Two marriage sermons the former on Prov. 19. 14. By Thomas Gataker B. of…Tvvo mariage sermons the former on Prov. 19. 14. By Thomas Gataker B. of…

Again, is a good Wife such a special gift of God? Then if we find in marriage, inconveniences, hinderances, distractions, disturbances: Let us learn what we are to ascribe it unto: Not to Gods gift or ordinance, but^q to mans corruption abusing Gods gift, perverting Gods ordinance, and turning that to his own evil, that God hath given him for his good. For^r there is nothing but is good as it cometh from God. But as^s pure water may take a taint from the pipe that conveyeth it, and^t the Sun beams receive a tincture from the coloured glass that they pass through: so our foul hands and filthy fingers oft soil and sully Gods Ordinances, and our filth and corruption doth oft so taint and infect them, that they loose not only much of their native grace, and so strangely transformed, that^u God himself can scarcely discern his own in them, but they miss also of their fruit and efficacy, ⟨p. 14⟩and³ of good and commodious, through our own default, become evil and incommodious unto us. And as⁴ Tyranny in government is not the fault of Gods Ordinance, but of mans corruption abusing it: so in these cases, the evil and inconvenience is not the fruit of Gods Ordinance, but of mans corruption accompanying it.

Againe, is a good Wife such a speciall gift of God? Then if we finde in mariage, inconueniences, hinderances, distractions, disturbances: Let vs learne what we are to ascribe it vnto: Not to Gods gift or ordinance, but^q to mans corruption abusing Gods gift, peruerting Gods ordinance, and turning that to his owne euill, that God hath giuen him for his good. For