Excerpt from The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce: Restor'd to the Good of Both Sexes, From the Bondage of Canon Law, and Other Mistakes, to the True Meaning of Scripture in the Law and Gospel Compar'd

Were alive, would ligh out in his own Phrale, what afm coil 13; this under the Sam All which we can refer juilly to no Other author than the Canon Law and her adherents not confulting with chari ty the interpreter and guid of our faith but reflingin the meet: element of the d104, doubtlefs by the policy of the devil to make that gracious ordinance become unfupporta ble that whatwith men nor liating to venture upon wedlock and What with men weaned out of it, all inordinate licence might abound. Ir wasfor many ages that marriage lay in dilgrace with mofi of the ancient Dofiors, as a work of the fltfll, almoll a defilemeut wholly deny'd to Prielis, and the fecond time diliwaded to all as he that reads terra/xian or Jerom may fee at large. Afterwards it was brought (0 Sacramental that no adultery or defection could diliolve it andthis is the (mic ofour Canon Courts in Bag/and to this day but no Other reforrred Church elfe: yet there remains in themalfo a burden on it as hea vy as ih: other two were difgraceful or fuperfiitious and of as much iniquity crolling a Law not onely written by Mafr: but than ra�ier'd in us by nature, of more antiquity and deeper ground than marriageit lelf; which Law is to force nothing againfi the faultlei's proprieties of nature: yet that this may be colourably done, our Sa viours words touching divorce are asit were congeal'd into allony rigor inconfil'cent both with his Dofirine and his office, and that which he preacht onely to the confcience, is by Canonical tyranny fnatcht into the compullive Cenfure of a Judicial Court where Laws are impos'd even againll; the venerable and feccet power of na tures itnpreflion, to love, whatever c'aufe be found to loath. Which is a hainous barbarilme both againfi the honour of marriage the dignity of man and his foul the goodnefs of Chriflianity and all' the humane rel'peas of civility. Netwithlianding that fome the wifelt and gravell among the Chrillian Emperours, who had about: them to confult with thole of the Fathers then living; who for their learning and-bolinei's of life, 'are hill with us in great renown, have made their llatutes and edifis concerning this debate far more cafie aud relenting in many neceffa'ry cafes wherein the Canon is inflexible. And Hago Gratin: aman of - thefe times'; one of the belt learned, feems no: obl'curely to adhere in his perfwalion tothe equity of thofe imperialdecrees, in his Nores upon the Bengali/is; much allayi'ng the outward roughnefs of the d104 which hathtor the moli part been too ifmmoderately expounded and excites the diligence of Others to inquire further into this que'liion as contain.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.