1   And concerning the things vvhereof you vvrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a vvoman.

2   But because of fornication let euery man haue09Q1069his ovvne vvife, and let euery vvoman haue her ovvne husband.

3   09Q1070Let the husband ^note render his dette to the vvife: and the vvife also in like maner to her husband.

4   The vvoman hath not povver of her ovvne body: but her husband. And in like maner the man also hath not povver of his ovvne body: but the vvoman.

5   Defraude not one an other, except perhaps by consent for a time, ^note that you may09Q1071giue your self ^note to praier: and returne againe together, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinencie. ^note

6   But I say this09Q1072by indulgence, not by commaundement.

7   For I vvould al men to be as my self: but euery one hath09Q1073a proper gift of God: one so, and an other so.

8    ^noteBut I say to the vnmaried and to vvidovves: it is good for them if they so abide euen as I also.

9   But09Q1074if they doe not conteine them selues, let them marie. For it is09Q1075better to marie then ^note to be burnt.

10   But to them that be ioyned in matrimonie, not I giue commaundement, but our Lord, ^note that the vvife depart not from her husband:

11   and if she depart,09Q1076to remaine vnmaried, or to be rec&obar;ciled to her husband. And let not the husband put avvay his vvife.

12   For to the rest,09Q1077I say, not our Lord. If any brother haue a vvife an infidel, and she consent to dvvel with him: let him not put her avvay.

13   And if any vvoman haue a husband an infidel, and he consent to dvvel vvith her: let her not put avvay her husband.

14   For the man an infidel is sanctified by the faithful vvoman: and the vvoman an infidel09Q1078is sanctified by the faithful husband: otherwise your children should be vncleane: but novv they are holy.

15   But if the infidel depart, let him depart. for the brother or sister is not subiect to seruitude in such. but in peace hath God called vs.

16   For how knowest thou woman, if thou shalt saue thy husb&abar;d? or how knowest thou man, if thou shalt saue the vvoman?

17   But to euery one as our Lord hath deuided, as God hath called euery one, so let him vvalke, and as in al Churches I teach.

18   Is any man called being circumcised? let him not procure prepuce. Is any man called in prepuce? let him not be circumcised.

19   Circumcision is nothing, and prepuce is nothing:09Q1079but the obseruation of the commaundements of God.

20   Euery one in the vocation that he vvas called, in it let him abide.

21   Vvast thou called being a bondman? care not for it: but and if thou canst be made free, vse it rather.

22   For he that in our Lord is called, being a bondman, is the ^note franchised of our Lord. likevvise he that is called, being free, is the bondman of Christ.

23   You vvere bought vvith price, be not made the ^note b&obar;dmen of men.

24   Euery ^note brother vvherein he vvas called, in that let him abide before God.

25   And as concerning virgins, a commaundement of our Lord I haue not: but09Q1080counsel I giue, as hauing obteined mercie of our Lord to be faithful. ^note

26   I thinke therfore that this is good for the present necessitie, because it is good for a man so to be.

27   Art thou tied to a vvife? seeke not to be loosed. Art thou loose from a vvife? seeke not a vvife.

28   But if thou take a vvife, ^note thou hast not sinned. And09Q1081if a virgin marie, she hath not sinned. neuerthelesse09Q1082tribulation of the flesh shal such haue. but I spare you.

29   This therfore I say brethren, the time is short, it remaineth, that they also which haue vviues, be09Q1083as though they had not:

30   and they that vveepe, as though they vvept not: and they that reioyce, as though they reioyced not: and they that bye, as though they possessed not:

31   and they that vse this vvorld, as though they vsed it not. for the figure of this vvorld passeth avvay.

32   But I vvould haue you to be vvithout carefulnes. He that is without a vvife, is09Q1084careful for the things that pertaine to our Lord, how he may please God.

33   But he that is vvith a vvife, is careful for the things that pertaine to the vvorld, hovv he may please his vvife: and he is deuided.

34   And the vvoman vnmaried & the virgin, thinketh on the things that pertaine to our Lord: that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. &cross4; But she that is maried, thinketh on the things that pertaine to the vvorld, hovv she may please her husband.

35   And this I speake to your profit: not to cast a snare vpon you, but to that vvhich is honest, & that may giue you povver vvithout impediment to attend vpon our Lord.

36   But if any man thinke that he seemeth dishonoured vpon his virgin, for that she is past age, and if it must so be, let him doe that he vvil. He sinneth not if she marie.

37   For he that hath determined in his hart being settled, not hauing necessitie, but

hauing povver of his ovvne vvil, and hath iudged this in his hart, to keepe his virgin, doeth vvel.

38   Therfore both he that ioyneth his virgin in matrimonie, doeth vvel: & he that ioyneth not, doeth better.

39    ^noteA vvoman is bound to the lavv so long time as her husband liueth: but if her husband sleepe, she is at libertie: let her marie to vvhom she vvil: only in our Lord.

40   But ^note more blessed shal she be, if she so remaine, according to my counsel. and I thinke that I also haue the Spirit of God.

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