Fie therefore and a shame of such mirth as doth not beseem the presence of Christ,1 of such words, as beseem not his ears, of such actions and exercises as beseem not his holy eyes; such mirth and pastime is not befitting any Solemnity, much less so honourable a Solemnity, as Marriage is or ought to be, which is a sacred knot, whereby two persons are inviolably knit together by the hand of God. As therefore this day, many of you are called to feast and rejoice with these Parties, that are to be united in a faithful bond: So I beseech you, as you will answer it before the Lord, and look for a blessing upon these Parties, in love of whom you are assembled, that you would look to your mirth, and see whether it be such, as in your Consciences you are persuaded, that Christ Jesus himself, if he were present, would not be offended, but well pleased with it. Consider whether thy mirth and laughter be such, as Christ Jesus would be delighted therein with thee: For Christ our head, mourneth with those that mourn in him, and rejoiceth with those that rejoice in him: Otherwise assure thy self, that that pleasure of thine, with which Christ Jesus is displeased, shall be turned into pain; that that joy of thine, wherein Christ doth not joy with thee, shall be turned into sorrow; that laughter of thine, that is offensive to him, shall be turned into tears. There cannot be a greater wrong offered▪ to a man, then for any to make themselves merry with that, which shall grieve and vex him: How much more is it an heinous wrong unto God, when men shall be assembled to solace & delight themselves in those things, ⟨p. 8⟩which do anger and displease him. Especially at such a time, when he should be moved to bestow a blessing upon the Parties married; and then, when we beg all joy and comfort for them at the hand of God. Verily, the monstrous profane abuses that ordinarily use to be upon such Occasions, are no doubt the special causes, of so many curses, that the Lord layeth upon many that enter into this honourable state, when the same shall in such vile manner be profaned and abused by them.
Fie therefore and a shame of such mirth as doth not beseeme the presence of Christ,1 of such words, as beseeme not his eares, of such actions and exercises as beseeme not his holy eyes; such mirth and pastime is not befitting any Solemnitie, much lesse so honorable a Solemnitie, as Mariage is or ought to be, which is a sacred knot, whereby two persons are inviolably knit togither by the hand of God. As therefore this day, many of you are called to feast and rejoyce with these Parties, that are to be vnited in a faithfull bond: So I beseech you, as you will answer it before the Lord, and looke for a blessing vpon these Parties, in loue of whom you are assembled, that you would looke to your mirth, and see whether it be such, as in your Consciences you are perswaded, that Christ Iesus himselfe, if he were present, would not be offended, but well pleased with it. Consider whether thy mirth and laughter be such, as Christ Iesus would be delighted therein with thee: For Christ our head, mourneth with those that mourne in him, and rejoceth with those that rejoyce in him: Otherwise assure thy selfe, that that pleasure of thine, with which Christ Iesus is displeased, shall be turned into paine; that that ioy of thine, wherein Christ doth not ioy with thee, shall be turned into sorrow; that laughter of thine, that is offensiue to him, shall be turned into teares. There cannot be a greater wrong offred▪ to a man, then for any to make themselues merry with that, which shal greiue and vex him: How much more is it an hainous wrong vnto God, when men shall be assembled to solace & delight themselues in those things, ⟨p. 8⟩which doe anger and displease him. Especially at such a time, when he should be moued to bestow a blessing vpon the Parties married; and then, when we begg all joy and comfort for them at the hand of God. Verily, the monstrous profane abuses that ordinarily vse to be vpon such Occasions, are no doubt the speciall causes, of so many curses, that the Lord layeth vpon many that enter into this honourable state, when the same shall in such vile manner be profaned and abused by them.
- 1The Use.The Vse.
