A care-cloth

You may, perhaps, tell me, that Paul meant it of those times of persecutions, and not of all times indifferently. But I can certainly tell you, that you shall find, he meant it of all times indifferently, though it be principally true of such times. The present necessity is not to be restrained to the days of open persecution, but enlarged to the distresses of this present life: for else the argument had been unfitly framed for the state of the Corinthians, seeing at this time they were not assaulted with any such tempestuous weather. Wherefore I will be bold to undertake, to persuade all you unmarried people, Widows, Maids, Bachelors, Widowers, if you can, without the far greater mischief of burning; that is to say, of being carried away with unsubduable wishes of this kind, to keep you as you be, and not to procure misery to your selves by a needless change of your estates. You may, perhaps, imagine, that the comforts of marriage will abundantly requite the troubles. So all things seem fair afar off, which are not so nearer hand: but if you will be well advised before you conclude, you shall find, that indeed the comforts are not worth the troubles. For I pray you, what be the comforts you talk of? A wife, ⟨p. 66⟩children: these two be all, and yet I have told you before, that often these two be the greatest cumbers of marriage; so that these are but uncertain comforts, and may prove otherwise. But say that they prove in the best sort; yet I assure you, that they are far too light, to over-weigh all the leaden weights of trouble that lye in the other scale. If a wife be unto thee a remedy against sin, and a preservative against fornication; I yield indeed, that the good that thou hast by her, doth far more then recompense all the miseries that marriage bringeth with it: and if thou have lawful children in Wedlock, to save thee from having mis-begotten children in whoredom; now thy children do sufficiently requite all thy pains, care, trouble about them, and thine estate for them.

You may, perhaps, tell me, that Paul meant it of those times of persecutions, and not of all times indifferently. But I can certainly tel you, that you shall find, he meant it of all times indifferently, though it be principally true of such times. The present necessitie is not to be restrained to the dayes of open persecution, but enlarged to the distresses of this present life: for else the argument had been vnfitly framed for the state of the Corinthians, seeing at this time they were not assaulted with any such tēpestuous weather. Wherefore I will be bold to vndertake, to perswade all you vnmarried people, Widdowes, Maids, Batchelors, Widdowers, if you can, without the farre greater mischiefe of burning; that is to say, of being carried away with vnsubduable wishes of this kind, to keepe you as you be, and not to procure miserie to your selues by a needlesse change of your estates. You may, perhaps, imagine, that the comforts of marriage will abundantly requite the troubles. So all things seeme faire afarre off, which are not so neerer hand: but if you will be well aduised before you conclude, you shall find, that indeed the comforts are not worth the troubles. For I pray you, what be the comforts you talke of? A wife,