World between the first Man and the first Woman a Marriage made by God himself in Paradise who when he built the Rib taken from Adam into a Woman from a Builder becometh her Bringer He brought her unto the Man saith the Text. God's bringing Eve to Adam implieth five things 1. His Permission Allowance and Grant for that Adam might thankfully acknowledg the Benefit as coming from God God himself brought her whether in a visiâ—le shape as prefiguring Christ's Incarnation and with what Ceremony he brought her since the Holy Ghost hath not expressed it I shall not now enquire it is enough that God brought her to give her to him as his inseparable Companion and meet-Helper This bringing was the full bestowing her upon him that they should live together as Man and Wife 2. His Institution and Appointment of Marriage as the means of propagating Mankiâ—d God's adduxit is by our Saviour's Interpretation conjunxit Mark 19. 6. Those whom God hath joined together c. Otherwise what need this bringing for she was created just by him in Paradise when Adam was fallen into a deep sleep not in another place which sheweth that Marriage is an honourable Estate God was the first Author of it his Act hath the force of an Institution 3. For the greater solemnity and comely order of Marriage Adam did not take her of his own head but God brought her to him when we dispose of our selves at our own Wills and Pleasures being led thereunto by our own choice without consulting with God or upon carnal Reasons without the conduct of God's Providence we transgress the Order which God hath set in the first Precedent of Marriage and cannot expect that our coming together should be comfortable Much more doth it condemn the unnatural filthiness of Whoredom whereby Men and Women join and mingle themselves together without God the Devil and their inordinate Lusts leading them God would not put Adam and Eve together without some regard as he did the brutish and unreasonable Creatures but doth solemnly as it were bring the Manness by the hand to the Man and deliver her into his hands having a more honourable regard and care of them God cannot abide that brutish coming together as the Horses do neighing in the rage of unbridled Lusts upon their Mates Ier. 5. 8. No Adam stayeth till she is brought to him This Honour and special Favour God vouchsafeth Mankind above all other Creatures he himself in his own Person maketh the Match and bringeth them together 4. To dispense his Blessing to them The Woman was created on the sixth day as appeareth Gen. 1. and it is said that when he had created them Male and Female he blessed them vers 28. He doth inlarge things here and explaineth what there he had touched briefly when he had made the Woman he brought her to the Man and blessed them both together shewing thereby that when any enter into this Estate they should take God's Blessing along with them upon whose Favour the comfort of this Relation doth wholly depend Those whom God bringeth into it are likely to fare best and they that resign themselves up into his hands to be disposed of by him surely take the readiest way to obtain the Happiness they expect 5. For a Pattern of Providence in all after-Times It is worth the observing that Christ reasoning against Poligamy from vers 24. compared with Mat. 19. God having abundance of the Spirit as the Prophet speaks Mal. 2. 15. brought the Woman to one Man tho there was more cause of giving Adam many Wives for the speedier peopling of the World than there could be to any of his Posterity As Christ observeth the number so we may observe the thing it self it is God's Work still to give every one his Marriage-Companion he bringeth the Woman to the Husband and every Husband to his Wife that meet as they ought to do His Providence doth mightily and evidently govern all Circumstances that concern this Affair as we shall shew you by and by The Point which I shall insist on is this Doct. That Marriages are then holily entred into when the Parties take one another out of God's hands I. I will shew you in what sense they are said to take one another out of God's hands II. Why this is so necessary to be obâ—observed I. For the first They take one another out of God's hands Two ways 1. When his Directions are observed 2. When his Providence is owned and acknowledged 1. When his Directions in his Word are observed And so 1. As to the choice of Parties When a Man seeketh out a Help-meet for himself he should in the first place seek out a Help-meet for himself in the best things for in all our deliberate and serious Consultations Religion must have the first place Mat. 6. 37. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof c. A Man 's chief End should be discovered in all his Actions as it must guide me in my Meat and Drink and Recreations and the ordinary Refreshments of the natural Life or else I do not act as a Christian So much more in my most important and serious Affairs such as Marriage is and upon which my Content and Welfare so much dependeth Certainly he that would take God's Blessing along with him should make choice in God's Family of one with whom he may converse as an Heir with him of the Grace of Life A Christian saith the Apostle is at liberty to marry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but only in the Lord 1 Cor. 7. 39. he is at liberty to rejoice but in the Lord to eat and drink and trade but in the Lord so to marry but in the Lord. Religion must appear uppermost in all his Actions and guide him throughout The Mischiefs that have come by a carnal Choice should be sufficient warning to Christians Gen. 6. 2. The Sons of God went in unto the Daughters of Men and took them VVives because they were fair they were swayed by carnal Motives or because Rich or nobly descended it is all one And what was the issue of it there came of them a mungrel Race of Giants that rose up against God and his Interest in the World Many times by a carnal choice all the good that is gotten into a Family is eaten out and within a little while Religion is cast out of doors Psal. 105. 35. They were mingled among the Heathen and learned their Works Nehem. 13. 25 26. I contended with them and made them swear by God Ye shall not give your Daughters to their Sons nor take their Daughters to your Sons 2 Kings 8. 18. He walked in the Ways of the Kings of Israel for the Daughter of Ahab was his Wife Valens the Emperor married with an Arrian Lady and so was ensnared so far as to become a Persecutor of the Orthodox The Wife of the Bosom hath great advantages either to the perverting or the converting a Man's
Blood of his Cross but vanquished our Spiritual Enemies and triumphed over them Col. 2. 14 15. Long enough might we have lain in Prison before the utmost Farthing had been paid or done any thing to procure our deliverance if our compassionate Redeemer had not taken the Work in hand had he turned us to any Creature we had been helpless 'T was he purchased Grace to overcome the Devil the World and the Flesh that quickned you when you were dead in Sin that put Satan out of Office and delivered us from the present evil World Gal. 1. 4. And is not this matter of rejoicing to us 3. That hereby he hath not only abolished Death but brought Life and Resurrection to Life 2 Tim. 1. 10. By entring into that other World after his Sufferings He hath given us a visible Demonstration of the Reality of the World to come and in his Gospel discovered a Blessedness to us which satiateth the Heart of Man and salveth the great Sore of the whole Creation If God had made nothing richer than the World the Heart of Man would have been as Leviathan in a little Pool 2. In the Promises of Christ there is matter of Joy In the general God is your God and that 's more than to have all the World to be yours compare Gen. 17. 7. I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy Seed after thee in their Generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and thy Seed after thee With Psal. 144. 15. Happy is that People whose God is the Lord. We have an Eternal and Allsufficient God to live upon and from whom to derive our Joy and Comfort A God infinite in Power Wisdom and Goodness to be our Portion And where is Matter of Joy and Comfort if not in God Behold the difference between Carnal Men and the Children of God The World is their Portion and God is ours and who is better provided for More especially we are told 1 Tim. 4. 8. That Godliness hath the Promises of this Life and that which is to come Heaven and Earth are laid at the Feet of Godliness what would you moreâ— Surely we have full Consolation offered to us in the Promises of the Gospel He can want nothing to his Comfort whoâ— hath an Interest in them To instance in the lowest Blessings those which concern this Life God is our God that can cure all Diseases overcome all Enemies supply all Wants deliver in all Dangers and will do it so far as is for our good and desires of any thing beyond this are not to be satisfied but mortified Psal. 84. 11. But then for the more Excellent Promises of the New Covenant which concern another World such as the pardoning of our Sins the healing our Natures and the glorifying of our Persons 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises that by these you might be partakers of the Divine Nature having escaped the corruption that is in the World through lust The pardon of all our Sins which are the great trouble and burden of the Creatures Who will rejoice like the pardoned Sinner who is discharged of his Debt eased of his Burthen and hath his Filth covered Psal. 32. 1. Blessed is the Man whose Transgression is forgiven whose Sin iâ— covered O the blessedness of the Manâ— He is like one fetched back from Execution Then the taking away of the stony Heart and the giving of an Holy and Heavenly Heart Oh what Matter of Joy is this to have all things necessary to Life and Godliness What 's the trouble of a gracious Heart but the Relicts of Corruption Rom. 7. 24. Paul groaneth sorely but yet blesseth God for his Hopes by Christ Vers. 25. Renewing Grace is dearly bought and plentifully bestowed Titus 3. 5 6. and graciously offered to those that will seek after it Prov. 1. 23. Turn you at my Reproof Behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you And this promise to be fulfilled by a Divine Power 2 Pet. 1. 3. Oh what a Comfort is the Redeemer's Grace to a Soul that hath been long exercised in subduing Sin 'T is true it groans while 't is a doing yet the very groans of the Sick shew that Life and Health is sweet Healing renewing Grace maketh other Things sweet as your whole Duty to God It maketh it become your Delight But the great Promise is Eternal Life 1 John 2. 25. And this is the Promise that he hath promised us even Eternal Life That 's a Matter of Joy indeed What! to live for ever with God! the fore-thought of it reviveth us the fore-taste of it is a kind of Heaven upon Earth 1 Pet. 1. 8. The certain hope of it will swallow up all Grief and Sorrow Rom. 5. 2 3. So that there is no question but that in the Promises of Christ there is Matter of great Joy 3. The Enjoiments of Christianity are very pleasing I add this to shew you that it is not all in expectation if we consider not only what we shall be but what we are For the present 1. We have peace of Conscience Rom. 5. 1. Mat. 11. 29. Phil. 4. 7. Rest for our Souls is anxiously sought after in other things but only found in Christ's Religion and living according to the Precepts and Institutions thereof As Noah's Dove found not a place whereon to rest the sole of her Foot so we flutter up and down but never have any firm peace of Heart and Conscience till we submit to Christ and take his counsel 2. A sence of the Love of God Rom. 5. 5. Because the Love of God is shed abroad in our Hearts by the Holy Spirit given unto us And 1 Pet. 2. 3. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious 3. God's Presence with us and our Communion with him 1 Iohn 1. 3 4. And truly our Fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ that your Ioy may be full And Iohn 8. 29. 4. Access to God with assurance of Welcome and Audience John 16. 24. Whatsoever ye ask in my Name ye shall receive that your Ioy may be full 5. The Fore-tastes of the Life to come Rom. 8. 23. and 2 Cor. 3. 5. So that all is to stir up this Delight and Joy in the Lord Jesus Christ. 4. The Precepts of Christ shew that we have Matter of Rejoicing in him What are the great Duties required To love God! Now what pain is it to delight in the Lord as our All-sufficient Portion To be mindful of him and meditate of his Excellencies and Benefits Psal. 104. 34. My Meditation of him shall be sweet I will be glad in the Lord. Is it any toilsome thing to come in a childish manner and unbosome our selves to him and beg the renewed Testimonies of his Love to us especially when set awork by the Holy Ghost Gal. 4. 6. To believe in Christ 't is difficult but pleasant to consider
prodest illis Baptismus quid prodest Spiritus Sanctus cujus arbitrio dicunt se Temperari c. Behold those that boast themselves to be redeemed from the tyranny of the Devil to be dead to the World to have crucified the Flesh They are overcome by their base and bruâ—ish Lusts even as we are whom they account to be still under the Kingdom of the Devil What doth their Baptism profit them what the Holy Ghost whose direction they profess to live by Why should we trouble our selves about changing our course which is as good as theirs So in Salvian's time the Heathens were wont to upbraid the Christians thus Vbi est â—atholica Lex quam credunt Vbi sunt pietatis castitatis exempla quae discunt Evangelia legunt impudiâ—uâ—t Apostolos audiant ineâ—riantur Cristum sâ—quuntur capiunt c. They talk of an Holy Christ and yet are unjust unclean wrathful coveâ—ous of a meek patient Christ and yet are rapacious and violent of Holy Apostles and yet are impure in their conversations Our Author goeth on thus Sancta à Christianis fierent si Sancta Christus docuisset aestimari à 〈◊〉 potest isâ—e qui colitur quomodo bonus Magister â—ujus tum malos esse videmus Discipulos If their Christ were an holy meek Christ they would be better c. And as carnal Men now speak For all their Godliness and Religion that they talk of our life and course and dealings are as good and honest and justifiable as theirs Thus the wicked are justified in their way 5. Christ will one day justify all his sincere Followers before Men and Angels and Devils Luke 12. 8. Whosoever shall confess me him shall the Son of Man confess before the Angels of God Let us justify his ways and he will justify us and our Faith at length shall be found to Praise and Glory and Honour Christ will then wipe off all the Aspertions which be cast upon the Children of Wisdom for Godliness-sake as Faction Pride Singularity Hypocrisy and that which was branded with such ignominious Titles will then be found to be the very Wisdom of God 6. Because of the necessity of justifying Wisdom in the times we live in 't is said 2 Pet. 3. 3. In the last Time there shall come Scoffers and Mockers walking after their own Lusts. The last days shall be full of these prophane Scoffers While Truths were new and the exercises of the Christian Religion lovely there was great concord and seriousness amongst the Professors of the Gospel and then prophane Scoffers were rare and unfrequent Before Mens senses were benummed with the customary use of Religious Duties the Notions of God were fresh and lively upon their Hearts but afterwards when the Profession of Christianity grew into a form and national Interest and Men were rather made Christians by the chance of their Birth than choice and rational Convictions then the Church was much pestered with this kind of Cattel especially now are they rise among us who live in the dregs of Christianity when Men are grown weary of the Name of Christ and the ancient severity and strictness is much lost and the memory of those Miracles and wonderâ—ul Effects by which our Religion was confirmed is almost worn out or else questioned by Men of subtile Wits and a prostituted Conscience Therefore now Mockers and Men of atheistical Spirits swarm every where and it concerneth Wisdom's Children to justify it and to maintain its former Vigor and Power The Vse that we may make is double 1. To the Enemies of Wisdom Judg not of an Holy Life and those that profess it at a distance and by hear-say but try We are not afraid to come to the Bar with our Enemies John 7. 24. Iudg not according to appearance but judg Righteous Iudgment If Men would not be blinded with visible Appearance and the Mask of Passiou Prejudice and Interest and condemn the People of God as they are represented in a false Mirror judg and spare not and where you â—ind the true Spirit of Christianity take all leave we desire no other Trial but speak not against things you know not Try and judg as you find where is the deepest sense of the other World where the most careful preparation to get thither the joy of Faith the love of Holiness If Christianity will allow that worldly Pomp that vanity and liberty which others take then judg the Servants of the Lord as guilty of a foolish niceness preciseness and singularity but if we be baptized into these things and unquestionably and indispensibly bound to them either renounce your Baptism or forbear your Censures or rather chuse this clear and pure way to everlasting Glory If you will not stand to God's Word stand to your own sober Moods We will make you your selves Judges when you are serious and best able to judg of things not in you Passion when Lusts are stirring When you are entring the Confines of Eternity when Conscience is likely to speak truth to you you will wish then you were one of those poor godly Men whom now you count proud humorous and factious 2. To the Children of VVisdom Do not scandalize the Holy VVays of God but justify them be neither ashamed of them nor a shame to them Till the ancient strictness be revived VVisdom will never be justified The faithful Followers of Chirst must expect Troubles in this World LUKE 9. 57 58 59 60 61 62. And it came to pass that as they went in the way a certain Man said unto him Lord I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest And Iesus said unto him Foxes have Holes and Birds of the Air have Nests but the Son of Man hath not where to lay â—â—s Head And he said unto another Follow 〈◊〉 but he said Lord suffer me first to go and bury my Father Iesus said unto them Let the Dead 〈◊〉 their Dead but go thou and preaâ—â— the Kingdom of God And another also said Lord I will follâ—â— thee but let me first go bid them farewel which are at home at my House And Iesus said unto him No Man having put his Hand to the Plough and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God HERE are three Stories put together by the Evangelist to teach us in what manner we should address our selves to follow Christ. The first is of a Scribe that came uncalled but his Heart was not right with God having a temporal biass upon it The second is of one called vers 59. Christ saith Follow me But he would first cherish then bury his dying Father But Christ would have no delays but presently sets him about his Ministry and Service in the Gospel This upon the Authority of Clemens Alexandrinus who received it upon Ancient Tradition is supposed to be Philip. A third offereth himself to follow Christ but first he would take his farewel at home and compose Matters in his Family But when we set our Faces
Godward there is no looking back There must be no more consulting with Flesh and Blood The Divine Instinct must be obeyed speedily and wholly and Christ followed without Reserves and Conditions Of these in their order I begin with the First And it came to pass as they went on the way a certain Man said unto him Lord I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest c. In which words observe 1. The Time It came to pass as they went on the way a certain Man said to him 2. A Resolution professed Lord I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest 3. Christ's Reply And Iesus said unto him Foxes have Holes and the Birds of the Air have Nests but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head 1. The Time In Matth. 8. 19. 'T is when Christ had a mind to retire and had declared his purpose to go into the Desert In Luke when he stedfastly set his Face to go to Ierusalem Both may agree the one more immediatly the other more remotely first to the Desert then to Ierusalem About that time a certain Man seeing Christ about to remove from the place where he then was offereth himself to be one of his Disciples This certain Man is by St. Matthew said to be a Scribe Men of that Rank and Order had usually a Male Talent against the Gospel and are frequently coupled with the Pharisees Men covetous and of a bitter Spirit This Man seeing Christ did great Miracles and hoping that he would set up a Temporal Kingdom he puts in for a place betimes that he might share in the Honours of it 2. Here is a Resolution professed Lord I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest Where take notice 1. Of the ready forwardness of the Scribe He was not called by Christ but offered himself of his own accord 2. Observe the largeness of the Offer and unboundedness of it Whithersoever as indeed it is our Duty to follow Christ through thick and thin In the Revelations Christ's undeâ—iled Company are described to be such as follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Rev. 14. 4. That is obeyed him though to their great peril and loss Well then here is readiness here is largeness it is well if all be sincere Therefore let us see 3. Christ's Answer and Reply And Iesus said unto him Foxes have Holes and the Birds of the Air have Nests but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his Head By the tenour of Christ's Answer you may know what ails him and on what Foot he limped For this is spoken either by way of preparation to enable him to keep his Resolution or rather by way of probation to try the truth and strength of it whether it were sincere and sound yea or no As the young Man was tried Mark 10. 21. One thing thou lackest go thy way sell whatsoever thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven and come and take up thy Cross and follow me But he went away sad at that saying So here we hear no more of this Scribe our Lord knew how to discover Hypocrites Two things were defective in this Resolution 1. 'T was suddain and rash not weighing the Difficulties They that rashly leap into a Profession usually fall back at first trial Therefore we must sit down and count the Charges Luke 14. 28. 2. There was a carnal Aim in it He minded his own Profit and Honour Therefore Christ in effect telleth him you had best consider what you do for following of me will be far from advancing any temporal Interest of yours The Scribe was leavened with a Conceit of a worldly Kingdom and had an Eye to some Temporal Advantage Therefore Christ telleth him plainly There was no worldly Ease and Riches to be expected from him And so Non repulit valentem sed fingentem prodidit He did not discourage a willing Follower but discover a worldly Hypocrite saith Chrysologus The Doctrine we learn from hence is this They that will sincerely follow Christ must not look for any great Matters in the World but rather prepare themselves to run all hazards with him This is evident 1. From Christ's own Example And the same Mind should be in all his Followers John 17. 16. They are not of the World even as I am not of the World Our estranging of our Hearts from the World is an evidence of our conformity to Christ. Christ passed through the World to sanctify it as a Place of Service but his constant Residence was not here to â—ix it as a Place of Rest And all that are Christ's are alike affected We pass through as Strangers but are not at home as Inhabitants or Dwellers and if we have little of the World's Favour 't is enough if any degree of Service for God 2. From the Nature of his Kingdom His Kingdom is not of this World Iohn 18. 3 6. 'T is not a Kingdom of Pomp but a Kingdom of Patience Here we suffer with Christ hereafter we reign with him The Comforts are not earthly or the good Things of this World but heavenly the good Things of the World to come This was the Scribes Mistake 3. From the Spirit of Christ. His Spirit is given us to draw us off from this World to that which is to come 1 Cor. 2. 12. Now we have not received the Spirit of the World but the Spirit which is of God that we may know the Things which are given us of God The Spirit of the World is that which possesseth and governeth worldly Men and inclineth them to a worldly Happiness this is in all Men naturally Corrupt Nature doth sufficiently prompt and incline Men to look after the Honours and Pleasures and Profits of this World Iames 3. 15. the Apostle when he would describe the Wisdom which is not from above he saith that it is earthly sensual devillish this Wisdom cometh not from above Present Things are known by Sense and known easily and known by all But there is a Divine Spirit put into Christians which inclineth them to Things to come and worketh Graces suitable Some of which give us a sight of the Truth of those Things as Faith some a Taste or an Esteem of them as Love some an earnest Desire as Hope This Spirit cometh from God and Christ Ephes. 1. 17 18. And without these Graces we can have no sight nor desire of heavenly Things 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural Man receiveth not the Things of the Spirit of God for they are Foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned They think 't is folly to hazard present Conveniencies for future Rewards and the truest Wisdom to live in Ease Plenty and Honour On the contrary the Divine Spirit convinceth us that there is no such Business of Importance as looking after eternal Life That all the gay Things of Sense are but so many Maygames to Heavens Happiness the terrible Things of the World are
Heart to God or else if they should not prevail so far What dissonancy and jarrings are there in a Family when People are unequally yoked the Wife and Husband drawing several ways 2. As to consent of Parents God here in the Text as the common Parent taketh himself to have the greatest hand in the bestowing of his own Children He brought her unto the Man and ordinary Parents are his Deputies which must bring and give us in Marriage especially when young and under their Power The Scripture is express for this Exod. 22. 17. If her Father wholly refuse to give her unto him c. 1 Cor. 17. 28. He that giveth her in Marriage c. 3. As to the manner of procuring it that they labour to gain one another by warrantable yea râ—ligious Ways that we may lâ—y the Foundation of this Relation in the Fear of God not by stealth or carnal Allurements or violent Importunities or deceitful Proposals but by such ways and means as will become the gravity of Religion that weanedness and sobriety that should be in the Hearts of Believers that deliberation which a business of such weight calls for and that Reverence of God and Justice that we owe to all that seriousness of Spirit and that respect to the Glory of God with which all such Actions should be underken Col. 3. 17. Whatsoever we do in Word or in Deed do all in the Name of the Lord Iesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him When this is observed we are said to take one another out of God's Hands 4. Especially clearing up our Right and Title by Christ. Meats Drinks Marriage they are all sanctified by the Word and Prayer and appointed to be received by thanksgiving of them that believe and receive the Truth 1 Tim. 4. 3 4 5. There is a two-fold Right Dominium Politicum Evangelicum Dominium Politicum fundatur in Providentiâ Evangelicum in Gratiâ Political Right is founded in God's Providence Evangelical Right in Grace We have a Civil Right to all that cometh to us by honest Labour lawful Purchace or Inheritance and fair and comely Means used which giveth us a Right not only before Men but before God not by virtue of their Laws but his Grant By a Providential-Right all wicked Men possess all outward things which they enjoy as the Fruits and Gifts of his common Bounty it is their Portion Psalm 17. 14. Whatever falleth to their share in the course of God's Providence they are not Usurpers meerly for possessing what they have but for abusing what they have They have not only a civil Right to prevent the Incroachments of others by the Laws of Men but a providential Right before God and are not simply responsible for the Possession but the Use. But then there is an Evangelical or New-Covenant Right So Believers have a Right to their Creature-Comforts by God's special Conveyance that sweetneth every Mercy that it comes wrapt in the Bowels of Christ. The little which the Righteous hath is better than the Treasures of many wicked as the mean fair of a poor Subject is better than the Dainties of a condemned Traitor And this we have by Christ as the Heir of all things and we by him 1 Cor. 3. latter end So all those things do belong to them that believe as Gifts of his fatherly Love and Goodness to us in Christ as we take our Bread out of Christ's hands so we must be married to Christ before married to one another the Marriage-Covenant should be begun and concluded between Christ and you 5. For the End the general and last End of this as of every Action must be God's Glory 1 Cor. 10. 31. and Col. 3. 17. A Christian's Second-Table Duties and First-Table Duties should have on them holiness to the Lord. All the Vessels of Ierusalem must have God's Impress More particularly our increase in Godliness and the propagation of the Holy Seed must be aimed at Where one Person is a Believer much more where both they beget Sons and Daughters to God But now are they holy 1 Cor. 7. 14. But those out of the Church beget Sons and Daughters to Men merely to people the World Seth's Children are called Sons of God Gen. 6. 1 2. In the careful Education of Children the Church is upheld 2. When his Providence is owned and acknowledged It is the Duty of them that fear God to own him upon all Occasions especially in such a Business Heathens would not begin such a Business without a Sacrifice There is a special Providence about Marriages God claimeth the Power of Match-making to himself more than he doth of ordering any other Affairs of Men Prov. 19. 14. Riches and Honours are an Inheritance from our Fathers but a good Wife is from the Lord. Inheritances pass by the Laws of Men though not without the intervention of God's Providence who determineth to every Man the time of his Service and the bounds of his Habitation where every Man shall live and what he shall enjoy The Land of Canaan was divided by Lot but Marriage is by the special Destination of his Providence either for a Punishment to Men or for a Comfort and a Blessing Here Providence is more immediate by its influence upon the Hearts of Men here Providence is more strange and remarkable in casting all Circumstances and Passages that did concern it Estates fall to us by more easy and obvious Means and therefore though nothing be exempted from the Dominion of Providence yet a good Wife is especially said to be of the Lord. So also Prov. 18. 22. Whoso findeth a Wife findeth a good Thing and obtaineth favour of the Lord. A Wife that is a Wife indeed one that deserveth that Name he that findeth her it is a chance to him but an ordered thing by God he hath not only experience of God's Care but his Goodness and Free-grace to him in that particular Well then God must be owned sought glorified in this particular The Husband in the Catalogue and Inventory of his Mercies must not forget to bless God for this and the Wife for the Husband the Lord was gracious in providing for me a good Companion I obtained favour from the Lord. God is concerned in this whole Affair he brought the Woman to the Man he giveth the Portion which is not so much the Dowry given by the Parents which is little worth unless his Blessing be added with it as all the Graces and Abilities by which all married Persons are made helpful one to another He giveth the Children Psalm 127. 3. Lo Children are an Heritage from the Lord Their Conception and Formation in the Womb is from God Parents know not whether it be Male or Female beautiful or deformed They know not the number of the Bones and Veins and Arteries He giveth them Life a Sentence of Death way-layeth them as soon as they come into the World He giveth them Comfort there is a great deal of
thy Paths God will order things for the best when we do not lead but follow him we still coâ—sâ—lt with God and dare not undertake any thing but what is agreeable to his Will And will God mislead us and direct us amiss or turn us into a by-way or crooked-path It is said Psal. 37. 23 24. The Steps of a good Man are ordered by the Lord and he that is the Lord delighteth in his way though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand It is a blessed thing to be under God's Conduct to be led on or led off by so wise and powerful and alsufficient a Guide for such he delights to do them good and taketh pleasure in his Resolutions to prosper them Sometimes they shall have a taste of the Evils of the World but they shall not be ruined by them They may fall but they shall not be dashed in pieces it is an Allusion to a Vessel that gets a knock but is not broken by the fall 5. It is an help to make us more ready to part with one another when God willeth it All temporal things we receive them from God upon this condition to yield them up to God again when he calls for them The Law concerning all created Injoyments is The Lord giveth the Lord taketh Job 1. 21. We make a Snare for our selves and receive them not in a right Notion if we do not receive them as mortal and perishing Comforts which God may demand at pleasure and so keep the Soul loose and in a posture of submission if God should cross us and disappoint us in them Thus must we use all outward Comforts with that weanedness and moderation as to Children Estates and all temporal Blessings c. that will become a sense of the frailty that is in them and the wheelings and turnings of an uncertain World It is the Apostle's Direction 1 Cor. 7. 31. The time is short it remains that those that have Wives be as though they had none not as to be defective in our Love to them and care over them no there is rather to be an excess than a defect here Prov. 5. 19. Be thou ravish'd always with her Love But as to a preparation of Heart to keep or lose if God should see fit to be contented to part with a dear Yoke-fellow or at least with an humble Submission and acquiescence when God's Will is declared and somewhat of this must be mingled with all our rejoicings some thoughts of the Vanity of the Creature Leavened Bread was to be eaten with the Thank-offerings in the Feast of Tabernacles when the Barns were full Man at his best estate is Vanity Psal. 39. 5. Now to help us to do this it is good to consider he that hath the right to give hath also the right of taking away and as you must not be overjoyed with the receiving so not be over-sad with parting APPLICATION Vse 1. Let us seek to God by earnest Prayer when any such matter is in hand Marriages we say are made in Heaven bâ—fore they are made on Earth ` Pagans before the awe of Religion was extinguished would begin with their Gods in any weighty Enterprize A Iove principium was an honest Principle among the Heathens Laban consults with his Teraphim Balak sendeth for Balaam to give him Counsel Heathens had their Sybills and Oracles at Delphos So far as any Nation was touched with a sense of a Divine Power they would never venture upon any weighty thing without asking the Leave or the Blessing of what they supposed to be God So for God's Children it was their constant practice they duâ—st not resolve upon any course till they had asked counsel of God David always ran to the Oracle of the Ephod Shall I go up to Hebron Iacob in his journey would neither go to Laban nor come from him without a Warrant Iehoshaphat when the business of Ramoth Gilead was afoot doth not lead forth the Captains of the Army but he sends for the Prophets of the Lord 1 Kings 22. 45. Enquire I pray thee of the World of the Lord this day So Iudg. 1â—1 Who shall go up and fight against the Canaanites It is a contempt of God and a kind of laying him aside when we dare undertake any thing without his Leave Counsel and Blessing and these are the things we are to seek in Prayer 1. His Leave God is the absolute Lord of all things both in Heaven and Earth and whatsoever is possessed by any Creature is by his Indulgence Whatever store and plenty we have by us our Saviour teachâ—â—h us to bâ—g our alloâ—â—nce or leave to use so much as is necessary for us or the portion of every day Give us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this day our daily Bread It is a piece of Religious Mannersâ— to acknowledg God's Right and Soveraignty 'T is robbery to make use of a Man's goods and to waste them and consume them without his leave All that we have or use is God's who reserveth the Propriety of all to himself In distributing to the Creatures he never intended to divest himself of his Right As an Husbandman by sowing his Corn in the Field is not dispossessed of a Right to it God hath Dominiâ—m we have Dispensationem of Life and all the Comforts that belong to it Life is his Man is a â—ustos a Guardian of it for God Gold and Silver is his Man is a Steward to improve it for God Adam had no interest in Eve till God brought her to him and bestowed her on him Every one of us must get a grant of God of all that he hath the Lord he possâ—sseth the House that we dwell in the Cloaths we wear the Food we eat And so in the use of all other Comforts we must have a License from God and take his Leave God is said to have given David the Wives that he had into his Bosom 2. His Counsel and Direction when the case is doubtful and our thoughts are uncertain Prov. 3. 5. Lean not to thy own Vnderstanding We scarce know Duties certainly we cannot foresee Events therefore a Man that maketh his Bosom his Oracle his Wit his Counsellor will chuse a Mischief to himself instead of a Comfort and a Blessing Therefore we ought chiefly and first of all to consult with God and seek his Direction for he seeth the Heart and foreseeth Events We can only look upon what is present and there upon the outward appearance Therefore God can best direct us in our choice he knoweth the fittest Matches and Consorts for every one who hath a prospect of all things in one moment of time and by one act of the Understanding and so can best dispose of Humane Affairs for the profit and comfort of the Creature Jer. 10. 23. O Lord I know that the way of Man is not in himself nor is it in the Sons of Men to direct their steps that