A14992:98
A care-cloth
A care-cloth: or a treatise of the cumbers and troubles of marriage intended to advise them that may, to shun them; that may not, well and patiently to bear them. By William Whately, preacher of the word of God in Banbury, in Oxfordshire.A care-cloth: or a treatise of the cumbers and troubles of marriage intended to aduise them that may, to shun them; that may not, well and patiently to beare them. By William Whately, preacher of the word of God in Banbury, in Oxfordshire.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, 1624
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
which how can one do, without a sting to his soul, if ⟨p. 71⟩in entering upon that state, he have neglected the commandments of God? So he shuts up Heaven and Earth against himself, that wrongs his Father in Heaven, and father in Earth, by a rash and preposterous rushing into Matrimony, & leaves himself no harbour to enter into, against a storm arise. Be wise therefore, and be godly, ye children; let judgement rule you, and not passion; neither give your affections, nor your selves, nor follow your passions in bestowing your selves, but with the privity and good allowance of those, from whom you had your selves. Not one marriage in an hundred hath thriven well, that was not ordered according to this rule; an error (such so gross an error) in the beginning of an action (and such an important action) can hardly, or not at all, be corrected afterwards.
which how can one doe, without a sting to his soule, if ⟨p. 71⟩in entring vpon that state, he haue neglected the commandements of God? So he shuts vp Heauen and Earth against himselfe, that wrongs his Father in Heauen, and father in Earth, by a rash and preposterous rushing into Matrimonie, & leaues himself no harbor to enter into, against a storme arise. Be wise therefore, and be godly, yee children; let iudgement rule you, and not passion; neither giue your affections, nor your selues, nor follow your passions in bestowing your selues, but with the priuitie and good allowance of those, from whom you had your selues. Not one marriage in an hundred hath thriuen well, that was not ordered according to this rule; an error (such so grosse an error) in the beginning of an action (and such an important action) can hardly, or not at all, be corrected afterwards.
But, secondly, a fit person must be chosen with whom to couple ones self. Though all the griefs of marriage come not from the vices and disorders of the yoke-fellows, yet the most grievous, and most bitter of them do. To have a fit yoke-fellow, will prevent many matrimonial troubles, and will make all easier. Now in a yoke-fellow, the main matter to be desired, is virtue and godliness; and he that in choosing, vouchsafeth that the first place, shall surely be blessed in his choice: but whosoever setteth other, and baser things before that, doth deal preposterously and foolishly, and setting the Cart before the Horse (as the Proverb hath it) can never drive comfortably forward in the way