The Bible, Douay-Rheims Part 758

By indulgence... That is, by a condescension to your weakness.

7:7. For I would that all men were even as myself. But every one hath his proper gift from G.o.d: one after this manner, and another after that.

7:8. But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.

7:9. But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.

If they do not contain, etc... This is spoken of such as are free, and not of such as, by vow, have given their first faith to G.o.d; to whom if they will use proper means to obtain it, G.o.d will never refuse the gift of continency. Some translators have corrupted this text, by rendering it, if they cannot contain.

7:10. But to them that are married, not I, but the Lord, commandeth that the wife depart not from her husband.

7:11. And if she depart, that she remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife.

7:12. For to the rest I speak, not the Lord. If any brother hath a wife that believeth not and she consent to dwell with him: let him not put her away.

I speak, not the Lord... Viz., by any express commandment, or ordinance.

7:13. And if any woman hath a husband that believeth not and he consent to dwell with her: let her not put away her husband.

7:14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife: and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband.

Otherwise your children should be unclean: but now they are holy.

Is sanctified... The meaning is not, that the faith of the husband or the wife is of itself sufficient to put the unbelieving party, or their children, in the state of grace and salvation; but that it is very often an occasion of their sanctification, by bringing them to the true faith.

7:15. But if the unbeliever depart, let him depart. For a brother or sister is not under servitude in such cases. But G.o.d hath called us in peace.

7:16. For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband?

Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

7:17. But as the Lord hath distributed to every one, as G.o.d hath called every one: so let him walk. And so in all churches I teach.

7:18. Is any man called, being circ.u.mcised? Let him not procure uncirc.u.mcision. Is any man called in uncirc.u.mcision? Let him not be circ.u.mcised.

7:19. Circ.u.mcision is nothing and uncirc.u.mcision is nothing: but the observance of the commandments of G.o.d.

7:20. Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called.

7:21. Wast thou called, being a bondman? Care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

7:22. For he that is called in the Lord, being a bondman, is the freeman of the Lord. Likewise he that is called, being free, is the bondman of Christ.

7:23. You are bought with a price: be not made the bondslaves of men.

7:24. Brethren, let every man, wherein he was called, therein abide with G.o.d.

7:25. Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.

7:26. I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity: that it is good for a man so to be.

7:27. Art thou bound to a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.

7:28. But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you.

7:29. This therefore I say, brethren: The time is short. It remaineth, that they also who have wives be as if they had none:

7:30. And they that weep, as though they wept not: and they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not: and they that buy as if they possessed not:

7:31. And they that use this world, as if they used it not. For the fas.h.i.+on of this world pa.s.seth away.

7:32. But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord: how he may please G.o.d.

7:33. But he that is with a wife is solicitous for the things of the world: how he may please his wife. And he is divided.

7:34. And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord: that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world: how she may please her husband.

7:35. And this I speak for your profit, not to cast a snare upon you, but for that which is decent and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment.

7:36. But if any man think that he seemeth dishonoured with regard to his virgin, for that she is above the age, and it must so be: let him do what he will. He sinneth not if she marry.

Let him do what he will; he sinneth not, etc... The meaning is not, as libertines would have it, that persons may do what they will and not sin, provided they afterwards marry; but that the father, with regard to the giving his virgin in marriage, may do as he pleaseth; and that it will be no sin to him if she marry.

7:37. For he that hath determined, being steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but having power of his own will: and hath judged this in his heart, to keep his virgin, doth well.

7:38. Therefore both he that giveth his virgin in marriage doth well: and he that giveth her not doth better.

7:39. A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if her husband die, she is at liberty. Let her marry to whom she will: only in the Lord.

7:40. But more blessed shall she be, if she so remain, according to my counsel. And I think that I also have the spirit of G.o.d.

1 Corinthians Chapter 8

Though an idol be nothing, yet things offered up to idols are not to be eaten, for fear of scandal.

8:1. Now concerning those things that are sacrificed to idols: we know we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up: but charity edifieth.

Knowledge puffeth up, etc... Knowledge, without charity and humility, serveth only to puff persons up.

8:2. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he hath not yet known as he ought to know.

8:3. But if any man love G.o.d, the same is known by him.

8:4. But as for the meats that are sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is no G.o.d but one.

8:5. For although there be that are called G.o.ds, either in heaven or on earth (for there be G.o.ds many and lords many):

G.o.ds many, etc... Reputed for such among the heathens.

8:6. Yet to us there is but one G.o.d, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him: and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.