(1.) As to the choice of Parties. When a Man seeketh out a Help-meet for himself, he should in the first place seek out a Help-meet for himself in the best things; for in all our deliberate and serious Consultations, Religion must have the first place. Mat. 6. 37. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and the Righteousness thereof, &c. A Man's chief End should be discovered in all his Actions, as it must guide me in my Meat, and Drink, and Recreations, and the ordinary Refreshments of the natural Life, or else I do not act as a Christian: So much more in my most important and serious Affairs, such as Marriage is, and upon which my Content and Welfare so much dependeth. Certainly he that would take God's Blessing along with him, should make choice in God's Family of one, with whom he may converse as an Heir with him of the Grace of Life. A Christian, saith the Apostle, is at liberty to marry, [Greek or Hebrew], but only in the Lord, 1 Cor. 7. 39. he is at liberty to rejoice, but in the Lord; to eat, and drink, and trade, but in the Lord; so to marry, but in the Lord. Religion must ⟨p. 71⟩appear uppermost in all his Actions, and guide him throughout. The Mischiefs that have come by a carnal Choice, should be sufficient warning to Christians. Gen. 6. 2. The Sons of God went in unto the Daughters of Men, and took them Wives, because they were fair: they were swayed by carnal Motives, (or because Rich, or nobly descended, it is all one): And what was the issue of it? there came of them a mongrel Race of Giants, that rose up against God and his Interest in the World. Many times by a carnal choice, all the good that is gotten into a Family is eaten out, and within a little while Religion is cast out of doors. Psal. 105. 35. They were mingled among the Heathen, and learned their Works. Nehem. 13. 25, 26. I contended with them, and made them swear by God, Ye shall not give your Daughters to their Sons, nor take their Daughters to your Sons. 2 Kings 8. 18. He walked in the Ways of the Kings of Israel; for the Daughter of Ahab was his Wife. Valens the Emperor married with an Arian Lady, and so was ensnared so far, as to become a Persecutor of the Orthodox. The Wife of the Bosom hath great advantages, either to the perverting, or the converting a ⟨p. 72⟩Man's Heart to God:
(1.) As to the choice of Parties. When a Man seeketh out a Help-meet for himself, he should in the first place seek out a Help-meet for himself in the best things; for in all our deliberate and serious Consultations, Religion must have the first place. Mat. 6. 37. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and the Righteousness thereof, &c. A Man's chief End should be discovered in all his Actions, as it must guide me in my Meat, and Drink, and Recreations, and the ordinary Refreshments of the natural Life, or else I do not act as a Christian: So much more in my most important and serious Affairs, such as Marriage is, and upon which my Content and Welfare so much dependeth. Certainly he that would take God's Blessing along with him, should make choice in God's Family of one, with whom he may converse as an Heir with him of the Grace of Life. A Christian, saith the Apostle, is at liberty to marry, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, but only in the Lord, 1 Cor. 7. 39. he is at liberty to rejoice, but in the Lord; to eat, and drink, and trade, but in the Lord; so to marry, but in the Lord. Religion must ⟨p. 71⟩appear uppermost in all his Actions, and guide him throughout. The Mischiefs that have come by a carnal Choice, should be sufficient warning to Christians. Gen. 6. 2. The Sons of God went in unto the Daughters of Men, and took them VVives, because they were fair: they were swayed by carnal Motives, (or because Rich, or nobly descended, it is all one): And what was the issue of it? there came of them a mungrel Race of Giants, that rose up against God and his Interest in the World. Many times by a carnal choice, all the good that is gotten into a Family is eaten out, and within a little while Religion is cast out of doors. Psal. 105. 35. They were mingled among the Heathen, and learned their Works. Nehem. 13. 25, 26. I contended with them, and made them swear by God, Ye shall not give your Daughters to their Sons, nor take their Daughters to your Sons. 2 Kings 8. 18. He walked in the Ways of the Kings of Israel; for the Daughter of Ahab was his Wife. Valens the Emperor married with an Arrian Lady, and so was ensnared so far, as to become a Persecutor of the Orthodox. The Wife of the Bosom hath great advantages, either to the perverting, or the converting a ⟨p. 72⟩
