Page:Wedding ring fit for the finger, or, The salve of divinity on the sore of humanity.pdf/6

 6 Paul makes it one of the eharaeters of those that should cherish the faith, 1 Tim. iv. 3. Not to forbear marriage; which is not only lawful, but also honourable ;--to forbid which, is damnably sinful, and only taught by the influence of devils. One of the Popes of Rome sprinkles this unholy and impure drop upon it, " Carnis pollutionem et immuditiem." It is strange that should be a pollution, which was instituted before corruption ; or that im- purity, which was ordained in the state of inno- ceney; or that they should make that to be a sin, which they make to be a sacrament; strange stupidity !-But a bastard may be laid at the door of chastity, and a leaden crown set upon a golden head.---Bellarmine, (that mighty atlas of the Papal power) blows his stinking breath upon it : “ Better were it for "a priest to defile himself with many harlots, “than to be married to one wife."--These children of the purple whore prefer monaste- ries before marriages, a concubine before a companion. They use too many women for their lusts, to choose any for their love.-- Their tables are so largely spread, that they cannot feed upon one dish. As for their exalt- ing of a virgin-state, it is like him that con- mended fasting, when he had filled his belly. Who knows not, that virginity is a pearl of a sparkling lustre? But the one cannot be set up, without the other be thrown down : No oblation will pacify the former, but the de- molishing of the latter. The' we find many enemies to the choice of marriage, yet it is rare to find any enemies to the use of marriage.