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¹ Now as to the question you writ to me about; "whether it is best for a man not to marry?" ² I answer, with regard to the licentious, it is best for a man, to have his wife; and for a woman to have her husband. ³ let the husband discharge his obligations to his wife: and likewise the wife to the husband. ⁴ the wife has not the right of her own person, but the husband: and so likewise the husband has not the right of his own person, but the wife. ⁵ don't desert one another, unless you mutually consent to retire for a time, to the solemnity of prayer; and then come together again, lest satan make an attempt upon your continency. ⁶ but as for the rest, I speak it by way of counsel, and not of command. ⁷ for I wish that all men were as I myself am: but every man hath his proper gift from God, some one way, and some another. ⁸ As to the unmarried and widows, I say, it is best for them to continue so, as I do. ⁹ but if they have not the gift, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to be in pain.

¹⁰ as to the married, I enjoin this rule, not as from my self, but from the Lord, that a woman should not leave her husband: ¹¹ but if she has separated herself, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. ¹² But as to the other cases, which were not decided by the Lord; I say, if any brother has a pagan wife, who likes to live with him, let him not put her away. ¹³ and if a woman has a pagan husband, who likes to live with her, let her not leave him. ¹⁴ for the unbelieving husband is christianiz'd by the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is christianiz'd by the believing husband: else were your children heathens: whereas they are christians. ¹⁵ but if the infidel will separate, let him go: a brother or a sister is not inslaved in such cases. but God has called us to peace; for how do you know, ¹⁶ O wife, but you may save your husband? or how do you know, O man, but you may save your wife?

¹⁷ Whatever condition God has allotted to any man, let him go on in the same state he was in when he became a christian: this I give as a standing rule to all churches. ¹⁸ does a Jew turn Christian? let him not pretend to be uncircumcised: does a Gentile turn Christian? let him not become circumcised. ¹⁹ circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, in comparison of obeying the divine commands. ²⁰ let every man continue in the same state he was in when he turn'd christian. ²¹ were you called being a slave? be not perplex'd about it; but if you can obtain your freedom, don't refuse it. ²² for the slave that turns christian, is the Lord's freedman: likewise, the freeman that becomes a convert is Christ's servant. ²³ have you been redeemed from slavery? then, don't turn slaves. ²⁴ brethren, let every man conscientiously continue in the state he was in when he was converted.

²⁵ As to the case of celibacy, I have no positive instructions: yet my advice deserves to be regarded, as coming from one the divine favour has distinguished. ²⁶ I think therefore it is best, considering the present distress, I say, it is best, for a single person to continue so still. ²⁷ are you contracted to a wife? seek not to be disengag'd. are you disengag'd from your wife? don't look out for another; ²⁸ not that it is a sin for you to marry; nor is it so if a virgin marry; but they that do, will be troubled for their relations, and that I would prevent. ²⁹ This I say, brethren, because the time is coming, when they who have wives will be as those that have none; ³⁰ and they that weep, as those that are unconcern'd; and they that rejoice, as those that do not; and they that buy, as those that have no possessions; ³¹ and they that possess this world, as those that can't make an ill use of it. for the scene of this world is continually shifting. I would have you free from anxiety. ³² the unmarried is religiously concerned, how he may please the Lord: ³³ he that is married is worldly concern'd, how he may please his wife. ³⁴ there is the same difference between a married woman and a virgin: the last is religiously concern'd to be holy, both in body and mind: but she that is married is taken up with worldly cares to please her husband. ³⁵ And this I say for your particular advantage, not to lay any constraint upon you, but as that which is most suitable to a state of uninterrupted attendance upon religion.

³⁶ if any man thinks it would be a reflexion upon his manhood to be a stale batchelor, and so ought to marry; let him follow his bent, he is at liberty, let such marry. ³⁷ but he that has been steady in his purpose, and finds no necessity to alter it; if he is a master of his passion, and is heartily determin'd to keep his virginity, it is well. ³⁸ so that he who marries, does well; but he who lives single, may have less trouble.

³⁹ The wife is bound as long as her husband lives: but if her husbnd be dead, she is at liberty to be married, if she pleases; provided it be to a christian. ⁴⁰ but she will be happier, if she remain a widow, in my opinion: and I think the divine spirit suggests the same.