Wilson on Article XXXII: Of the Marriage of Priests

a We say that matrimony is holy and honourable in all sorts and dates of persons, as in the patriarchs, in the prophets, in the apostles, in the holy martyrs, in the ministers of the church, and in bishops : and that it is an honest and lawful thing (as Chrysostom saith) for a man, living in matrimony, to take upon him therewith the dignity of a bishop. And as Sozomenus saith of Spiridion, and Nazianzen of his own father, we say, that a good and diligent bishop doth serve in the ministry never the worse for that he is married, but rather the better, and with more ableness to do good. Further we say, that the same law which by constraint taketh away this liberty from men, and compelleth them against their wills to live single, is the ” doc- trine of devils,” as Paul saith. Jewell.

Holy matrimony is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man’s innocency ; signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church : which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee ; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men. Marriage Service.

a A bishop must be blameless, wife, as well as other apostles, and

the husband of one wife ; one that as the brethren of the Lord, and

ruleth well his own house, having Cephas? 1 Cor. ix. 5. Marriage

his children in subjection with all is honourable in all, and the bed

gravity. 1 Tim. iii. 2, 4. Let dea- undefiled. Heb. xiii. 4. To avoid

cons be the husbands of one wife, fornication, let every man have hia

ruling their children and their own own wife, and let every woman

houses well. 1 Tim. iii. 12. If any have her own husband. 1 Cor. vii.

elder be blameless, the husband of 2. I say therefore to the un-

one wife, having faithful children, married and widows, it is good for

Tit. i. 6. And the Lord said unto them if they abide even as I. But

Moses, Speak unto the priests the if they cannot contain, let them

sons of Aaron, and say unto them, marry : for it is better to marry

They shall not take a wife that is than to burn. 1 Cor. vii. 9. In the

a whore, or profane ; neither shall latter times some shall depart from

they take a woman put away from the faith, giving heed to seducing

her husband : for he is holy unto spirits, and doctrines of devils j

his God. Lev. xxi. 7. Have we forbidding to marry. lTim.iv.

not power to lead about a sister, a 3.