Secondly, they cannot link hearts as they list. A Father may find out a fit wife, and think such a one a meet match for his Son▪ and her Parents may be also of the same mind with him, as willing ⟨p. 11⟩to entertain the motion as he is to make it; and yet it may be, when they have done all they can, they cannot fasten their affections. Asy Faith, so zLove cannot be constrained. aAs there is no affection more forcible; so there is none freer from force and compulsion. The very offer of enforcement turneth it oft into hatred. There are secret links of affection, that no reason can be rendered of: asb there are inbred dislikes, that can neither be resolved, nor reconciled. When Parents have a long time beaten the bush, an other oft, as we say, catcheth the bird: affections are set some other way, and cannot be removed. And things fall out many times so unexpectedly, such strong liking taken to some suddenly not once thought on before, and such strange alienation of affections, where there hath bin much labouring to link them, and that where outward inducements of person estate, years &c. have concurred, that even a natural mans dim eye may easily see & discern a more special providence of God oft carrying things in these cases: And the tongues even of such are enforced sometime to confess, as the Egyptian Magicians of Moses his miracles,c Digitus Dei hic est, There is a finger of God here; so with Rebekah's profane friends, in such Marriage matches;d A Domino factum est istud; This is even Gods own doing; and there is no contradicting of it.
Secondly, they cannot lincke hearts as they list. A Father may finde out a fit wife, and thinke such a one a meete match for his Sonne▪ and her Parents may be also of the same minde with him, as willing ⟨p. 11⟩to entertaine the motion as he is to make it; and yet it may be, when they haue done all they can, they cannot fasten their affections. Asy Faith, so zLoue cannot be constrained. aAs there is no affection more forcible; so there is none freer from force and compulsion. The very offer of enforcement turneth it oft into hatred. There are secret lincks of affection, that no reason can be rendred of: asb there are inbred dislikes, that can neither be resolued, nor reconciled. When Parents haue a long time beaten the bush, an other oft, as we say, catcheth the bird: affections are set some other way, and cannot be remoued. And things fall out many times so vnexpectedly, such strong liking taken to some sodainly not once thought on before, and such strange alienation of affections, where there hath bin much labouring to linck them, and that where outward inducements of person estate, yeeres &c. haue concurred, that euen a naturall mans dimme eye may easily see & discerne a more speciall prouidence of God oft carying things in these cases: And the tongues euen of such are enforced sometime to confesse, as the Aegyptian Magitians of Moses his miracles,c Digitus Dei hic est, There is a finger of God here; so with Rebekkaes prophane frends, in such Mariage matches;d A Domino factum est istud; This is euen Gods owne doing; and there is no contradicting of it.
- yFides suadenda nō imperanda Eern. in Cant. 66. Religionem imperare non possumus: quia nemo cogitur ut credat invitus. Theodori•us apud Cassiod. var. l. 2. ep. 27. Non est religionis cogere religionē, quae sponte suscipi debet. Tertull. ad Scap. Quis enim imponat mihi necessitatem vel colendi quod nolim, vel quod velim non colendi? Lactant. institut. l. 5. cap. 13. credendi. Lipsiu• polit. l. 4. c. 4.Fides suadenda nō imperanda Eern. in Cant. 66. Religionem imperare non possumꝰ: quia nemo cogitur vt credat invitus. Theodori•ꝰ apud Cassiod. var. l. 2. ep. 27. Non est religionis cogere religionē, quae sponte suscipi debet. Tertull. ad Scap. Quis enim imponat mihi necessitatem vel colendi quod nolim, vel quod velim non colendi? Lactant. institut. l. 5. cap. 13. credendi. Lipsiu• polit. l. 4. c. 4.
- zNescit amor quo (non) libe• cogi. Tertull de pudic.
- aCant. 8. 6, 7. non extorquebis amari. Claud. Honour. Coss. 4.Cant. 8. 6, 7. non extorquebis amari. Claud. Honor. Coss. 4.
- bNon amote, Sabidi, nec possum dicere quare: Hoc unū possum dicere, Non amote. Martial. ep. 33. lib. 1.Non amote, Sabidi, nec possum dicere quare: Hoc vnū possum dicere, Non amote. Martial. ep. 33. lib. 1.
- cExod. 8. 19.
- dGenes. 24. 50.
