Part 211

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 God 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 God hath called every one: so let him walk. And so in all churches I teach.

7:18. Is any man called, being circumcised? Let him not procure uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.

7:19. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing: but the observance of the commandments of God.

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 God.

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 fashion of this world passeth 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 God.

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.