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11. And yet not to these
themselves is marriage a sin; which, if it were chosen in
comparison of fornication, would be a less sin than fornication,
and yet would be a sin. But now what shall we say against the most
plain speech of the Apostle, saying, “Let her do what she will;
she sinneth not, if she be married;”1966 and, “If thou shalt have taken a
wife, thou hast not sinned: and, if a virgin shall have been
married, she sinneth not.”1967 Hence surely it is not lawful now
to doubt that marriage is no sin. Therefore the Apostle alloweth
not marriage as matter “of pardon:”1968 for who can doubt that it is
extremely absurd to say, that they have not sinned, unto whom
“pardon” is granted. But he allows, as matter of “pardon,”
that sexual intercourse, which takes place through incontinence,
not alone for the begetting of children, and, at times, not at all
for the begetting of children; and it is not that marriage forces
this to take place, but that it procures pardon for it; provided
however it be not so in excess as to hinder what ought to be set
aside as seasons of prayer, nor be changed into that use which is
against nature, on which the Apostle could not be silent, when
speaking of the excessive corruptions of unclean and impious men.
For necessary sexual intercourse for begetting is free from blame,
and itself is alone worthy of marriage. But that which goes beyond
this necessity, no longer follows reason, but lust.1969 And yet it
pertains to the character of marriage, not to exact this, but to
yield it to the partner, lest by fornication the other sin
damnably. But, if both are set under such lust, they do what is
plainly not matter of marriage. However, if in their intercourse
they love what is honest more than what is dishonest, that is, what
is matter of marriage more than what is not matter of marriage,
this is allowed to them on the authority of the Apostle as matter
of pardon: and for this fault, they have in their marriage, not
what sets them on to commit it, but what entreats pardon for it, if
they turn not away from them the mercy of God, either by not
abstaining on certain days, that they may be free to pray, and
through this abstinence, as through fasting, may commend their
prayers; or by changing the natural use into that which is against
nature, which is more damnable when it is done in the case of
husband or wife.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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