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

5. Settle your affections well at the beginning. It was a wise and true Observation^(q), that vessels which are compacted of divers parts, or glued together of divers pieces, at first will easily with every bruise or fall be broke in pieces; but when they are strengthened by tract of time, it will be very hard, yea scarce possible, to separate them: So it is in marriage, at first the union is raw and green; an unkindness then, a cross word or look will quickly alienate, but when time and experience have consolidated this new sprung affection, then it will be much harder to dissolve it.

1. (q)Plutacch prae•. conjug.

And being once assured of a conjugal love in each other, give no way to cursed Jealousy, which very often hath no other ground, than the Weakness or Wickedness of them that are sick of it: and to be sure, when once it is admitted, all the joy and comfort of this life is gone; it is a bitter-sweet Poison, and miserable are they, that either give or take occasion for it. Stop your ears therefore, and knit your brow upon tale-bearers and whisperers, that under pretence of great love and secrecy tell you just Nothing: and remember, that Love thinketh no evil, but puts the best interpretation possible upon the doubtful words, looks and carriage of a stranger, much more of so near a^(r) Relation. And this I mention here, because most commonly Jealousy takes place there, where true Affection was never fixed and rooted in the beginning.

And being once assured of a conjugal love in each other, give no way to cursed Jealousie, which very often hath no other ground, than the Weakness or Wickedness of them that are sick of it: and to be sure, when once it is admitted, all the joy and comfort of this life is gone; it is a bitter-sweet Poyson, and miserable are they, that either give or take occasion for it. Stop your ears therefore, and knit your brow upon tale-bearers and whisperers, that under pretence of great love and secrecy tell you just Nothing: and remember, that Love thinketh no evil, but puts the best interpretation possible upon the doubful words, looks and carriage of a stranger, much more of so near a