[1229] Friedberg, Eheschliessung, 173, 175. He finds traces of the idea of a Christian state in the writings of Huss and Tauler: ibid., 173 n. 8.
[1230] For example see Bullinger, Der christ. Ehestand, lvs. 3 ff.; Melanchthon, "De conjugio," Opera, I, pars ii, 221, 222; Mentzer, De conjugio tr., 1 ff.; Forster, De nuptiis, 1 ff.; Sarcerius, Vom heil. Ehestande, foll. 1-12; idem, Corpus juris mat., foll. 1-11. Compare the sentiments of Erasmus, De matrimonio christiano, 2 ff., passim.
[1231] Richter, Beiträge zur Gesch. des Ehescheidungsrechts, 46 ff.; Forster, De nuptiis, 44.
[1232] See the "Bedencken" and the other documents in the case in Arcuarius, Betrachtung, 210 ff., 220 ff. Consult Gottlieb Warmund (Johann Lyser?), Gewissenhaffte Gedancken vom Ehestande, first six pages; and the literature mentioned in Bibliographical Note IX.
[1233] Scheurl, "Zur Lehre von dem Ehehindernisse der Verwandtschaft," ZKR., XVI, 1-34, giving a clear account of the Protestant doctrine and its relation to the canon law. Compare his Das gemeine deutsche Eherecht, 183 ff., 195 ff.
For Luther's views on impediments, including the forbidden degrees, consult the collection of writings in Strampff, 215 ff., 228 ff.; and compare Erasmus, De mat. christ., 94 ff., 100 ff.; Melanchthon, "De conjugio," Opera, I, pars ii, 223 ff.; idem, "De arbore consang.," in Sarcerius, Vom heil. Ehestande, foll. 12 ff.; Bullinger, Der christ. Ehestand, lvs. 16 ff.; or the same in Sarcerius, op. cit., foll. 44 ff.; Schneidewin, De nuptiis, tit. x, "De arbore affinitas," secs. 1-23; Beust, Tr. de spons. et mat., 23, 24, 225 ff.; Kling, Tr. mat. caus., 43-58; Bidembach, De causis mat. tr., 37 ff.; Mentzer, De conjugio tr., 60 ff., 70 ff.; Brouwer, De jure connub., 435 ff., 444 ff., 461 ff.
[1234] See the Dresden resolutions of 1653 in Schleusner, "Zu den Anfängen protest. Eherechts," ZKG., VI, 411, 412; also in Mejer, "Zur Gesch. des ält. protest. Eherechts," ZKR., XVI, 36, 37; idem, Zum Kirchenrecht, 147-71.
[1235] Richter, Lehrbuch, 1089; Friedberg, Lehrbuch, 296-336; idem, "Beiträge zur Geschichte des brand.-preuss. Eherechts," ZKR., VI, 90-135, particularly 129 ff.; idem, "Aus der protest. Eherechtspflege des 16. Jahrh.," ibid., IV, 304-49, discussing the case of Zaschwitz and communicating important documents of Melanchthon which disclose his liberal views regarding affinity. The church ordinances regarding impediments are analyzed by Goeschen, Doctrina de mat., 9 ff., 30 ff. Compare his article "Ehe," in Herzog's Encyclopaedie, III, 674-80.
[1236] Luther, however, was more tolerant, refusing to accept difference of religion as a proper hindrance to marriage: see the passages collected by Strampff, 282, 283. On the other hand, Melanchthon, "De conjugio," Opera, I, pars ii, 235, 236, disapproved of such unions. Compare Erasmus, De mat. christ., 108, 109. The law was gradually relaxed, especially in favor of intermarriage with Jews, and it is now abrogated under the imperial legislation: Richter, Lehrbuch, 1110, 1111; Scheurl, Das gemeine deutsche Eherecht, 218, 219; idem, Kirchenrecht. Abhandlungen, 521; Friedberg and Wasserschleben, "Zwei Gutachten," ZKG., IX.
[1237] Thus, according to Des Herzogthums Wirtemberg erneuerte Ehe- und Ehe-Gerichts-Ordnung (1687), 96-99, mixed marriages are not absolutely prohibited; but the parties are to be "dehortirt;" the peril to their souls is to be pointed out; a special order procured for the nuptials; while the evangelical party is to be admonished to have the marriage celebrated in some evangelical place abroad, to frequent the orthodox services and sacraments, and to have the future children brought up in the orthodox religion.