12. For, whereas that natural
use, when it pass beyond the compact of marriage, that is, beyond
the necessity of begetting, is pardonable in the case of a wife,
damnable in the case of an harlot; that which is against nature is
execrable when done in the case of an harlot, but more execrable in
the case of a wife. Of so great power is the ordinance of the
Creator, and the order of Creation, that, in matters allowed us to
use, even when the due measure is exceeded, it is far more
tolerable, than, in what are not allowed, either a single, or rare
excess. And, therefore, in a matter allowed, want of moderation, in
a husband or wife, is to be borne with, in order that lust break
not forth into a matter that is not allowed. Hence is it also that
he sins far less, who is ever so unceasing in approaches to his
wife, than he who approaches ever so seldom to commit fornication.
But, when the man shall wish to use the member of the wife not
allowed for this purpose, the wife is more shameful, if she suffer
it to take place in her own case, than if in the case of another
woman. Therefore the ornament of marriage is chastity of begetting,
and faith of yielding 405the due of the flesh: this is
the work of marriage, this the Apostle defends from every charge,
in saying, “Both if thou shall have taken a wife, thou hast not
sinned: and if a virgin shall have been married, she sinneth
not:” and, “Let her do what she will: she sinneth not if she be
married.”19701970 But an
advance beyond moderation in demanding the due of either sex, for
the reasons which I have stated above, is allowed to married
persons as matter of pardon.
