1Corinthians:7

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* Now (note :)He teaches concerning marriage that although a single life has its advantages , which he will declare afterwards , yet that marriage is necessary for the avoiding of fornication . But so that neither one man may have many wives , nor any wife many husbands .(:note ) concerning the things Concerning those matters about which you wrote to me . whereof ye wrote unto me : [It is ] Commodious , and (as we say ) expedient . For marriage brings many griefs with it , and that by reason of the corruption of our first estate . good for a man not to touch a woman . * Neuertheles , to auoide fornication , let euery man haue his wife , and let euery woman haue her owne husband . * * * Defraud ye not one the other , (note :)He adds an exception : unless the one abstain from the other by mutual consent , that they may the better give themselves to prayer , in which nonetheless he warns them to consider what is expedient , lest by this long breaking off as it were from marriage , they are stirred up to incontinency .(:note ) except [it be ] with consent for a time , that ye may Do nothing else . give yourselves to fasting and prayer ; and come together again , that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency . * * For I (note :)I wish .(:note ) would that all men were even as I myself . But every man hath his proper gift of God , one after this manner , and another after that . * * But if they cannot contain , let them marry : for it is better to marry than to (note :)So to burn with lust , that either the will yields to the temptation , or else we cannot call upon God with a peaceful conscience .(:note ) burn . * * But and if shee depart , let her remaine vnmaried , or be reconciled vnto her husband , &amp ; let not the husband put away his wife . * * And the woman which hath an husbande that beleeueth not , if he be content to dwell with her , let her not forsake him . * * * For what knowest thou , O wife , whether thou shalt saue thine husband ? Or what knowest thou , O man , whether thou shalt saue thy wife ? * * * Circumcision is nothing , and vncircumcision is nothing , but the keeping of the commandements of God . * Let euery man abide in the same vocation wherein he was called . * Art thou called [being ] a servant ? (note :)As though this calling were too unworthy a calling for Christ .(:note ) care not for it : but if thou mayest be made free , use [it ] rather . * For he that is called in the (note :)He that is in the state of a servant , and is called to be a Christian .(:note ) Lord , [being ] a servant , is the Lord 's freeman : likewise also he that is called , [being ] free , is Christ 's servant . * * * * I suppose therefore that (note :)To remain a virgin .(:note ) this is good for the For the necessity which the saints are daily subject to , who are continually tossed up and down , so that their estate may seem most unfit for marriage , were it not that the weakness of the flesh forced them to it . present distress , [I say ], that [it is ] good for a man so to be . * Art thou bounde vnto a wife ? Seeke not to be loosed : art thou loosed from a wife ? Seeke not a wife . * But and if thou marry , thou hast not sinned ; and if a virgin marry , she hath not sinned . Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the (note :)By the «flesh » he understands whatever things belong to this present life , for marriage brings with it many problems . So that he leans more to a single life , not because it is a service more agreeable to God than marriage is , but for those problems which (if it were possible ) he would wish all men to be avoid , so that they might give themselves to God alone .(:note ) flesh : but I I would your weakness were provided for . spare you . * But this I say , brethren , the time [is ] (note :)For we are now in the latter end of the world .(:note ) short : it remaineth , that both they that have wives be as though they had none ; * And they that (note :)By «weeping » the Hebrews understand all adversity , and by «joy », all prosperity .(:note ) weep , as though they wept not ; and they that rejoice , as though they rejoiced not ; and they that buy , as though they possessed not ; * And they that use this (note :)Those things which God gives us here .(:note ) world , as not abusing [it ]: for the The guise , and shape , and fashion : by which he shows us that there is nothing in this world that continues . fashion of this world passeth away . * And I would haue you without care . The vnmaried careth for the things of the Lord , howe he may please the Lord . * But he that is married (note :)Those that are married have their minds drawn here and there , and therefore if any man has the gift of continency , it is more advantageous for him to live alone . But those who are married may care for the things of the Lord also . Clement , Strom . 3 .(:note ) careth for the things that are of the world , how he may please [his ] wife . * There is difference [also ] between a wife and a virgin . The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord , that she may be holy both in body and in (note :)Mind .(:note ) spirit : but she that is married careth for the things of the world , how she may please [her ] husband . * And this I speak for your own (note :)He means that he will force no man either to marry or not to marry , but to show them plainly what type of life is most advantageous .(:note ) profit ; not that I may cast a snare upon you , but for that which is comely , and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction . * * Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his (note :)Resolved himself .(:note ) heart , having no That the weakness of his daughter does not force him , or any other matter , that that he may safely still keep her a virgin . necessity , but hath power over his own will , and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin , doeth well . * So then he that giveth [her ] in marriage doeth well ; but he that giveth [her ] not in marriage doeth (note :)Provides better for his children , and that not in just any way , but by reason of such conditions as are mentioned before .(:note ) better . * * But shee is more blessed , if she so abide , in my iudgement : and I thinke that I haue also the Spirite of God .

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