They were abominable as they loved; that is, they setting their love upon these wicked women that did entice them to uncleanness, according to that love of theirs were they ⟨p. 219⟩brought unto the love of Idolatry. Solomons wives drew him to Idolatry. And it's usual for people to be of that Religion that those are that they love,1 if so be that their hearts be taken with any, if they love any it's usual for them to be of that Religion that those are of that they love, according to their kindred, according to their friends, according to the stock that they marry in, so is their Religion. Many that have been forward in ways of Religion, and yet marry into a carnal stock that hath no savour of Religion, you shall find they will grow cold according to what their wives dispositions are, according to what they love, so their Religion either burns hotter or grows cooler; as it was usually laid upon Ahab for his wickedness, such a one was his wife: and so other Kings, the daughter of Ahab was his wife, his Religion was according as he loved.2 And my Brethren, if those who are in a false way can draw whom they love to it, then certainly those that are in the Truth should as well labour to draw those who they love to the embracement of the Truth: Wives that are naught will draw their Husbands to that which they love,3 to Idolatry, to false worship; Popish wives have drawn more husbands to their Popery, than Godly wives (I fear) have drawn husbands to the Truth;4 Why should not gracious Wives labour to draw their Husbands to good by love, as well as wicked Wives to draw them to wickedness by their love. And indeed those who would gain others to good must first gain their love. The women of Moab gained the love of the people of Israel, and so gained them to themselves in the matters of Religion. So if you would do any good to people, first labour to gain their love; let women that have evil husbands that they would •ain gain: how would you gain them? not by reproachful speeches, but do you (though they be never so evil) walk lovingly towards them, that they may be convinced that your souls do love them, and so do you by your loving carriage gain their love, and that's the way to gain them ⟨p. 220⟩to your God by that means.5
They were abominable as they loved; that is, they setting their love upon these wicked women that did intice them to uncleanness, according to that love of theirs were they ⟨p. 219⟩brought unto the love of Idolatry. Solomons wives drew him to Idolatry. And it's usuall for people to be of that Religion that those are that they love,1 if so be that their hearts be taken with any, if they love any it's usual for them to be of that Religion that those are of that they love, according to their kindred, according to their friends, according to the stock that they marry in, so is their Religion. Many that have been forward in waies of Religion, and yet marry into a carnal stock that hath no savour of Religion, you shall find they will grow cold according to what their wives dispositions are, according to what they love, so their Religion either burns hotter or grows cooler; as it was usually laid upon Ahab for his wickedness, such a one was his wife: and so other Kings, the daughter of Ahab was his wife, his Religion was according as he loved.2 And my Brethren, if those who are in a false way can draw whom they love to it, then certainly those that are in the Truth should as wel labor to draw those who they love to the imbracement of the Truth: Wives that are naught wil draw their Husbands to that which they love,3 to Idolatry, to false worship; Popish wives have drawn more husbands to their Popery, than Godly wives (I fear) have drawn husbands to the Truth;4 Why should not gracious Wives labor to draw their Husbands to good by love, as well as wicked Wives to draw them to wickedness by their love. And indeed those who would gain others to good must first gain their love. The women of Moab gained the love of the people of Israel, and so gained them to themselves in the matters of Religion. So if you would do any good to people, first labor to gain their love; let women that have evil husbands that they would •ain gain: how would you gain them? not by reproachful speeches, but do you (though they be never so evil) walk lovingly towards them, that they may be convinced that your souls do love them, and so do you by your loving carriage gain their love, and that's the way to gain them ⟨p. 220⟩to your God by that means.
- 1Obs.
- 2Admonition to Saints.Admonitiō to Saints.
- 3Popish Wives.
- 4To Religious Wives.
- 5Women in the primitive times.
