Note 224 — Chapter XI · HISTORY OF SEPARATION AND DIVORCE UNDER ENGLISH AND ECCLESIASTICAL LAW (continued 2)

Tyndale, Expositions, 54, 55. A similar illustration of the straits to which the Protestant was brought in his necessity of appealing to authority is afforded by Bucer, in Milton's Prose Works, III, 309: "Hither may be added, that the Holy Spirit grants desertion to be a cause of divorce, in those answers given to the Corinthians.... But some will say, that this is spoken of a misbeliever departing. But I beseech ye, doth not he reject the faith of Christ in his deeds, who rashly breaks the holy covenant of wedlock instituted by God? And besides this, the Holy Spirit does not make the misbelieving of him who departs, but the departing of him who disbelieves, to be the just cause of freedom to the brother or sister. Since therefore it will be agreed among Christians, that they who depart from wedlock without just cause, do not only deny the faith of matrimony, but of Christ also, whatever they profess with their mouths; it is but reason to conclude, that the party deserted is not bound in case of causeless desertion, but that he may lawfully seek another consort, if it be needful to him, toward a pure and blameless conversation." Cf. also the argument of Milton, "The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce," Prose Works, III, 258, 259.