the Husband hath not Power of his own Body but the Wife Defraud you not one the other except it be with consent for a Time that ye may give your selves to Fasting and Prayer and come together again that Satan tempt you not for your Incontinency But I speak this by Permission and not of Commandment 1 Cor. 7. 3. 4thly That they may and ought to live holily There was in the Days of Herod the King of Judea a certain Priest named Zacharias of the Course of Abia And his Wife was of the Daughters of Aaron and her Name was Elizabeth And they were both righteous before God walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless and they had no Child because that Elizabeth was barren and they both were now well stricken in years Luk. 1. 5. This I say Brethren the time is short It remaineth that both they that have Wives be as tho' they had none and they that weep as tho' they wept not and they that rejoice as tho' they rejoiced not and they that buy as tho' they possessed not and they that use this World as not abusing it For the fashion of this World passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 29. We beseech you Brethren and exhort you by the Lord Jesus that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God so ye would abound more and more For ye know what Commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus For this is the Will of God even your Sanctification that ye should abstain from Fornication That every one of you should know how to possess his Vessel in Sanctification and Honor not in the Lust of Concupiscence even as the Gentiles which know not God 1 Thess 4. 1. Marriage is honorable in all and the Bed undefiled But Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Let your Conversation be without Covetousness and be content with such things as ye have For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13. 4. 5thly That there are great Duties of mutual Love and Support belonging to them and that Order is to be observ'd which God has appointed between them I would have you know that the Head of every Man is Christ and the Head of the Woman is the Man and the Head of Christ is God A Man indeed ought not to cover his Head praying for as much as he is the Image and Glory of God But the Woman is the Glory of the Man For the Man is not of the Woman but the Woman of the Man Neither was the Man created for the Woman but the Woman for the Man For this Cause ought the Woman to have Power on her Head because of the Angels Nevertheless neither is the Man without the Woman neither the Woman without the Man in the Lord. For as the Woman is of the Man even so is the Man also by the Woman but all things of God 1 Cor. 11. 3 7. Submitting your selves one to another in the Fear of God Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as unto the Lord. For the Husband is the Head of the Wife even as Christ is Head of the Church And he is the Saviour of the Body Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ so let the Wives be to their own Husbands in every thing Husbands love your Wives even as Christ loved the Church and also gave himself for it That he might sanctifie and cleanse it So ought Men to love their Wives as their own Bodies He that loveth his Wife loveth himself For no Man ever yet hated his own Flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church For we are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones For this Cause shall a Man leave his Father and Mother and shall be joined unto his Wife and they two shall be one Flesh This is a great Mystery But I speak concerning Christ and the Church Nevertheless Let every one of you in particular so love his Wife even as himself and the Wife see that she reverence her Husband Eph. 5. 21 28. Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands love your Wives and be not bitter against them Col. 3. 18. Ye Wives be in Subjection to your own Husbands that if any obey not the word they also may without the word be won by the Conversation of the Wives while they behold your chaste Conversation coupled with Fear Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the Hair and of wearing of Gold or of putting on of Apparel but let it be the hidden Man of the Heart in that which is not corruptible even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the Sight of God of great Price For after this manner in the Old Time the holy Women also who trusted in God adorned themselves being in Subjection unto their own Husbands even as Sara obeyed Abraham calling him Lord Whose Daughters ye are as long as ye do well and are not affraid with any Amazement 1 Pet. 3. 1. Likewise ye Husbands dwell with them according to Knowledge giving Honor unto the Wife as unto the weaker Vessel and as being Heirs together of the Grace of Life that your Prayers be not hinder'd 1 Pet. 3. 7. Teach the young Women to be sober to love their Husbands to love their Children to be Discreet Chaste keepers at Home good obedient to their own Husbands that the Word of God be not blasphemed Tit. 2. 4. Young Men likewise exhort to be Sober-minded Tit. 2. 6. That the aged Men be Sober Grave Temperate Sound in Faith in Charity in Patience Tit. 2. 2. The aged Women likewise that they be in Behavior as becometh Holiness not false Accusers not given to much Wine Teachers of good things Tit. 2. 3. I will that Men pray every where lifting up holy Hands without Wrath and Doubting 1 Tim. 2. 8. In like manner also that Women adorn themselves in modest Apparel with Shamefacedness and Sobriety Not broider'd Hair or Gold or Pearls or costly Array but which becometh Women professing Godliness with good Works Let the Women learn in silence with all Subjection But I suffer not a Woman to teach nor to usurp Authority over the Man but to be in silence For Adam was first formed then Eve And Adam was not deceived but the Woman being deceived was in the Transgression Notwithstanding she shall be saved in Child-bearing if they continue in Faith and Charity and Holiness with Sobriety 1 Tim. 2. 9. Let your Women keep silence in the Churches For it is not permitted unto them to speak but they are commanded to be under Obedience as also saith the Law And if they will learn any thing let them ask their Husbands at Home For it is a Shame for Women to speak in the Church 1 Cor. 14. 34. Thus speaks the Rule and so particularly that there can be no
who now rejoice in my Sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ in my Flesh for his Body's sake which is the Church Col. 1. 23. To suffer for the Truth ought to be the Joy and Comfort of him that has undertaken to be the Minister of Truth How much then do they forget their Vocation who upon meeting with Discouragements lose all Comfort and repent of their Labor Whom we preach warning every Man and teaching every Man in all Wisdom that we may present every Man perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 1. 28. The only design of an Apostolic Teacher is to form Jesus in every one of his Flock and to make all perfect in him Say to Archippus take heed to the Ministry which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfil it Col. 4. 17. They who consider not well the Duties of their Charge will soon neglect them Fulfil the Duties of the Ministry of Jesus Christ What Pastor do's not tremble at this Word Your selves Brethren know our Entrance in unto you that it was not in vain But even after that we had suffered before and were shamefully entreated as ye know at Philippi we were bold in our God to speak unto you the Gospel of God with much Contention For our Exhortation was not of Deceit nor of Vncleanness nor in Guile But as we were allowed of God to be put in Trust with the Gospel even so we speak not as pleasing Men but God which trieth our Hearts For neither at any time used we flattering Words as ye know nor a Cloak of Covetousness God is Witness Nor of Men sought we Glory neither of you nor yet of others when we might have been burdensome as the Apostles of Christ But we were Gentle among you even as a Nurse cherisheth her Children So being affectionately desirous of you we were willing to have imparted unto you not the Gospel of God only but also our own Souls because ye were dear unto us For ye remember Brethren our Labor and Travel For laboring Night and Day because we would not be chargeable unto any of you we preached unto you the Gospel of God Ye are Witnesses and God also how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved our selves among you that believe as you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a Father doth his Children that ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory 1 Thess 2. 1. Every Word a Lesson to Preachers What a Mercy to the World if they would study and follow this Spirit Be not thou therefore ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord nor of me his Prisoner but be thou Partaker of the Afflictions of the Gospel according to the Power of God 2 Tim. 1. 8. Great Courage is necessary for standing by the Truth and the Ministers of it Hold fast the form of sound Words which thou hast heard of me in Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us 2 Tim. 1. 13. Great Fidelity requir'd of the Pastors of God's Church The Holy Ghost promis'd to them for this end Thou therefore endure Hardness as a good Soldier of Jesus Christ No Man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this Life 2 Tim. 2. 3. I suffer trouble as an evil Doer even unto Bonds but the Word of God is not bound Therefore I endure all things for the Elects sake v. 9. To suffer with Courage all Difficulties is the Obligation of a Pastor And if he suffer as a Criminal as this is most humbling so it brings him nearer to the Resemblance of Jesus Christ They are of the World therefore speak they of the World and the World heareth them 1 Jo. 4. 5. Unhappy Teachers whose Character this is CHAP. XXXVI Of the Flock Q. WHat Directions do's the Gospel give to the Flock in Regard of those whom God has put over them A. It speaks very particularly to them but that I may end this last Chapter with such Instructions as the Gospel gives I will first set down some Injunctions of God in the Old Law which as it was a Figure of the New so it may lead us to such Duties as God expects from the Flock in this better Constitution which is the Church of Christ And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian Woman whom he had married And they said hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses Hath he not spoken also by us And the Lord heard it Wherefore then were not ye afraid to speak against my Servant Moses And the Anger of the Lord was kindled against them and he departed Num. 12. 1 8. God shews his displeasure against those who murmur at such as he has set over them And all the Children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron And the Lord said unto Moses How long will this People provoke me Surely they shall not see the Land which I sware unto their Fathers neither shall any of them that provoked me see it Num. 14. 2 11 23. Great are the Judgments of God upon those who murmur against such as are over them Now Korah and Dathan and Abiram took men and they rose up before Moses with certain of the Children of Israel two hundred and fifty Princes of the assembly famous in the Congregation Men of renown And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said unto them Ye take too much upon you seeing all the Congregation are holy every one of them and the Lord is among them Wherefore then lift you up your selves above the Congregation of the Lord And when Moses heard it he fell upon his Face And he spake unto the Congregation saying Depart I pray you from tbe Tents of these wicked Men and touch nothing of theirs lest ye be consumed in all their Sins And the Earth opened her Mouth and swallowed them up and their Houses and all the Men that appertained unto Korah and all their goods And there came out a fire from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty Men that offered Incense Num. 16. 1 26 32 35. The Congregation being holy Exempts them not from their Obedience enjoin'd The Authority of Princes of the Congregation Men Famous and of Renown is not enough for questioning the Authority of Moses and Aaron whom God had commanded all to hear and obey Their offering Incense to God is not accepted while divided from Moses and Aaron they are under the guilt of Disobedience Thou shalt come unto the Priests the Levites and unto the Judge that shall be in those days and enquire and they shall shew thee the Sentence of Judgment And thou shalt do according to the Sentence which they of that place which the Lord shall chuse shall shew thee and thou shalt observe to do according to all that
there not Salvation for such as do thus A. They are certainly out of the way of Salvation Q. How so A. Because Christ is the only Mediator of the new Testament thro' whom alone we can hope for Mercy and how then can they be in the way of Salvation who live in the Neglect and Contempt of him 2dly Christ is the Light of the World and by his Gospel he communicates his Light to Men they then who neglect and despise this Light walk in Darkness and this Darkness cannot lead to Life everlasting 3dly Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life and in his Gospel is manifested this Way this Truth and this Life they then who neglect and despise the Doctrin of the Gospel cannot be in the way they follow a Lie instead of Truth and must meet with Death instead of Life 4thly It is by the Spirit of Christ every one must live that belongs to Christ and expects everlasting Happiness and without this Spirit all Hopes are vain If any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8. 9. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked 1 Joh. 2. 6. Now if this Spirit of Christ be necessary how can they be suppos'd to have it who walk not by the Gospel in which this Spirit is taught but by despising or neglecting it give Demonstration of the Spirit of Christ being not in them Q. What does this prove A. It proves that no Salvation can be expected but thro' Christ that none can have a part in Christ but such only as observe his Law that his Law being deliver'd in the Gospel there can be no Salvation but for those who sincerely make it their Endeavor to live as Christ has prescrib'd in the Gospel Q. Then the Gospel must be observ'd but what is it to observe or follow the Gospel A. It is to make the Gospel our Rule for discerning the Will of God and knowing what is pleasing or displeasing to him It is to take Direction from that What we are to desire and what to fear what we are to value and what to despise It is to consult that in all we propose or do It is to take from thence the Determination of Right and Wrong of what we are carefully to perform or with Solicitude to avoid Q. Then they who do not thus do not follow the Gospel A. No they do not They may have a Faith in what the Gospel teaches but if they do not the Works of the Gospel their Faith is dead Jam. 2. 26. It is such Faith as is in Hell and even the Devils have Ib. v. 19. These may know the Will of God but they do it not these may honor God with their Lips but their Heart is far from him And what will this avail or how is this following the Gospel when the Gospel teaches That the Servant who knows his Lord's Will and does it not shall be beaten with many Stripes Luke 12. 47. And not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father who is in Heaven Mat. 7. 21 Q. Then there is to be no Confidence of Salvation upon a Faith in Christ only or in being a Member of his Church A. Faith is necessary to Salvation for without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. But a Faith in what God teaches without doing the Will of God can never bring any to the Possession of God Bliss is promis'd to such only as Hear the Word of God and keep it Luke 11. 28. It is not enough therefore to be call'd by Faith for many are call'd but few chosen Matth. 20. 16. It is not enough to be planted in Christ's Vineyard For every Tree that brings not forth good Fruit is cut down and cast into the Fire Mat. 7. 19. Q. Then you think many of those who have a Faith in Christ and believe all that he teaches are lost eternally A. As many of these as do not the Will of God in following the Gospel but depart from it and live in a general Disobedience to his Law Such as these must expect no Favor in Consideration of their Faith but rather a deeper Damnation for their Ingratitude and Abuse of God's Blessings for knowing thro' Mercy the Will of God and not doing it Q. What now is this Chapter in short A. That the only Means of Salvation is to Believe and Do as Christ teaches in his holy Gospel All his Disciples are to hear him Ipsum audite Hear ye him as the Voice from Heaven publish'd it on the Mount Mat. 17. 5. All of his Flock hear his Voice My sheep hear my Voice and follow me Jo. 10. 27. As many as do thus are in the way to Salvation having Christ their Teacher and the Shepherd of their Souls And they who do not thus cannot have their hopes in him CHAP. II. Of our own Inclinations Q. MAY we not follow our own Inclinations A. Christ is to be the Christian's Rule if then our Inclinations are according to what Christ teaches we may safely follow them but if they are contrary to what Christ teaches then to follow them is to forsake our Rule who is Christ Q. And what are our natural Inclinations A. They arise from a corrupt Nature and therefore are generally corrupt they are the Effect of Sin and therefore are generally either sinful or leading to Sin Q. Then a Christian is not to follow them A. No he is to be so far from following that it must be his daily Care to stand against them Q. Why so A. Because being corrupt and sinful if they are not resisted they draw Persons from Christ and that is to forsake their Rule Q. Is it the evident Duty of a Christian to stand against these Inclinations A. It is for so Christ himself teaches in requiring Self-denial as a necessary Condition for becoming his Disciple If any Man will come after me let him deny himself Luk. 9. 23. Q. Is not this press'd more particularly in holy Scripture A. Yes by St. Paul who stiling these Inclinations the Old Man Concupiscence the Carnal Man the Desires of the Flesh c. positively declares the necessity of resisting them and that otherwise it is not possible to please God Q. As where A. Put off the old man which is corrupt Eph. 4. 22. We are debtors not to the Flesh to live after the Flesh for if ye live after the Flesh ye shall die But if you thro' the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the Body ye shall live Rom. 8. 12 13. To be carnally minded is Death because the carnal Man is Enmity against God ib. v. 6 7. The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary to one another They that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts Gal. 5. 17 24.
coarse Apparel is commended in the Baptist a Modest Dress is recommended to Women accompanied with Shamefacedness Sobriety and a Meek Spirit Outward Adorning with Gold Pearls or Costly Apparel is reprov'd Inward Adorning with Virtue is requir'd All that is suggested in Dressing by Vanity Pride Envy or for pleasing the World is forbid All that is Immoderate whether as to the Expence of Time or Money is not allow'd In this it is very easie to discern what is the Spirit of the Gospel And if it be discern'd then all those who desire in Truth to be the Followers of Christ know what they are to do They must approve only that which their Rule approves and as for all whatever Inclination or the World recommends beyond that they must shut their hearts against it and say the Gospel is our Rule and this only we must follow CHAP. VI. Of Eating and Drinking Q. WHAT direction do's the Gospel give as to Eating and Drinking A. There is enough mention'd to serve for a Christian's Rule First Gluttony and Drunkenness are positively Forbid Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with Surfeiting and Drunkenness Luk. 21. 34. Let us walk honestly as in the day not in Rioting and Drunkenness Rom. 13. 13. Wo unto you that are full for ye shall hunger Luk. 6. 25. Drunkards shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 10. The Works of the Flesh are manifest Drunkenness Revellings of the which I tell you that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God Gal. 5. 19 21. Be not Drunk with wine wherein is excess but be fill'd with the Spirit Eph. 5. 18. Secondly It is particularly observ'd in the Rich Glutton that he Fared sumptuously every day Luk. 16. 19. It is a good thing that the heart be establish'd with Grace not with Meats which have not profitted them that have been occupied therein Heb. 13. 9. The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace Rom. 14. 17. Many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their Belly and whose Glory is their Shame Phil. 3. 18 19. Thirdly Temperance and Sobriety are recommended Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Tit. 2. 12. Wherefore gird up your loins be sober and hope to the end 1 Pet. 1. 13. Be sober be vigilant 1 Pet. 5. 8. Let your Moderation be known to all men Phil. 4. 5. He shall be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink Luk. 1. 15. His Meat was Locusts and wild Honey Mat. 3. 4. Let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober Let us who are of the day be sober 1 Thess 5. 6 8. Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the Glory of God 1 Cor. 10. 31. Having Food and Raiment let us be therewith content 1 Tim. 6. 8. Fourthly Fasting is commanded Jesus Fasted Forty Days and Forty Nights Mat. 4. 2. Anna departed not from the Temple but served God with Fastings and Prayer Night and Day Luk. 2. 37. This kind of Devil can come forth by nothing but by Prayer and Fasting Mar. 19. 29. The Days will come when the Bridegroom shall be taken away from them and then shall they fast in those Days Luk. â— 35. They administred to the Lord and fasted And when they had fasted and pray'd and laid their Hands on them they sent them away Acts 13. 2 3. When they had ordain'd them Elders in every Church and had prayed with fasting they commended them to the Lord Act. 14. 23. In this may be discern'd the Spirit of the Gospel in this Point that while it approves Eating and Drinking for the Support of Nature it requires that this be done Soberly and with Moderation and to the Glory of God It commends Abstinence and Fasting It reproves Faring Sumptuously It condemns the Solicitude of pleasing the Appetite and making the Belly a God It declares Surfeiting Rioting Revelling and Drunkenness to be such Crimes that their Guilt excludes from Heaven If these be the Dictates of the Christian's Rule then it is very easie to observe how far the Gospel allows as to Eating and Drinking and how far it disapproves And hence it is obvious what they are to do who follow the Gospel They are to think nothing allowable but as it is here approv'd and must not by deceitful Constructions pretend to justifie that which is here condemn'd Especially where the Sentence is so positive and the Guilt shall live For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God Rom. 8. 13 14. Put off concerning the former Conversation the old Man which is corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts Eph. 4. 22. I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly Lusts which war against the Soul 1 Pet. 2. 11. If any Man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me For whosoever will save his Life shall lose it and whosoever will lose his Life for my sake shall find it For what is a Man profitted if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own Soul Or what shall a Man give in Exchange for his Soul Mat. 16. 24 25 26. He that loveth his Life shall lose it and he that hateth his Life in this World shall keep it unto Life eternal If any Man serve me let him follow me Jo. 12. 25 26. By this shall all Men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another Jo. 13. 35. I say unto you love your Enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitely use you and persecute you Mat. 5. 44. Love not the world neither the things that are in the world 1 Jo. 2. 15. Put on as the elect of God holy and beloved Bowels of mercies Kindnesses Humbleness of mind Meekness Long-suffering Forbearing one another and Forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye And above all things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectness and let the peace of God rule in your hearts And be ye thankful Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom and whatever ye do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Col. 3. 12 13 14 15 16 17. What things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ Yea doubtless and I do count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord For whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in
It is good for a Man not to touch a Woman Nevertheless to avoid Fornication let every Man have his own Wife and let every Woman have her own Husband But I speak this by Permission and not of Commandment For I would that all Men were even as I my self But every Man hath his proper Gift of God one after this manner and another after that I say therefore to the Vnmarried and Widows it is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain let them Marry For it is better to Marry than to Burn. But as God hath distributed to every Man as the Lord hath called every one so let him walk and so ordain I in all the Churches Now concerning Virgins I have no Commandment of the Lord Yet I give my Judgment as one that hath obtained Mercy of the Lord to be faithful I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress I say that it is good for a Man so to be Art thou bound unto a Wife Seek not to be loosed Art thou loosed from a Wife Seek not a Wife But I would have you without Carefulness He that is Vnmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord how he may please the Lord But he that is Married careth for the things that are of the World how he may please his Wife Thee is difference also between a Wife and a Virgin The unmarried Woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in Body and Spirit But she that is Married careth for the things of the World how she may please her Husband And this I speak for your own profit not that I may cast a Snare upon you but for that which is comely and that you may attend upon the Lord without Distraction But if any Man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his Virgin if she pass the Flower of her Age and need so require let him do what he will he sinneth not Let them Marry Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his Heart having no Necessity but hath Power over his own will and hath so decreed in his Heart that he will keep his Virgin doth well So then he that giveth her in Marriage doth well but he that giveth her not in Marriage doth better 1 Cor 7. 1 6 17 25. I looked and lo a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion and with him an hundred forty and four thousand having his Father's Name written in their Foreheads And they sung as it were a new Song before the Throne and before the four Beasts and the Elders And no Man could learn that Song but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the Earth These are they which were not defiled with Women for they are Virgins These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth These were redeemed from among Men being the First-fruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their Mouth was found no Guile For they are without Fault before the Throne of God Rev. 14. 1 3. Thus the Rule In which these Particulars are declar'd First That it is lawful and good to Marry but that it is better to remain Unmarried 2dly That the Unmarried State has much the Advantage of the other for tending upon the Lord with less Distraction 3dly That there are Persons which remain Unmarried for gaining the Kingdom of Heaven Lastly That if such are not duly watchful in preparing for the coming of the Spouse they are not Wise and will be shut out with Unbelievers CHAP. XXII Of Married Persons Husband and Wife Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to the State of Marriage and to those which are engag'd in it A. It speaks very particularly upon this Subject and what ought to be well consider'd by all concern'd First That it is not to be dissolv'd The Pharisees also came unto him tempting him and saying unto him Is it lawful for a Man to put away his Wife for every Cause And he answered and said unto them have you not read that he which made them at the beginning made them Male and Female And said for this Cause shall a Man leave Father and Mother and shall cleave to his Wife and they twain shall be one Flesh Wherefore they are no more twain but one Flesh What therefore God hath joined together let not Man put asunder Moses because of the Hardness of your Hearts suffered you to put away your Wives but from the beginning it was not so And I say unto you whosoever shall put away his Wife except it be for Fornication and shall Marry another committeth Adultery and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit Adultery Mat. 19. 3. Vnto the Married I command yet not I but the Lord let not the Wife depart from her Husband But and if she depart let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her Husband And let not the Husband put away his Wife 1 Cor. 7. 10. The Woman which hath an Husband is bound by the Law to her Husband so long as he liveth But if the Husband be dead she is loosed from the Law of her Husband So then if while her Husband liveth she be Married to another Man she shall be called an Adulteress But if her Husband be dead she is free from that Law so that she is no Adulteress tho' she be Married to another Man Rom. 7. 2. The Wife is bound by the Law as long as her Husband liveth But if her Husband he dead she is at Liberty to be Married to whom she will only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide after my Judgment And I think also that I have the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 7. 39. 2dly As to difference of Religion in Man and Wife S. Paul thus gives his Judgment To the rest speak I not the Lord if any Brother hath a Wife that believeth not and she be pleased to dwell with him let him not put her away And the Woman which hath an Husband that believeth not and if he be pleased to dwell with her let her not leave him For the unbelieving Husband is sanctified by the Wife and the unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the Husband Else were your Children unclean but now they are holy But if the unbelieving depart let him depart A Brother or a Sister is not under Bondage in such Cases But God hath called us to Peace For what knowest thou O Wife whether thou shalt save thy Husband Or how knowest thou O Man whether thou shalt save thy Wife But as God hath distributed to every Man as the Lord hath called every one so let him walk And so ordain I in all the Churches 1 Cor. 7. 12. 3dly As to one part of their mutual Obligation Let the Husband render unto the Wife due Benevolence And likewise also the Wife unto the Husband The Wife hath not Power of her own Body but the Husband And likewise also
need of repeating it Let all then who engage in this State remember the Charge here given and distinguish themselves from Heathens by endeavoring to be punctual in it The State is what God has ordain'd for the Propagation of Mankind and filling up the Number of the Elect. Thus it becomes sanctified to the Faithful and ought to be undertaken not in the Spirit of Brutes or of the World but in the Fear of God and the Spirit of true Holiness so as to hope for the Blessing of a manifold Grace such as may be necessary for satisfying all the Obligations belonging to their State For a help in this I wish they would often read what the Word of God here speaks to them that so being frequently reminded of their Duty they may be solicitous in complying with it In undertaking this State they have undertaken these Obligations and if they are not careful in satisfying them they are faithless and unjust and what then will it avail them to be just in other Duties if they are unjust in these which are annext to their State Custom may seem to lessen the Guilt but this is a Snare for such as are willing to be deceiv'd for certainly it cannot be a Lessening but an Aggravation of Sin to live always in it CHAP. XXIII Of Widows Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to this State A. It speaks very particularly of it There was one Anna a Prophetess the Daughter of Phanuel of the Tribe of Aser she was of a great age and had lived with an Husband seven Years from her Virginity And she was a Widow of about fourscore and four Years which departed not from the Temple but served God with Fastings and Prayer Night and Day Luke 2. 36. I say to the Vnmarried and Widows 〈…〉 for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain let them marry for it is better to marry than to burn But as God hath distributed to every Man as the Lord hath called every one so let him walk and so ordain I in all the Churches 1 Cor. 7. 8 17. The unmarried Woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in Body and in Spirit but she that is married careth for the things of the World how she may please her Husband And this I speak for your own Profit not that I may cast a Snare upon you but for that which is comely and that you may attend upon the Lord without Distraction The Wife is bound by the Law as long as her Husband liveth but if her Husband be dead she is at liberty to be married to whom she will only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide after my Judgment and I think also that I have the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 7. 34 39. Honor Widows that are Widows indeed But if any Widow have Children or Nephews let them learn first to shew Piety at home and to requite their Parents for that is good and acceptable before God Now she that is a Widow indeed and desolate trusteth in God and continueth in Supplications and Prayers night and day But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth And these things give in charge that they may be blameless But if any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own House he hath denied the Faith and is worse than an Infidel Let not a Widow be taken into the number under Threescore Years old having been the Wife of one Man well reported of for good Works if she have brought up Children if she have lodged Strangers if she have washed the Saints Feet if she have relieved the Afflicted if she have diligently followed every good Work But the younger Widows refuse for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ they will marry having Damnation because they have cast off their first Faith And withal they learn to be idle wandering about from House to House and not only idle but Tattlers also and Busie-bodies speaking things which they ought not I will therefore that the younger Women marry bear Children guide the House give none Occasion to the Adversary to speak reproachfully for some are already turned aside after Satan If any Man or Woman that believeth have Widows let them relieve them and let not the Church be charged that it may relieve them that are Widows indeed 1 Tim. 5. 3. Thus speaks the Rule to Persons of this State plainly shewing what are the Advantages to be made of it and what the Exercises by which they may recommend themselves to the Favor of Heaven Such then as desire the Comforts of his Protection who reckons Widows a particular part of his Care may here see how they may be of this number since they have him for their Informer who offers his Help Thus then they may be Happy and even Gainers by their Loss in the tender Offers of a Heavenly Father But if they look not for this Privilege but still have their Hearts full of the World and still follow its Ways they have the Name of Widows but are not Widows indeed they seek Earthly Comforts and such they may have CHAP. XXIV Of Parents Q. WHAT Direction do's the Gospel give to Parents A. He that loveth Son or Daughter more than me is not worthy of me Matth. 10. 37. Their Love then ought to be prudent and moderate Then came to him the Mother of Zebedee's Children with her Sons worshipping him and desiring a certain thing of him And he said unto her What wilt thou She saith unto him Grant that thâ—se my two Sons may sit the one on thy Right Hand and the other on the Left in thy Kingdom But Jesus answered and said Ye know not what ye ask Are ye able to drink of the Cup that I shall drink of Mat. 20. 20. Ambition is to be avoided in the disposing of Children and in seeking Preferment for them Due Care is to be us'd in teaching them to do the Will of God and embrace his Appointments When the Days of her Purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished they brought him the Infant Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord Luke 1. 22. A good Practice of Parents to offer their Children daily to God for obtaining his Grace and Protection upon them And they sought him among their Kinsfolk and Acquaintance And when they found him not they turned back again to Jerusalem seeking him Luke 2. 44. It is the Parents Care to seek their Children and to omit no Industry in regaining them when they are lost How often is it necessary to follow them amongst their Relations and Acquaintance and to observe their ways He arose and came to his Father But when he was yet a great way off his Father saw him and had Compassion and ran and fell on his Neck and kissed him And the Son said unto him Father I have sinned against Heaven and in thy