Christian directions, showing how to walk with God all the day long drawn up…Christian directions, shewing how to walk with God all the day long drawn up…

1 In the choice of their Callings. 2 In the choice of their Matches.

1 The former is commended in the Scripture by the approved practice of godly children,¹ as of Jacob, Samuel, David, and others. And truly,² in regard that Parents are the means of bringing up their children in the world,³ till they are fit for Callings, and that not without much care and cost, is it not most meet and just that their counsel and advice should be taken in the choice of their Calling, and course of life? And as in their Callings, so likewise in their Marriages, and not to marry without their consent, which the very light of nature teacheth, and God himself commandeth, ⟨p. 147⟩when he layeth a charge upon Parents,⁴ to give their Daughters to Husbands, and to take Wives for their Sons, which doth necessarily imply,⁵ that children ought not to take unto themselves Wives or Husbands without, especially against their Parents consent. Such Marriages have by the Fathers of the Church been declared unlawful; yea and to be of no force till the Parents do ratify them. And therefore such children as shall adventure to join themselves in Marriage without their Parents consent, how can they expect a blessing from God upon them? yea they have rather cause to fear the curse of God upon them, and their posterity. How did the curse of God fall upon Esau, and his posterity, because he married against the consent of his Parents, taking unto himself Wives, ⁶which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and Rebeckah?