hast not followed young men whether poore or rich Then Boas called into judgement the next kinsman who out of covetousnesse suffered the accustomed disgrace for refusing to performe the duty he ought to have done And Boas as the next in degree tooke Ruth to be his * Ruth 4.10 wife In this story we discerne the many vertues of Ruth it is to be observed also that she was a Moabitesse of the line of Lot and of the issue he had by his daughters of this off-spring shortly after came the Prophet David from whom also in processe of time proceeded the Saviour of mankind Next we observe the passage betwixt Ammon and Tamar where it is said that Ammon loved Tamar in an unlawfull manner which the mayd as discreetly reproved desiring him not to force her but to aske her of the King for a wife in that sence she knew the King would not withhold her * 2 Sam. 4.13 but Ammon after his lust was satisfied despised her which act turned to his confusion and was the occasion of his slaughter Still we see the sister did not doubt to be her brothers wife but did detest the act of fornication which certainly is the thing meant in the forbidden degrees formerly mentioned And assuredly also that act proceeding from lust in kindred is the highest degree of fornication and of some perhaps not improperly termed incest if there be such a distinction But for the holy institution of marriage with the next of Kindred We see by all examples before and after it hath not onely been permitted but commanded Neither doe we finde any thing to the contrary in the whole progresse of the Gospell but still reproofe of fornication and especially amongst kindred which seems to confirme what is formerly said for so St. Paul It is reported commonly that there is fornication * 1 Cor. 5. amongst you and such as is not used among the Gentiles that one should have his fathers wife But the same Saint Paul hath these following words in the same booke Ch. 7 v. 3. touching marriage To avoyd fornication let every man excepting no degree or profession have his own wife and let every woman have her own husband And in verse 4. the wife hath not power of her own body but the husband nor the husband power of his own body but the wife in the singular number From hence may be inferred that men since the Gospell ought not to have plurality of wives but neither there nor in any other place where the like precept is given is there any exception to the next of kin but in case of fornication aforesaid Then let every man have his own wife this doth most and best represent the mistery betwixt Christ and his Spouse the Church else where it is said the man and his wife is one flesh not the man and his wives Although the Patriarks and Prophets under the Law had plurality of wives for the greater increase of a good Tribe or for other reasons and misteries which here we have not time to discusse And though the Turks and other Nations doe allow themselves plurality of wives perhaps alleaging the foresaid custome of the Patriarks as also to uphold the vastnesse of their Empire having such use for unmerous Armies yet we take their reasons to be more sensuall and politick then religious for we that live under the Gospell ought to conforme our selves unto that rule Let every one have his own wife in the singular mumber aforesaid but then seeing there is not one word in the Gospell to the contrary that any Popish Ordinance or other should bar a man to choose that single woman he liketh best to be his wife if she be also consenting and of ripe judgement seems to be both against the law of nature and reason Wherefore we conclude this point with the Apostles words that the forbidding of marriage is the doctrine of devils Again marriage * 1 Tim. 4.3 is honourable in all and the bed undefiled but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge Heb. 13.4 in all marke this here 's no exception yet it would have been here or somewhere if it had been unlawfull either in kindred or Ministers as the Popish doctors teach for lucres sake as is formerly mentioned But we are to beware of such as would spoile us through vaine deceipt that follow the traditions of men the rudiments of the world and not after Christ * Colos 28. so then the works of the flesh are manifest which are these Adultery fornication uncleannesse lasciviousnesse idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulation wrath strife seditious heresies envyings murders drunkennesse with many others c. But as touching * Gal. 5.19,20 the holy institution of marriage intended according to the Ordinance with true love and sincerity of heart we finde no exception in any degree or profession And if the prohibition in the law formerly mentioned were meant of marriage as it is fully and amply proved to intend fornication onely because of the practice in marrying with their next of kin as well after as before formerly proved also yet were it not binding now for we understand the Law contained in Ordinances to be * Ephes 2.15 abolished And againe blotting out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us nayling it to the Crosse Colos 2. 14. for the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity also a change of the Law Heb. 7. 12. observe also the second of the Corinthians There is a veile in reading of the old Testament which veile is taken away in Christ and * Ch. 3. v. 14 17. where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty But how what liberty to doe the works of the flesh formerly touched no God forbid The holy Ghost will witnesse with those that the Lord hath made his Covenant with he will put lawes into their hearts and in their minds will he write them their sinnes and iniquities will he remember no * Heb 10.16 17. more And in 1 Tim 4.9 The law is not made for a righteous man supposing such a one as contriveth not against a good conscience but for the lawlesse disobedient ungodly whoremongers liers stealers c. And in 2 Tim. 3. we have a large description of such as have no testimony of the good Spirit but are called perilous viz. Lovers of themselves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient unthankefull unholy truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce traytors highminded having a forme of godlinesse but denying the power thereof And of this sort are they which creep into houses leading captive silly women laden with sins led away with divers lusts ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth Now as James and Jambres withstood Moses so doe these also resist the truth men of corrupt minds c. Then was the chiefe Magistrate withstood how is it now if this portion of Scripture strike not point blanke at