CENT. IV.
St. BASIL, G.C. “Let this bond of nature, this yoke, accompanied by a blessing," unite together those who before were separated.—The wife must bear with her husband, though he be harsh, and savage in his manners, nor, on any account, seek for a separation. Does he strike? Still he is your husband. Is he drunken? He is united by nature. Is he rude, and hard to be pleased? Still, he is a part of yourself, and the most noble part.” Hom. vii. in Hexaëm. T.i. p. 68.
St. GREGORY OF Nyssa, G. C. “From what I have said, let no one imagine, that I disapprove of the institution of marriage; for I well know, that the blessing of God is upon it.” L. de Virg. c. viii. T. ii. p. 568.
St. EPIPHANIUS, G.C. “ The Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church believes, that those may be saved, who are bound together in lawful marriage; for, that marriage is honourable, (Heb. xiii. 4.) may be concluded, because Christ, when invited, assisted himself, to give his blessing to it. Had he refused, he might have been deemed an enemy to marriage, and not willing to receive others with kindness and indulgence. Marriage, therefore, is honourable, which he himself approved; and he was present, in order to silence those who argue against truth. Even it was on that occasion, that he wrought his first miracle, changing water into wine. —And this he did, by signs and wonders, to give a lustre to honourable marriage.” Adversus Hæreses Hær. xlvii. sive lxvii. T.i. p. 714.
St. AMBROSE, L. C. “ We know, that God is the Lord and the Guardian of marriage, who may not suffer another's bed to be defiled. He that commits this crime, sins against God, whose law he violates; whose favour he renounces :
