Dist. 33, Divisio Textus
Book IV: On the Sacraments · Distinction 33
COMMENTARIUS IN DISTINCTIONEM XXXIII.
Qualiter fidem tori sancti Patres veteris testamenti servaverint.
Quaeritur hic de antiquis Patribus, qui plures etc.
DIVISIO TEXTUS.
Supra ostendit Magister, quod vir tenetur uxori servare fidem tori, quam quando non servat, incidit in culpam. Hic intendit inquirere, utrum sancti Patres istam fidem servabant. Habet autem haec pars duas partes. In prima sanctos Patres, qui simul habuerunt plures uxores, excusat a culpa. In secunda dissolvit quasdam dubitationes, ibi: Si quis opponat, quod fidem tori non servabant etc.
Prima pars habet tres partes. In prima sanctos Patres a culpa excusat. In secunda hoc multiplici auctoritate confirmat, ibi: De hoc Augustinus sic ait etc. In tertia eorum continentiam commendat1, ibi: Quod vero castitas virginalis etc., ubi ostendit, quod paris meriti fuit in eis continentia coniugalis, cuius vel quanti est in nobis continentia virginalis.
Si quis opponat, quod fidem tori non servabant etc. Haec est secunda pars, in qua determinat dubia, in qua etiam facit tria. Primo enim quaerit2 et determinat, utrum servarent bonum fidei. Secundo quaerit et determinat, utrum servarent mandatum Legis, ibi: Sed nunquid sub Lege licebat etc. Tertio determinat, quae virginitas sive integritas sit melior et sanctior, an illa quae est mentis, an illa quae est carnis, ibi: Melior est autem virginitas mentis quam carnis etc. — Et sic duo breviter determinat in hac parte, scilicet de continentia coniugali in antiquis Patribus et de virginali in viris evangelicis et spiritualibus, sive etiam mulieribus, et tertio breviter tractat de repudio.
TRACTATIO QUAESTIONUM.
Ad intelligentiam praesentis distinctionis secundum tria, quae determinat Magister, tria principaliter quaeruntur.
Primo quaeritur de continentia coniugali in antiquis.
Secundo vero quaeritur de virginali.
Tertio, de repudio.
Circa primum quaeruntur tria.
Primo quaeritur, utrum contra legem naturae sit habere concubinam.
Secundo, utrum contra legem naturae sit, quod unus homo habeat plures uxores.
Tertio quaeritur, utrum Deus debuerit in hoc dispensare, quod licitum esset homini habere concubinas.
ARTICULUS I.
De continentia coniugali in antiquis.
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COMMENTARY ON DISTINCTION XXXIII.
In what manner the holy Fathers of the Old Testament kept faith of the marriage-bed.
It is asked here concerning the ancient Fathers, who [had] several [wives], etc.
DIVISION OF THE TEXT.
Above the Master showed that a man is bound to keep faith of the bed to his wife, and that when he does not keep it, he falls into fault. Here he intends to inquire whether the holy Fathers kept that faith. Now this part has two parts. In the first he excuses from fault the holy Fathers who at the same time had several wives. In the second he resolves certain doubts, there: If anyone should object that they did not keep faith of the bed etc.
The first part has three parts. In the first he excuses the holy Fathers from fault. In the second he confirms this by manifold authority, there: Concerning this Augustine thus says etc. In the third he commends1 their continence, there: But that virginal chastity etc., where he shows that in them conjugal continence was of equal merit — [and] of what and how great worth virginal continence is in us.
If anyone should object that they did not keep faith of the bed etc. This is the second part, in which he determines the doubts, in which he also does three things. For first he asks2 and determines whether they kept the good of fidelity. Second he asks and determines whether they kept the commandment of the Law, there: But was it not permitted under the Law etc. Third he determines which virginity or integrity is better and holier, whether that which is of the mind or that which is of the flesh, there: But virginity of the mind is better than that of the flesh etc. — And thus he briefly determines two things in this part, namely concerning conjugal continence in the ancient Fathers and concerning virginal [continence] in evangelical and spiritual men, or also women, and thirdly he briefly treats of divorce.
TREATMENT OF THE QUESTIONS.
For the understanding of the present distinction, according to the three things which the Master determines, three matters are principally asked.
First it is asked concerning conjugal continence in the ancients.
Second it is asked concerning virginal [continence].
Third, concerning divorce.
Concerning the first, three questions are asked.
First it is asked whether it is against the law of nature to have a concubine.
Second, whether it is against the law of nature that one man have several wives.
Third it is asked whether God ought to have dispensed in this, that it should be lawful for a man to have concubines.
ARTICLE I.
On conjugal continence in the ancients.
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- 1Codd. confirmat.The codices read confirmat ("confirms"), against the edition's commendat ("commends"); the marker stands at commendat in the body.
- 2Edd. opponit, quae etiam mox pro servarent bis servaverint et fidem tori pro bonum fidei.The editions read opponit ("objects"); which editions also, shortly after, read servaverint (twice) for servarent, and fidem tori ("faith of the bed") for bonum fidei ("the good of fidelity"). ---