Amb. de instit. Virg c. 6 ↩

  3. Calixt. 1. ep. 2. Later. can. 50. Trid ses. 24. can. 3. & 4. & de refor. Matr. c. 2. & sequ. ↩

  4. Gen. 2, 23. Mat. 19, 6. 1. Cor. 7, 10. Eph. 5, 21. ↩

  5. Gen 2, 23 Fulg. ep. 1. cap. 3. Isid. lib. 2. offic. cap. 19. ↩

  6. Chry ho. 20 ad Eph. in moral exhort & ho. 5. in 1. Thess. ↩

    1. Cor. 7.9.10. Aug. li. 9. de Gen. ad lit. c. 7. Chry. in Ps. 43. & ho. 3. de verb. Isaiae. vidi Dominun.
    ↩

  8. Amb. in cap. 5. Eph. Aug. vt supr. Isid. lib. 2. offic. ca. 19. Conc. Flor. Trid. ses. 24. in Doct. de Sacr. Matr. ↩

  9. Tob. 3, 16. & 6, 16. & 8, 9. Euarist. ep. 1. Trid. cap. 1. refor. Matr. ↩

  10. Chrys. ho. 20. in ep. ad Eph Amb l. 1. de Abrah. cap. 7. ↩

  11. Gen. 2, 24. ↩

  12. Heb. 13, 4 Fulg. ep. 2. cap. 5. ↩

  13. Ephes. 5.32. Amb. ibid. Leo. ep. 92. ad Rust. ↩

  14. Lib. 1. de nupt. & concup. cap. 10. & 21. ↩

  15. Eph. 5, 25. ↩

  16. Aug. li. de bono coniu. cap. 18. ↩

  17. Gen. 2, 24 ↩

  18. Mat. 19, 5 Mar. 10, 7. Orig. tract. 7. in Matth. ↩

  19. Luc. 16, 18. Mar. 10, 11. Rom. 7, 2. Can. Ap. 48, Ambr. in ca. 16. Luc. ↩

    1. Cor. 7, 10. Aug. de adult. coniug. lib. 2. cap. 5. & 9. & ho. 49. ex 50. c. 2 Concil. Mil. Can. 17.
    ↩

  21. Ibid. Ver. 39. & Rom. 7, 2. ↩

  22. Aug. de bo. coniu. c. 7.15.1.24 Hier. in Epitaph Fabiol. cap. 1. Isid. lib. 2. offic. cap. 19. ↩

  23. Decret. lib. 3 tit. 32. c. 2. & 14. & Trid. ses. 24. can. 6. ↩

  24. Con. o Trid. sess. 24. can 7. & 8. Aug l. 1. de adult. con. cap. 11. ↩

  25. Ephes. 5, 22.32. Cant. 5, 1.2.9. ↩

  26. Isid. lib. 3 offic. cap. 19. Trid. sess. 24. can. 2. ↩

  27. Gen. 2, 24 Mat. 19, 5. Mar. 10, 7. ↩

  28. Epiph. haer. 61. con. Apostolicos. ↩

  29. Hier. lib. 2 cont. Iouin. cap. 7. Bas. de Virgnitate. & ep. ad Virg. laps. ↩

  30. In Psa. 83. vide eund. in Ps. 75. & de bono viduit. cap 8.9.11. Oecum. in 1. Cor. 7. Cypr. ep. 62. Chry. de virg c. 39. Fulg. ep. 1. c. 6. & 7 ↩

    1. Cor. 7, 9.
    ↩

  32. Lib ad Virg. laps. c. 5. Hier. lib. 1. in Iouin. ca. 7. Aug. lib. 1 de adult. con. c. 15. &c. 8. de bono viduit. Oecun. in 1. Cor. 7. Isid. lib 2. de offic. cap. 17 Leo. ep. 92. ad Rust. c. 14 ↩

  33. Sozom. lib. 6. hist. c. 3. Niceph. l. 10. cap. 39. ↩

  34. L. Si qu C de Episc. & Cler. 2 Turon. cap. 21. ↩

  35. Basil. qu. 14. diff. expl. & ser. 1. de instit Mon. & constit. Monast. ca. 22. & ep ad Mnachum claps. Chrys epist. 6 ad Theod. laps Leo. ep 92. ad Rust. ca. 13.14.15. Aug. in Psa. 75 & ser 1. de ommun. vita Cler. ca. 4. Chalc. Syn. c. 16. ↩

  36. Epiphan. haere 59 & in ompend. Doctr Hier. lib. 1 cont. Ioui. c. 19 & adu Vigil. cap 1 Aug. lib 2 de coniug. cap. 20. Fulg de fid. ad Pet cap. 3 Greg lib. 3 ep 34. Leo. ep. 92. ad Rust. c. 3. & ep. 84. ca. 4. Bern. serm. c 5 in Cant. Trid. sess. 24. can. 9. ↩

    1. Tim. 5, 12. Carthag 4 can. 104. Aug de bono Vid. cap. 8. & 9. Isid. lib. 2. offic. cap. 18.
    ↩

  38. 6 Decret lib. 3. tit. 15. ↩

  39. Eccles. 5, 3. ↩

  40. Ibid. & Deut. 23, 21 ↩

  41. Ps. 75, 12 ↩

  42. Luc. 9, 62. Bern ep. 2. ad Fulconc. Ansel. ep. 4. ↩

  43. Beda. lib. 2. de tabern. cap. 9. & in Luc. 1. Hier. in cap. 1. ad Tit. & in Apol cont. Iouin. c 3. & 8. Orig. ho. 23. in Num. Amb. ep. 82 & l. 1. offic. cap. 50. Euseb. 1. demonst. Eua. cap 9. vide Canolica dist. 28. & 82. ↩

    1. Cor. 7, 38.
    ↩

  45. Theoph. ibid. Hier. lib. 1. cont. Iouin. ca. 7. Greg. in. ca. 15. l. 1. Reg. Epiph. haer. 61. ↩

  46. Ibid. v. 1. ↩

  47. Mat. 19, 12. ↩

  48. Esa. 56, 3. & ibi Hier. Bas. l. de Virginit. Aug. de san. Virg. ca. 24. & 25. ↩

  49. Lib. 1. ad Vx. cap. 6. ↩

    1. Cor. 7, 34.
    ↩

  51. Hier. li. 1. in Iouin. c. 2 Aug. haer. 82 ↩

  52. Trid. ses. 24. cap. 10. ↩

    1. Cor. 7, 38.
    ↩

  54. Aug l. 6. & 8. conf. c. 11. Orig. Hier. Chrys. in Mat. 19. ↩

    1. Cor. 10, 13.
    ↩

  56. Aug. in Psal. 75. ↩

  57. Ep. 45. ↩

  58. Conc. Flor. ↩

  59. Io. 3, 5. Tit. 3, 5. ↩

  60. Act. 8, 17. ↩

  61. Io. 6, 51.55. ↩

  62. Io. 20, 23. Ezech. 18, 30.31. ↩

  63. Iac. 5, 15. ↩

  64. Tit. 1.5. 1. Cor. 4, 1. ↩

  65. Eph. 5, 32. 1. Cor. 7, 2. ↩

  66. Concil. Flor. Trid. sess. 7. Can. 9. de Sacr. in genere. Aug 2. con. ep. Parm. c. 13. ↩

  67. Io. 3, 5. ↩

  68. Trid. sess. 21. cap. 4. ↩

  69. Apoc. 2, 5. ↩

  70. Luc. 10, 33. 1. Cor. 4, 1. Io. 20, 23. ↩

Chapter 17 of 36