Chapter III.—Remarks on Some of the “Dangers and Wounds” Referred to in the Preceding Chapter.

If these things are so, it is certain that believers contracting marriages with Gentiles are guilty of fornication,122    Comp. de Pa., c. xii. (mid.), and the note there. and are to be excluded from all communication with the brotherhood, in accordance with the letter of the apostle, who says that “with persons of that kind there is to be no taking of food even.”123    Comp. 1 Cor. v. 11.  Or shall we “in that day”124    The translator has ventured to read “die illo” here, instead of Oehler’s “de illo.” produce (our) marriage certificates before the Lord’s tribunal, and allege that a marriage such as He Himself has forbidden has been duly contracted?  What is prohibited (in the passage just referred to) is not “adultery;” it is not “fornication.”  The admission of a strange man (to your couch) less violates “the temple of God,”125    1 Cor. iii. 16, comp. vi. 19. less commingles “the members of Christ” with the members of an adulteress.126    1 Cor. vi. 15.  So far as I know, “we are not our own, but bought with a price;”127    1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. and what kind of price?  The blood of God.128    See the last reference, and Acts xx. 28, where the mss. vary between Θεοῦ and Κυρίου.  In hurting this flesh of ours, therefore, we hurt Him directly.129    De proximo.  Comp. de Pa., cc. v. and vii.  “Deo de proximo amicus;” “de proximo in Deum peccat.”  What did that man mean who said that “to wed a ‘stranger’ was indeed a sin, but a very small one?” whereas in other cases (setting aside the injury done to the flesh which pertains to the Lord) every voluntary sin against the Lord is great.  For, in as far as there was a power of avoiding it, in so far is it burdened with the charge of contumacy.

Let us now recount the other dangers or wounds (as I have said) to faith, foreseen by the apostle; most grievous not to the flesh merely, but likewise to the spirit too.  For who would doubt that faith undergoes a daily process of obliteration by unbelieving intercourse?  “Evil confabulations corrupt good morals;”130    Comp. b. i. c. viii. sub. fin., where Tertullian quotes the same passage, but renders it somewhat differently. how much more fellowship of life, and indivisible intimacy!  Any and every believing woman must of necessity obey God.  And how can she serve two lords131    Comp. Matt. vi. 24; Luke xvi. 13.—the Lord, and her husband—a Gentile to boot?  For in obeying a Gentile she will carry out Gentile practices,—personal attractiveness, dressing of the head, worldly132    Sæculares. elegancies, baser blandishments, the very secrets even of matrimony tainted:  not, as among the saints, where the duties of the sex are discharged with honour (shown) to the very necessity (which makes them incumbent), with modesty and temperance, as beneath the eyes of God.

CAPUT III.

1292C Haec cum ita sint, fideles gentilium matrimonia subeuntes stupri reos esse constat et arcendos ab omni communicatione fraternitatis, ex litteris Apostoli dicentis, cum ejusmodi nec cibum sumendum (I Cor., V, II). Aut numquid tabulas nuptiales de illo apud tribunal 1293A Domini proferemus? et matrimonium rite contractum allegabimus? quod vetuit ipse, non adulterium est? quod prohibitum est, non stuprum est? Extranei hominis admissio minus templum Dei violat, minus membra Christi cum membris adulterae commiscet? Quod sciam, non sumus nostri , sed pretio empti; et quali pretio? sanguine Dei. Laedentes igitur carnem istam, eum laedimus. De proximo quid sibi voluit ille qui dixit, delictum quidem esse extraneo nubere, sed minimum, cum alias, seposita carnis injuria ad Dominum pertinentis, omne delictum voluntarium in Domino grande sit. Quanto enim potestas vitandi fuit, tanto contumaciae crimine oneratur. Recenseamus nunc caetera pericula et vulnera, ut dixi, fidei ab Apostolo provisa, non carni tantum, verum 1293B etiam ipsi spiritui molestissima. Quis enim dubitet obliterari quotidie fidem commercio infideli? Bonos corrumpunt mores confabulationes malae; quanto magis convictus et individuus usus? Quaevis mulier fidelis Dominum observet necesse est. Et quomodo potest duobus dominis deservire, Domino et marito, adde, gentili? Gentilem enim observando gentilia exhibebit, 1294A formam, exstructionem , munditias saeculares, blanditias turpiores, ipsa etiam matrimonii secreta maculosa; non ut penes sanctos officia sexus cum honore ipsius necessitatis tanquam sub oculis Dei modeste et moderate transiguntur.