Opposed to Scriptural authority
Matthew 19:3–9, much of Milton's argument hangs on his view of human nature and the purpose of marriage, which rather than the traditional ends of procreation or a remedy against
fornication, he defines as "the apt and cheerful conversation of man with woman, to comfort and refresh him against the evils of solitary life". Milton argues that if a couple be "mistak'n in their dispositions through any error, concealment, or misadventure" for them "spight of antipathy to fadge together, and combine as they may to their unspeakable wearisomnes and despaire of all sociable delight" violates the purpose of marriage as mutual companionship. Though Milton's full name appeared on neither title page, he did sign the epistle "To the Parlament of England" added to the second edition. He was denounced in a sermon given before Parliament in August 1644 by preacher
Herbert Palmer, and was rebuked by others including
William Prynne in print. An anonymous pamphlet appeared in November 1644 that vigorously attacked Milton's argument. Milton argued that Christ did not abrogate the
Mosaic permission for divorce found in
Deuteronomy 24:1, because in Matthew 19, he was specifically addressing the
Pharisees. The book saw two further publications in 1645, although it appears that one of them was the work of piracy.
Judgment of Martin Bucer Published in July 1644,
Judgment of Martin Bucer consists mostly of Milton's translations of pro-divorce arguments from the
De Regno Christi of the German Protestant reformer
Martin Bucer. By finding support for his views among Protestant writers, Milton hoped to sway the members of Parliament and Protestant ministers who had condemned him. Among Milton's divorce tracts, this is the only one that obtained a prepublication licence.
Tetrachordon Tetrachordon appeared in March 1645, after Milton had published his defence of
free speech,
Areopagitica, in the interim. The title means "four-stringed" in
Greek, implying that Milton was able to harmonise the four Scriptural passages dealing with divorce:
Genesis 1:27–28, Deuteronomy 24:1, Matthew 5:31–32 and 19:2–9, and
I Corinthians 7:10–16. Milton suggests that the secondary law of nature permits divorce in the
post-lapsarian world. This tract is the largest and most ponderous of Milton's arguments of divorce, consisting of over 100 pages. Its Scriptural emphasis anticipates that of
De Doctrina Christiana.
Colasterion Meaning "rod of punishment" in Greek, the brief
Colasterion was published along with
Tetrachordon in March 1645 in response to an anonymous pamphlet attacking the first edition of
The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce. Milton makes no new arguments, but harshly takes to task the "trivial author". ==Aftermath==