A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

1. Maintain Purity in Soul and Body in Single-age. This will greatly dispose you for the Duties of a Married life; and also lay up a Blessing for it. Let every one of you know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour, 1 Thess. 4.4. He that gives the reins to his vicious affections before Marriage, will find them as impetuous after Marriage. For Marriage (as^(b) One well saith) is like Salt, which will keep sweet that which is untainted, but restores not that which is already unsavoury. A chaste and honest heart will (with the blessing of God) by marriage be preserved; but a filthy heart will find occasion to be naught in any condition. Beware therefore of the beginnings of Lust, flee them like poison; forbear such^(c) company and discourse as debauch the heart; avoid speculative uncleanness, snd keep the heart stored with religious thoughts, and the body employed in a constant calling. Consider that the greatest flames begin with a spark, and therefore tamper not with the pleasant motions of original concupiscence. Subject not the soul of a Man to the pleasures of a Brute; this is sure, that they perish in the using, and leave nothing but a sting behind: and foolish is that pleasure, where that which delights, instantly ^(d)vanishes; and that which remains, perpetually torments. If you have been overtaken with these faults, O cleanse your hearts and hands by the merits of Christ's blood in the use of Fasting and Prayer; that God may not visit upon you your Old sins by giving you up to New ones, or by bringing some signal curse upon you, in husband, wife, or children. And get a blessed taste of those more firm, safe, and ravishing delights, which are to be found in the favour and promises of God, in the pardon of sin, and assured hopes of life and immortality. These will sufficiently disgrace those gross and base absurdities, and make you to take no delight in the muddy stream, that have drunk of the Spring.

1. Maintain Purity in Soul and Body in Single-age. This will greatly dispose you for the Duties of a Married life; and also lay up a Blessing for it. Let every one of you know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour,