single life, or to abstain from marriage: therefore it is lawful for them, as for all other Christian men, to marry at their discretion, as they shall judge the same to serve better to godliness. From the Homilies. BOOK I. HOMILY 11. Against Whoredom and Adul tery. BOOK II. HOMILY 4. Of Good Works; and first of Fasting.(passim.) HOMILY 5. Against Gluttony and Drunken ness. HOMILY 6. Against Excess of Apparel. CRANMER'S CATECHISM. In the last sermon ye were taught how we should behave ourselves toward our neighbour, that we kill him not, neither in will, word, nor deed, neither hurt him in his goods or body. Now a man (if he be a man indeed, and no mon ster) next after his own body, doth most dearly love his wife; wherefore next followeth the Sixth Commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," the which teacheth us how we should order ourselves towards our wives, that we should love them, not forsake them, or break the promise of wedlock with them, but lovingly keep them company. Also that we should not lust after another man's wife, neither with fair words or gifts entice her away from her husband, but labour with all diligence, that women, both married and unmarried, may keep their chastity undefiled. For God himself did institute and ordain marriage, and did hallow it with his own blessing. Wherefore we may be sure, that this state of life pleaseth God, and that it is his will to have it kept without pollution or dishonesty. For God after that he had made Adam, he said thus: "It is not good that Adam should be alone, let us make for him an help. And when Adam was asleep, the Lord took one of his ribs, and made a woman of the rib which he had taken from Adam. And he brought her to Adam, and Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. For this cause man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined with his wife, and they shall be twain in one flesh. And the Lord God blessed them, saying, Grow and increase, and replenish the earth, and till it." By this you may learn, good children, that God himself did institute marriage with his own word. Wherefore, there is no doubt, but that this kind of life is holy, and doth highly please God. As the Apostle Paul writeth to the Hebrews, "Wedlock is honourable, and the bed therein is unspotted; but adulterers and fornicators God doth condemn." Furthermore, God saith, "Grow and increase." Here he declareth, that the fruit of wedlock, that is to say, children, are the gift of God. For if he had not commanded this thing by his Word, then married folks could have had no children. Wherefore ye shall by these words chiefly learn, that there is a great difference between wedlock and the unlawful company betwixt man and woman. For in marriage the company between the husband and the wife is no sin (for God hath ordained it, and it pleaseth him), but fornication and adultery be sin, which God hath forbid, and they highly displease him. To married folks he hath said, "Grow, increase, and fill the earth:" but to whoremongers and harlots he hath not said so, but hath condemned them. Children begotten in marriage please God, but the generation of bastards displeaseth him, and lacketh his blessing. Wherefore, it is much of the profit of the cómmonwealth, that wedlock should be kept purely and chastely, out of which springeth the fruit of virtuous and honest children, which may prove honest men, and be meet to bear office in their cities and countries. But where adultery reigneth, where youth doth both hear and see unchasteness, there the infection of uncleanness spreadeth abroad, and doth poison the multitude; and God at the length doth punish such sins with hunger, famine, battle, pestilence, and suchlike, until he hath utterly destroyed the whole realm, or city..... Now, forasmuch as marriage is a kind of life so holy, godly, and honest, and that also it pertaineth so much to the profit of the commonwealth, that the promise therein made should be faithfully observed for the causes above rehearsed; therefore God with this Commandment, as with a strong bulwark or fortress hath defended wedlock, saying, "Thou shalt be no wedlock-breaker." And to the intent we might the better understand what our Lord God meant by this Commandment, Christ himself did expound it, saying, "Ye have heard how it was said to them of the old Law, Thou shalt commit no adultery. But I say unto you, He that looketh upon a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery in his heart." For it is not enough to abstain from unlawful company with another man's wife, but we must abstain also from all wanton communication, all unclean affections and thoughts. Wherefore this Commandment, "Thou shalt commit none adultery," is as much as to say, Thou shalt not offend with thy neighbour's wife, neither in act, nor unclean words, nor looks, winks, becks, or other unhonest gestures and signs, neither in affection and private motion of thy heart. But I command thee, saith God, that thou be shamefaced, chaste, pure, and undefiled, whether thou be avirgin, widow, or married; for these three states of life be holy and pure. Herein also we be commanded, that we give none aid nor counsel, cause or occasion to others to commit adultery, nor give houseroom, harbour, or lodging, to such offenders but as we ought to keep our own souls clean from all such vices, so it is our duty also to monish and dissuade all others from such shameful enterprises, both with threats, punishments, and all means possible, to stop and let them from such great abomination. And think not, good children, that in this Commandment, only wedlock-breaking is forbid, and that other whoredom or lechery is not forbid ; as some frantic men do think that single fornication between unmarried persons is not forbid, because God in this Commandment speaketh in express words only of adulterers, or wedlockbreakers. But take heed, good children, that ye err not with these ungodly, wicked persons, but know ye for a surety that fornication, whoredom, lechery, and all kind of uncleanness, by whatsoever name or title it be called, is sin, and highly displeaseth God. For Moses saith, "There shall be no whore among the daughters of Israel." Also he saith, "There shall be no whoremonger among the children of Israel." And St. Paul saith, in express words, "Fornication, and all uncleanness, let it not be once named among you as becometh saints. For this know for a surety, that no whoremonger, either unclean person, hath any |