A Selection from the English Prose Works of John Milton

.

nothing for the Wrongs and Grievances of the Mind.

An objection, that the Mind should be better looked to

before Contract, answered

95

CHAPTER IV. The second Reason of this Law, because

without it, Marriage, as it happens oft, is not a Remedy

of that which it promises, as any rational Creature would

expect. That Marriage, if we pattern from the Begin-

ning, as our Saviour bids, was not properly the Remedy

of Lust, but the Fulfilling of Conjugal Love and Help-

fulness

98

CHAPTER V. The third Reason of this Law, because with-

out it, he who has happened where he finds Nothing but

remediless Offences and Discontents, is in more and

greater Temptations than ever before

101

CHAPTER VI. The fourth Reason of this Law, that God

regards Love and Peace in the Family, more than a com-

pulsive Performance of Marriage, which is more broke

by a grivous Continuance, than by a needful Divorce 102

CHAPTER VII. The fifth Reason, that Nothing more hin-

ders and disturbs the whole Life of a Christian, than a

- Matrimony found to be incurably unfit, and doth the

same in Effect that an idolatrous Match

105

CHAPTER VIII. That an idolatrous Heretic ought to be

divorced, after à convenient Space given to Hope of

Conversion

107

CHAPTER IX. That Adultery is not the greatest Breach of

Matrimony. That there may be other Violations as

great

110

CHAPTER X. The sixth Reason of this Law, that to pro-

hibit Divorce sought for natural Cases, is against Na-

ture

112

CHAPTER XI. The seventh Reason, that sometimes Con-

tinuance in Marriage may be evidently the Shortening or

Endangering of Life to either Party ; both Law and Di-

vinity concluding, that Life is to be preferred before

Marriage, the intended Solace of Life

114

CHAPTER XII. The eighth Reason, it is probable or rather

certain, that every one who happens to marry, hath not

the Calling ; and therefore upon Unfitness found and

considered, Force ought not to be used

115

CHAPTER XIII The ninth Reason, because Marriage is

not a mere rnal Coition, but a human ciety ; where

.

that cannot reasonably be had, there can be no true Ma-

trimony. Marriage compared with all other Covenants

and Vows warrantably broken for the good of Man.

Marriage the Papist's Sacrament, and unfit Marriage the

BOOK SECOND. CHAPTER I. The Ordinance of Sab-

bath and Marriage compared. Hyperbole no unfrequent

Figure in the Gospel. Excess cured by contrary Ex-

Christ neither did nor could abrogate the Law of

Divorce, but only reprieve the Abuse thereof

120

CHAPTER III. That to allow Sin by Law, is against the

Nature of Law, the End of the Lawgiver, and the Good

of the People. Impossible therefore in the Law of God 123

CHAPTER IV. The Solution of Rivetus, that God dispensed

by some unknown Way, ought not to satisfy a Christian

Mind

124

CHAPTER VIII. The true Sense how Moses suffered Di-

vorce for Hardness of Heart

126

CHAPTER IX. The Words of the Institution how to be

understood; and of our Saviour's Answer to his Disci.

ples

128

CHAPTER XIV. That Beza's Opinion of regulating Sin by

apostolic Law cannot be sound

131

CHAPTER XV. That Divorce was not given for Wives

only, as Beza and Par us write .

139

CHAPTER XVI. How to be understood that they must be

one Flesh ; and how that those whom God hath joined,

Man should not sunder

134

CHAPTER XIX. Christ's Manner of Teaching.

St Paul

adds to this Matter of Divorce without Command, to

show the Matter to be of Equity, not of Rigor. That

the Bondage of a Christian may be as much, and his

Peace as little, in some other Marriages besides idola.

trous. If those Arguments therefore be good in that

one Case, why not in those other ? Therefore the Apos-

tle himself adds εν τοις τοιούτοις

137

CHAPTER XX. The Meaning of St Paul, that Charity be-

1

.

lieveth all things.' What is to be said to the License

which is vainly feared will grow her eby. What to those

who never have done prescribing Patience in this case.

The Papist most severe against Divorce, yet most easy

?

to all License. Of all the Miseries in Marriage God is

to be cleared, and the Faults to be laid on Man's unjust

Laws

199

CHAPTER XXI. That the Matter of Divorce is not to be

tried by Law, but by Conscience, as many other Sins are 148

CHAPTER XXII. The last Reason why Divorce is not to

be restrained by Law, it being against the Law of Nature

and of Nations. The larger Proof whereof referred to

Mr Selden's Book, De Jure Naturali et Gentium.'

An objection of Paræus answered. How it ought to be

ordered by the Church. That this will not breed any

worse Inconvenience, nor so bad as is now suffered 145

The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates ; proving

that it is lawful, and hath been held so through

all Ages, for any, who have the Power, to call

to Account a Tyrant, or wicked King, and after

due Conviction, to depose, and put him to Death ;

if the ordinary Magistrate have neglected, or de-

nied to do it. And that they, who of late so

much blame Deposing, are the men that did it

themselves

154

.

*EIKONOKAASTHE. In Answer to a Book entitled,

ΕΙΚΩΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΗ, the Portraiture of his Sacred

Majesty in ins Solitudes and Sufferings. The

Preface

177

I. Upon the King's Calling this last Parliament

188

II. Upon the Earl of Strafford's Death

197

VI Upon his Retirement from Westminster

203

X. Upon their Seizing the Magazines, Forts, &c.

212

XII. Upon the Rebellion in Ireland

214

XIII. Upon the Calling in of the Scots and their Coming 214

XIV. Upon the Covenant

219

XV. Upon the many Jealousies, &c.

219

XVI. Upon the Ordinance against the Common Prayer

Book

221

XIX. Upon the various Events of the War

226

XXVII. Entitled, To the Prince of Wales

229

XXVIII. Entitled, Meditations upon Death

235

.

A Treatise of Civil Power in Ecclesiastical Causes,

showing that it is not lawful for any Power on

Earth to compel in Matters of Religion 245

Considerations touching the likeliest Means to re-

move Hirelings out of the Church. Wherein is

also discoursed of Tithes, Church Fees, and

Church Revenues; and whether any Mainten-

ance of Ministers can be settled by Law 267

The ready and easy way to establish a Free Com-

monwealth; and the Excellence thereof

compar-

ed with the Inconveniences and Dangers of re-

admitting Kingship in this Nation

299

Of True Religion, Heresy, Schism, Toleration; and

what best Means may be used against the Growth

of Popery

334

.

Livros

A Selection from the English Prose Works of John Milton, Volume 2