A case of conscience propounded to a great Bishop in Ireland viz., whether after divorce the innocent party may not lawfully marry : with the Bishop's answer to the question, and a reply to the Bishops answer, and also some quæries, whether the silencing of godly ministers be not near of kin to the killing of the two prophets, Revelation the 11 chap / by George Pressicke.
         Pressick, George.
      
       
         
           1661
        
      
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         41073
         
           
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             A case of conscience propounded to a great Bishop in Ireland viz., whether after divorce the innocent party may not lawfully marry : with the Bishop's answer to the question, and a reply to the Bishops answer, and also some quæries, whether the silencing of godly ministers be not near of kin to the killing of the two prophets, Revelation the 11 chap / by George Pressicke.
             Pressick, George.
          
           36 p.
           
             Printed for the author,
             [London?] :
             1661.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in the Cambridge University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Remarriage (Canon law)
           Divorce (Canon law)
        
      
    
     
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           A
           Case
           of
           Conscience
           propounded
           to
           a
           great
           Bishop
           in
           
             Ireland
             ,
             Vizt
          
           .
           Whether
           after
           Divorce
           ,
           the
           innocent
           Party
           may
           not
           lawfully
           Marry
           .
           With
           the
           Bishop's
           Answer
           to
           the
           QUESTION
           :
           AND
           A
           Reply
           to
           the
           Bishops
           Answer
           .
           And
           also
           some
           Quaeries
           ,
           Whether
           the
           Silencing
           of
           Godly
           Ministers
           be
           not
           near
           of
           kin
           to
           the
           killing
           of
           the
           two
           Prophets
           ,
           Revelation
           the
           11.
           chap
           :
        
         
           By
           
             George
             Pressicke
          
           of
           Dublin
           .
        
         
           
             He
             that
             justifieth
             the
             Wicked
             ,
             and
             he
             that
             condemneth
             the
             Iust
             ,
             even
             they
             both
             are
             an
             abomination
             to
             the
             Lord.
             
          
           
             
               Proverbs
               17.15
            
             .
          
        
         
           Printed
           for
           the
           Author
           in
           March
           ,
           1661.
           
        
      
       
         
         
           To
           the
           Reader
           .
        
         
           
             Christian
             friends
             ,
          
        
         
           YOu
           may
           understand
           by
           what
           followes
           that
           I
           propounded
           a
           Case
           of
           Conscience
           to
           a
           great
           Bishop
           in
           Ireland
           ,
           by
           way
           of
           petition
           ;
           but
           had
           a
           very
           slight
           Answer
           :
           whereupon
           I
           went
           to
           my
           Chamber
           ,
           and
           writ
           to
           h●m
           a
           large
           Letter
           ,
           wherein
           I
           did
           hint
           to
           h●m
           that
           I
           had
           not
           written
           and
           printed
           three
           Books
           against
           Anabaptists
           and
           Quakers
           to
           be
           put
           off
           with
           such
           an
           Answer
           as
           he
           had
           given
           me
           ;
           and
           〈◊〉
           urge
           him
           from
           that
           Text
           
             1
             Peter
             3.15
          
           .
           that
           I
           did
           conceive
           he
           was
           bound
           in
           conscience
           and
           duty
           to
           God
           ,
           to
           answer
           to
           the
           Question
           ,
           which
           I
           desired
           might
           be
           in
           writing
           :
           which
           after
           he
           had
           read
           ,
           he
           gave
           order
           I
           should
           come
           to
           his
           house
           and
           he
           would
           answer
           it
           ;
           which
           I
           d●d
           ,
           and
           drew
           up
           the
           substance
           of
           my
           Petition
           and
           Letter
           into
           certain
           Questions
           and
           Arguments
           ;
           which
           hereafter
           followe●h
           ,
           together
           wi●h
           hi●
           Answer
           ,
           and
           my
           Reply
           to
           h●s
           Answer
           .
           And
           seeing
           I
           could
           have
           no
           further
           satisfaction
           ,
           I
           thought
           good
           to
           put
           all
           in
           Print
           to
           publike
           view
           ,
           that
           he
           understanding
           Reader
           may
           consider
           and
           judge
           ,
           That
           if
           I
           should
           take
           ano●her
           Wife
           (
           as
           I
           do
           intend
           for
           any
           thing
           I
           yet
           know
           to
           h●nder
           me
           )
           whether
           there
           be
           not
           sufficient
           ground
           of
           Scr●pture
           for
           me
           so
           to
           do
           ,
           besides
           the
           example
           and
           practice
           of
           o●her
           Churches
           ,
           Reasons
           and
           Arguments
           shewed
           to
           prove
           the
           lawfullnesse
           thereof
           .
           And
           if
           one
           or
           more
           be
           otherwise
           minded
           ,
           I
           may
           say
           as
           Peter
           and
           Iohn
           said
           in
           another
           case
           ,
           
             Acts
             4.19
             .
             Whether
             it
             is
             right
             in
             the
             light
             of
             God
             ,
             to
             hearken
             unto
             you
             ,
             more
             than
             unto
             God
             ,
             judge
             ye
             ▪
          
           so
           I
           say
           ,
           whe●her
           should
           I
           be
           concluded
           by
           one
           or
           some
           few
           Mens
           opinions
           ,
           contrary
           to
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           and
           the
           pr●ctice
           of
           Pro●estant
           Churches
           ,
           and
           so
           be
           lyable
           to
           continuall
           temptations
           all
           my
           life
           long
           ,
           or
           take
           that
           liberty
           which
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           and
           former
           Pro●estant
           Churche●
           hath
           allowed
           ,
           that
           I
           maye
           escape
           Satans
           snares
           ,
           and
           have
           a
           remedy
           against
           my
           owne
           Corruption
           ,
           Iudge
           ye
           .
           Thus
           I
           leave
           ●ll
           to
           your
           charitable
           constructions
           ,
           and
           am
           according
           to
           that
           measure
           I
           have
           received
           ,
        
         
           
             
               A
               lover
               of
               the
               Truth
            
             George
             Pressicke
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           A
           Case
           of
           Conscience
           propounded
           &c.
           vizt
           .
           whether
           a
           Man
           whose
           wife
           hath
           forsaken
           him
           seven
           years
           and
           five
           months
           without
           any
           just
           cause
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           be
           reconciled
           ;
           and
           he
           having
           satisfied
           the
           Law
           so
           far
           that
           by
           his
           Majesties
           Reference
           to
           two
           Bishops
           in
           London
           )
           he
           hath
           a
           Divorce
           under
           the
           Bishops
           hands
           ,
           whether
           he
           may
           not
           lawfully
           Marry
           .
        
         
           
             Mr.
             Pressicke
             to
             the
             Byshop
             .
          
           
             
               Right
               reverend
               Father
               in
               God
               ,
            
          
           
             I
             Have
             accord●ng
             to
             my
             weak
             ability
             drawne
             up
             the
             chief
             Heads
             of
             my
             petition
             and
             Letter
             into
             a
             more
             orderly
             Forme
             than
             before
             ,
             that
             your
             Lordship
             may
             with
             lesse
             trouble
             con●●der
             of
             it
             ,
             and
             God
             Almighty
             direct
             you
             therein
             .
          
           
             And
             first
             ,
             If
             the
             Law
             of
             God
             say
             ,
             1
             Cor.
             7.15
             .
             
               If
               the
               unbelieving
               will
               depart
               ,
               let
               him
               depart
               a
               brother
               or
               a
               sister
               is
               not
               under
               Bondage
               in
               such
               cases
            
             :
             but
             if
             in
             such
             a
             Case
             the
             innocent
             party
             have
             not
             liberty
             to
             marry
             ,
             he
             must
             needs
             be
             in
             bondage
             still
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             If
             the
             Law
             of
             the
             Land
             allow
             ,
             that
             if
             a
             Husband
             or
             Wife
             forsake
             one
             another
             seven
             years
             ,
             and
             be
             not
             heard
             off
             ,
             the
             innocent
             party
             may
             marry
             ;
             then
             why
             may
             not
             I
             much
             more
             have
             l●berty
             to
             marry
             ,
             whose
             Wife
             hath
             forsaken
             me
             seven
             years
             and
             five
             months
             :
             for
             what
             more
             benefit
             have
             I
             of
             her
             ,
             than
             if
             I
             did
             not
             he●r
             whethe●
             she
             were
             de●d
             or
             l●ving
             ▪
             yea
             more
             ,
             I
             have
             a
             D●vorce
             under
             two
             Bishops
             Hands
             by
             a
             reference
             from
             his
             Majesty
             :
             and
             
             though
             it
             be
             not
             in
             Forme
             according
             to
             the
             Canon-Law
             ,
             (
             fo●
             that
             had
             been
             many
             years
             silenced
             )
             but
             having
             his
             Majesties
             Royall
             Assent
             ,
             (
             from
             whom
             the
             Canon-Law
             receives
             it's
             vigo●
             and
             strength
             )
             doth
             supply
             that
             defect
             ,
             as
             if
             it
             had
             been
             done
             by
             the
             Canon-Law
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             If
             both
             the
             Law
             of
             God
             ,
             as
             1
             Cor.
             7.15
             .
             and
             secondly
             if
             the
             Law
             of
             the
             Land
             (
             according
             to
             the
             practice
             of
             the
             Church
             of
             England
             as
             above
             )
             the
             benefit
             of
             which
             cannot
             in
             equity
             be
             denied
             me
             ,
             there
             being
             no
             Law
             as
             your
             Lordship
             said
             to
             compell
             a
             wife
             to
             perform
             the
             duty
             of
             a
             wife
             .
             and
             thirdly
             (
             which
             is
             more
             )
             I
             having
             a
             B●ll
             of
             D●vorce
             .
             And
             fou●thly
             the
             example
             and
             practice
             of
             the
             Church
             in
             Germany
             in
             the
             like
             case
             ,
             who
             allowed
             Galeatius
             to
             marry
             because
             his
             wife
             refused
             to
             co-habit
             with
             him
             ,
             as
             mine
             hath
             refused
             to
             co-habit
             with
             me
             ,
             then
             why
             should
             I
             be
             h●ndered
             of
             my
             lawfull
             liberty
             more
             than
             o●hers
             .
          
           
             4.
             
             If
             there
             be
             no
             Law
             to
             compel
             a
             wife
             to
             her
             duty
             ,
             as
             your
             Lordship
             said
             there
             is
             not
             ,
             and
             if
             there
             be
             a
             Law
             to
             restrain
             the
             husband
             from
             his
             lawfull
             l●berty
             ,
             which
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             allowes
             h●m
             ,
             and
             according
             to
             the
             practice
             of
             other
             Churches
             as
             above
             :
             then
             whether
             is
             that
             Law
             that
             restrains
             him
             (
             if
             any
             such
             Law
             there
             be
             )
             whether
             is
             it
             a
             just
             Law
             according
             to
             the
             wo●d
             of
             God
             ,
             or
             whether
             is
             it
             not
             rather
             against
             the
             word
             of
             God
             ;
             and
             is
             not
             that
             Law
             (
             if
             there
             be
             any
             such
             )
             
               a
               setting
               of
               their
               thresholds
               agai●st
               Gods
               thresholds
               ,
               and
               their
               Posts
               by
               Gods
               Posts
               ;
               Ezek.
            
             43.8
             .
             compared
             with
             Isa.
             29.13
             .
             
               ●heir
               fear
               towards
               me
               is
               taught
               by
               the
               precepts
               of
               men
               .
            
             Fo●
             such
             a
             law
             would
             destroy
             an
             Ordinance
             of
             God
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             Marriage
             and
             P●ocre●tion
             ,
             and
             one
             end
             fo●
             which
             man
             was
             c●eated
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             
               That
               the
               wife
               should
               be
               in
               subjection
               to
               her
               hu●band
               ,
               as
               the
               Church
               is
               to
               Christ.
               Ephes.
            
             5.24
             .
             But
             if
             this
             l●berty
             be
             denied
             him
             ,
             then
             must
             the
             husband
             be
             in
             subjection
             to
             h●s
             w●fes
             humour
             ,
             though
             she
             be
             a
             who●e
             o●
             an
             Infidell
             and
             of
             never
             so
             perverse
             a
             spirit
             ,
             he
             must
             be
             kept
             in
             bondage
             ,
             and
             laid
             open
             to
             all
             temptations
             ,
             if
             not
             a
             necessity
             of
             sinning
             .
             1
             Cor.
             7.4.5
             .
          
           
             If
             it
             be
             objected
             that
             nothi●g
             but
             whoredome
             can
             divorce
             as
             some
             have
             ignorantly
             said
             .
          
           
             5.
             
             To
             that
             I
             say
             that
             though
             there
             are
             other
             lawfull
             causes
             of
             
             divorce
             besides
             whoredome
             ;
             yet
             except
             the
             Bishops
             made
             that
             divorce
             between
             me
             and
             my
             wife
             ,
             upon
             the
             account
             of
             my
             wifes
             being
             a
             whore
             in
             Scripture-sence
             ,
             as
             I
             writ
             to
             them
             before
             they
             made
             that
             divorce
             ,
             the
             Bishops
             must
             needs
             fall
             under
             the
             breach
             of
             that
             Scripture
             ,
             Math.
             19.6
             .
             
               Those
               whom
               God
               hath
               joyned
               together
               ,
               let
               no
               man
               put
               asunder
               .
            
             for
             there
             can
             be
             no
             divorce
             from
             bed
             and
             board
             ,
             (
             as
             some
             call
             it
             )
             but
             it
             is
             absolutely
             against
             that
             Text
             :
             Except
             it
             be
             with
             consent
             for
             a
             time
             ,
             (
             1
             Cor.
             7.5
             .
             )
             to
             give
             themselves
             unto
             prayer
             ;
             and
             come
             together
             again
             ,
             lest
             Satan
             tempt
             them
             for
             their
             incontinencie
             .
             But
             this
             divorce
             between
             me
             and
             my
             wife
             is
             not
             of
             this
             nature
             ,
             and
             therefore
             contrary
             to
             the
             word
             of
             God
             ;
             except
             it
             be
             upon
             the
             account
             of
             her
             whoredome
             in
             Scripture-sence
             :
             for
             neither
             the
             consent
             of
             the
             Parties
             ,
             nor
             the
             consent
             of
             the
             Bishops
             can
             make
             that
             lawfull
             ,
             which
             the
             word
             of
             God
             saith
             is
             unlawfull
             ,
             Mat.
             19.6
             .
             
               Those
               whom
               God
               hath
               joyned
               together
               ,
               let
               no
               man
               put
               asunder
               .
            
          
           
             6.
             
             Now
             that
             she
             is
             a
             whore
             in
             Scripture-sence
             I
             prove
             is
             thus
             ,
             Iudges
             19.2
             .
             the
             text
             saith
             ,
             The
             Levits
             wife
             played
             the
             whore
             again●t
             her
             husband
             ,
             and
             departed
             from
             him
             four
             full
             months
             .
             but
             my
             wife
             hath
             departed
             from
             me
             seven
             years
             and
             five
             months
             ;
             if
             the
             Levits
             wife
             had
             actually
             played
             the
             who●e
             ,
             she
             should
             by
             the
             Law
             have
             been
             stoned
             to
             death
             ;
             Levit.
             20.10
             .
             neither
             had
             it
             been
             lawfull
             for
             him
             to
             have
             taken
             her
             againe
             ,
             Levit.
             21.7
             .
             and
             1
             Cor.
             6.16
             .
             
               He
               that
               is
               joyned
               to
               an
               harlot
               is
               one
               flesh
               .
            
             therefore
             it
             is
             conceived
             that
             the
             Levites
             wife
             departing
             from
             him
             without
             his
             consent
             ,
             it
             is
             in
             Scripture-sense
             whoredome
             ;
             for
             she
             ought
             to
             have
             been
             in
             subject
             on
             to
             her
             husband
             ,
             as
             the
             Church
             is
             to
             Christ.
             Ephes.
             5.24
             .
             This
             truth
             is
             further
             confirmed
             by
             comparing
             this
             with
             Prov.
             2
             .
             17·
             where
             a
             harlot
             is
             descr●bed
             to
             be
             one
             that
             forsaketh
             her
             husband
             ,
             and
             forgetteth
             the
             covenant
             of
             her
             God
             :
             some
             Margents
             say
             ,
             she
             forgetteth
             the
             promise
             of
             the
             marriage
             covenant
             ;
             Ier
             :
             3.3
             .
             compared
             w●th
             the
             20
             verse
             ,
             
               Thou
               hadst
               a
               Whores
               fore-head
               ,
               as
               a
               wife
               treacherously
               departeth
               from
               her
               husband
            
             :
             these
             three
             Texts
             prove
             sufficiently
             that
             a
             wife
             forsaking
             her
             husband
             is
             a
             whore
             in
             Scripture-sence
             .
          
           
             So
             that
             from
             the
             union
             that
             is
             between
             Christ
             and
             his
             Church
             ,
             
             Eph.
             5.32
             .
             we
             may
             gather
             that
             as
             forsaking
             the
             Lord
             is
             called
             harlotry
             ,
             Isa.
             1.4
             .
             compared
             with
             the
             20
             ,
             21.
             
             
               They
               have
               forsaken
               the
               Lord
               ,
               how
               is
               the
               faithfull
               Citie
               become
               an
               harlot
               .
            
             even
             so
             a
             wife
             forsaking
             her
             husband
             is
             in
             Scripture-sence
             whoredome
             :
             and
             God
             threatens
             to
             punish
             both
             with
             one
             and
             the
             same
             punishment
             ,
             Ezekiel
             16.38
             .
             
               I
               will
               judge
               thee
               as
               women
               that
               break
               wedlock
               and
               shed
               blood
               are
               judged
               .
            
             and
             breaking
             wedlock
             and
             shedding
             blood
             are
             both
             the
             sins
             of
             her
             that
             was
             my
             wife
             .
          
           
             To
             conclude
             as
             Christ
             himselfe
             said
             ,
             
               Therefore
               whatsoever
               ye
               would
               that
               men
               should
               do
               to
               you
               ,
               do
               ye
               even
               so
               to
               them
               .
            
             I
             beseech
             you
             consider
             it
             as
             if
             it
             were
             your
             case
             ,
             what
             you
             would
             have
             others
             do
             unto
             you
             ;
             and
             trouble
             not
             your selfe
             to
             answer
             ,
             but
             grant
             me
             a
             Lycense
             to
             marry
             ,
             wh●ch
             if
             you
             do
             ,
             yet
             it
             can
             be
             no
             President
             to
             others
             to
             follow
             ,
             for
             no
             mans
             condition
             doth
             paralell
             mine
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             in
             regard
             of
             my
             wifes
             obstinacy
             these
             seven
             years
             and
             five
             months
             ,
             notwithstanding
             all
             lawfull
             means
             that
             hath
             been
             used
             to
             ●eclaime
             her
             ,
             and
             in
             that
             respect
             she
             is
             wo●se
             then
             most
             who●es
             are
             ;
             for
             few
             whores
             do
             altogether
             deny
             their
             husbands
             ,
             though
             they
             company
             with
             other
             men
             as
             with
             their
             husbands
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             in
             her
             indeavouring
             to
             murther
             me
             ,
             by
             stabbing
             at
             me
             with
             a
             knife
             ,
             and
             cutting
             me
             in
             the
             face
             .
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             I
             have
             suffered
             twenty
             five
             dayes
             imprisonment
             by
             
               Charles
               Fleetwood
            
             ,
             for
             taking
             hold
             of
             my
             wife
             ,
             and
             desiring
             to
             talke
             with
             her
             but
             one
             quarter
             of
             an
             hour
             ,
             to
             know
             if
             she
             could
             shew
             any
             reason
             why
             she
             dealt
             so
             with
             me
             :
             besides
             she
             procured
             my
             imprisonment
             in
             London
             for
             1700
             pound
             ,
             when
             I
             owed
             not
             one
             penny
             .
          
           
             Fourthly
             ,
             I
             have
             a
             Bill
             of
             divorce
             by
             vertue
             of
             his
             Majesties
             reference
             to
             two
             Bishops
             ,
             and
             under
             the
             two
             Bishops
             hands
             :
             all
             which
             considered
             ,
             granting
             me
             a
             Lycense
             to
             marry
             can
             be
             no
             president
             for
             others
             to
             follow
             .
          
           
             
               
                 Novem
                 :
                 12
                 th
                 .
                 1661.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Your
                 Lordships
                 most
                 humble
                 and
                 unworthy
                 servant
              
               George
               Pressicke
               .
            
          
        
         
           
           
             The
             Bishop's
             Answer
             .
          
           
             
               Mr.
               Pressicke
               ;
            
          
           
             I
             Have
             perused
             your
             Paper
             and
             I
             am
             still
             of
             the
             same
             judgement
             I
             was
             ;
             they
             who
             expound
             Scriptu●e
             acco●ding
             to
             the●r
             own
             private
             fancies
             doe
             often
             change
             ,
             but
             they
             who
             expound
             it
             in
             the
             same
             sence
             which
             was
             delivered
             to
             the
             Catholique
             Church
             with
             the
             Scripture
             ,
             can
             hardly
             vary
             f●om
             themselves
             .
          
           
             To
             the
             first
             objection
             I
             acknowledge
             the
             words
             of
             Saint
             Paul
             ,
             1
             Cor.
             7.15
             .
             
               If
               the
               unbelieving
               depart
               ,
               let
               h●m
               depart
               ;
               a
               brother
               or
               a
               sister
               is
               not
               ●n
               bondage
               in
               such
               cases
               .
            
             But
             there
             is
             a
             difference
             b●tween
             the
             marriage
             of
             Infidels
             and
             the
             marrige
             of
             Christians
             ▪
             the
             marriage
             of
             Infidels
             being
             only
             a
             civil
             Contract
             and
             may
             be
             d●ssolved
             by
             consent
             ,
             the
             marriage
             of
             Christians
             is
             mo●eover
             a
             ●●gne
             of
             the
             Mysticall
             union
             between
             Christ
             and
             his
             Church
             ,
             and
             therefore
             indissolvable
             .
          
           
             secondly
             ,
             You
             plead
             the
             law
             of
             the
             Land
             which
             alowes
             a
             woman
             to
             marry
             after
             her
             husband
             hath
             been
             seven
             years
             absent
             :
             but
             you
             mistake
             the
             Law
             ,
             for
             if
             the
             hu●band
             be
             known
             to
             ●e
             living
             ,
             seventeen
             years
             absence
             w●ll
             not
             make
             it
             lawfull
             for
             the
             wife
             to
             marry
             again
             ;
             take
             an
             instance
             Mr.
             Mole
             was
             absent
             above
             twenty
             years
             in
             the
             inquisition
             ,
             for
             his
             religion
             ,
             yet
             his
             wife
             did
             not
             ,
             she
             could
             not
             marry
             again
             .
             The
             reason
             of
             your
             mistake
             is
             this
             that
             if
             a
             man
             be
             not
             heard
             off
             in
             seven
             years
             ,
             the
             Law
             presumeth
             that
             he
             is
             dead
             ,
             and
             death
             dissolves
             the
             bond
             of
             marriage
             ;
             yet
             if
             it
             appear
             that
             the
             fo●mer
             husband
             was
             not
             dead
             ,
             he
             ought
             to
             be
             restor'd
             to
             his
             wife
             notwithstanding
             her
             second
             marriage
             .
          
           
             thirdly
             ,
             You
             prove
             nothing
             but
             presume
             that
             since
             you
             have
             the
             law
             of
             God
             and
             the
             law
             of
             the
             Land
             for
             you
             ,
             the
             precepts
             of
             Men
             cannot
             comptroll
             the
             law
             of
             God
             ,
             but
             you
             erre
             every
             way
             ,
             for
             you
             have
             neither
             the
             law
             of
             God
             for
             you
             nor
             the
             law
             of
             the
             Lan●
             ,
             but
             both
             the
             law
             of
             God
             and
             the
             law
             of
             the
             Land
             are
             ex●resly
             aga●nst
             you
             :
             he●
             saint
             Marke
             chap.
             10.
             verse
             11.
             
             
               Whosoever
               shall
               put
               away
               his
               wife
               and
               marry
               another
               ,
               committeth
               adultery
               against
               her
               .
            
             the
             words
             
             are
             generall
             and
             admit
             no
             evasion
             :
             hear
             saint
             Luke
             chap.
             16.
             v.
             18.
             
             
               W●osoever
               pu●teth
               away
               his
               wife
               and
               marrye●h
               another
               ,
               committeth
               adul●ery
               ;
               aed
               whosoever
               marryeth
               her
               that
               is
               put
               away
               committeth
               adultery
               .
            
             ●here
             is
             no
             restrict●on
             nor
             exception
             ,
             indeed
             saint
             Mathew
             seemeth
             to
             have
             an
             exception
             Mat.
             5.32
             .
             
               Whosoever
               shall
               put
               away
               his
               wife
               saving
               for
               the
               cause
               of
               fornication
               ,
               causeth
               her
               to
               commit
               adultery
               ;
               and
               whosoever
               shall
               marry
               her
               that
               is
               divorced
               ,
               commi●teth
               adultery
               .
            
             and
             Mat.
             19.9
             .
             
               Whosoever
               shall
               put
               away
               his
               wife
               except
               it
               be
               for
               fornication
               ,
               and
               shall
               marry
               another
               ,
               committeth
               adultery
            
             :
             which
             two
             places
             have
             both
             the
             same
             sence
             .
             The
             exception
             ,
             if
             it
             be
             an
             exception
             ,
             and
             not
             rather
             a
             pure
             negation
             ,
             extendeth
             it selfe
             only
             to
             the
             divorce
             ,
             not
             at
             all
             to
             the
             second
             marriage
             :
             he
             that
             ●utteth
             away
             his
             wife
             without
             the
             cause
             of
             fornication
             ,
             maketh
             her
             commit
             adultery
             :
             but
             if
             he
             put
             her
             away
             for
             fornication
             ,
             she
             is
             the
             culpable
             cause
             of
             her
             own
             adultery
             ,
             not
             he
             that
             puts
             her
             away
             justly
             :
             but
             having
             put
             her
             away
             ,
             whether
             he
             may
             lawfully
             marry
             again
             without
             sinne
             ,
             saint
             Mathew
             saith
             nothing
             ,
             but
             saint
             Marke
             and
             saint
             Luke
             speak
             expresly
             that
             he
             cannot
             :
             yet
             even
             this
             place
             of
             saint
             Mathew
             (
             howsoever
             understood
             )
             speaks
             directly
             against
             your
             second
             marriage
             ,
             for
             you
             do
             not
             so
             much
             as
             pretend
             that
             your
             wife
             hath
             committed
             adultery
             ▪
             and
             therefore
             by
             the
             undoubted
             consent
             of
             the
             three
             Evangelists
             you
             cannot
             marry
             again
             .
          
           
             To
             this
             of
             the
             three
             Evangelists
             ,
             adde
             likewise
             the
             testimony
             of
             St.
             
               Paul
               ,
               Rom.
            
             7.2
             ,
             3.
             
             
               The
               woman
               which
               hath
               an
               husband
               is
               bound
               by
               the
               law
               to
               her
               husband
               so
               long
               as
               he
               liveth
               ,
               but
               if
               the
               husba●d
               be
               dead
               ,
               she
               is
               loosed
               from
               the
               Law
               of
               her
               husband
               .
               So
               then
               if
               while
               her
               husband
               liveth
               she
               be
               marryed
               to
               another
               ,
               she
               shall
               be
               called
               an
               Adulteresse
               .
            
             St.
             Paul
             knew
             no
             way
             to
             dissolve
             marriage
             but
             by
             death
             :
             the
             same
             he
             saith
             ,
             1
             Cor
             :
             7
             :
             39.
             
             
               The
               wife
               is
               bound
               by
               the
               Law
               as
               long
               as
               her
               husband
               liveth
               but
               if
               her
               husband
               be
               dead
               ,
               she
               is
               at
               liberty
               to
               be
               marryed
               to
               whom
               she
               will.
            
             and
             if
             we
             weigh
             the
             force
             of
             St
             Pauls
             argument
             exactly
             ,
             we
             shall
             find
             it
             to
             be
             this
             ,
             That
             as
             the
             bond
             of
             the
             Law
             could
             no
             way
             be
             dissolved
             whiles
             the
             Law
             lived
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             was
             not
             abrogated
             ,
             notwithstanding
             any
             prevarication
             interceding
             ;
             so
             the
             bond
             of
             marriage
             is
             indissolvable
             so
             long
             as
             life
             lasteth
             ,
             notwithstanding
             any
             interceding
             fornication
             .
             To
             conclude
             this
             point
             ,
             he
             that
             marrieth
             her
             that
             is
             divorced
             or
             put
             away
             either
             justly
             for
             fornication
             ,
             or
             unjustly
             without
             fornication
             ,
             
             committeth
             adultery
             :
             for
             if
             it
             was
             justly
             for
             fornication
             ;
             then
             she
             was
             the
             nocent
             person
             ,
             and
             could
             not
             marry
             aga●n
             ;
             and
             if
             it
             was
             unjustly
             without
             fornication
             ,
             then
             the
             divorce
             was
             void
             ,
             and
             she
             still
             continued
             wife
             to
             her
             former
             husband
             :
             howsoever
             it
             was
             ,
             whether
             justly
             or
             unjustly
             ,
             it
             can
             be
             no
             adultery
             ,
             except
             the
             bond
             of
             the
             former
             marriage
             were
             d●ssolved
             .
          
           
             Another
             place
             we
             have
             to
             the
             same
             purpose
             ,
             1
             Cor
             :
             7.10
             ,
             21.
             
             
               Unto
               the
               married
               I
               command
               ,
               yet
               not
               I
               ,
               but
               the
               Lord
               ,
               let
               not
               the
               wife
               depart
               from
               her
               husband
               ;
               but
               if
               she
               depart
               ,
               let
               her
               remain
               unmarried
               ,
               or
               be
               reconciled
               to
               her
               husband
               ;
               and
               let
               not
               the
               husband
               put
               away
               his
               wife
               .
            
             Either
             St
             Paul
             speaks
             of
             such
             a
             woman
             who
             had
             no
             just
             cause
             of
             separation
             ,
             or
             of
             one
             who
             had
             :
             but
             he
             cannot
             be
             understood
             to
             speak
             of
             one
             who
             had
             no
             just
             cause
             of
             separation
             ,
             for
             then
             he
             would
             not
             ,
             he
             could
             not
             have
             said
             ,
             let
             her
             remain
             unmarried
             ,
             or
             be
             reconciled
             at
             her
             choice
             ,
             but
             let
             her
             be
             reconsiled
             and
             returne
             to
             her
             husband
             .
             St
             Paul
             did
             not
             ,
             could
             not
             permit
             any
             unjust
             Di●o●ces
             ,
             contrary
             to
             the
             expresse
             Word
             of
             God.
             It
             is
             plain
             therefore
             that
             he
             speaks
             of
             one
             who
             had
             just
             cause
             to
             depart
             ;
             and
             yet
             St
             Paul
             commandeth
             in
             the
             name
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             that
             such
             an
             innocent
             person
             should
             remain
             unmarried
             .
          
           
             To
             these
             plain
             testiminies
             of
             holy
             Scripture
             ,
             we
             may
             joyne
             the
             evidence
             of
             right
             reason
             .
             If
             married
             persons
             could
             so
             easily
             unmarry
             themselves
             by
             the
             consent
             of
             bo●h
             parties
             ,
             and
             much
             more
             by
             the
             ●●nister
             practises
             of
             one
             party
             ?
             what
             a
             Doore
             would
             this
             open
             to
             perjuries
             and
             subordinations
             ,
             to
             the
             slanders
             and
             deflamations
             of
             innocent
             persons
             ,
             whilest
             men
             pursued
             their
             own
             lusts
             under
             the
             clo●ke
             of
             justice
             ?
             what
             division
             and
             what
             ruine
             would
             this
             bring
             upon
             families
             ?
             what
             a
             curse
             would
             it
             be
             to
             poore
             children
             ,
             who
             (
             many
             times
             without
             their
             own
             faults
             )
             must
             loose
             one
             of
             their
             naturall
             parents
             ,
             and
             get
             a
             step-Father
             or
             a
             step-Mother
             in
             their
             place
             ?
          
           
             This
             Conclusion
             (
             Mr.
             Pressicke
             )
             is
             evidenced
             to
             us
             by
             the
             wo●d
             of
             God
             ,
             by
             the
             light
             of
             naturall
             reason
             ,
             that
             marriage
             ought
             to
             be
             kept
             sacred
             and
             undissolvable
             .
             It
             hath
             been
             long
             observed
             as
             a
             Nationall
             sinne
             of
             this
             people
             ,
             to
             have
             been
             over
             easy
             dissolvers
             of
             true
             marriages
             ,
             upon
             slaunderous
             ,
             or
             pretended
             Prae-contracts
             wanting
             all
             ground
             but
             lust
             and
             perjury
             :
             and
             therefore
             I
             do
             give
             you
             the
             same
             Counsaile
             which
             I
             take
             God
             to
             witnes
             I
             would
             take
             
             my selfe
             if
             I
             were
             in
             the
             same
             condition
             .
             Seeke
             once
             more
             to
             be
             reconciled
             to
             your
             wife
             ,
             and
             forget
             not
             to
             pray
             God
             to
             change
             her
             heart
             :
             if
             you
             cannot
             prevail
             ,
             then
             follow
             St
             Paul's
             command
             or
             rather
             God's
             command
             by
             St
             
               Paul
               ,
               to
               remain
               unmarried
            
             .
             You
             complain
             of
             this
             as
             a
             grievous
             burthen
             ,
             but
             you
             consider
             not
             that
             many
             holy
             Saints
             and
             Servants
             of
             God
             have
             lived
             much
             longer
             under
             the
             same
             Crosse
             that
             you
             have
             done
             ,
             and
             altogethe●
             without
             their
             own
             faults
             .
             Some
             have
             had
             their
             Spouses
             imprisoned
             for
             30
             or
             40
             years
             together
             for
             conscience
             sake
             ,
             as
             I
             told
             you
             formerly
             of
             Mr.
             Mole
             :
             some
             again
             have
             had
             their
             husbands
             made
             slaves
             by
             the
             Turkes
             ,
             and
             detained
             from
             them
             as
             long
             as
             they
             lived
             :
             some
             have
             been
             smitten
             with
             an
             incurable
             disease
             (
             presently
             after
             Marriage
             )
             inconsistent
             with
             the
             duties
             of
             the
             marriage-bed
             :
             what
             must
             they
             doe
             in
             these
             cases
             and
             many
             more
             of
             the
             same
             nature
             ?
             Presently
             marry
             again
             ,
             God
             forbid
             !
             This
             is
             a
             better
             remedy
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             by
             fervent
             and
             frequent
             prayer
             to
             begge
             the
             guifte
             of
             continency
             of
             God
             :
             if
             we
             prevail
             not
             ,
             it
             is
             because
             we
             pray
             amiss
             .
             If
             it
             be
             not
             a
             crosse
             which
             we
             have
             pulled
             upon
             our selves
             ,
             but
             which
             God
             himselfe
             hath
             imposed
             upon
             us
             we
             have
             his
             promise
             ,
             
               that
               he
               will
               hear
               u●
               ,
               and
               help
               us
               :
            
             let
             who
             will
             whisper
             to
             you
             other
             thoughts
             ,
             Mr.
             Pressicke
             this
             is
             your
             remedy
             .
          
           
             In
             your
             fifth
             Paragraph
             you
             run
             into
             one
             or
             two
             errors
             more
             ,
             that
             every
             ord●nary
             divorce
             is
             forbidden
             as
             a
             breach
             of
             Gods
             command
             :
             
               What
               God
               hath
               joyned
               together
               ,
               let
               no
               man
               put
               asunder
               ,
               Mat
            
             :
             19.6
             .
             and
             that
             there
             is
             no
             other
             cause
             of
             divorce
             but
             fornication
             .
          
           
             For
             first
             ,
             that
             Text
             (
             Mat
             :
             19.6
             .
             )
             is
             understood
             properly
             of
             dissolving
             the
             bond
             of
             marriage
             ,
             (
             as
             you
             would
             have
             it
             )
             for
             eve●
             ,
             &
             not
             of
             lesser
             separations
             made
             out
             of
             prudence
             or
             piety
             for
             a
             time
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             there
             are
             other
             causes
             of
             divorces
             ,
             besides
             fo●nication
             ,
             as
             when
             one
             married
             person
             shall
             seek
             to
             poyson
             or
             make
             away
             the
             other
             ,
             or
             to
             starve
             them
             ,
             it
             is
             very
             lawfull
             to
             seperate
             them
             out
             of
             prudence
             to
             prevent
             murther
             .
             Judge
             whether
             this
             be
             not
             your
             case
             or
             no
             ?
             and
             when
             the
             one
             person
             is
             continually
             inticing
             the
             other
             to
             Heresy
             or
             blaspheming
             ;
             or
             soliciting
             him
             or
             her
             to
             sinne
             against
             God
             :
             in
             such
             cases
             also
             such
             a
             temperary
             Divorce
             is
             lawfull
             ,
             as
             no
             man
             that
             understands
             himselfe
             will
             deny
             .
          
           
             In
             the
             6
             and
             7
             paragraph
             ,
             you
             endeavour
             to
             prove
             your
             wife
             
             a
             whore
             in
             Scripture-sence
             ,
             because
             she
             is
             departed
             from
             you
             ,
             but
             you
             mistake
             every
             way
             .
             For
             first
             ,
             in
             all
             p●obab●lity
             the
             Levites
             wife
             did
             more
             then
             depart
             from
             him
             ;
             and
             though
             a
             Levite
             might
             not
             marry
             a
             known
             whore
             ,
             yet
             being
             married
             ,
             he
             might
             pardon
             ,
             conceal
             ,
             or
             connive
             at
             her
             lewd
             courses
             .
             But
             this
             is
             nothing
             to
             the
             purpose
             ,
             for
             this
             adultery
             or
             whoredome
             fo●
             which
             a
             man
             may
             put
             away
             his
             wife
             ,
             is
             not
             the
             spirituall
             whoredome
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             Idolatry
             ;
             nor
             civill
             whoredome
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             desertion
             of
             her
             husband
             :
             but
             carnall
             whoredome
             ,
             whereby
             the
             bond
             of
             Marriage
             is
             dissolved
             ,
             and
             the
             innocent
             party
             acquited
             for
             the
             future
             from
             all
             Con●ugall
             duties
             .
             But
             to
             imagine
             that
             she
             who
             only
             deserts
             her
             husband
             ,
             and
             she
             who
             takes
             another
             into
             his
             bed
             ,
             are
             both
             alike
             guilty
             of
             the
             breach
             of
             wedlocke
             ,
             and
             both
             to
             be
             punished
             with
             the
             same
             punishment
             ,
             as
             you
             say
             in
             the
             7
             paragraph
             ,
             is
             ridiculous
             .
          
           
             In
             the
             conclusion
             of
             your
             discourse
             you
             plead
             for
             liberty
             to
             marry
             ,
             and
             urge
             4
             reasons
             for
             your selfe
             ,
             which
             if
             they
             were
             all
             true
             ,
             signify
             nothing
             ,
             as
             to
             that
             purpose
             for
             which
             you
             urge
             them
             .
             Suppose
             she
             have
             been
             so
             long
             absent
             ;
             suppose
             she
             cut
             you
             in
             the
             face
             ;
             suppose
             she
             were
             an
             occasion
             that
             you
             were
             imprisoned
             25
             dayes
             ;
             suppose
             you
             have
             a
             Divorce
             under
             two
             Bishops
             hands
             ,
             upon
             a
             reference
             from
             his
             Majestie
             ;
             yet
             there
             is
             a
             great
             difference
             between
             a
             temporary
             divorce
             ,
             and
             a
             perpetuall
             dissolution
             of
             marriage
             .
             What
             you
             plead
             for
             your selfe
             I
             have
             seen
             ,
             what
             your
             wife
             hath
             to
             plead
             for
             her selfe
             I
             do
             not
             know
             ;
             but
             if
             every
             thing
             be
             as
             your selfe
             say
             ,
             I
             cannot
             give
             way
             to
             your
             second
             marriage
             ,
             whiles
             your
             old
             wife
             lives
             ,
             without
             contradicting
             the
             Commands
             of
             our
             Saviour
             delivered
             by
             three
             Evangelists
             ,
             and
             one
             Apostle
             :
             and
             therefore
             I
             must
             commend
             you
             to
             your
             proper
             remedy
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             prayer
             ,
             hoping
             that
             you
             will
             never
             thinke
             more
             of
             wedding
             ,
             whilst
             your
             old
             wife
             lives
             ,
             but
             bear
             your
             Crosse
             with
             patience
             which
             Christ
             hath
             laid
             upon
             you
             .
          
           
             
               
                 November
                 16
                 th
                 .
                 1661.
                 
              
            
          
        
         
           
           
             Mr.
             
             Pressicke's
             Reply
             to
             the
             Bishop's
             Answer
             .
          
           
             
               
                 
                   Right
                   reverend
                   Father
                   in
                   God
                   ,
                
              
               
                 I
                 Beseech
                 you
                 once
                 more
                 to
                 hear
                 me
                 with
                 patience
                 ,
                 what
                 I
                 have
                 further
                 to
                 say
                 :
                 I
                 have
                 received
                 your
                 Lordships
                 Answer
                 to
                 my
                 paper
                 ,
                 and
                 I
                 do
                 humbly
                 conceive
                 it
                 will
                 admit
                 of
                 some
                 Except●ons
                 as
                 followeth
                 ,
              
               
                 In
                 the
                 first
                 place
                 ,
                 you
                 say
                 (
                 and
                 that
                 truly
                 )
                 that
                 they
                 who
                 expound
                 Scripture
                 according
                 to
                 their
                 own
                 private
                 fancies
                 ,
                 do
                 often
                 change
                 :
                 but
                 they
                 (
                 say
                 you
                 )
                 who
                 expound
                 it
                 in
                 the
                 same
                 sence
                 which
                 was
                 deliverd
                 to
                 the
                 Catholique
                 Church
                 ,
                 with
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 ,
                 can
                 hardly
                 vary
                 from
                 themselves
                 .
              
               
                 To
                 this
                 I
                 humbly
                 reply
                 ,
                 that
                 you
                 do
                 not
                 declare
                 who
                 you
                 mean
                 by
                 the
                 Catholique
                 Church
                 that
                 we
                 should
                 seek
                 the
                 sence
                 of
                 Scripture
                 from
                 :
                 whether
                 the
                 Church
                 of
                 Rome
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 Protestant
                 Church
                 ,
                 joyntly
                 or
                 severally
                 ,
                 or
                 who
                 else
                 we
                 must
                 take
                 for
                 the
                 Church
                 :
                 and
                 therefore
                 I
                 will
                 deliver
                 my
                 opinion
                 which
                 I
                 think
                 is
                 not
                 a
                 private
                 fancy
                 .
                 By
                 Catholique
                 Church
                 I
                 understand
                 all
                 the
                 true
                 Beleivers
                 that
                 hath
                 been
                 from
                 the
                 begining
                 of
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 is
                 now
                 ,
                 and
                 shall
                 be
                 to
                 the
                 end
                 of
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 of
                 which
                 Catholique
                 Church
                 I
                 am
                 one
                 :
                 and
                 to
                 this
                 Church
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 was
                 given
                 ,
                 and
                 none
                 can
                 understand
                 the
                 sence
                 and
                 mind
                 of
                 God
                 in
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 ,
                 but
                 such
                 as
                 God
                 doth
                 reveale
                 it
                 unto
                 by
                 his
                 spirit
                 ,
                 1
                 Cor
                 :
                 1.9
                 .
                 
                   As
                   it
                   is
                   written
                   ,
                   eye
                   hath
                   not
                   seen
                   nor
                   ear
                   heard
                   ,
                   neither
                   hath
                   it
                   e●tred
                   into
                   the
                   heart
                   of
                   man
                   ,
                   the
                   things
                   which
                   God
                   hath
                   prepared
                   for
                   them
                   that
                   love
                   him
                   .
                   But
                   he
                   hath
                   revealed
                   them
                   to
                   us
                   by
                   his
                   spirit
                   :
                   and
                   we
                   h●ve
                   not
                   received
                   the
                   spirit
                   of
                   the
                   world
                   ,
                   but
                   the
                   spirit
                   which
                   is
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   that
                   we
                   might
                   know
                
                 (
                 observe
                 the
                 words
                 )
                 
                   that
                   we
                   might
                   know
                   the
                   things
                   that
                   are
                   freely
                   given
                   to
                   us
                   of
                   God.
                   But
                   the
                   naturallman
                   receive●h
                   not
                   the
                   things
                   of
                   the
                   spirit
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   for
                   they
                   are
                   foolishnes
                   unto
                   h●m
                   :
                   nei●her
                   can
                   he
                   know
                   them
                   ,
                   because
                   they
                   are
                   spiritu●lly
                   discerned
                   .
                
                 and
                 Mat
                 :
                 10.27
                 .
                 
                   No
                   man
                   knowes
                   the
                   Father
                   ,
                   save
                   the
                   Son
                   ,
                   and
                   ●e
                   to
                   whom
                   the
                   Son
                   will
                   reveal
                   him
                   .
                
                 I
                 do
                 with
                 all
                 my
                 heart
                 and
                 soul
                 reverence
                 learning
                 ,
                 because
                 I
                 find
                 the
                 want
                 of
                 learning
                 in
                 my selfe
                 :
                 and
                 we
                 are
                 debtors
                 to
                 those
                 that
                 have
                 translated
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 into
                 our
                 Mother-tongue
                 :
                 yet
                 such
                 as
                 have
                 naturall
                 
                 learning
                 ,
                 and
                 understand
                 the
                 originall
                 Tongues
                 may
                 be
                 in
                 a
                 naturall
                 estate
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 that
                 respect
                 the
                 Apostle
                 saith
                 ,
                 they
                 cannot
                 know
                 the
                 things
                 of
                 the
                 spirit
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 for
                 they
                 are
                 foolishnes
                 unto
                 him
                 ;
                 because
                 they
                 must
                 be
                 spiritually
                 discerned
                 .
                 But
                 I
                 say
                 he
                 is
                 a
                 good
                 Scholer
                 that
                 hath
                 learn't
                 his
                 Lesson
                 of
                 Christ
                 :
                 and
                 it
                 matters
                 not
                 who
                 is
                 the
                 scholer
                 so
                 that
                 Christ
                 be
                 the
                 Schoolmaster
                 :
                 I
                 have
                 never
                 read
                 that
                 Christ
                 doth
                 speak
                 to
                 his
                 Children
                 or
                 Scholers
                 only
                 in
                 Hebrew
                 ,
                 Greeke
                 ,
                 or
                 Lattine
                 ,
                 but
                 he
                 hath
                 and
                 doth
                 declare
                 his
                 mind
                 and
                 will
                 to
                 them
                 in
                 English
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 Languages
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 in
                 the
                 originall
                 Tongues
                 .
                 I
                 hope
                 th●s
                 is
                 no
                 expounding
                 of
                 Scripture
                 according
                 to
                 private
                 fancy
                 :
                 for
                 it
                 is
                 plain
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 if
                 the
                 Scripture
                 be
                 right
                 translated
                 :
                 if
                 it
                 be
                 not
                 ,
                 the
                 fault
                 is
                 not
                 mine
                 .
              
               
                 To
                 the
                 first
                 objection
                 you
                 own
                 the
                 words
                 of
                 St.
                 Paul
                 ,
                 1
                 Cor
                 :
                 7.15
                 .
                 
                   If
                   the
                   unbeliever
                   depart
                   ,
                   let
                   him
                   dep●rt
                   :
                   a
                   brother
                   or
                   a
                   sister
                   is
                   not
                   in
                   bondage
                   in
                   such
                   Cases
                
                 :
                 and
                 you
                 say
                 there
                 is
                 a
                 great
                 difference
                 between
                 the
                 marriage
                 of
                 Infidells
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 marriage
                 of
                 Christians
                 :
                 the
                 marriage
                 of
                 Infidells
                 being
                 only
                 a
                 civill
                 contract
                 ,
                 and
                 may
                 be
                 dissolved
                 by
                 consent
                 :
                 the
                 marriage
                 of
                 Christians
                 is
                 a
                 signe
                 of
                 the
                 mysticall
                 union
                 between
                 Christ
                 and
                 his
                 Church
                 ,
                 and
                 the●efore
                 (
                 you
                 say
                 )
                 undissolvable
                 .
              
               
                 To
                 this
                 I
                 reply
                 by
                 plain
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 and
                 agree
                 with
                 you
                 that
                 the
                 marriage
                 of
                 Infidells
                 is
                 dissolvable
                 ,
                 if
                 but
                 the
                 one
                 party
                 be
                 an
                 Infidell
                 ,
                 and
                 refuse
                 to
                 co-habit
                 with
                 the
                 husband
                 or
                 wife
                 ,
                 as
                 1
                 Cor
                 :
                 7.15
                 .
                 and
                 at
                 verses
                 12
                 ,
                 13.
                 
                 If
                 a
                 husband
                 have
                 an
                 unbelieving
                 wife
                 ,
                 or
                 a
                 wife
                 an
                 unbelieving
                 husband
                 :
                 if
                 the
                 unbeliever
                 be
                 pleased
                 to
                 dwell
                 with
                 the
                 believer
                 ,
                 the
                 believer
                 ought
                 not
                 to
                 put
                 the
                 unbeliever
                 away
                 .
                 and
                 though
                 my
                 wife
                 be
                 an
                 unbeliever
                 ,
                 and
                 is
                 departed
                 ,
                 yet
                 I
                 have
                 waited
                 6
                 years
                 ,
                 &c.
                 for
                 her
                 returning
                 ,
                 before
                 I
                 got
                 a
                 Bill
                 of
                 divorce
                 :
                 and
                 the
                 Text
                 saith
                 ▪
                 
                   if
                   the
                   unbeliever
                   depart
                   ,
                   a
                   brother
                   or
                   a
                   siter
                   is
                   not
                   in
                   bondage
                   in
                   such
                   cases
                
                 :
                 and
                 you
                 have
                 granted
                 that
                 the
                 marriage
                 of
                 Infidells
                 is
                 dissolvable
                 by
                 consent
                 ,
                 and
                 she
                 gave
                 her
                 consent
                 to
                 the
                 divorce
                 :
                 therefore
                 by
                 your
                 own
                 words
                 the
                 bone
                 of
                 marriage
                 is
                 dissolved
                 between
                 her
                 and
                 me
                 :
                 for
                 this
                 is
                 my
                 case
                 ,
                 my
                 wife
                 is
                 an
                 Infidell
                 or
                 unbeliever
                 ,
                 and
                 hath
                 departed
                 from
                 me
                 above
                 7
                 years
                 and
                 5
                 months
                 :
                 I
                 did
                 not
                 put
                 her
                 away
                 ,
                 but
                 she
                 put
                 her selfe
                 away
                 ,
                 and
                 by
                 her
                 departing
                 she
                 put
                 me
                 away
                 from
                 her
                 as
                 .
                 Marke
                 10.12
                 .
                 But
                 St
                 Paul
                 saith
                 ,
                 
                   If
                   she
                   
                   depart
                   ,
                   let
                   her
                   remain
                   unmarried
                   ,
                   or
                   be
                   reconciled
                   to
                   her
                   hu●band
                   .
                
                 1
                 Cor
                 :
                 7.11
                 .
                 the
                 reason
                 is
                 because
                 she
                 is
                 the
                 nocent
                 party
                 ,
                 therefore
                 she
                 must
                 remain
                 unmarried
                 or
                 be
                 reconciled
                 :
                 but
                 St.
                 Paul
                 doth
                 not
                 say
                 let
                 him
                 remain
                 unmarried
                 ,
                 o●
                 let
                 h●m
                 wait
                 7
                 years
                 ,
                 as
                 I
                 have
                 done
                 ,
                 or
                 17
                 years
                 to
                 see
                 whether
                 she
                 will
                 be
                 reconciled
                 to
                 her
                 husband
                 or
                 not
                 ;
                 but
                 he
                 saiah
                 expresly
                 ,
                 ver
                 :
                 15.
                 if
                 she
                 depart
                 ,
                 he
                 is
                 not
                 in
                 bondage
                 in
                 such
                 cases
                 :
                 this
                 is
                 plain
                 Scripture
                 .
                 But
                 what
                 greater
                 outward
                 bondage
                 can
                 there
                 be
                 (
                 if
                 he
                 have
                 need
                 of
                 a
                 w●fe
                 )
                 than
                 to
                 be
                 restrained
                 from
                 marriage
                 ,
                 or
                 in
                 what
                 sence
                 can
                 any
                 man
                 take
                 that
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 
                   a
                   brother
                   or
                   a
                   sister
                   is
                   not
                   in
                   bondage
                   in
                   such
                   cases
                   .
                
                 I
                 humbly
                 conceive
                 that
                 to
                 say
                 as
                 you
                 do
                 in
                 another
                 place
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 is
                 freed
                 from
                 all
                 conjugall
                 duties
                 towards
                 her
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 neither
                 the
                 meaning
                 of
                 the
                 Text
                 ,
                 nor
                 is
                 the
                 plaister
                 broad
                 enough
                 for
                 the
                 soare
                 :
                 for
                 if
                 she
                 desert
                 him
                 ,
                 and
                 will
                 not
                 come
                 at
                 h●m
                 ,
                 nor
                 suffer
                 him
                 to
                 come
                 where
                 she
                 is
                 ,
                 what
                 conjugall
                 duties
                 is
                 he
                 like
                 to
                 performe
                 towards
                 her
                 ?
                 it
                 is
                 impossible
                 :
                 therefore
                 the
                 text
                 must
                 have
                 another
                 meaning
                 ,
                 which
                 I
                 conceive
                 must
                 be
                 this
                 ;
                 she
                 breaking
                 the
                 bond
                 and
                 covenant
                 of
                 marriage
                 ,
                 and
                 will
                 not
                 be
                 reconciled
                 in
                 so
                 many
                 years
                 ,
                 she
                 being
                 an
                 Infidell
                 and
                 giving
                 her
                 consent
                 to
                 that
                 divorce
                 ,
                 it
                 doth
                 dissolve
                 the
                 marriage
                 ,
                 as
                 your selfe
                 said
                 before
                 ,
                 and
                 sets
                 me
                 free
                 to
                 marry
                 as
                 St.
                 Paul
                 saith
                 ,
                 a
                 brother
                 or
                 a
                 sister
                 is
                 not
                 in
                 bondage
                 in
                 such
                 cases
                 :
                 if
                 you
                 say
                 she
                 is
                 not
                 an
                 infidell
                 ,
                 she
                 hath
                 been
                 baptized
                 and
                 is
                 a
                 Christian
                 ,
                 I
                 say
                 no
                 ,
                 she
                 is
                 no
                 Christian
                 that
                 walkes
                 in
                 practice
                 as
                 my
                 wife
                 hath
                 done
                 .
                 Indeed
                 I
                 must
                 say
                 that
                 so
                 long
                 as
                 persons
                 do
                 outwardly
                 hold
                 and
                 embrace
                 the
                 Christian
                 faith
                 ,
                 in
                 Charitie
                 we
                 are
                 bound
                 to
                 esteem
                 them
                 Christians
                 ,
                 untill
                 they
                 manifest
                 something
                 to
                 the
                 contrary
                 in
                 their
                 conversations
                 :
                 but
                 when
                 they
                 break
                 their
                 faith
                 and
                 coven●nt
                 ,
                 and
                 all
                 both
                 humane
                 and
                 christian
                 bonds
                 ,
                 as
                 my
                 wife
                 hath
                 done
                 ,
                 and
                 will
                 not
                 be
                 admonished
                 neither
                 by
                 Ministers
                 no●
                 christian
                 friends
                 ,
                 but
                 all
                 Scripture
                 and
                 counsell
                 hath
                 been
                 rejected
                 by
                 her
                 ,
                 and
                 she
                 wittingly
                 and
                 maliciously
                 acting
                 against
                 the
                 light
                 of
                 her
                 owne
                 conscience
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 no
                 breach
                 of
                 charity
                 to
                 esteem
                 such
                 an
                 one
                 an
                 Infidell
                 or
                 unbeliever
                 while
                 they
                 so
                 walke
                 :
                 for
                 such
                 an
                 one
                 cannot
                 be
                 said
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 believer
                 in
                 any
                 other
                 sence
                 then
                 the
                 Devill
                 is
                 said
                 to
                 believe
                 and
                 tremble
                 :
                 for
                 if
                 she
                 did
                 believe
                 in
                 any
                 other
                 sence
                 ,
                 she
                 durst
                 not
                 act
                 so
                 contrary
                 to
                 the
                 rule
                 of
                 Scripture
                 in
                 breaking
                 faith
                 and
                 covenant
                 
                 with
                 God
                 and
                 her
                 husband
                 ;
                 she
                 cannot
                 be
                 said
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 christian
                 ,
                 for
                 believers
                 were
                 first
                 called
                 christians
                 at
                 Antioch
                 :
                 they
                 wer●
                 first
                 believers
                 ,
                 and
                 then
                 called
                 christians
                 :
                 but
                 some
                 Ministers
                 have
                 said
                 she
                 is
                 worse
                 then
                 an
                 infidell
                 ,
                 for
                 Infidells
                 act
                 ignorantly
                 ,
                 and
                 she
                 acts
                 against
                 knowledge
                 .
              
               
                 I
                 grant
                 also
                 that
                 the
                 marriage
                 of
                 Christians
                 is
                 a
                 signe
                 of
                 the
                 mysticall
                 union
                 between
                 Christ
                 and
                 his
                 Church
                 ;
                 but
                 that
                 such
                 a
                 marriage
                 is
                 undissolvable
                 ,
                 I
                 thinke
                 by
                 what
                 you
                 have
                 said
                 it
                 doth
                 not
                 appeare
                 :
                 fo●
                 to
                 the
                 third
                 Objection
                 you
                 g●rnt
                 that
                 a
                 wife
                 may
                 be
                 divorced
                 fo●
                 fornication
                 ,
                 and
                 I
                 thinke
                 I
                 shall
                 by
                 Scripture
                 make
                 it
                 appear
                 ,
                 that
                 be●ng
                 divorced
                 for
                 fornication
                 ,
                 the
                 innocent
                 party
                 may
                 lawfully
                 marry
                 .
                 To
                 prove
                 th●s
                 ,
                 the
                 best
                 way
                 to
                 expound
                 Scripture
                 is
                 to
                 compare
                 Scripture
                 with
                 Scripture
                 :
                 now
                 Marke
                 10.11
                 .
                 it
                 is
                 said
                 ,
                 
                   Whosoever
                   shall
                   put
                   away
                   his
                   wife
                   ,
                   and
                   marry
                   another
                   ,
                   commiteth
                   adultery
                   against
                   her
                   .
                   and
                   Luke
                   Whosoever
                   putteth
                   away
                   his
                   wife
                   ,
                   and
                   marrieth
                   another
                   ,
                   commiteth
                   adultery
                   :
                   and
                   whosoever
                   marrie●h
                   her
                   that
                   is
                   put
                   away
                   from
                   her
                   husband
                   ,
                   committeth
                   adultery
                   .
                
                 these
                 Texts
                 you
                 say
                 admit
                 of
                 no
                 evasion
                 ,
                 exception
                 ;
                 nor
                 restriction
                 :
                 but
                 compare
                 them
                 with
                 Mat
                 :
                 19.3
                 .
                 and
                 they
                 w●ll
                 yeild
                 another
                 sence
                 .
                 The
                 Pharises
                 came
                 unto
                 Christ
                 tempting
                 him
                 ,
                 and
                 saying
                 unto
                 him
                 ,
                 
                   is
                   it
                   lawfull
                   for
                   a
                   man
                   to
                   put
                   away
                   his
                   wife
                   for
                   every
                   cause
                   .
                
                 Christs
                 answer
                 seems
                 to
                 include
                 ,
                 as
                 if
                 he
                 should
                 say
                 no
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 not
                 lawfull
                 for
                 a
                 man
                 to
                 put
                 away
                 h●s
                 wife
                 for
                 every
                 cause
                 :
                 for
                 if
                 you
                 do
                 ,
                 both
                 he
                 that
                 puts
                 her
                 away
                 for
                 every
                 eause
                 ,
                 and
                 marrieth
                 another
                 ,
                 and
                 he
                 that
                 marrieth
                 her
                 that
                 is
                 put
                 away
                 for
                 every
                 cause
                 ,
                 both
                 of
                 them
                 committeth
                 adultery
                 :
                 this
                 I
                 conceive
                 to
                 be
                 the
                 true
                 meaning
                 of
                 both
                 these
                 Texts
                 ,
                 the
                 putting
                 away
                 for
                 every
                 cause
                 ,
                 and
                 marrying
                 another
                 is
                 to
                 commit
                 adultery
                 :
                 and
                 Moses
                 (
                 saith
                 he
                 )
                 verses
                 8
                 ,
                 and
                 9.
                 
                 
                   Because
                   of
                   ●he
                   hardnesse
                   of
                   your
                   hearts
                   ,
                   suffered
                   you
                   to
                   put
                   away
                   your
                   wives
                
                 for
                 every
                 cause
                 :
                 
                   but
                   I
                   say
                   unto
                   you
                   ,
                   that
                   whosoever
                   shall
                   put
                   away
                   his
                   wife
                   except
                   it
                   be
                   for
                   fornication
                   ,
                   and
                   marry
                   another
                   ,
                   committeth
                   adultery
                   .
                
                 but
                 without
                 all
                 peradventure
                 ,
                 these
                 Texts
                 thus
                 compared
                 together
                 ,
                 holds
                 forth
                 to
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 if
                 the
                 divorce
                 be
                 for
                 fornication
                 ,
                 and
                 not
                 for
                 every
                 cause
                 ,
                 if
                 he
                 marry
                 another
                 ,
                 he
                 doth
                 not
                 commit
                 adultery
                 :
                 for
                 likewise
                 Mat
                 :
                 5.32
                 .
                 
                   whosoever
                   shall
                   put
                   away
                   his
                   wife
                   except
                   for
                   the
                   cause
                   of
                   fornication
                   ,
                   causeth
                   her
                   to
                   commit
                   adultery
                
                 :
                 If
                 he
                 put
                 her
                 away
                 for
                 every
                 cause
                 ,
                 
                 but
                 if
                 she
                 be
                 put
                 away
                 for
                 fornication
                 ,
                 she
                 is
                 the
                 cause
                 of
                 her
                 own
                 adultery
                 ,
                 and
                 he
                 is
                 no
                 adulterer
                 if
                 he
                 marry
                 another
                 ,
                 is
                 included
                 in
                 these
                 words
                 ,
                 
                   except
                   for
                   fornication
                
                 ,
                 in
                 all
                 the
                 three
                 Evangelists
                 :
                 for
                 there
                 cannot
                 be
                 a
                 contradiction
                 between
                 one
                 of
                 them
                 and
                 another
                 ,
                 speaking
                 all
                 by
                 one
                 spirit
                 :
                 therefore
                 one
                 Text
                 must
                 be
                 compared
                 with
                 another
                 to
                 find
                 out
                 the
                 true
                 sence
                 ,
                 and
                 I
                 think
                 it
                 is
                 very
                 clear
                 as
                 above
                 ,
                 being
                 thus
                 explained
                 by
                 Mat
                 :
                 19
                 :
                 3.
                 
              
               
                 I
                 conceive
                 it
                 very
                 clear
                 that
                 being
                 put
                 away
                 for
                 fornication
                 ,
                 and
                 not
                 for
                 every
                 cause
                 ,
                 the
                 innocent
                 party
                 may
                 lawfully
                 marry
                 without
                 sin
                 :
                 and
                 I
                 do
                 humbly
                 conceive
                 that
                 it
                 was
                 upon
                 this
                 account
                 that
                 the
                 old
                 Lord
                 Primate
                 Docter
                 Usher
                 and
                 Docter
                 Martin
                 did
                 seperate
                 Mr.
                 
                   Richard
                   Lingart
                
                 and
                 his
                 w●fe
                 after
                 they
                 had
                 2
                 or
                 3
                 children
                 ,
                 and
                 presently
                 after
                 while
                 the
                 old
                 wife
                 was
                 living
                 he
                 married
                 the
                 Organists
                 widow
                 of
                 St.
                 Patrick's
                 ,
                 and
                 was
                 after
                 Arch-Deacon
                 of
                 Meath
                 :
                 all
                 this
                 I
                 can
                 make
                 good
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 I
                 humbly
                 conceive
                 from
                 Marke
                 10.12
                 .
                 compared
                 with
                 the
                 1
                 Cor
                 :
                 7.15
                 .
                 that
                 it
                 is
                 as
                 cleare
                 that
                 a
                 wife
                 putting
                 away
                 her
                 husband
                 ,
                 and
                 departing
                 from
                 him
                 ,
                 and
                 will
                 not
                 be
                 reconciled
                 ,
                 the
                 husband
                 may
                 as
                 lawfully
                 marry
                 ,
                 as
                 if
                 he
                 had
                 put
                 her
                 away
                 for
                 fornication
                 ,
                 and
                 ought
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 kept
                 in
                 bondage
                 .
                 Marke
                 10.12
                 .
                 
                   If
                   a
                   wom●n
                   put
                   away
                   her
                   husband
                   and
                   be
                   married
                   to
                   another
                   ,
                   she
                   committeth
                   adultery
                
                 :
                 but
                 the
                 Evangelist
                 doth
                 not
                 say
                 that
                 if
                 he
                 marry
                 another
                 ,
                 after
                 she
                 is
                 departed
                 and
                 hath
                 put
                 him
                 away
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 committeth
                 adultery
                 ,
                 and
                 St.
                 Paul
                 saith
                 ab●olutely
                 that
                 he
                 is
                 not
                 in
                 bondage
                 in
                 such
                 cases
                 :
                 the
                 reason
                 I
                 conceive
                 is
                 because
                 the
                 wife
                 ought
                 to
                 be
                 in
                 subjection
                 to
                 her
                 husband
                 and
                 not
                 he
                 in
                 subject●on
                 to
                 her
                 :
                 and
                 therefore
                 the
                 putting
                 him
                 away
                 ,
                 and
                 will
                 not
                 be
                 reconciled
                 doth
                 alter
                 the
                 case
                 so
                 as
                 to
                 set
                 the
                 husband
                 free
                 :
                 a
                 brother
                 or
                 a
                 sister
                 is
                 not
                 in
                 bondage
                 in
                 such
                 cases
                 .
                 For
                 God
                 knowing
                 mans
                 weaknes
                 ,
                 and
                 requiring
                 that
                 man
                 should
                 be
                 holy
                 in
                 body
                 and
                 mind
                 ,
                 and
                 God
                 knowing
                 Satans
                 sleights
                 and
                 continuall
                 temptations
                 ,
                 seeking
                 whom
                 he
                 may
                 devour
                 ,
                 it
                 cannot
                 in
                 reason
                 be
                 imagiened
                 that
                 God
                 would
                 have
                 a
                 man
                 left
                 in
                 such
                 a
                 fo●lorne
                 condition
                 without
                 a
                 Remedy
                 ,
                 through
                 the
                 perversnesse
                 of
                 a
                 whore
                 or
                 unbeliever
                 :
                 it
                 doth
                 not
                 stand
                 with
                 the
                 bounty
                 and
                 goodnes
                 of
                 God
                 to
                 man
                 :
                 it
                 is
                 also
                 against
                 naturall
                 reason
                 ,
                 and
                 contrary
                 to
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 (
                 Ephes
                 :
                 5.24
                 .
                 )
                 that
                 saith
                 ,
                 
                   As
                   the
                   Church
                   is
                   in
                   subjection
                   
                   to
                   Christ
                   ,
                   so
                   let
                   the
                   Wiues
                   be
                   to
                   their
                   own
                   Husbands
                   in
                   every
                   thing
                
                 :
                 but
                 if
                 in
                 such
                 cases
                 the
                 Husband
                 be
                 not
                 set
                 free
                 to
                 marry
                 ,
                 then
                 must
                 some
                 Husbands
                 be
                 in
                 subjection
                 and
                 bondage
                 to
                 the
                 humours
                 of
                 whores
                 ,
                 and
                 some
                 to
                 infidells
                 and
                 unbelievers
                 :
                 and
                 she
                 that
                 was
                 my
                 wife
                 is
                 both
                 in
                 Scripture-sence
                 ,
                 and
                 I
                 think
                 sinns
                 in
                 Scripture-sence
                 are
                 of
                 the
                 deepest
                 dye
                 :
                 adde
                 also
                 to
                 this
                 that
                 I
                 have
                 a
                 b●ll
                 of
                 Divorce
                 ,
                 which
                 all
                 considered
                 together
                 ,
                 I
                 see
                 not
                 but
                 for
                 all
                 that
                 is
                 yet
                 said
                 against
                 it
                 ,
                 I
                 may
                 lawfully
                 marry
                 .
              
               
                 You
                 say
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 truly
                 ,
                 I
                 have
                 not
                 hitherto
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 pretended
                 that
                 my
                 wife
                 hath
                 committed
                 actuall
                 adultery
                 .
              
               
                 I
                 reply
                 ,
                 the
                 reason
                 why
                 I
                 have
                 not
                 ,
                 is
                 want
                 of
                 proofe
                 :
                 for
                 it
                 is
                 a
                 hard
                 matter
                 to
                 prove
                 one
                 a
                 whore
                 though
                 she
                 were
                 never
                 so
                 guilty
                 ,
                 but
                 there
                 is
                 as
                 strong
                 presumptions
                 to
                 perswade
                 she
                 is
                 so
                 as
                 possible
                 may
                 be
                 :
                 As
                 first
                 ,
                 before
                 she
                 left
                 me
                 ,
                 when
                 I
                 told
                 her
                 she
                 did
                 not
                 respect
                 me
                 as
                 a
                 wife
                 ought
                 to
                 do
                 a
                 husband
                 ,
                 she
                 said
                 that
                 she
                 looked
                 upon
                 me
                 but
                 as
                 she
                 did
                 upon
                 other
                 men
                 ,
                 and
                 no
                 otherwise
                 :
                 which
                 is
                 suspicion
                 enough
                 ,
                 to
                 put
                 no
                 difference
                 between
                 her
                 husband
                 and
                 other
                 men
                 .
                 Secondly
                 ,
                 it
                 hath
                 been
                 taken
                 notice
                 of
                 by
                 severall
                 that
                 told
                 me
                 ,
                 that
                 when
                 she
                 was
                 not
                 imployed
                 in
                 her
                 calling
                 as
                 Midwife
                 ,
                 she
                 did
                 frequent
                 the
                 company
                 of
                 those
                 that
                 were
                 reputed
                 for
                 who●edome
                 ,
                 the
                 vilest
                 persons
                 in
                 the
                 Citie
                 ;
                 and
                 they
                 would
                 sit
                 and
                 drinke
                 Sacke
                 ,
                 and
                 jeare
                 her
                 husband
                 .
                 3ly
                 .
                 She
                 hath
                 been
                 observed
                 to
                 goe
                 in
                 evenings
                 to
                 places
                 suspected
                 for
                 uncleanesse
                 ,
                 and
                 those
                 that
                 did
                 observe
                 it
                 teld
                 me
                 .
                 Fourthly
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 reported
                 by
                 many
                 in
                 this
                 Citie
                 that
                 about
                 the
                 beginning
                 of
                 June
                 last
                 ,
                 when
                 she
                 was
                 carried
                 in
                 a
                 Horse-litter
                 into
                 the
                 County
                 of
                 Armagh
                 (
                 where
                 she
                 stil
                 remains
                 for
                 any
                 thing
                 I
                 know
                 )
                 she
                 had
                 a
                 French
                 disease
                 upon
                 her
                 :
                 these
                 things
                 added
                 to
                 the
                 former
                 reasons
                 and
                 arguments
                 of
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 I
                 thinke
                 what
                 I
                 plead
                 for
                 cannot
                 in
                 reason
                 be
                 denyed
                 me
                 ;
                 but
                 it
                 is
                 just
                 and
                 equall
                 in
                 the
                 sight
                 of
                 God
                 and
                 Man
                 that
                 I
                 should
                 have
                 a
                 Lycense
                 to
                 marry
                 .
              
               
                 To
                 return
                 to
                 the
                 second
                 Objection
                 ,
                 the
                 law
                 of
                 the
                 Land
                 (
                 you
                 say
                 )
                 I
                 mistake
                 :
                 for
                 if
                 the
                 husband
                 be
                 known
                 to
                 be
                 living
                 ,
                 if
                 it
                 were
                 seventeeen
                 years
                 ,
                 the
                 wife
                 may
                 not
                 marry
                 ;
                 and
                 you
                 instance
                 Mr.
                 Mole
                 was
                 absent
                 20
                 years
                 in
                 the
                 Inquisition
                 .
              
               
                 Reply
                 ,
                 I
                 say
                 that
                 in
                 equity
                 the
                 benefit
                 of
                 the
                 Law
                 of
                 the
                 land
                 should
                 be
                 allowed
                 me
                 ,
                 for
                 what
                 difference
                 is
                 there
                 between
                 being
                 absent
                 7
                 years
                 ,
                 and
                 not
                 heard
                 off
                 :
                 and
                 to
                 be
                 absent
                 7
                 years
                 ,
                 if
                 there
                 
                 be
                 no
                 law
                 (
                 as
                 your
                 Lordship
                 said
                 )
                 to
                 require
                 the
                 Delinquent
                 party
                 to
                 her
                 duty
                 ,
                 or
                 what
                 benefit
                 hath
                 the
                 one
                 innocent
                 party
                 of
                 their
                 husband
                 or
                 wife
                 more
                 than
                 the
                 other
                 :
                 therefore
                 there
                 is
                 as
                 much
                 equity
                 the
                 one
                 should
                 have
                 liberty
                 as
                 the
                 other
                 .
                 As
                 for
                 Mr.
                 Mole
                 his
                 condition
                 and
                 this
                 we
                 speake
                 of
                 ,
                 are
                 much
                 different
                 ;
                 for
                 Mr.
                 Mole
                 would
                 have
                 come
                 home
                 if
                 he
                 might
                 ,
                 and
                 she
                 that
                 was
                 my
                 wife
                 might
                 have
                 come
                 home
                 ,
                 and
                 was
                 much
                 sought
                 to
                 for
                 to
                 come
                 ,
                 and
                 she
                 would
                 not
                 ;
                 therein
                 the
                 case
                 alters
                 .
                 And
                 Galleatius
                 being
                 in
                 the
                 same
                 condition
                 that
                 I
                 am
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 the
                 absence
                 of
                 his
                 wife
                 ,
                 yet
                 not
                 altogether
                 in
                 the
                 same
                 manner
                 ,
                 for
                 he
                 left
                 his
                 wife
                 ,
                 and
                 my
                 wife
                 left
                 me
                 ,
                 and
                 I
                 have
                 a
                 Divorce
                 and
                 he
                 had
                 none
                 ,
                 yet
                 the
                 Divines
                 in
                 Germany
                 allowed
                 him
                 to
                 marry
                 anothe●
                 :
                 and
                 therefo●e
                 I
                 still
                 affirme
                 (
                 till
                 better
                 reasons
                 be
                 shewed
                 to
                 the
                 contrary
                 )
                 that
                 both
                 the
                 Law
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 example
                 of
                 the
                 Church
                 in
                 Germany
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 practice
                 of
                 Dr.
                 Usher
                 and
                 Dr.
                 Martin
                 towards
                 Mr.
                 Lingart
                 here
                 in
                 Ireland
                 ,
                 are
                 all
                 for
                 me
                 that
                 I
                 may
                 lawfully
                 marry
                 :
                 and
                 if
                 there
                 be
                 no
                 law
                 to
                 require
                 a
                 w●fe
                 to
                 performe
                 the
                 duty
                 of
                 a
                 wife
                 ,
                 nor
                 to
                 punish
                 her
                 for
                 her
                 disobedience
                 ,
                 I
                 see
                 not
                 how
                 there
                 can
                 be
                 any
                 Law
                 [
                 in
                 equity
                 ]
                 against
                 me
                 ,
                 to
                 hinde●
                 me
                 from
                 marriage
                 .
              
               
                 To
                 come
                 again
                 to
                 the
                 3
                 Object●on
                 :
                 you
                 bring
                 Rom
                 :
                 7.2
                 ,
                 &
                 3.
                 verses
                 .
                 
                   The
                   woman
                   which
                   hath
                   a
                   husband
                   ,
                   is
                   bound
                   by
                   the
                   Law
                   to
                   her
                   husband
                   as
                   long
                   as
                   he
                   liveth
                   ;
                   but
                   if
                   the
                   husband
                   be
                   dead
                   ,
                   she
                   is
                   loosed
                   from
                   the
                   law
                   of
                   her
                   husband
                   :
                   so
                   then
                   ,
                   if
                   while
                   her
                   husband
                   liveth
                   ,
                   she
                   be
                   married
                   to
                   another
                   ,
                   she
                   shall
                   be
                   called
                   an
                   adulteress
                   .
                
                 and
                 1
                 Cor
                 :
                 7.39
                 .
                 
                   The
                   wife
                   is
                   bound
                   by
                   the
                   Law
                   as
                   long
                   as
                   the
                   husband
                   liveth
                   .
                
              
               
                 Reply
                 ,
                 I
                 humbly
                 conceive
                 [
                 under
                 favour
                 ]
                 this
                 Argument
                 will
                 not
                 hold
                 out
                 we●ght
                 in
                 the
                 ballance
                 of
                 the
                 Sanctuary
                 :
                 for
                 if
                 she
                 were
                 put
                 away
                 justly
                 for
                 fornication
                 ,
                 then
                 the
                 marriage
                 is
                 dissolved
                 ,
                 as
                 I
                 shewed
                 before
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 3
                 Evangelists
                 ,
                 that
                 which
                 I
                 thinke
                 will
                 carry
                 it
                 though
                 you
                 say
                 marriage
                 cannot
                 be
                 dissolved
                 .
                 Well
                 ,
                 she
                 being
                 justly
                 put
                 away
                 for
                 fornication
                 ,
                 he
                 that
                 marrieth
                 her
                 committeth
                 uncleannesse
                 with
                 her
                 ,
                 because
                 she
                 was
                 an
                 Ha●lot
                 :
                 
                   What
                   know
                   ye
                   not
                   ,
                   that
                   he
                   that
                   is
                   joyned
                   to
                   an
                   hurlot
                   is
                   one
                   body
                   ,
                   for
                   two
                   saith
                   he
                   shall
                   be
                   o●e
                   flesh
                
                 :
                 [
                 1
                 Cor
                 :
                 6.15
                 ,
                 16.
                 ]
                 
                   and
                   shall
                   I
                   take
                   the
                   members
                   of
                   Christ
                   and
                   make
                   them
                   the
                   members
                   of
                   an
                   Harlot
                   ,
                   God
                   forbid
                
                 !
                 If
                 she
                 were
                 put
                 away
                 unjustly
                 for
                 every
                 cause
                 ,
                 as
                 it
                 seems
                 then
                 they
                 used
                 to
                 make
                 private
                 divorces
                 without
                 Lycense
                 from
                 either
                 Magistrate
                 or
                 Minister
                 ;
                 and
                 herein
                 though
                 she
                 were
                 innocent
                 
                 as
                 to
                 the
                 cause
                 of
                 divorce
                 ,
                 yet
                 she
                 was
                 blame-worthy
                 and
                 guilty
                 of
                 sin
                 ,
                 in
                 not
                 appealing
                 to
                 the
                 Governours
                 of
                 the
                 Church
                 or
                 Commonwealth
                 ,
                 or
                 to
                 both
                 for
                 justice
                 ,
                 and
                 they
                 ought
                 to
                 have
                 relieved
                 her
                 ,
                 and
                 required
                 the
                 husband
                 to
                 performeth
                 duty
                 of
                 a
                 husband
                 to
                 her
                 ,
                 and
                 not
                 have
                 suffered
                 the
                 Land
                 (
                 by
                 such
                 unlawfull
                 separation
                 )
                 to
                 be
                 polluted
                 :
                 and
                 her
                 neglect
                 of
                 this
                 ,
                 and
                 submitting
                 her selfe
                 to
                 an
                 unlawfull
                 private
                 Divorce
                 ,
                 makes
                 her
                 &
                 him
                 that
                 marrieth
                 her
                 ,
                 both
                 guilty
                 of
                 uncleannesse
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 this
                 is
                 not
                 my
                 condition
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 farr
                 different
                 from
                 such
                 proceedings
                 :
                 for
                 I
                 have
                 to
                 my
                 hazard
                 both
                 of
                 life
                 and
                 l●berty
                 used
                 all
                 possible
                 means
                 to
                 reclaim
                 her
                 since
                 she
                 left
                 me
                 ,
                 but
                 to
                 no
                 purpose
                 ,
                 and
                 I
                 have
                 been
                 restrained
                 of
                 my
                 liberty
                 for
                 25
                 dayes
                 together
                 ,
                 for
                 contending
                 against
                 such
                 private
                 separations
                 :
                 and
                 I
                 have
                 appealed
                 both
                 to
                 Magistrates
                 and
                 Ministers
                 ,
                 when
                 the
                 times
                 and
                 persons
                 were
                 so
                 corrupt
                 that
                 I
                 could
                 not
                 have
                 justice
                 ,
                 untill
                 the
                 Lord
                 brought
                 home
                 his
                 Majesty
                 ,
                 to
                 whom
                 I
                 made
                 my
                 plaint
                 and
                 case
                 known
                 ,
                 who
                 upon
                 the
                 reading
                 of
                 my
                 petition
                 gave
                 His
                 Royall
                 Assent
                 that
                 two
                 Bishops
                 should
                 order
                 the
                 matter
                 according
                 to
                 justice
                 :
                 and
                 they
                 considering
                 her
                 long
                 absence
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 the
                 man
                 hath
                 no
                 power
                 over
                 his
                 own
                 body
                 but
                 the
                 woman
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 she
                 had
                 broke
                 the
                 bond
                 of
                 wedlocke
                 in
                 departing
                 so
                 long
                 ,
                 and
                 defrauding
                 her
                 husband
                 of
                 due
                 benevolence
                 ,
                 which
                 by
                 the
                 bond
                 of
                 marriage
                 she
                 was
                 ingaged
                 to
                 ,
                 1
                 Cor
                 :
                 3.3.4.5
                 .
                 and
                 that
                 at
                 that
                 present
                 before
                 them
                 she
                 refused
                 to
                 be
                 reconciled
                 ;
                 whereupon
                 the
                 two
                 Bishops
                 gave
                 me
                 a
                 bill
                 of
                 Divorce
                 according
                 to
                 1
                 Cor
                 :
                 7.15
                 .
                 
                   If
                   the
                   unbeliever
                   will
                   depart
                   let
                   her
                   depart
                   ,
                   a
                   brother
                   or
                   a
                   sister
                   is
                   not
                   in
                   bondage
                   in
                   such
                   cases
                
                 :
                 and
                 Marke
                 10.12
                 .
                 
                   If
                   a
                   woman
                   shall
                   put
                   away
                   her
                   husband
                   ,
                   and
                   be
                   married
                   to
                   another
                   ,
                   she
                   committeth
                   adultery
                
                 :
                 which
                 doth
                 imply
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 Text
                 above
                 doth
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 is
                 not
                 in
                 bondage
                 :
                 so
                 that
                 if
                 he
                 upon
                 that
                 account
                 marry
                 another
                 ,
                 he
                 doth
                 not
                 commit
                 adultery
                 ,
                 because
                 she
                 denies
                 the
                 duty
                 of
                 a
                 wife
                 :
                 and
                 God
                 did
                 ordain
                 that
                 man
                 should
                 not
                 live
                 alone
                 ,
                 but
                 should
                 have
                 a
                 helpe
                 meet
                 for
                 him
                 :
                 and
                 therefore
                 if
                 a
                 wife
                 that
                 should
                 be
                 a
                 helpe
                 to
                 him
                 ,
                 to
                 keep
                 his
                 vessell
                 in
                 holinesse
                 and
                 honour
                 to
                 God
                 ,
                 if
                 she
                 break
                 her
                 Covenant
                 with
                 God
                 and
                 with
                 her
                 husband
                 ,
                 shall
                 I
                 be
                 kept
                 in
                 bondage
                 after
                 all
                 this
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 say
                 in
                 such
                 cases
                 a
                 man
                 is
                 not
                 in
                 bondage
                 .
                 I
                 pray
                 you
                 is
                 it
                 not
                 contrary
                 both
                 to
                 the
                 Law
                 of
                 God
                 and
                 man
                 ,
                 and
                 naturall
                 reason
                 that
                 I
                 
                 should
                 suffer
                 for
                 my
                 wives
                 trangression
                 ;
                 if
                 she
                 commit
                 murther
                 ,
                 must
                 I
                 be
                 hanged
                 for
                 her
                 murther
                 :
                 or
                 if
                 she
                 commit
                 adultery
                 ,
                 must
                 I
                 do
                 pennance
                 all
                 my
                 life
                 after
                 ,
                 to
                 live
                 out
                 of
                 a
                 married
                 condition
                 for
                 her
                 adultery
                 or
                 separating
                 her selfe
                 from
                 me
                 ,
                 though
                 I
                 have
                 never
                 so
                 much
                 need
                 of
                 a
                 wife
                 ;
                 this
                 were
                 a
                 sad
                 pennance
                 indeed
                 for
                 her
                 whoredome
                 .
                 But
                 perhaps
                 you
                 will
                 say
                 she
                 is
                 not
                 a
                 whore
                 ,
                 I
                 say
                 she
                 is
                 in
                 Scripture-sence
                 ,
                 if
                 she
                 be
                 not
                 otherwise
                 ;
                 and
                 Scripture-sence
                 is
                 the
                 best
                 sence
                 ,
                 and
                 best
                 proofe
                 to
                 prove
                 a
                 whore
                 by
                 :
                 for
                 it
                 is
                 very
                 well
                 knowne
                 that
                 according
                 to
                 the
                 Lawes
                 of
                 Men
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 a
                 very
                 hard
                 taske
                 to
                 prove
                 a
                 woman
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 whore
                 :
                 but
                 I
                 have
                 shewed
                 you
                 enough
                 before
                 to
                 perswade
                 reasonable
                 men
                 that
                 she
                 is
                 no
                 lesse
                 .
                 I
                 hope
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 shall
                 not
                 be
                 streched
                 like
                 Cloth
                 upon
                 tenter-hookes
                 to
                 keep
                 men
                 in
                 such
                 cases
                 still
                 in
                 bondage
                 :
                 God
                 is
                 more
                 gracious
                 than
                 men
                 ,
                 to
                 b●nd
                 such
                 heavy
                 burthens
                 ,
                 and
                 lay
                 them
                 upon
                 mens
                 shoulders
                 ,
                 which
                 themselves
                 will
                 not
                 touch
                 with
                 one
                 of
                 their
                 fingers
                 .
              
               
                 You
                 say
                 further
                 from
                 the
                 1
                 Cor
                 :
                 7.10
                 ,
                 11.
                 that
                 St
                 Paul
                 cannot
                 be
                 understood
                 to
                 speak
                 of
                 one
                 who
                 had
                 no
                 just
                 cause
                 of
                 seperation
                 ;
                 for
                 then
                 he
                 could
                 not
                 have
                 said
                 ,
                 
                   Let
                   her
                   remain
                   unmarried
                   ,
                   or
                   be
                   reconciled
                   to
                   her
                   husband
                   .
                
              
               
                 Reply
                 .
                 I
                 humbly
                 conceive
                 these
                 words
                 will
                 bear
                 another
                 construction
                 ,
                 mo●e
                 agreeable
                 to
                 other
                 Scriptures
                 :
                 for
                 you
                 speak
                 of
                 just
                 cause
                 of
                 separation
                 ,
                 for
                 which
                 she
                 should
                 remain
                 unmarried
                 ,
                 or
                 be
                 reconciled
                 ;
                 but
                 do
                 not
                 tell
                 us
                 what
                 that
                 just
                 cause
                 might
                 be
                 :
                 if
                 you
                 mean
                 her
                 Husbands
                 fornication
                 or
                 adultery
                 ,
                 then
                 the
                 Scripture
                 tells
                 us
                 plainly
                 in
                 the
                 3
                 Evangelists
                 explained
                 by
                 Mat
                 :
                 19.3
                 .
                 that
                 upon
                 a
                 lawfull
                 divorce
                 ,
                 she
                 needed
                 not
                 to
                 remain
                 unmarried
                 :
                 for
                 being
                 divorced
                 for
                 her
                 Husbands
                 fornication
                 ,
                 she
                 might
                 marry
                 ;
                 because
                 she
                 could
                 not
                 (
                 upon
                 that
                 account
                 )
                 return
                 again
                 and
                 be
                 reconciled
                 to
                 him
                 ,
                 but
                 in
                 so
                 doing
                 she
                 should
                 sin
                 ,
                 by
                 making
                 the
                 members
                 of
                 Christ
                 the
                 members
                 of
                 an
                 Harlot
                 :
                 1
                 Cor
                 :
                 6.15
                 ,
                 &
                 16.
                 therefore
                 it
                 must
                 be
                 some
                 inferiour
                 cause
                 of
                 separation
                 ,
                 as
                 some
                 rash
                 or
                 unadvised
                 act
                 ,
                 for
                 wh●ch
                 she
                 m●ght
                 depart
                 for
                 a
                 time
                 ,
                 and
                 remain
                 unmarried
                 untill
                 her
                 husbands
                 rage
                 or
                 anger
                 were
                 past
                 ,
                 and
                 they
                 reconciled
                 again
                 .
                 And
                 I
                 do
                 humbly
                 conceive
                 ,
                 that
                 where
                 a
                 Text
                 will
                 bear
                 a
                 double
                 construction
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 most
                 agreeable
                 to
                 the
                 m●nd
                 and
                 will
                 of
                 God
                 to
                 expound
                 it
                 in
                 that
                 sence
                 ,
                 that
                 in
                 observing
                 thereof
                 pesons
                 may
                 be
                 preserved
                 as
                 much
                 as
                 may
                 be
                 f●om
                 temptations
                 
                 to
                 sin
                 ▪
                 rather
                 than
                 to
                 expound
                 it
                 in
                 such
                 a
                 sence
                 as
                 by
                 observing
                 thereof
                 persons
                 shall
                 be
                 laid
                 open
                 to
                 most
                 horrid
                 temptations
                 to
                 sin
                 :
                 and
                 I
                 do
                 verely
                 believe
                 that
                 the
                 late
                 Lord
                 Primate
                 and
                 Dr.
                 Martin
                 did
                 seperate
                 Mr.
                 Lingart
                 and
                 his
                 wife
                 upon
                 this
                 account
                 ;
                 which
                 Mr.
                 Lingart
                 about
                 3
                 or
                 4
                 months
                 after
                 married
                 another
                 wife
                 ,
                 while
                 the
                 first
                 was
                 living
                 ;
                 which
                 if
                 it
                 had
                 not
                 been
                 lawfull
                 to
                 have
                 been
                 done
                 ,
                 I
                 presume
                 those
                 precious
                 servants
                 of
                 Jesus
                 Christ
                 Dr.
                 Usher
                 and
                 Dr.
                 Martin
                 would
                 not
                 have
                 suffered
                 it
                 to
                 have
                 been
                 done
                 .
              
               
                 In
                 the
                 next
                 place
                 you
                 say
                 it
                 is
                 evidenced
                 by
                 right
                 reason
                 that
                 if
                 persons
                 could
                 so
                 easily
                 unmarry
                 themselves
                 ,
                 what
                 a
                 doore
                 it
                 would
                 open
                 to
                 perjuries
                 ,
                 subordinations
                 ,
                 and
                 slaundees
                 of
                 innocent
                 persons
                 ,
                 &c.
                 
              
               
                 Reply
                 .
                 This
                 is
                 as
                 if
                 Children
                 should
                 not
                 have
                 bread
                 because
                 sometimes
                 Doggs
                 snatch
                 it
                 from
                 them
                 .
                 Shall
                 the
                 Children
                 of
                 God
                 be
                 debarred
                 ●he●r
                 lawfull
                 l●berty
                 for
                 fear
                 the
                 Children
                 of
                 Beliall
                 should
                 draw
                 false
                 Conclusions
                 from
                 sound
                 Principles
                 :
                 or
                 shall
                 innocents
                 be
                 punished
                 with
                 transgressors
                 for
                 company
                 .
                 If
                 my
                 case
                 were
                 weighed
                 in
                 the
                 ballance
                 of
                 right
                 reason
                 ,
                 I
                 could
                 not
                 be
                 denied
                 my
                 desire
                 :
                 how
                 have
                 I
                 pursued
                 all
                 lawfull
                 means
                 that
                 could
                 be
                 invented
                 and
                 procured
                 (
                 Doctors
                 of
                 Divinity
                 ,
                 and
                 Ministers
                 ,
                 and
                 Christian
                 friends
                 )
                 to
                 perswade
                 my
                 wife
                 to
                 own
                 me
                 as
                 a
                 Husband
                 ,
                 and
                 she
                 would
                 not
                 ,
                 nor
                 shew
                 any
                 reason
                 but
                 her
                 own
                 will
                 :
                 and
                 I
                 have
                 shewed
                 your
                 Lordship
                 (
                 in
                 my
                 other
                 paper
                 )
                 four
                 severall
                 reasons
                 ,
                 that
                 if
                 I
                 have
                 a
                 Lycence
                 to
                 marry
                 ,
                 yet
                 no
                 wicked
                 person
                 can
                 make
                 my
                 condition
                 a
                 president
                 for
                 them
                 to
                 follow
                 .
              
               
                 I
                 grant
                 as
                 you
                 say
                 it
                 is
                 evidenced
                 by
                 the
                 Word
                 of
                 God
                 and
                 the
                 light
                 of
                 naturall
                 reason
                 ,
                 that
                 Marriage
                 ought
                 to
                 be
                 kept
                 sacred
                 and
                 undissolvable
                 ;
                 it
                 ought
                 so
                 :
                 but
                 if
                 one
                 party
                 break
                 the
                 Bond
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 against
                 the
                 Word
                 of
                 God
                 and
                 the
                 light
                 of
                 naturall
                 reason
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 innocent
                 party
                 should
                 be
                 punished
                 all
                 his
                 life
                 long
                 for
                 the
                 Nocents
                 transgre●sion
                 .
                 What
                 you
                 say
                 of
                 Mr.
                 Mole
                 or
                 others
                 comes
                 not
                 near
                 my
                 case
                 :
                 for
                 as
                 I
                 said
                 before
                 they
                 would
                 have
                 come
                 home
                 ,
                 if
                 they
                 might
                 ;
                 and
                 my
                 wife
                 might
                 have
                 come
                 if
                 she
                 would
                 ,
                 and
                 has
                 been
                 as
                 much
                 solicited
                 to
                 come
                 as
                 might
                 be
                 ,
                 and
                 this
                 was
                 Galleatius
                 case
                 ,
                 his
                 wife
                 would
                 not
                 come
                 at
                 him
                 ,
                 for
                 which
                 the
                 Divines
                 in
                 Germany
                 suffered
                 him
                 to
                 marry
                 while
                 the
                 first
                 wife
                 was
                 living
                 .
              
               
                 To
                 my
                 fourth
                 Objection
                 you
                 are
                 silent
                 ,
                 which
                 was
                 to
                 this
                 effect
                 that
                 seing
                 it
                 doth
                 appear
                 for
                 any
                 thing
                 that
                 is
                 yet
                 said
                 against
                 it
                 
                 that
                 according
                 to
                 the
                 Word
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 whose
                 wife
                 commite●
                 adultery
                 ,
                 and
                 he
                 whose
                 wife
                 departeth
                 from
                 him
                 and
                 denies
                 the
                 duty
                 of
                 a
                 wife
                 ,
                 as
                 mine
                 hath
                 done
                 th●s
                 7
                 years
                 and
                 5
                 months
                 ,
                 may
                 lawfully
                 marry
                 :
                 and
                 I
                 have
                 shewed
                 you
                 that
                 Dr.
                 Usher
                 and
                 Dr.
                 Martin
                 did
                 allow
                 it
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Church
                 in
                 Germany
                 and
                 New
                 -
                 England
                 hath
                 allowed
                 marriage
                 in
                 such
                 cases
                 :
                 then
                 I
                 say
                 if
                 there
                 be
                 no
                 law
                 to
                 compell
                 a
                 wife
                 (
                 deserting
                 her
                 husband
                 )
                 to
                 her
                 duty
                 ,
                 nor
                 to
                 punish
                 her
                 for
                 her
                 disobedience
                 ,
                 and
                 if
                 there
                 be
                 any
                 law
                 of
                 men
                 to
                 restrain
                 the
                 Husband
                 in
                 such
                 a
                 case
                 from
                 marriage
                 ,
                 then
                 whether
                 is
                 that
                 Law
                 that
                 restrains
                 him
                 a
                 just
                 law
                 ,
                 according
                 to
                 the
                 Word
                 of
                 God
                 ?
                 or
                 whether
                 is
                 it
                 not
                 rather
                 against
                 the
                 Word
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 practice
                 of
                 other
                 Churches
                 :
                 and
                 a
                 binding
                 of
                 mens
                 Consciences
                 to
                 insupportable
                 burthens
                 ?
                 and
                 whether
                 is
                 not
                 such
                 a
                 Law
                 (
                 if
                 any
                 such
                 there
                 be
                 )
                 a
                 setting
                 of
                 their
                 thresholds
                 against
                 God's
                 thresholds
                 ,
                 and
                 their
                 posts
                 by
                 his
                 posts
                 Ezek
                 :
                 43.8
                 .
                 compared
                 with
                 Isa
                 :
                 29.13
                 .
                 Their
                 fear
                 towards
                 me
                 is
                 taught
                 by
                 the
                 precepts
                 of
                 men
                 .
                 Indeed
                 I
                 know
                 not
                 of
                 any
                 such
                 L●w
                 ,
                 my
                 study
                 hath
                 been
                 more
                 in
                 Divinitie
                 ,
                 neither
                 did
                 I
                 ever
                 know
                 where
                 to
                 get
                 a
                 Booke
                 of
                 Canons
                 to
                 acquaint
                 my selfe
                 with
                 that
                 Law
                 :
                 but
                 it
                 seems
                 strange
                 to
                 me
                 if
                 amongst
                 all
                 the
                 Canons
                 there
                 be
                 none
                 to
                 punish
                 a
                 Husband
                 or
                 wife
                 that
                 refuseth
                 to
                 performe
                 the
                 duty
                 of
                 a
                 Husband
                 or
                 wife
                 .
              
               
                 To
                 my
                 5
                 Argument
                 ,
                 you
                 say
                 I
                 run
                 into
                 one
                 or
                 two
                 errors
                 more
                 ,
                 viz
                 :
                 That
                 every
                 ordinary
                 Divorce
                 is
                 forbidden
                 as
                 a
                 breach
                 of
                 Gods
                 command
                 ,
                 
                   What
                   God
                   hath
                   joyned
                   together
                   ,
                   let
                   not
                   ma●
                   put
                   asunder
                   :
                   Mat
                
                 :
                 19.6
                 .
                 and
                 that
                 I
                 say
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 other
                 ●ause
                 of
                 Divorce
                 but
                 only
                 fornication
                 .
              
               
                 Reply
                 .
                 This
                 heavy
                 charge
                 of
                 one
                 or
                 two
                 errors
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 easily
                 wipe
                 off
                 ;
                 for
                 I
                 do
                 not
                 say
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 other
                 cause
                 of
                 Divorce
                 but
                 fornication
                 ;
                 for
                 I
                 said
                 in
                 my
                 other
                 paper
                 ,
                 and
                 I
                 say
                 in
                 this
                 ,
                 that
                 an
                 unbelieving
                 wife
                 departing
                 from
                 her
                 Husband
                 ,
                 and
                 denying
                 the
                 duty
                 of
                 a
                 wife
                 ,
                 and
                 will
                 not
                 be
                 reconsiled
                 to
                 her
                 husband
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 cause
                 of
                 divorce
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 fornication
                 ,
                 if
                 the
                 Scripture
                 may
                 be
                 believed
                 before
                 private
                 fancy
                 .
                 1
                 Cor
                 :
                 7.3
                 ,
                 4
                 ,
                 5
                 ,
                 11
                 ,
                 15.
                 
                 
                   If
                   the
                   unbeliever
                   depart
                   ,
                   a
                   brother
                   or
                   a
                   sister
                   is
                   not
                   in
                   bondage
                   in
                   such
                   cases
                   .
                
                 Nay
                 I
                 thinke
                 it
                 is
                 no
                 false
                 Exposia●on
                 to
                 say
                 further
                 ,
                 that
                 whether
                 she
                 be
                 a
                 believer
                 or
                 unbeliever
                 ,
                 if
                 she
                 depart
                 ,
                 and
                 persist
                 in
                 it
                 ,
                 and
                 will
                 not
                 be
                 reconciled
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 cause
                 of
                 divorce
                 ;
                 otherwise
                 the
                 Apostle
                 would
                 have
                 said
                 a
                 brother
                 or
                 a
                 sister
                 is
                 not
                 in
                 bondage
                 in
                 
                 such
                 a
                 case
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 singular
                 number
                 ,
                 in
                 case
                 of
                 the
                 unbelievers
                 deparring
                 :
                 but
                 he
                 saith
                 A
                 brother
                 or
                 a
                 sister
                 is
                 not
                 in
                 bondage
                 in
                 such
                 cases
                 ;
                 speaking
                 of
                 more
                 cases
                 than
                 one
                 :
                 which
                 may
                 well
                 be
                 understood
                 not
                 only
                 of
                 an
                 unbelie●ers
                 departing
                 ,
                 but
                 in
                 the
                 like
                 case
                 of
                 a
                 believers
                 departing
                 ,
                 if
                 she
                 continue
                 obstinate
                 and
                 unreconcilable
                 ,
                 a
                 brother
                 or
                 a
                 sister
                 is
                 not
                 in
                 bondage
                 in
                 such
                 cases
                 .
              
               
                 Further
                 you
                 say
                 that
                 Text
                 Mat
                 :
                 19
                 :
                 6.
                 is
                 understood
                 properly
                 of
                 dissolving
                 the
                 bond
                 of
                 marriage
                 for
                 ever
                 ,
                 (
                 as
                 you
                 say
                 I
                 would
                 have
                 it
                 )
                 and
                 not
                 of
                 lesser
                 separations
                 made
                 out
                 of
                 prudence
                 or
                 piety
                 for
                 a
                 time
                 .
                 I
                 said
                 before
                 and
                 I
                 say
                 still
                 that
                 except
                 the
                 Bishops
                 made
                 that
                 Divorce
                 between
                 me
                 and
                 my
                 wife
                 ,
                 upon
                 the
                 account
                 of
                 my
                 wifes
                 being
                 a
                 whore
                 in
                 Scripture-sence
                 ,
                 o●
                 else
                 upon
                 account
                 of
                 her
                 departing
                 and
                 not
                 performing
                 the
                 duty
                 of
                 a
                 wife
                 ,
                 one
                 or
                 both
                 ,
                 as
                 I
                 writ
                 to
                 them
                 of
                 the
                 lawfulnes
                 of
                 such
                 a
                 Divorce
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 the
                 Germane
                 Divines
                 allowing
                 the
                 like
                 to
                 Galeatius
                 ,
                 before
                 they
                 made
                 th●s
                 Divorce
                 :
                 I
                 shewed
                 these
                 reasons
                 why
                 I
                 desired
                 it
                 ,
                 or
                 else
                 to
                 have
                 my
                 wife
                 to
                 l●ve
                 with
                 me
                 ,
                 which
                 she
                 before
                 them
                 did
                 refuse
                 .
                 I
                 say
                 exce●t
                 they
                 made
                 this
                 Divorce
                 upon
                 this
                 account
                 ,
                 wh●ch
                 you
                 say
                 d●ssolves
                 marriage
                 for
                 ever
                 ,
                 the
                 Bishops
                 must
                 needs
                 fall
                 under
                 the
                 breach
                 of
                 that
                 precept
                 ,
                 
                   Those
                   whom
                   God
                   hath
                   joy●ed
                   together
                   ,
                   let
                   no●
                   man
                   put
                   asunder
                
                 :
                 fo●
                 this
                 divorce
                 cannot
                 be
                 unde●●tood
                 (
                 as
                 you●
                 Lo●dship
                 speaks
                 )
                 of
                 lesser
                 separations
                 for
                 a
                 time
                 ,
                 but
                 of
                 a
                 perpetuall
                 Divorce
                 :
                 for
                 the
                 Bishops
                 bound
                 us
                 in
                 five
                 hundred
                 pound
                 Bonds
                 apeece
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 should
                 not
                 owne
                 one
                 the
                 other
                 ,
                 not
                 one
                 the
                 others
                 estate
                 ;
                 and
                 b●d
                 us
                 to
                 take
                 leave
                 of
                 one
                 ano●her
                 as
                 if
                 one
                 of
                 us
                 were
                 going
                 to
                 the
                 grave
                 :
                 therefore
                 it
                 cannot
                 be
                 understood
                 of
                 a
                 lesser
                 Divorce
                 for
                 a
                 time
                 ,
                 but
                 of
                 a
                 perpetuall
                 dissolution
                 of
                 marriage
                 for
                 ever
                 ,
                 or
                 else
                 the
                 Bishops
                 stand
                 guilty
                 of
                 the
                 breach
                 of
                 that
                 precept
                 ,
                 Mat
                 :
                 19
                 ▪
                 6.
                 
                 Thus
                 ,
                 both
                 according
                 to
                 the
                 Word
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Lawes
                 of
                 men
                 ,
                 I
                 mean
                 the
                 Bishops
                 and
                 His
                 Majesties
                 Royall
                 assent
                 ,
                 the
                 bond
                 of
                 marriage
                 is
                 dissolved
                 ;
                 what
                 hinders
                 then
                 but
                 I
                 may
                 have
                 Lycence
                 to
                 marry
                 :
                 and
                 whereas
                 I
                 say
                 there
                 can
                 be
                 no
                 divorce
                 from
                 bed
                 and
                 board
                 (
                 as
                 some
                 call
                 it
                 )
                 
                   except
                   it
                   be
                   with
                   consent
                   for
                   a
                   time
                   ,
                   and
                   come
                   together
                   again
                   ,
                   least
                   Satan
                   tempt
                   them
                   to
                   incontine●cy
                   .
                
                 1
                 Cor
                 :
                 7.5
                 .
                 but
                 it
                 is
                 absolutely
                 again●t
                 this
                 and
                 that
                 precept
                 Mat
                 :
                 19.6
                 .
                 and
                 1
                 Cor
                 :
                 7.3
                 ,
                 4
                 ,
                 5.
                 
                 I
                 beseech
                 you
                 let
                 not
                 this
                 be
                 condemned
                 for
                 an
                 error
                 which
                 is
                 justified
                 by
                 Scripture
                 .
                 For
                 your
                 distinctions
                 of
                 temporary
                 
                 Divorces
                 and
                 lesser
                 seperations
                 &
                 divorces
                 of
                 prudence
                 and
                 piety
                 ,
                 I
                 find
                 no
                 such
                 distinctions
                 of
                 Divorces
                 in
                 Scripture
                 ;
                 and
                 I
                 dare
                 not
                 pinne
                 my
                 faith
                 upon
                 any
                 mans
                 opinion
                 without
                 Scripture-proofe
                 :
                 I
                 pray
                 you
                 bear
                 with
                 my
                 plainnesse
                 ,
                 for
                 I
                 have
                 read
                 in
                 an
                 ancient
                 Author
                 ,
                 that
                 one
                 Lay-man
                 bringing
                 Scripture
                 to
                 prove
                 his
                 assertion
                 ,
                 was
                 to
                 be
                 preferred
                 before
                 a
                 whole
                 Counsell
                 that
                 decreed
                 things
                 without
                 warrant
                 from
                 Scripture
                 :
                 and
                 I
                 read
                 of
                 no
                 such
                 Divorces
                 in
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 except
                 it
                 be
                 for
                 every
                 cause
                 ,
                 Mat
                 :
                 19.3
                 .
                 and
                 that
                 Christ
                 himselfe
                 condemns
                 as
                 unlawful
                 .
                 And
                 if
                 any
                 married
                 persons
                 should
                 be
                 so
                 desperately
                 wicked
                 as
                 to
                 endeavour
                 to
                 kill
                 ,
                 or
                 poison
                 or
                 intice
                 to
                 Heresie
                 or
                 Blasphemy
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 like
                 ,
                 the
                 Magestrates
                 by
                 Law
                 may
                 take
                 order
                 and
                 secure
                 the
                 innocent
                 party
                 ,
                 without
                 making
                 Divorces
                 not
                 warrantable
                 by
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 and
                 which
                 oftentimes
                 proves
                 a
                 bane
                 to
                 the
                 innocent
                 party
                 ,
                 and
                 binds
                 him
                 to
                 more
                 bondage
                 then
                 the
                 Nocent
                 .
              
               
                 To
                 the
                 6
                 &
                 7
                 Arguments
                 where
                 I
                 prove
                 my
                 wife
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 whore
                 in
                 Scripture-sence
                 ,
                 you
                 say
                 I
                 mistake
                 :
                 for
                 it
                 is
                 probable
                 the
                 Levites
                 wife
                 did
                 more
                 then
                 depart
                 ,
                 and
                 though
                 a
                 Levite
                 might
                 not
                 marry
                 a
                 known
                 whore
                 ;
                 yet
                 being
                 married
                 ,
                 he
                 might
                 pardon
                 ,
                 or
                 conceal
                 ,
                 or
                 connive
                 at
                 her
                 lewd
                 courses
                 .
              
               
                 Reply
                 .
                 I
                 conceive
                 it
                 not
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 probable
                 that
                 she
                 did
                 any
                 more
                 than
                 depart
                 without
                 his
                 consent
                 ,
                 that
                 was
                 enough
                 :
                 for
                 the
                 Seripture
                 mentions
                 not
                 that
                 she
                 did
                 any
                 more
                 ,
                 for
                 which
                 she
                 was
                 called
                 a
                 whore
                 :
                 for
                 if
                 she
                 had
                 been
                 an
                 actuall
                 whore
                 she
                 should
                 by
                 the
                 Law
                 have
                 been
                 stoned
                 to
                 death
                 ,
                 Levit
                 :
                 20.10
                 .
                 neither
                 had
                 it
                 been
                 lawfull
                 for
                 him
                 to
                 have
                 taken
                 her
                 again
                 ,
                 Levit
                 :
                 21.7
                 .
                 and
                 I
                 say
                 he
                 could
                 not
                 pardon
                 nor
                 connive
                 at
                 her
                 lewd
                 courses
                 so
                 as
                 to
                 take
                 her
                 again
                 :
                 1
                 Cor
                 :
                 6.13
                 ,
                 15
                 ,
                 16.
                 
                 
                   The
                   body
                   is
                   not
                   for
                   fornication
                   ,
                   but
                   for
                   the
                   Lord.
                   What
                   ,
                   know
                   ye
                   not
                   that
                   your
                   bodies
                   are
                   the
                   members
                   of
                   Christ
                   ?
                   shall
                   I
                   then
                   take
                   the
                   members
                   of
                   Christ
                   and
                   make
                   them
                   the
                   members
                   of
                   an
                   harlot
                   ,
                   God
                   forbid
                   !
                   What
                   ,
                   know
                   ye
                   not
                   that
                   he
                   th●t
                   is
                   joyned
                   to
                   an
                   harlot
                   is
                   one
                   body
                   ,
                   for
                   two
                   (
                   saith
                   he
                   )
                   shall
                   be
                   called
                   one
                   flesh
                   .
                
                 These
                 Scriptures
                 shews
                 plainly
                 ,
                 that
                 if
                 a
                 believers
                 wife
                 playes
                 the
                 Harlot
                 ,
                 he
                 ought
                 not
                 ,
                 nor
                 cannot
                 (
                 without
                 grievous
                 sin
                 )
                 joyne
                 himselfe
                 to
                 her
                 again
                 :
                 for
                 in
                 so
                 doing
                 he
                 dishonours
                 Christ
                 and
                 makes
                 his
                 members
                 the
                 members
                 of
                 an
                 Harlot
                 .
                 Now
                 if
                 such
                 an
                 innocent
                 party
                 have
                 not
                 liberty
                 to
                 marry
                 ,
                 then
                 is
                 he
                 (
                 for
                 his
                 wifes
                 sinne
                 )
                 in
                 perpetuall
                 bondage
                 all
                 his
                 life
                 after
                 ,
                 except
                 he
                 will
                 
                 joyne
                 with
                 his
                 wife
                 again
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 make
                 the
                 members
                 of
                 Christ
                 the
                 members
                 of
                 an
                 Harlot
                 :
                 but
                 as
                 for
                 my
                 w●fe
                 ,
                 if
                 I
                 would
                 ,
                 she
                 would
                 not
                 owne
                 me
                 as
                 a
                 Husband
                 :
                 I
                 desire
                 it
                 may
                 be
                 better
                 con●●dered
                 of
                 for
                 to
                 say
                 ,
                 that
                 neither
                 for
                 civill
                 whoredome
                 [
                 as
                 you
                 call
                 a
                 wifes
                 deserting
                 her
                 Husband
                 ]
                 nor
                 carnall
                 whoredome
                 doth
                 free
                 the
                 husband
                 no
                 further
                 then
                 from
                 conjugall
                 duties
                 ,
                 is
                 such
                 a
                 distinct
                 on
                 as
                 I
                 am
                 assured
                 is
                 not
                 suitable
                 to
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 Grace
                 ,
                 and
                 Believers
                 priviledges
                 :
                 those
                 that
                 thus
                 deal
                 with
                 men
                 ,
                 do
                 as
                 much
                 as
                 in
                 them
                 lyeth
                 to
                 provoke
                 them
                 to
                 incontinency
                 :
                 but
                 as
                 I
                 said
                 before
                 Dr.
                 Usher
                 &
                 Dr
                 Martin
                 dealt
                 not
                 so
                 with
                 Mr.
                 Lingart
                 ,
                 for
                 without
                 doubt
                 if
                 either
                 the
                 wife
                 desert
                 her
                 Husband
                 ,
                 or
                 play
                 the
                 harlot
                 ,
                 for
                 they
                 are
                 both
                 one
                 in
                 Scripture-sence
                 ,
                 the
                 innocent
                 party
                 may
                 lawfully
                 marry
                 rather
                 than
                 burne
                 ;
                 and
                 those
                 that
                 hinder
                 such
                 ,
                 must
                 answer
                 for
                 their
                 sinns
                 ,
                 if
                 they
                 transgresse
                 ;
                 and
                 all
                 men
                 have
                 not
                 the
                 gift
                 of
                 continencie
                 .
              
               
                 Then
                 you
                 that
                 to
                 imagine
                 that
                 she
                 who
                 deserts
                 her
                 Husband
                 ,
                 and
                 she
                 who
                 takes
                 another
                 into
                 his
                 bed
                 ,
                 are
                 both
                 alike
                 guilty
                 of
                 the
                 breach
                 of
                 wedlock
                 ,
                 and
                 both
                 to
                 be
                 punished
                 with
                 the
                 same
                 punishment
                 ,
                 as
                 you
                 charge
                 me
                 to
                 say
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 you
                 say
                 ridiculous
                 .
              
               
                 Reply
                 .
                 My
                 Lo●d
                 ,
                 if
                 you
                 look
                 back
                 upon
                 my
                 paper
                 again
                 ,
                 you
                 will
                 find
                 it
                 is
                 your
                 mistake
                 and
                 not
                 mine
                 :
                 for
                 I
                 do
                 not
                 name
                 carnall
                 whoredome
                 ,
                 of
                 a
                 womans
                 taking
                 another
                 into
                 her
                 Husbands
                 bed
                 ;
                 but
                 this
                 I
                 ●aid
                 ,
                 that
                 spirituall
                 whoredome
                 ,
                 forsak●ng
                 the
                 Lord
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 which
                 you
                 call
                 civill
                 whoredome
                 ,
                 a
                 wife
                 deserting
                 her
                 Husband
                 ,
                 God
                 threatens
                 to
                 punish
                 both
                 with
                 one
                 and
                 the
                 same
                 punishment
                 ,
                 Ezek
                 :
                 16.38
                 .
                 and
                 if
                 this
                 be
                 ridiculous
                 to
                 speak
                 in
                 Scripture
                 language
                 ,
                 I
                 know
                 not
                 how
                 to
                 please
                 men
                 ;
                 but
                 the
                 Apostle
                 hath
                 taught
                 me
                 ,
                 that
                 if
                 I
                 yet
                 seek
                 to
                 please
                 men
                 ,
                 I
                 should
                 not
                 be
                 the
                 servant
                 of
                 Christ
                 :
                 Galat
                 :
                 1.10
                 .
                 But
                 now
                 being
                 put
                 to
                 it
                 I
                 wil
                 say
                 something
                 to
                 the
                 Charge
                 :
                 I
                 do
                 conce●ve
                 that
                 Blasphemy
                 and
                 spirituall
                 whoredome
                 [
                 which
                 is
                 forsaking
                 the
                 Lord
                 ]
                 being
                 sinns
                 committed
                 immediately
                 against
                 God
                 ,
                 are
                 as
                 great
                 sinns
                 ,
                 if
                 not
                 greater
                 then
                 those
                 sinns
                 committed
                 against
                 men
                 ,
                 suppose
                 it
                 to
                 be
                 carnall
                 whoredome
                 or
                 other
                 :
                 and
                 if
                 so
                 that
                 spirituall
                 who●edome
                 be
                 as
                 great
                 a
                 sin
                 as
                 carnall
                 who●edome
                 ,
                 and
                 a
                 wife
                 deserting
                 her
                 Husband
                 to
                 be
                 punished
                 with
                 the
                 same
                 punishment
                 ,
                 that
                 spirituall
                 whoredome
                 is
                 to
                 be
                 punished
                 with
                 ;
                 then
                 a
                 wife
                 deserting
                 her
                 Husband
                 ought
                 to
                 be
                 punished
                 with
                 the
                 same
                 punishment
                 that
                 carnall
                 whoredome
                 is
                 punished
                 with
                 ,
                 be
                 it
                 Divorce
                 ,
                 
                 or
                 what
                 else
                 ,
                 except
                 you
                 will
                 make
                 carnall
                 whoredome
                 a
                 greater
                 sin
                 then
                 spirituall
                 whoredome
                 ,
                 and
                 I
                 thinke
                 this
                 is
                 not
                 rediculous
                 :
                 for
                 a
                 w●fe
                 departing
                 ,
                 and
                 w●ll
                 not
                 be
                 reconciled
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 a
                 breach
                 of
                 wedlocke
                 ,
                 because
                 the
                 Husband
                 hath
                 not
                 power
                 over
                 his
                 own
                 body
                 ,
                 but
                 the
                 wife
                 :
                 and
                 she
                 ought
                 to
                 render
                 him
                 due
                 benevolence
                 :
                 yea
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 such
                 a
                 sin
                 as
                 God
                 will
                 punish
                 with
                 the
                 same
                 punishment
                 as
                 he
                 doth
                 spirituall
                 whoredome
                 ,
                 Ezek
                 :
                 16.38
                 .
                 
                   I
                   will
                   judge
                   thee
                   as
                   women
                   that
                   break
                   wedlock
                   ,
                   and
                   shed
                   blood
                   ,
                   are
                   judged
                   .
                
              
               
                 You
                 grant
                 that
                 the
                 marriage
                 of
                 Christians
                 is
                 a
                 signe
                 of
                 the
                 mysticall
                 union
                 between
                 Christ
                 and
                 his
                 Church
                 :
                 then
                 I
                 say
                 from
                 this
                 union
                 (
                 Ephes
                 :
                 5.32
                 .
                 )
                 we
                 may
                 draw
                 this
                 Conclusion
                 ,
                 that
                 a
                 wife
                 forsaking
                 her
                 Husband
                 ,
                 and
                 will
                 not
                 be
                 reconciled
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 in
                 Scripture-sence
                 Harlotry
                 or
                 whoredome
                 ,
                 as
                 forsaking
                 the
                 Lord
                 is
                 called
                 spirituall
                 whoredome
                 :
                 Isa
                 :
                 1.4
                 .
                 compared
                 with
                 the
                 21.
                 
                 
                   They
                   have
                   forsaken
                   the
                   Lord
                   ,
                   How
                   is
                   the
                   faithfull
                   Citie
                   become
                   an
                   Harlot
                   .
                
                 so
                 a
                 wife
                 forsaking
                 her
                 husband
                 ,
                 and
                 forgetting
                 the
                 Covenant
                 of
                 her
                 God
                 ,
                 or
                 promise
                 of
                 Marriage
                 ,
                 Prov
                 :
                 2.17
                 .
                 is
                 there
                 called
                 a
                 Harlot
                 :
                 and
                 Ierem
                 :
                 3.3
                 .
                 compared
                 with
                 20.
                 
                 
                   Thou
                   hadst
                   a
                   whores
                   forehead
                   ,
                   thou
                   refusedst
                   to
                   returne
                   ,
                   as
                   a
                   wife
                   treacher●usly
                   departeth
                   from
                   her
                   Husband
                   .
                
                 Now
                 thus
                 to
                 depart
                 (
                 as
                 mine
                 hath
                 done
                 this
                 7
                 years
                 and
                 5
                 months
                 )
                 is
                 a
                 breach
                 of
                 wedlocke
                 ,
                 Cor
                 :
                 7.3
                 ,
                 4
                 ,
                 5.
                 for
                 she
                 ought
                 to
                 be
                 in
                 subjection
                 to
                 her
                 Husband
                 as
                 the
                 Church
                 is
                 to
                 Christ
                 ,
                 Ephes
                 :
                 5.24
                 .
                 by
                 the
                 mysticall
                 union
                 that
                 is
                 between
                 Christ
                 and
                 his
                 Church
                 ,
                 which
                 marriage
                 is
                 a
                 signe
                 of
                 :
                 but
                 here
                 I
                 shall
                 forbear
                 to
                 proceed
                 any
                 further
                 ,
                 for
                 I
                 think
                 I
                 have
                 made
                 it
                 clear
                 enough
                 to
                 any
                 indifferent
                 man
                 that
                 may
                 read
                 it
                 ,
                 both
                 by
                 Scripture
                 and
                 sound
                 Arguments
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 ought
                 to
                 be
                 set
                 free
                 and
                 have
                 Lycense
                 to
                 marry
                 ,
                 which
                 I
                 hope
                 your
                 Lordship
                 will
                 gr●nt
                 me
                 ;
                 otherwise
                 I
                 shall
                 humbly
                 beg
                 your
                 Lo●dships
                 Rejo●nde●
                 ,
                 to
                 know
                 what
                 further
                 reasons
                 can
                 be
                 alledged
                 against
                 me
                 ,
                 I
                 remain
              
               
                 
                   
                     Novem
                     :
                     27
                     1661.
                     
                  
                
                 
                   
                     your
                     Lordship●
                     most
                     humble
                     and
                     unworthy
                     servant
                  
                   George
                   Pressicke
                   .
                
              
            
          
           
           
             Having
             proceeded
             thus
             farre
             ,
             and
             sent
             him
             my
             Reply
             ,
             about
             a
             week
             or
             ten
             dayes
             after
             I
             went
             to
             him
             ,
             to
             know
             if
             I
             should
             expect
             any
             further
             satisfaction
             to
             the
             Question
             ,
             but
             received
             none
             :
             for
             with
             a
             frowning
             countenance
             he
             said
             .
             What
             do
             you
             thinke
             that
             you
             have
             received
             the
             Spirit
             to
             expound
             the
             Scripture
             more
             than
             other
             men
             ?
             Do
             you
             thinke
             you
             have
             a
             Cloven-head
             upon
             yours
             ?
             (
             what
             he
             meant
             by
             Cloven-head
             ,
             I
             leave
             o●hers
             to
             judge
             :
             )
             I
             do
             protest
             (
             saith
             he
             )
             the
             Paper
             I
             have
             given
             you
             already
             ,
             is
             my
             Judgement
             ;
             which
             I
             will
             live
             and
             dye
             in
             .
             But
             how
             unlikely
             that
             Paper
             is
             to
             satisfie
             a
             scrupulous
             Conscience
             ,
             let
             them
             that
             read
             it
             ,
             and
             the
             Reply
             to
             it
             ,
             judge
             .
             As
             for
             me
             I
             cannot
             live
             by
             an
             implicite
             faith
             ;
             for
             I
             am
             like
             the
             
               Bereans
               ,
               Acts
            
             17.11
             .
             One
             that
             can
             beleive
             nothing
             (
             though
             delivered
             by
             an
             Apostle
             )
             without
             searching
             the
             Scriptures
             daily
             whether
             those
             things
             be
             so
             :
             and
             if
             I
             be
             mistaken
             I
             would
             be
             thankfull
             to
             any
             ,
             that
             in
             the
             spirit
             of
             meeknesse
             would
             by
             Scripture-arguments
             and
             reason
             shew
             me
             my
             mistake
             ,
             for
             as
             yet
             it
             is
             not
             done
             :
             and
             there
             are
             both
             Bishops
             and
             Ministers
             of
             very
             eminent
             Guifts
             &
             learning
             ,
             of
             the
             same
             Judgement
             with
             me
             in
             this
             point
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             lawfull
             for
             me
             to
             marry
             .
          
           
             Suppose
             the
             Church
             of
             Rome
             ,
             and
             some
             few
             Protestants
             are
             of
             opinion
             that
             divorced
             persons
             may
             not
             marry
             ;
             I
             do
             conceive
             I
             am
             not
             bound
             to
             submit
             to
             their
             Judgement
             ,
             because
             I
             find
             both
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             the
             practice
             of
             Protestant
             Churches
             hath
             allowed
             the
             innocent
             party
             to
             marry
             :
             and
             as
             Peter
             &
             Iohn
             said
             Acts
             4.19
             .
             
               Whether
               it
               be
               right
               in
               the
               sight
               of
               God
               ,
               to
               hearken
               unto
               them
               more
               than
               unto
               God
               ,
            
             judge
             ye
             .
          
           
             To
             what
             I
             have
             said
             ,
             I
             shall
             adde
             this
             ,
             I
             have
             been
             credibly
             informed
             that
             about
             the
             beg●nning
             of
             the
             Rebellion
             in
             Ireland
             ,
             L●evtenant
             Coll
             :
             Hewson
             sued
             out
             a
             Divorce
             before
             Arch-Deacon
             Buckley
             in
             Dublin
             ,
             and
             after
             he
             was
             divorced
             ,
             while
             the
             first
             wife
             was
             living
             ,
             the
             Arch-Deacon
             himselfe
             did
             joyne
             the
             said
             Liev
             :
             Collonell
             and
             another
             woman
             together
             in
             marriage
             :
             and
             was
             this
             lawfull
             then
             ,
             and
             is
             it
             not
             lawfull
             now
             :
             and
             was
             it
             thought
             lawfull
             by
             the
             late
             Reverend
             Lord
             Primate
             Dr.
             Usher
             (
             whom
             all
             Europe
             reverenced
             for
             piety
             &
             learning
             )
             and
             Dr.
             Martin
             to
             separate
             Mr.
             Lingart
             and
             his
             wife
             ,
             and
             presently
             after
             Mr.
             Lingart
             married
             another
             while
             the
             first
             wife
             was
             living
             ,
             and
             is
             it
             not
             lawfull
             for
             me
             now
             ,
             being
             divorced
             by
             His
             Majesties
             Royall
             Assent
             :
             and
             was
             
             it
             thought
             lawfull
             by
             the
             Protestant
             Church
             in
             Germany
             to
             suffer
             Gaelleatiu
             to
             marry
             another
             ,
             because
             his
             wife
             would
             not
             live
             with
             him
             ,
             though
             he
             had
             no
             Divorce
             ;
             and
             is
             it
             not
             lawfull
             fo●
             me
             now
             to
             marry
             that
             hath
             a
             Divorce
             ,
             and
             my
             w●fe
             hath
             forsaken
             me
             7
             years
             and
             5
             months
             .
             What
             an
             Iron-age
             is
             this
             that
             we
             live
             in
             ?
             I
             could
             instance
             some
             such
             like
             passages
             as
             these
             above
             ,
             that
             hath
             been
             allowed
             of
             in
             England
             ;
             but
             I
             forbear
             ,
             I
             thinke
             here
             is
             enough
             to
             satisfy
             reasonable
             men
             that
             reads
             it
             .
          
           
             Thus
             much
             I
             thought
             I
             was
             bound
             in
             Conscience
             to
             declare
             to
             the
             world
             ,
             to
             clear
             my selfe
             from
             scandall
             ,
             before
             I
             would
             take
             another
             w●fe
             ,
             to
             prove
             the
             lawfullnes
             thereof
             as
             you
             see
             I
             have
             done
             both
             by
             Scripture
             ,
             and
             reason
             ,
             and
             the
             practice
             of
             Protestant
             Churches
             ,
             lest
             any
             through
             ignorance
             should
             say
             ,
             I
             pract●ce
             that
             my selfe
             I
             condemne
             in
             others
             ;
             because
             I
             have
             set
             forth
             in
             a
             Booke
             ,
             the
             practice
             of
             Anabaptists
             in
             Germany
             ,
             who
             had
             many
             wives
             at
             once
             :
             but
             I
             have
             had
             none
             almost
             this
             eight
             years
             ,
             but
             only
             the
             name
             of
             one
             untill
             I
             got
             a
             Divorce
             .
             And
             those
             that
             can
             procure
             
             Zanty's
             Booke
             ,
             and
             read
             him
             upon
             Divo●ce
             both
             for
             Adultery
             &
             Desertion
             ,
             may
             be
             further
             informed
             of
             the
             innocent
             parties
             liberty
             to
             marry
             in
             such
             cases
             :
             and
             I
             may
             justly
             say
             I
             have
             had
             the
             advice
             of
             twenty
             Bishops
             ,
             Doctors
             and
             Ministers
             ,
             and
             none
             but
             this
             Bishop
             spoke
             against
             it
             ,
             but
             all
             concluded
             that
             it
             was
             lawfull
             for
             me
             to
             marry
             .
          
           
             
               George
               Pressicke
               .
            
          
        
         
           
           
             Certain
             Quaeries
             touching
             the
             silencing
             of
             Godly
             Ministers
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             
               
                 Iohn
                 3.3
                 .
              
               
                 Verily
                 ,
                 verliy
                 ,
                 I
                 say
                 uneo
                 thee
                 ,
                 except
                 a
                 man
                 be
                 borne
                 again
                 he
                 cannot
                 enter
                 into
                 the
                 Kingdome
                 of
                 God.
                 
              
            
          
           
             I
             Observe
             from
             this
             Text
             ,
             first
             ,
             that
             no
             man
             living
             and
             dying
             in
             that
             naturall
             condition
             in
             which
             he
             is
             bo●n
             ,
             except
             he
             dye
             in
             Infancie
             ,
             for
             to
             such
             there
             may
             be
             by
             the
             free
             grace
             of
             God
             ,
             a
             secret
             imputation
             of
             the
             merits
             &
             righteousnesse
             of
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             imputed
             unto
             them
             for
             salvation
             :
             but
             those
             that
             live
             to
             years
             ,
             and
             are
             capable
             to
             understand
             when
             they
             are
             taught
             ,
             except
             they
             be
             regenerated
             and
             borne
             again
             ,
             
               they
               cannot
               see
               the
               Kingdome
               of
               God
            
             :
             that
             is
             ,
             
               they
               cannot
               enter
               into
               the
               Kingdome
               of
               God.
               
            
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             I
             observe
             out
             of
             Iohn
             10.
             and
             Romans
             10.
             that
             the
             ordinary
             means
             that
             God
             hath
             ordained
             to
             worke
             faith
             and
             conversion
             in
             such
             as
             shall
             be
             saved
             ,
             is
             the
             Ministry
             of
             the
             Word
             ;
             that
             is
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             preached
             .
             Ro
             :
             10.14
             ,
             15.
             
             
               How
               shall
               they
               hear
               without
               a
               preacher
               ;
               and
               how
               shall
               they
               preach
               except
               they
               be
               sent
               .
            
             that
             is
             such
             as
             God
             sends
             ,
             and
             furnisheth
             with
             Guifts
             rightly
             to
             divide
             the
             word
             ,
             and
             to
             bring
             out
             of
             Gods
             treasure
             things
             new
             &
             old
             ,
             and
             to
             give
             every
             one
             their
             portions
             in
             due
             season
             :
             that
             is
             ,
             comfort
             to
             whom
             comfort
             belongs
             ,
             to
             edify
             and
             build
             them
             up
             in
             their
             most
             holy
             faith
             :
             and
             reproofe
             and
             reprehension
             to
             whom
             it
             belongs
             ,
             to
             tell
             Israell
             his
             trangressions
             ,
             and
             the
             house
             of
             Iacob
             their
             sinns
             ,
             that
             at
             the
             day
             of
             Judgement
             when
             the
             Bookes
             of
             mens
             Consciences
             shall
             be
             opened
             ,
             their
             condemnation
             may
             appear
             to
             be
             just
             ;
             that
             they
             were
             instructed
             in
             the
             truth
             which
             they
             rejected
             and
             dehorted
             from
             :
             and
             were
             reproved
             for
             their
             sinfull
             wayes
             ,
             they
             walked
             into
             their
             owne
             destruction
             .
             Such
             faithfull
             Pastors
             may
             say
             as
             
               Isaiah
               ,
               Isa
            
             :
             8.18
             .
             
               Behold
               here
               an
               I
               and
               the
               children
               that
               thou
               hast
               given
               me
            
             :
             or
             that
             thou
             hast
             made
             me
             instrumentall
             by
             my
             Ministry
             to
             them
             in
             the
             worke
             of
             their
             Conversion
             :
             when
             idle
             Drones
             ,
             and
             dumme
             Doggs
             ,
             and
             covetous
             Cormorants
             that
             seek
             the
             fleece
             mo●e
             than
             the
             flock
             ,
             and
             to
             please
             men
             more
             than
             God
             ,
             which
             run
             before
             they
             are
             sent
             ,
             for
             filthy-Lucres-sake
             ,
             these
             will
             
             have
             nothing
             to
             say
             for
             themselves
             ,
             but
             wish
             the
             Mountains
             and
             Rocks
             to
             fall
             upon
             them
             ,
             and
             cover
             them
             ,
             from
             the
             face
             of
             him
             that
             sits
             upon
             the
             Throne
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             I
             have
             observed
             with
             grief
             of
             heart
             ,
             and
             I
             humbly
             desire
             it
             may
             be
             seriously
             considered
             off
             by
             all
             whom
             it
             doth
             or
             may
             concern
             ,
             that
             many
             godly
             and
             faithfull
             Ministers
             ,
             such
             as
             no
             man
             can
             deny
             but
             they
             have
             been
             instrumentall
             by
             their
             Ministry
             to
             the
             conversion
             of
             many
             souls
             ,
             but
             they
             are
             now
             silenced
             ,
             and
             not
             suffered
             to
             preach
             ,
             for
             refusing
             subscription
             to
             that
             which
             they
             say
             is
             part
             of
             it
             the
             Ordinances
             of
             men
             ,
             and
             not
             agree●ng
             with
             the
             Ordinances
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             they
             are
             forbidden
             to
             plow
             with
             an
             Oxe
             and
             an
             Asse
             together
             :
             and
             they
             say
             it
             is
             very
             rare
             ,
             if
             ever
             there
             were
             any
             soul
             converted
             by
             the
             reading
             of
             that
             Forme
             of
             Prayer
             only
             ;
             but
             they
             can
             make
             it
             appear
             that
             many
             hundreds
             have
             been
             converted
             by
             the
             preaching
             of
             the
             Word
             only
             ,
             which
             they
             are
             hindred
             from
             the
             exercising
             of
             their
             guifts
             in
             ;
             though
             many
             of
             them
             would
             be
             glad
             they
             might
             be
             suffered
             to
             preach
             in
             Places
             that
             are
             vacant
             ,
             though
             they
             had
             nothing
             for
             their
             pains
             :
             and
             they
             say
             that
             Preaching
             being
             an
             Ordinance
             of
             Divine
             institution
             :
             and
             those
             things
             they
             refuse
             to
             subscribe
             (
             they
             say
             )
             is
             but
             part
             of
             Divine
             and
             part
             of
             Humane
             institution
             :
             and
             therefore
             they
             think
             they
             have
             not
             equall
             dealing
             that
             they
             are
             silenced
             from
             preaching
             for
             not
             reading
             such
             a
             Forme
             of
             Common-Prayer
             ,
             &c.
             and
             so
             many
             preferred
             as
             hath
             been
             ,
             that
             many
             of
             them
             could
             scarce
             ever
             preach
             ,
             but
             read
             only
             :
             and
             they
             desire
             it
             may
             be
             considered
             of
             ,
             whether
             the
             profit
             that
             comes
             by
             the
             latter
             will
             countervail
             the
             dammage
             of
             prohibiting
             the
             former
             from
             preaching
             in
             these
             sinfull
             gloomy
             dayes
             ,
             and
             places
             of
             ignorance
             ;
             and
             which
             might
             be
             the
             most
             probable
             and
             powerfull
             means
             the
             most
             to
             advance
             Gods
             glory
             ,
             and
             to
             convince
             sinners
             and
             turne
             them
             from
             their
             sinns
             :
             is
             it
             because
             they
             cannot
             see
             with
             other
             mens
             eyes
             ,
             that
             they
             may
             not
             be
             allowed
             to
             worship
             God
             in
             his
             own
             instituted
             Ordinances
             ,
             without
             subscribing
             to
             the
             Ordinances
             of
             Men
             ?
             as
             to
             read
             Apo●ripha
             instead
             of
             Canonicall
             Scripture
             ,
             of
             which
             Apocrypha
             they
             say
             some
             part
             of
             it
             ,
             seems
             to
             be
             untrue
             ;
             as
             to
             instance
             one
             place
             ,
             Tobit
             12
             chap
             :
             appointed
             to
             be
             read
             for
             the
             first
             Lesson
             at
             evening
             Prayer
             the
             fourth
             of
             October
             .
             In
             the
             5
             chap
             :
             &
             4
             verse
             ,
             Tobias
             went
             to
             seek
             a
             man
             to
             go
             with
             him
             to
             Media
             ,
             
             and
             he
             found
             Raphaell
             (
             saith
             that
             verse
             )
             that
             was
             an
             Angell
             :
             and
             verse
             the
             12.
             he
             calls
             himselfe
             Azarias
             the
             son
             of
             Ananias
             the
             great
             ,
             and
             of
             thy
             Brethren
             ,
             saith
             he
             to
             Tobit
             :
             and
             verse
             the
             13.
             
             Tobit
             saith
             ,
             he
             knew
             his
             father
             Ananias
             ,
             when
             they
             went
             together
             to
             Ierusalem
             to
             worship
             :
             and
             chap
             :
             12.
             verse
             15.
             
             He
             calls
             himselfe
             again
             Raphaell
             ,
             one
             of
             the
             seven
             Angells
             which
             presents
             the
             prayers
             of
             the
             saints
             .
             Now
             this
             is
             contrary
             to
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             the
             Church
             of
             England
             ,
             and
             all
             our
             Protestant
             Churches
             ,
             that
             Angells
             should
             present
             the
             Saints
             Prayers
             ,
             and
             so
             become
             their
             Mediator
             or
             Inte●cessor
             ;
             we
             leave
             that
             to
             Papists
             ,
             for
             we
             own
             no
             Mediator
             or
             Intercessor
             between
             God
             &
             Man
             ,
             but
             the
             Man
             
               Christ
               Iesus
            
             ,
             Thus
             you
             see
             he
             calls
             himselfe
             Azarias
             the
             son
             of
             Ananias
             ,
             and
             of
             
             Tobit's
             Brethren
             ;
             and
             in
             another
             place
             he
             calls
             himselfe
             Raphaell
             one
             of
             the
             seven
             Angells
             .
             Now
             they
             say
             ,
             that
             the
             imposing
             of
             this
             and
             such
             like
             ,
             instead
             of
             Canonical
             Scripture
             ,
             makes
             them
             that
             they
             cannot
             subscribe
             ;
             for
             God
             is
             not
             worshipped
             with
             Mens
             hands
             ,
             nor
             with
             mens
             tongues
             ,
             except
             it
             be
             in
             a
             way
             of
             his
             own
             institution
             :
             
               He
               will
               be
               sanctified
               in
               all
               that
               draw
               near
               un●o
               h●m
               .
            
             I
             could
             say
             much
             more
             ,
             but
             I
             forbear
             ,
             for
             a
             word
             to
             the
             wi●e
             is
             suff●c●ent
             .
          
           
             For
             my
             own
             particular
             ,
             I
             conceive
             a
             Litturgy
             in
             the
             Church
             is
             very
             usefull
             ,
             that
             ignorant
             persons
             that
             cannot
             pray
             ,
             may
             by
             often
             reading
             and
             hearing
             it
             read
             ,
             learne
             to
             pray
             in
             a
             forme
             of
             Prayer
             :
             yet
             I
             think
             it
             should
             be
             such
             as
             both
             the
             Prayers
             and
             Lessons
             to
             be
             read
             ,
             should
             be
             suitable
             to
             Canonicall
             Scripture
             ;
             and
             not
             such
             as
             is
             mentioned
             before
             :
             and
             so
             composed
             for
             matter
             and
             manner
             ,
             as
             other
             parts
             of
             Gods
             worship
             be
             not
             hindred
             .
          
           
             But
             from
             what
             hath
             been
             said
             ,
             this
             Question
             may
             arise
             ,
             vizt
             .
          
           
             
               Whether
               the
               silencing
               of
               Godly
               Ministers
               be
               not
               very
               near
               of
               k●n
               to
               the
               killing
               of
               the
               two
               Witnesses
               ?
            
             spoken
             of
             Revelation
             11.
             chapter
             ,
             and
             3
             &
             7
             verses
             .
          
           
             For
             with
             submission
             to
             better
             Judgements
             ,
             it
             is
             humbly
             conceived
             ,
             that
             by
             the
             two
             Witnesses
             is
             signified
             ,
             all
             the
             faithfull
             Preachers
             and
             Professors
             of
             the
             Truth
             which
             in
             all
             Ages
             have
             opposed
             Popery
             ,
             and
             all
             other
             Heresies
             .
             They
             are
             called
             Witnesses
             ,
             because
             they
             bear
             witnes
             to
             the
             Truth
             ,
             and
             they
             are
             said
             to
             be
             but
             
             two
             ,
             because
             two
             is
             the
             least
             number
             in
             bearing
             witnes
             ,
             
               In
               the
               mouth
               of
               two
               or
               three
               Wit●esses
               ,
               shall
               every
               word
               stand
               .
            
             And
             this
             Prophecy
             did
             foretell
             ,
             that
             popery
             and
             Herefy
             should
             so
             generally
             prevail
             ,
             that
             few
             in
             comparison
             of
             the
             adverse
             party
             should
             oppose
             them
             .
             These
             Witnesses
             are
             said
             to
             prophecy
             in
             sackcloth
             ,
             signifying
             the
             mournful
             condition
             they
             should
             be
             in
             ,
             by
             the
             prevailing
             power
             of
             their
             adversaries
             ,
             that
             they
             should
             lead
             a
             sorrowfull
             life
             in
             this
             wo●ld
             ,
             
               they
               spend
               not
               their
               time
               in
               Iollity
               ,
               nor
               worldly
               Pompe
               ,
               and
               bravery
            
             :
             and
             verse
             the
             4
             ▪
             they
             are
             compared
             to
             two
             Olive
             trees
             ;
             for
             by
             the
             preaching
             of
             Gods
             Word
             the
             oyle
             of
             the
             Spirit
             is
             dropt
             into
             tender
             penitent
             hearts
             :
             and
             they
             are
             compared
             to
             two
             Candlesticks
             ,
             that
             as
             the
             Candlestick
             bears
             the
             Candle
             to
             give
             light
             to
             others
             ,
             so
             faithfull
             Preachers
             holds
             forth
             the
             light
             of
             Gods
             Wo●d
             in
             time
             of
             greatest
             darknes
             .
             And
             whereas
             it
             is
             said
             that
             these
             two
             Witnesses
             were
             killed
             by
             their
             adversaries
             ,
             we
             must
             take
             notice
             that
             there
             are
             severall
             sorts
             of
             killing
             ,
             besides
             the
             killing
             with
             the
             sword
             :
             there
             is
             a
             killing
             with
             the
             tongue
             as
             well
             as
             with
             the
             Hand
             ,
             calling
             Men
             ,
             Schismatick
             ,
             Obstinate
             ,
             Turbulent
             ,
             and
             Pestilent
             persons
             ,
             which
             cannot
             be
             proved
             that
             they
             are
             such
             :
             and
             St.
             Iohn
             tell
             us
             ,
             1
             Iohn
             3.15
             .
             That
             .
             
               Whosoever
               hateth
               his
               brother
               is
               a
               murtherer
               ,
               and
               ye
               know
               that
               no
               murtherer
               hath
               eternall
               life
               abiding
               in
               h●m
               ,
            
             and
             verse
             14.
             
             
               He
               that
               loveth
               ●ot
               his
               brother
               ,
               abideth
               in
               death
               .
            
             and
             saith
             our
             Saviour
             ,
             
               He
               that
               saith
               to
               his
               brother
               ,
            
             thou
             fool
             ,
             
               shall
               be
               in
               danger
               of
               Hell
               fire
               .
            
             But
             if
             there
             were
             love
             amongst
             Brethren
             ,
             there
             would
             be
             more
             bearing
             and
             forbearing
             of
             for
             infirmities
             ,
             and
             scruples
             of
             Conscience
             ,
             for
             which
             they
             dare
             not
             subscribe
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             
               A
               second
               Quaerie
               my
               be
               ●his
               ,
            
             vizt
             .
          
           
             Whether
             the
             making
             of
             the
             Image
             of
             the
             Beast
             that
             had
             the
             wound
             of
             a
             sword
             ,
             and
             did
             live
             .
             Revel
             :
             13.14
             .
             be
             not
             meant
             of
             the
             erecting
             of
             an
             externall
             Forme
             of
             Ecclesiasticall
             Government
             ,
             like
             some
             Government
             that
             had
             been
             before
             :
             and
             what
             Government
             this
             making
             〈…〉
             Image
             of
             the
             Beast
             is
             ,
             I
             desire
             to
             know
             :
             For
             the
             beast
             himsel●●●s
             said
             in
             the
             6
             verse
             ,
             to
             blaspheme
             God
             ,
             and
             his
             Tabernacle
             ;
             that
             is
             his
             Church
             and
             People
             :
             and
             in
             the
             7
             verse
             ,
             He
             is
             said
             to
             make
             warre
             with
             the
             Saints
             ,
             and
             overcome
             them
             ;
             that
             is
             ,
             with
             the
             temporall
             sword
             ,
             though
             they
             overcome
             
             him
             w●th
             the
             spirituall
             sword
             ,
             and
             it
             is
             said
             in
             the
             8
             ve●se
             ,
             that
             the
             power
             of
             the
             Beast
             should
             be
             so
             great
             ,
             that
             all
             that
             dwell
             upon
             the
             Earth
             should
             worship
             him
             .
             that
             is
             ,
             by
             submitting
             to
             his
             Edicts
             &
             Government
             ,
             even
             all
             under
             his
             jurisdiction
             or
             Domin●on
             ,
             whose
             Names
             are
             not
             written
             in
             the
             Booke
             of
             Life
             .
             It
             is
             said
             after
             ,
             that
             such
             as
             would
             not
             submit
             to
             his
             Government
             ,
             must
             neither
             buy
             no●
             sell
             ,
             they
             must
             not
             enjoy
             those
             priviledges
             that
             others
             do
             that
             do
             submit
             .
          
           
             Some
             say
             that
             by
             the
             Beast
             mentioned
             in
             the
             first
             verse
             of
             this
             Chapter
             )
             that
             rise
             out
             of
             the
             Sea
             ,
             which
             had
             7
             Heads
             and
             ten
             Horns
             is
             meant
             the
             Romane
             Empire
             :
             and
             by
             the
             second
             beast
             ,
             that
             rise
             out
             of
             the
             Earth
             ,
             that
             had
             two
             Horns
             like
             the
             Lambe
             ,
             but
             spake
             like
             the
             Dragon
             :
             (
             verse
             the
             11.
             )
             is
             meant
             ,
             the
             Pope
             in
             his
             height
             .
             Again
             others
             thinke
             that
             by
             both
             these
             Beasts
             ,
             is
             meant
             the
             Pope
             ;
             whose
             one
             and
             the
             same
             Person
             is
             described
             under
             a
             double
             resemblance
             of
             two
             Beasts
             :
             for
             Anti-christ
             alone
             is
             a
             double
             Head
             ;
             in
             respect
             of
             his
             Civill
             power
             ,
             he
             is
             the
             first
             beast
             ;
             and
             in
             respect
             of
             his
             Spirituall
             or
             Ecclesiasticall
             power
             he
             is
             the
             second
             beast
             .
             Or
             if
             you
             will
             ,
             He
             is
             the
             first
             beast
             in
             regard
             of
             the
             wound
             he
             received
             by
             the
             
               Gothes
               ,
               Vandalls
            
             ,
             and
             Hunnes
             :
             and
             he
             is
             the
             second
             Beast
             ,
             as
             he
             was
             exalted
             in
             his
             height
             ,
             when
             his
             deadly
             wound
             was
             healed
             ,
             and
             ●he
             Gothes
             ,
             &c.
             destroyed
             ,
             and
             the
             Pope
             rise
             to
             have
             great
             possessions
             of
             Cities
             and
             Lands
             :
             for
             he
             exercised
             all
             the
             power
             of
             the
             first
             Beast
             .
             Take
             it
             in
             what
             sence
             you
             will.
             For
             by
             his
             two
             Hornes
             is
             meant
             both
             Civill
             &
             Ecclesiasticall
             power
             ;
             for
             by
             the
             sword
             which
             the
             Pope
             doth
             exercise
             ,
             he
             commands
             obedience
             to
             his
             Ecclesiasticall
             Decrees
             as
             verse
             16.17
             .
             
               He
               caused
               all
               both
               small
               and
               great
               ,
               rich
               and
               poor
               ,
               bond
               and
               free
               to
               receive
               a
               Marke
               in
               their
               right
               hand
               ,
               or
               in
               their
               fore-head
               .
               And
               that
               no
               man
               might
               buy
               or
               sell
               ,
               save
               he
               that
               had
               the
               Marke
               ,
               or
               the
               Name
               of
               the
               beast
               ,
               or
               the
               number
               of
               his
               Name
               .
            
             Now
             by
             the
             Marke
             of
             the
             beast
             in
             the
             fore-head
             ,
             or
             right
             hand
             some
             thinke
             is
             meant
             to
             professe
             and
             practise
             the
             Lawes
             ,
             Religion
             ,
             and
             Decrees
             that
             are
             commanded
             ;
             and
             those
             that
             will
             not
             submit
             thereunto
             ,
             must
             not
             buy
             nor
             sell.
             Now
             this
             second
             Beast
             exercising
             all
             the
             power
             of
             the
             first
             beast
             ,
             and
             commanding
             an
             Image
             of
             the
             B●ast
             to
             be
             made
             ,
             which
             Image
             must
             be
             something
             that
             doth
             resemble
             ,
             〈◊〉
             
             like
             unto
             the
             beast
             :
             and
             if
             the
             Marke
             in
             the
             fore-head
             or
             right
             hand
             ,
             signifie
             the
             profession
             and
             practice
             of
             the
             Lawes
             ,
             Religion
             and
             Decrees
             of
             the
             Beast
             :
             then
             what
             is
             meant
             by
             the
             Image
             of
             the
             beast
             ,
             that
             they
             must
             not
             buy
             nor
             sell
             that
             have
             not
             the
             Beasts
             marke
             ?
             and
             whether
             it
             have
             no
             relation
             to
             the
             silencing
             of
             Preachers
             ,
             that
             do
             not
             subscribe
             their
             Canonicoll
             obedience
             ,
             I
             desire
             to
             be
             resolved
             ,
             and
             would
             be
             much
             ingaged
             to
             those
             that
             would
             take
             the
             pains
             to
             do
             it
             .
          
           
             For
             ,
             certain
             it
             is
             ,
             many
             pecious
             soules
             are
             at
             a
             stand
             ,
             and
             know
             not
             what
             way
             to
             turne
             themselves
             ,
             to
             see
             so
             many
             eminent
             Persons
             ,
             which
             they
             dare
             not
             thinke
             but
             there
             is
             something
             of
             God
             in
             both
             Parties
             ,
             and
             yet
             they
             are
             at
             such
             a
             distance
             in
             their
             practice
             and
             affections
             ,
             and
             that
             for
             a
             small
             Punctilio
             ,
             or
             as
             the
             Holy-Ghost
             saith
             ,
             
               They
               make
               a
               man
               an
               offender
               for
               a
               word
            
             ;
             or
             for
             omission
             of
             some
             small
             matters
             ,
             which
             they
             that
             urge
             them
             ,
             will
             not
             say
             that
             either
             salvation
             or
             damnation
             doth
             depend
             upon
             the
             doing
             ,
             or
             not
             doing
             of
             them
             :
             and
             yet
             for
             omission
             thereof
             ,
             their
             mouthes
             shall
             be
             stopt
             from
             preaching
             ;
             and
             in
             some
             sence
             salvation
             or
             damnation
             depends
             upon
             preaching
             .
             Rom
             :
             10.14
             .
             
               How
               shall
               they
               believe
               in
               him
               ,
               of
               whom
               they
               have
               not
               heard
               :
               and
               how
               shall
               they
               hear
               without
               a
               Preacher
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             For
             preaching
             is
             the
             outward
             ordinary
             means
             that
             God
             hath
             ordained
             to
             worke
             Conversion
             in
             such
             as
             he
             will
             save
             :
             for
             where
             Vision
             faileth
             ,
             the
             people
             perish
             :
             and
             by
             the
             ●●●ching
             of
             the
             Word
             also
             ,
             those
             that
             are
             not
             reformed
             ,
             their
             ●ondemnation
             will
             appear
             to
             be
             just
             .
             And
             those
             that
             do
             not
             preach
             ,
             and
             those
             that
             hinders
             others
             from
             preaching
             ,
             see
             what
             the
             Scripture
             saith
             ,
             Ezek
             :
             33.6
             .
             
               If
               any
               man
               be
               taken
               away
               in
               his
               iniquity
               ,
               for
               want
               of
               warning
               ,
               his
               blood
               will
               God
               require
               at
               the
               Watchmens
               hands
            
             :
             both
             he
             that
             should
             ,
             and
             doth
             not
             preach
             ,
             and
             he
             that
             hinders
             others
             from
             preaching
             .
             Let
             no
             man
             say
             ,
             I
             take
             upon
             me
             to
             teach
             ,
             for
             what
             I
             do
             is
             but
             (
             as
             the
             Apostle
             saith
             ,
             )
             2
             Pet
             :
             3.2
             .
             
               To
               stirre
               up
               your
               pure
               minds
               by
               way
               of
               remembrance
               ,
               though
               ye
               know
               these
               things
            
             :
             for
             I
             heartily
             desire
             peace
             and
             unity
             ,
             and
             that
             all
             men
             would
             remember
             and
             practice
             St.
             Paul's
             exhortation
             ,
             Colos
             :
             3.13
             .
             
               To
               forbear
               one
               another
               ,
               and
               to
               forgive
               one
               another
               :
               and
               if
               any
               man
               have
               a
               quarrell
               against
               any
               ,
               even
               as
               Christ
               forgave
               you
               ,
               so
               also
               do
               ye
               .
            
             Or
             else
             ;
             how
             〈◊〉
             any
             man
             pray
             the
             Lords
             Prayer
             ?
             a
             Heathen
             
             may
             say
             it
             ,
             but
             no
             man
             can
             pray
             it
             ,
             but
             such
             as
             are
             willing
             to
             passe
             by
             their
             Brethrens
             failings
             and
             infirmities
             :
             
               For
               if
               ye
               forgive
               not
               men
               their
               trespasses
               ,
               neither
               will
               your
               Heavenly
               Father
               forgive
               your
               trespasses
               .
            
             And
             these
             Men
             (
             we
             speake
             of
             )
             say
             ,
             that
             if
             they
             trespasse
             against
             Men
             in
             denying
             to
             subscribe
             Canonicall
             obdience
             ,
             it
             is
             ,
             fearing
             they
             should
             trespasse
             against
             God
             if
             they
             should
             do
             it
             ,
             because
             they
             cannot
             do
             it
             of
             faith
             ,
             and
             whatsoever
             is
             not
             of
             faith
             ,
             is
             sin
             :
             
               and
               whether
               it
               be
               right
               in
               your
               sight
               ,
               to
               obey
               Men
               rather
               than
               God
               ,
            
             judge
             ye
             .
          
           
             
               A
               third
               Quaerie
               may
               be
               this
               ,
            
             vizt
             .
          
           
             Whether
             the
             silencing
             of
             Godly
             Ministers
             ,
             have
             not
             some
             relation
             to
             the
             causing
             of
             the
             daily
             Sacrifice
             to
             cease
             ,
             that
             hath
             been
             offered
             up
             daily
             to
             God
             :
             and
             how
             do
             men
             thinke
             God
             will
             take
             it
             ,
             
               Whose
               voice
               once
               shooke
               the
               Earth
               ;
               Heb
            
             :
             12.26
             ,
             27.
             
               but
               now
               he
               hath
               promised
               saying
               ,
               Yet
               once
               mose
               ,
               I
               shake
               not
               the
               Earth
               only
               ,
               but
               also
               Heaven
               :
               and
               this
               word
               ,
            
             yet
             once
             more
             ,
             
               signifieth
               the
               removing
               of
               those
               things
               that
               are
               shaken
               ,
               as
               of
               things
               that
               are
               made
               ,
            
             [
             which
             some
             thinke
             the
             things
             that
             are
             made
             ,
             are
             to
             be
             understood
             of
             all
             Humane
             Inventions
             in
             Divine
             Worship
             ,
             ]
             
               that
               the
               things
               that
               are
               not
               made
               ,
               may
               remain
            
             :
             that
             is
             ,
             those
             things
             that
             are
             of
             Divine
             Institution
             ,
             shall
             remain
             :
             Men
             ,
             nor
             Divells
             ,
             nor
             all
             the
             Powers
             of
             Darkenesse
             shall
             not
             be
             able
             to
             prevaile
             against
             that
             which
             is
             of
             Divine
             Institution
             ,
             when
             all
             Humane
             Inventions
             ,
             in
             point
             of
             Divine
             Worship
             ,
             shall
             be
             removed
             ,
             according
             to
             this
             Promise
             .
          
           
             If
             any
             should
             thinke
             or
             say
             ,
             that
             I
             make
             my selfe
             too
             busy
             to
             propound
             such
             Questions
             ,
             give
             me
             leave
             to
             answer
             such
             ,
             That
             I
             do
             but
             propound
             my
             Question
             to
             men
             :
             and
             yet
             I
             find
             Ieremiah
             in
             the
             12
             chap
             :
             in
             such
             an
             evill
             time
             as
             this
             ,
             when
             God
             had
             warned
             the
             Prophet
             ,
             chap
             :
             7.
             verse
             16.
             and
             chap
             11.
             verse
             14.
             
             That
             he
             should
             not
             pray
             for
             that
             people
             for
             their
             good
             ,
             for
             he
             would
             not
             hear
             him
             for
             them
             ;
             yet
             even
             then
             did
             Ieremiah
             (
             chap
             :
             12.
             verse
             1.
             )
             propound
             a
             question
             to
             God
             :
             
               Wherefore
               doth
               the
               way
               of
               the
               wicked
               prosper
               ?
               wherefore
               are
               all
               they
               happy
               that
               deal
               treacherously
            
             ?
             meaning
             that
             they
             were
             happy
             as
             to
             their
             outward
             estate
             in
             the
             world
             .
             For
             (
             saith
             he
             )
             
               thou
               hast
               planted
               them
               ,
               and
               they
               have
               taken
               root
               ,
               and
               grow
               :
               thou
               art
               near
               their
               mouth
               ,
               and
               farr
               from
               their
               reins
               .
            
             Then
             God
             answers
             Ieremiah
             ,
             ver
             :
             6.
             
             
               Even
               thy
               brethren
               ,
               and
               the
               house
               
               of
               thy
               Father
               ,
               they
               have
               dealt
               treacherously
               with
               thee
               ;
               they
               have
               called
               a
               multitude
               after
               thee
            
             :
             and
             verse
             10.
             
             
               Many
               Pastours
               have
               destroyed
               my
               Vineyard
               ,
               they
               have
               troden
               down
               my
               portion
               under
               foot
               :
               they
               have
               made
               my
               pleasant
               portion
               a
               desolate
               wildernesse
               :
               and
               being
               desolate
               it
               mou●●●th
               to
               me
               .
            
             and
             verses
             13
             ,
             14.
             
             
               They
               have
               sowen
               wheat
               ,
               but
               shall
               reap
               thornes
               :
               For
               thus
               saith
               the
               Lord
               against
               all
               mine
               evill
               neighbors
               ,
               that
               touch
               mine
               Inheritance
               ,
               which
               I
               have
               caused
               my
               people
               Israell
               to
               inherit
               ,
               Behold
               I
               will
               pluck
               them
               out
               of
               their
               Land
               ,
            
             and
             no
             marvell
             if
             God
             pluck
             them
             out
             ,
             when
             they
             had
             pluct
             God's
             people
             out
             first
             :
             for
             he
             that
             toucheth
             them
             ,
             toucheth
             ,
             the
             Apple
             of
             his
             eye
             .
             I
             am
             loath
             to
             trouble
             the
             Reader
             with
             too
             much
             ,
             untill
             I
             see
             how
             this
             will
             be
             accepted
             :
             and
             now
             all
             those
             that
             love
             our
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
             in
             sincerity
             ,
             I
             commend
             you
             to
             God
             ,
             and
             to
             the
             word
             of
             his
             Grace
             ,
             which
             is
             able
             to
             build
             you
             up
             ,
             and
             to
             give
             you
             an
             inheritance
             among
             them
             that
             are
             sanctified
             .
          
           
             
               By
               
                 George
                 Pressicke
              
               .
            
          
           
             FINIS
             .