Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 80
Here some things saide in d…fence of fornication are to be answered.
Obiection. 1 Gen. 19 8. Lot offered his daughters to the men of Sodome when they called for the strangers that were come into his house to abuse them, which (say some) hee would not hauehave done if fornication had beene a sinne: therefore it seemes that fornication is no sinne.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Ans. Thus; that fact of Lot cannot be iustified nor excused, it was euill and a sinne; though his purpose was by a lesser euill to preuent a greater; for no man may do… the least euill or sinne for the procuring of the greatest good that can be. Rom. 3.8. And so that fact of his proues not fornication to be no sinne.
Obiection. 2 2 Pet. 2.7. The Apostle cals Lot a iust man, therefore hee was blamelesse in that fact of his, in offering his daughters to the rage of the Sodomites.
Quest: How is this to be answered?
Answ: Thus; though Lot be called a iust man, yet it followes not that eueryevery particular act of his was iust, for then his incest with his two daughters might finde defence.
Obiection. 3 Hosea. 1.2. The Lord commanded Hosea to take a wife of fornication; therefore fornication is not simply euill, and in it selfe a sinne.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; that which the Prophet did (if he did take a wife of fornication) he did it not of his owne head, but by Gods speciall appointment who is Lord of his owne law, and may dispense with it at his owne pleasure, as hee commanded Abraham to kill his sonne Izaack. Gen. 22.2. which if Abraham had done he had not sinned, though the sixt Commandement forbid killing and murder: because he had Gods speciall commandement for it; so that fact of Hosea proues not that fornication is not simply euill, and in it selfe no sinne.
Obiection. 4 Acts. 15.29. The Apostles reckon vp fornication amongst things indifferent, therefore it is a thing indifferent.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; it followes not, that fornication is a thing indifferent, because in that place it is ioyned with things indiff…rent; for it was not the purpose of the Apostles to shew what things were indifferent, or what vnlawfull, but what thi…gs were most off…nsiue, and what things did chiefely trouble the Churches and offend the weake Iewes, and and those were eating of blood, and things strangled, and the fornication of the Gentiles.
Quest. What is the second way by which vncleannesse and defilement of the body is committed betweene man and woman that are not neere in blood nor of kindred one to another, either by consanguinitie or affinitie?Gen. 26.10. Leuit. 18.20. Leuit. 20.10. 2 Sam. 11.4. Ier. 5.7.8. 1 Cor. 6.9. Heb. 13.4. Deut. 22.2….23.24.
Answ. By Adultery which is vncleannesse and defilement of the body, committed betweene man and woman, being either both of them married persons, or one of them a married person, or at the least contracted.
Quest. Is Adultery a more grieuous sinne in man or in woman, or is it equally as great and as grieuous a sinne in the one as in the other?
Answ. In some respect it is a more grieuous sinne in the man, and in some respect it is a more grieuous sinne in the woman, and in some respect it is equally as great and grieuous a sinne in the one as in the other.
Quest: In what respect is Adultery a more grieuous sinne in the man then in the woman?
1 Pet. 3.7. Ephes. 5.23. 2 Sam. 12.1.14Answ. In respect of the quality and condition of the person, because the woman is the weaker vessell, and the man is the head of the woman, and is or ought to bee more strong; and because also his example, especially hee being a publike person doth more hurt. 2 Sam. 12. Nathan is sent to Dauid, not to Bathsheba, because his example did more hurt.
Quest. In what respect is Adultery a more grieuous sinne in the woman then in the man?
Answ. In respect of the inconueniences that follow on it, as ignominie and shame of houses, and families confusion of inheritances & thrusting of false Heires in the place & roome of true and lawfull Heires.
Quest. In what respect is adultery a sinne equally as great and grieuous in both sexes in the man as in the woman, and in the woman as in the man?
Leuit. 20.10. Deut. 22.22.23Answ. In respect of the speciall and particular law of marriage, where by the husband and wife are bound one to another equally, and that most neerely and most strictly: the sinne is equall in both Sexes, therefore the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 7.4. The wife hath not the power of her owne body, but the Husband: and likewise also the husband hath not the power of his owne body, but the wife: and by the law of Moses, both the adulterer and the adulteresse were equally punishable, and were both to be put to death.
Obiection. Job. 31.9.10. Iob saith if he had beene an adulterer, then let his wife become an adulteresse. It seemes therefore if the husband commit adultery, then his wife may doe the like and be excusable, and that she may doe it as a iust reward of his vnfaithfullnesse towards her.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; the Lord may and d…th many times, in his iust iudgement punish sinne with sinne, and that in the same kinde; as the adultery of the husband with the adultery of the wife, and the adultery of the wife with the adultery of the husband; and that is Iobs meaning, that the Lord might so hauehave punished him, if he had beene vnfaithfull to his wife: but neither may the wife purposely become an adulteresse, because her husband is an adulterer, nor the husband purposely become an adulterer because his wife is an adulteresse, they may not take on them so to punish the sinne one of the other.
Quest. When is any act of vncleannesse and fleshly defilement which is naturall and according to the course of nature corrupted, in any kind; whether incest, fornication or adultery, most vile and odious?Gen. 34.2. Deut. 22.25. 2. Sam. 13.14.
Answ. When it is committed by violence and force, which is called rape, as it is thought that was of Shechem. Gen 34.2.
Quest. How is chastitie hurt or hindered in man or woman, with many others? Answ. Two wayes.
Quest. VVhat is the first of those?
Answ. This;Leuit. 19.29. Deut. 23.17. Ezech. 16.28.29. by vncleannesse and defilement of the body, committed by man or by woman, with many others at large; as when a man commits filthinesse with many women whatsoeuer they be:Hosea 4.2. or when a woman doth prostitute her body to many men, and commits filthinesse with many men whatsoeuer they be.
Quest. What is the second way by which chastitie is hurt or hindered in man or woman with many others?
Answ. This;Gen. 2.24. Deut. 17.17. M…th. 19.5. Leuit. 18.18. Math. 2.15. 1 Cor. 7.2. by vncleannesse and defilement of the body, committed by man or woman with many others to whom they seeme to be bound by the bond of marriage: as when a man hath more then one wife at one and the same time, and hath carnall copulation with them, or when a woman hath more then an husband at one and the same time and hath carnall copulation with them.
Obiection. Gen. 16.2.3. Abraham had more then one wife at one and the same time. And (Gen. 29.28) so had Jacob. 1 Sam. 1.2. Elkanah. 1 Sam. 25.42.43. Dauid and many other holy men, had more then one wife at one and the same time: therefore it seemes lawfull for a man to hauehave more then one wife, at one and the same time. Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; though the Lord hauing promised to make Abrahams seede as the Stars of Heauen, & as the sand of the sea shore. Gen. 22.17. was pleased to suffer variety of wiues for a time, as a meanes to increase that posterity, and so it was in some sort excusable; yet it was a fault and a fayling in the Patriarkes, and in holy men of old, and cannot bee iustifyed and defended as a thing lawfull and void of sinne.
Obiection. After lawfull diuorce for Adulterie, the partie innocent hauing not the gift of continency, on leaue obtained of the Church and christian Magistrate, may lawfully marry another; and so it will come to passe that the husband shall hauehave two wiues both liuing at one time, or the wife shall hauehave two husbands both liuing at one time.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; neither the husband being the party innocent, and marrying another after lawfull diuorce, hath two wiues both liuing at one and the same time: nor the wife being the party innocent and marrying another after lawfull diuorce hath two husbands both liuing at one and the same time: for after lawfull diuorce, the parties diuorced are not man and wife: the bond of marriage is quite broken.
Obiection. The Papists obiect Rom 7.2.3. A wife is bound to her husband while he liueth, and if the man be dead then she is at libertie: therefore say they nothing but death dissolues the bond of Marriage.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; the Apostle there hauing no occasion to entreate of diuorce, speakes of marriage as it stands whole and sound by Gods Ordinance, that by the Ordinance of God, marriage continuing vndissolued till death, the woman is bound to her husband so long as he liueth: and therefore he saith not that nothing dissolues the bond of marriage but death: but though the bond hold during life, yet by death it is dissolued: that is his meaning.
Obiection. 1 Cor. 7.10.11. Let not the wife depart from her husband, but if she depart let her remaine vnmarried: therefore say they after lawfull diuorce, the parties diuorced are man and wife still, and the innocent partie may not marry with another.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; the Apostle there speakes not of diuorce for Adultery, but of other seperations caused by dissentions in marriage: and they that seperate hereupon ought not to marrie: and therefore he saith if she d…part, let her remaine vnmarried, not if she be put away, and let her not depart as being in her owne choyce whether to depart or no: now in the case of diuorce for adultery, shee is to depart whether shee will or no.