Book of Common Prayer

Of marriage, virginity, and widowhood.

7 As for the things you wrote to me about: it is good for a man not to touch a woman. ² Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his wife, and let every woman have her husband. ³ Let the man give due affection to his wife; likewise also the wife to the man. ⁴ The wife does not have right over her own body, but the husband, and likewise the husband does not have right over his own body, but the wife. ⁵ Do not withdraw yourselves one from another, unless it be with consent for a time to give yourselves to fasting and prayer. And afterward, come again to the same thing, lest Satan tempt you through your lack of self control.

⁶ This I say by way of concession, and not of commandment. ⁷ For I would that all men were as I myself am. But every one has his own gift from God – one of this kind, another of that. ⁸ I say to the unmarried men and widows that it is good for them if they remain just as I do. ⁹ But if they cannot abstain, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn.

⁷ And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions like the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. ⁸ Be not like them therefore. For your Father knows what you need before you ask of him. ⁹ Pray therefore in this manner:

¹⁴ For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you will not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.