thing I see to be unequally yoaked with Vnpelievers If this woman had had 〈◊〉 good Husband hâ—â— happlly might they have lived together Such 〈◊〉 one would have prayed for her 〈…〉 her and also would have encouraged her in the Faith and ways of God But now poor crâ—â—urâ— instead of this there is nothing but the quite contrary Wise. It is a deadly thing indeed and therefore by the Word of God his people are forbid to be joyned in marriage with them Be not saith it unequally yoaked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness And what Concord hath Christ with Belial or what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols There can be no agreement where such Matches are made even God himself hath declared the contrary from the beginning of the world I says he will put enmity betwixt thee and the woman betwixt thy seed and her seed Therefore he saith in another place they can mix no better than Iron and Clay I say they cannot agree they cannot be one and therefore they should be aware at first and not lightly receive such into their affections God has often made such Matches bitter especially to his own Such matches are as God said of Elic's Sons that were spared to consume the eyes and to grieve the heart Oh the wailing and lamentation that they have made that have been thus yoaked especially if they were such as would be so yoaked against their light and good counsel to the contrary Atten. Alas he deluded her with his tongue and feigned reformation Wise. Well well she should have gone more warily to work what if she had acquainted some of her best most knowing and godly friends therewith what if she had engaged a Godly Minister or two to have talked with Mr. Badman Also what if she had laid wait round about him to espie if he was not otherwise behind her back than he was before her face And besides I verily think since in the multitude of Counsellors there is safety that if she had acquainted the Congregation with it and desired them to spend some time in prayer to God about it and if she must have had him to have received him as to his godliness upon the Judgment of others rather than her own she knowing them to be Godly and Judicious and unbiassed men she had had more peace all her life after than to trust to her own poor raw womanish Judgment as she did Love is blind and will see nothing amiss where others may see an hundred faults Therefore I say she should not have trusted to her own thoughts in the matter of his Goodness As to his Person there she was fittest to judge because she was to be the person pleased but as to his Godliness there the Word was the fittest Judge and they that could best understand it because God was therein to be pleased I wish that all young Maidens will take heed of being beguiled with flattering words with feigning and lying speeches and take the best way to preserve themselves from being bought and sold by wicked men as she was lest they repent with her when as to this repentance will do them no good but for their unadvisedness goe sorrowing to their graves Atten. Well things are past with this poor woman and cannot be called back let others beware â—y her â—â—fortunes lest they also fall into her distress Wise. That is the thing that I say let them take heed lest for their unadvisedness they smart as this poor woman has done And ah methinks that they that yet are single persons and that are tempted to marry to such as Mr. Badman would to inform and warn themselves in this matter before they intangle themselves but goe to some that already are in the snare and ask them how it is with them as to the suitable or unsuitableness of their marriage and desire their advice Surely they would ring such a peal in their ears about the uneqality unsuitableness disadvantages and disquietments and sins that attend such marriages that would make them beware as long as they live But the bird in the air knows not the notes of the bird in the snare untill she comes thither her self Besides to make up such marriages Satan and carnal Reason and Lust or at least Inconsiderateness has the chiefest hand and where these things bear sway designs though never so destructive will goe headlong on and therefore I fear that but little warning will be taken by young Girls at Mr. Badmans wives affliction Atten. But are there no disswasive arguments to lay before such to prevent their future misery Wise. Yes There is the Law of God that forbiddeth marriage with unbelievers These kind of marriages also are condemned even by irrational creatures 1. It is forbidden by the Law of God both in the Old Testament and in the New 1. In the Old Thou shalt not make Marriages with them Thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son Deut. 7. 4 5. 2. In the New Testament it is forbidden Be not unequally yoaked together with unbelievers Let them marry to whom they will only in the Lord. Here now is a prohibition plainly forbidding the Believer to marry with the Unbeliever therefore they should not do it Again these unwarrantable Marriages are as I may so say condemned by irrational creatures who will not couple but with their own sort Will the Sheep couple with a Dog the Partridge with a Crow or the Feasant with an Owl No they will strictly tye up themselves to those of their own sort only Yea it sets all the world a wondring when they see or hear the contrary Man only is most subject to wink at and allow of these unlawful mixtures of men and women Because man only is a sinful Beast a sinful Bird therefore he above all will take upon him by rebellious actions to answer or rather to oppose and violate the Law of his God and Creator nor shall these or other Interogatories What fellowship what concord what agreement what communion can there be in such Marriages be counted of weight or thought worth the answering by him But further The dangers that such do commonly run themselves into should be to others a disswasive argument to stop them from doing the like for besides the distresses of Mr. Badmans wife many that have had very hopefull beginnings for heaven have by vertue of the mischiefs that have attended these unlawfull marriages miserably and fearfully miscarried Soon after such marriages Conviction the first step toward heaven hath ceased Prayer the next step toward Heaven hath ceased Hungrings and thirstings after salvation another step towards the Kingdom of Heaven have ceased In a word such marriages have estranged them from the Word
from their godly and faithful Friends and have brought them again into carnal company among carnal Friends and also into carnal Delights where and with whom they have in conclusion both sinfully abode and miserably perished And this is one reason why God hath forbidden this kind of unequal marriages For they saith he meaning the ungodly will turn away thy son from following me that they may serve other Gods so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you and destroy you suddenly Now mark there were some in Israel that would notwithstanding this prohibition venture to marry to the Heathens and Unbelievers But what followed They served their Idols they sacrificed their Sons and their Daughters unto Devils Thus were they defiled with their own works and went a whoring with their own Inventions Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people insomuch that he abhorred his own Inheritance Atten. But let 's return again to Mr. Badman had be any Children by his wife Wise. Yes seven Atten. I doubt they were but badly brought up Wise. One of them loved its Mother dearly and would constantly harken to her voice Now that Child she had the opportunity to instruct in the Principles of Christian Religion and it became a very gracious child But that child Mr. Badman could not abide he would seldom afford it a pleasant word but would scowl and frown upon it speak churlishly and doggedly to it and though as to Nature it was the most feeble of the seven yet it oftenest felt the weight of its Fathers fingers Three of his Children did directly follow his steps and began to be as vile as in his youth he was himself The other that remained became a kind of mungrel Professors not so bad as their Father nor so good as their Mother but were betwixt them both They had their Mothers Notions and their Fathers Actions and were much like those that you read of in the Book of Nehemiah These children spake half in the speech of Ashdod and could not speak in the Jews language but according to the language of each people Atten. What you say in this matter is observable and if I take not my mark amiss it often happeneth after this manner where such unlawful Marriages are contracted Wise. It sometimes doth so and the reason with respect to their Parents is this Where the one of the Parents is godly and the other ungodly and vile though they can agree in begetting of Children yet they strive for their Children when they are born The godly Parent strives for the child and by Prayers Counsel and good Examples labours to make it holy in body and soul and so fit for the Kingdom of Heaven but the ' ungodly would have it like himself wicked and base and sinful and so they both give instructions accordingly instructions did I say yea and Examples too according to their minds Thus the godly as Hannah is presenting her Samuel unto the Lord but the ungodly like them that went before them are for offering their Children to Moloch to an Idol to sin to the Devil and to Hell Thus one harkeneth to the Law of their Mother and is preserved from destruction but as for the other as their Fathers did so do they Thus did Mr. Badman and his wife part some of their Children betwixt them but as for the other three that were as 't were Mungrels betwixt both they were like unto those that you read of in Kings They feared the Lord but served their own Idols They had as I said their Mothers Notions and I will adde Profession too but their Fathers Lusts and something of his Life Now their Father did not like them because they had their Mothers tongue and the Mother did not like them because they had still their Fathers heart and life nor were they indeed fit company for good or bad The Good would not trust them because they were bad the Bad would not trust them because they were good viz. The good would not trust them because they were bad in their Lives and the bad would not trust them because they were good in their Words So they were forced with Esau to joyn in affinity with Ishmad to wit to look out a people that were Hypocrites like themselves and with them they matcht and lived and died Atten. Poor woman she could not but have much perplexity Wise. Yea and poor Children that ever they were sent into the world as the fruit of the loyns and under the government of such a father as Mr. Badman Atten. You say right for such children lye almost under all manner of disadvantages but we must say nothing because this also is the soveraign Will of God Wise. We may not by any means object against God yet we may talk of the advantages and disadvantages that Children have by having for their Parents such as are either Godly or the contary Atten. You say right we may so and pray now since we are about it speak something in brief unto it that is unto this What advantage those Children have above others that have for their Parents such as indeed are Godly Wise. So I will only I must first premise these two or three things 1. They have not the advantage of Election for their fathers sakes 2. They are born as others the children of wrath though they come of Godly Parents 3. Grace comes not unto them as an Inheritance because they have Godly Parents These things premised I shall now proceed 1. The children of Godly Parents are the children of many Prayers they are prayed for before and Prayed for after they are born and the Prayer of a godly Father and godly Mother doth much 2. They have the advantage of what restraint is possible from what evils their Parents see them inclinable to and that is a second mercy 3. They have the advantage of Godly instruction and of being told which be and which be not the right ways of the Lord. 4. They have also those ways commended unto them and spoken well of in their hearing that are good 5. Such are also what may be kept out of evil company from evil Books and from being taught the way of Swearing Lying and the like as Sabbath-breaking and mocking at good men and good things and this is a very great mercy 6. They have also the benefit of a godly life set before them doctrinally by their Parents and that doctrine backt with a godly and holy example and all these are very great advantages Now all these advantages the children of ungodly Parents want and so are more in danger of being carried away with the error of the wicked For ungodly Parents neither Pray for their Children nor do nor can they heartily instruct them they do not after a godly manner restrain them from evil nor do they keep them from evil company They are not grieved at nor yet do they forewarn
put authority or terrour into his words to stuff them full of the sin of Swearing Wise. You say right else as I am perswaded men would not so usually belch out their blasphemous Oaths as they do they take a pride in it they think that to swear is Gentleman-like and having once accustomed themselves unto it they hardly leave it all the days of their lives Atten. Well but now we are upon it pray shew me the difference between Swearing and Cursing for there is a difference is there not Wise. Yes There is a difference between Swearing and Cursing Swearing vain swearing such as young Badman accustomed himself unto Now vain and sinful swearing Is a light and wicked calling of God c. to witness to our vain and foolish attesting of things and those things are of two sorts 1. Things that we swear are or shall be done 2. Things so sworn to true or false 1. Things that we swear are or shall be done Thou swearest thou hast done such a thing that such a thing is so or shall be so for it is no matter which of these it is that men swear about if it be done lightly and wickedly and groundlesly it is vain because it is a sin against the Third Commandement which says Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain For this is a vain using of that Holy and Sacred Name and â—o a sin forâ— which without sound Repentance there is not nor can be rightly expected forgiveness Atten. Then it seems though as to the matter of fact a man swears truely yet if he sweareth lightly and groundlesly his Oath is evil and he by it under sin Wise. Yes a man may say The Lord liveth and that is true and yet in so saying swear falsly because he sweareth vainly needlesly and without a ground To swear groundedly and necessarily which then a man does when he swears as being called thereto of God that is tolerated by the Word but this was none of Mr. Badmans swearing and therefore that which now we are not concerned about Atten. I perceive by the Prophet that a man may sin in swearing to a Truth They therefore must needs most horribly sin that swear to confirm their Jests and Lies and as they think the better to beautifie their foolish talking Wise. They sin with an high hand for they presume to imagine that God is as wicked as themselves to wit that he is an Avoucher of Lies to be true For as I said before to swear is to call God to witness and to swear to a Lie is to call God to witness that that Lie is true This therefore must needs offend for it puts the highest affront upon the Holiness and Righteousness of God therefore his wrath must sweep them away This kind of Swearing is put in with lying and killing and stealing and committing Adultery and therefore must not go unpunished For if God will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain which a man may doe when he swears to a truth as I have shewed before how can it be imagined that he should hold such guiltless who by Swearing will appeal to God if Lies be not true or that swear out of their frantick and Bedlam madness It would grieve and provoke a sober man to wrath if one should swear to a notorious lye and avouch that that man would attest it for a truth and yet thus do men deal with the holy God They tell their Jestings Tales and Lies and then swear by God that they are true Now this kind of Swearing was as common with young Badman as it was to eat when he was an hungred or to go to bed when it was night Atten. I have often mused in my mind what it should be that should make men so common in the use of the sin of Swearing since those that be wise will believe them never the â—ooner for that Wise. It cannot be any thing that is good you may be sure because the thing it self is abominable 1. Therefore it must be from the promptings of the spirit of the Devil within them 2. Also it flows sometimes from hellish Rage when the tongue hath set on fire of Hell even the whole course of nature 3. But commonly Swearing flows from that daring Boldness that biddeth defiance to the Law that forbids it 4. Swearers think also that by their belching of their blasphemous Oaths out of their black and polluted mouths they shew themselves the more valiant men 5. And imagine also that by these outrageous kind of villianies they shall conquer those that at such a time they have to do with and make them believe their lyes to be true 6. They also swear frequently to get Gain thereby and when they meet with fools they overcome them this way But if I might give advice in this matter no Buyer should lay out one farthing with him that is a common Swearer in his Calling especially with such an Oath-master that endeavoureth to swear away his commodity to another and that would swear his Chapmans money into his own pocket Atten. All these causes of Swearing so far as I can perceive flow from the same Root as doe the Oaths themselves even from a hardened and desperate heart But pray shew me noâ— how wicked cursing is to be distinguished from this kind of swearing Wise Swearing as I said hath immediately to do with the Name of God and it calls upon him to be witness to the truth of what is said That is if they that swear swear by him Some indeed swear by Idols as by the Mass by our Lady by Saints Beasts Birds and other creatures but the usual way of our profane ones in England is to swear by God Christ Faith and the like But however or by whatever they swear Cursing is distinguished from Swearing thus To Curse to Curse profanely it is to sentence another or our self for or to evil or to wish that some evil might happen to the person or thing under the Curse unjustly It is to sentence for or to evil that is without a cause Thus Shimei cursed David He sentenced him for and to evil unjustly when he said to him Come out come out thou bloody man and thou man of Belial The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul in whose stead thou hast reigned and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son and behold thou art taken in thy mischief because thou art a bloody man This David calls a grievous Curse And behold saith he to Solomon his Son thou hast with thee Shimei a Benjâ—mite which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim But what was this Curse Why Eirst It was a wrong sentence past â—pon David Shimei called him Bloody man man of Belial when he was not Secondly He