A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

But as the blessings that come by good marriage, are innumerable: so be the curses by ill matches, many and mischievous. For marriage is a new foundation, ⟨p. 555⟩whereon men build the future state of their mortality. A man cannot choose himself, he may choose his wife: and in her choice it lies much to mend or mar himself; and which is more, even his posterity.^m Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers. From hence follow an Iliad of evils, and the whole infelicity of life; when matches are made of such as match not; when plants are set together of an unhappy conjunction, malevolent effects must needs issue from them. But it is objected; thatⁿ the Unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife, and the wife by the husband: and what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou mayest save thy husband? and, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? This may be; and was not in those times a sufficient of cause of divorce. But are not the good perverted by the bad, sooner than the bad converted by the good? Often have you heard how much a superstitious wife, by her certain lectures, hath wrought upon her Christian husband: when did you hear a believing husband prevail with his misbelieving wife? marry^o not thy son to a Canaanites daughter, for she will turn away his heart from following the Lord: he is not so likely to turn her.

But as the blessings that come by good marriage, are innumerable: so be the curses by ill matches, many and mischievous. For marriage is a new foundation, ⟨p. 555⟩whereon men build the future state of their mortalitie. A man cannot chuse himselfe, he may chuse his wife: and in her choise it lies much to mend or marre himselfe; and which is more, even his posteritie.^m Be not unequally yoked with unbelee•ers. From hence follow an Iliade of evills, and the whole infelicitie of life; when matches are made of such as match not; when plants are set together of an unhappy conjunction, malevolent effects must needs issue from them. But it is objected; that