Marriage duties briefly couched together out of Colossians, 3. 18, 19. By Thomas Gataker…Marriage duties briefely couched togither out of Colossians, 3. 18, 19. By Thomas Gataker…

The fourth duty of Love is (that which the Apostle here expresseth in the negative, and we have put of to this place;) ^athe •a•nishing of all Bitterness. And surely if all bitterness must be abandoned & put away among Christians, much more among Christian man & wife. ^bLet all bitterness, and strife, and wrath, & •l mor, & evil language be put away from you, saith the Apostle. If ^cno root of gall & bitterness must be endured among Christians in the Church, ^dthat is the house of God: no more between man and wife in the house or family ^ethat is ⟨p. 43⟩to be as a Church of God. And therefore among the heathen ^*the gall of the sacrifice, that was slain & offered at weddings, was thrown out at doors; thereby to signify, that the married folks should be either to other as Doves^*, without gal. And surely if among Christian men ^fAll things must be done in Love: much more must a•l things be done in Love, & much Love, between Christian man and wife, that are tied by a double, yea by a triple band of love either to other; a natural band as ^gneighbours and nigh in nature; a spiritual bond ^h