Concerning Divorce, Postscript
A POST-SCRIPT.
THus farre Martin Bucer; Whom where I might without injury to either part of the cause, I deny not to have epitomiz'd: in the rest observing a well-warranted rule, not to give an Inventory of so many words, but to weigh thir force. I could have added that eloquent and right Christian discours, writt'n by Erasmus on this Argument, not disagreeing in effect from Bucer. But this, I hope, will be anough to excuse me with the meer Englishman, to be no forger of new and loose opinions. Others may read him in his own phrase on the first to the Corinthians, and ease me who never could delight in long citations, much lesse in whole traductions; Whether it be natural disposition or education in me, or that my mother bore me a speaker of what God made mine own, and not a translator. There be others also whom I could reck'n up, of no mean account in the Church (and Peter Martyr among the first) who are more then half our own in this controversy. But this is a providence not to be slighted, that as Bucer wrote this tractat of divorce in England and for England, so Erasmus professes he begun heer among us the same subject, especially out of compassion, for the need he saw this Nation had of some charitable redresse heerin; and seriously exhorts others to use thir best industry in the cleering of this point, wherin custom hath a greater sway then verity. That therfore which came into the minde of these two admired strangers to doe for England, and in a touch of highest prudence which they took to be not yet recover'd from monastic superstition, if I a native am found to have don for mine own Country, altogether sutably and conformly to their so large and cleer understanding, yet without the lest help of theirs, I suppose that hence-forward among conscionable and ju…icious persons, it will no more be thought to my discredit, or at all to this Nations dishonor. And if these thir books, the one shall be printed often, with best allowance in most religious Cities, the other with express autority of Leo the tenth a Pope, shall for the propagating of truth be publisht and republisht, though against the receav'd opinion of that Church, and mine containing but the same thing, shall in a time of reformation, a time of free speaking, free writing, not find a permission to the Presse, I referre me to wisest men, whether truth be suffer'd to be truth, or liberty to be liberty now among us, and be not again in danger of new fetters and captivity after all our hopes and labours lost: and whether learning be not (which our enemies too profetically fear'd) in the way to be trodd'n down again by ignorance. Wherof while time is, out of the faith owing to God and my Country, I bid this Kingdom beware: and doubt not but God, who hath dignify'd this Parlament already to so many glorious degrees, will also give them (which is a singular blessing) to inform themselvs rightly in the midst of an unprincipl'd age; and to prevent this working mystery of ignorance and ecclestastical thraldom, which under new shapes and disguises begins afresh to grow upon us.
The end.
End of the text · Martin Bucer, Concerning Divorce (1644)