She considered but her relation, and how doth it work in her veins by a sympathy of blood? Now much more doth this hold good of husband and wife, for they are in a nearer relation yet. Let the wife have been one that was poor and mean, fallen into sickness, &c. and let the husband be as great and glorious as Solomon in all his royalty; all man-kind would cry shame on such a man, if he should not now own his wife, and be a husband in all love and respect to her still. But beyond all these relations, the relation of Head and Members, as it is most natural, so it obligeth most: No man ever yet hated his own flesh, (says the Apostle) (though diseased and leprous) but loveth and cherisheth it. And it is the law of Nature, that if one member be honoured, all the members are to rejoice with it, (1 Cor. 12. 26.) and if one member suffer, all the rest are to suffer with it. Even so is Christ, (as ver. 12.) And these relations are they that do move Christ to continue his love unto us. Jesus knowing that he was to depart out of this world, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them unto the end, John 13. 1. And the reason thereof is put upon his relation to them; they were his own; and his own by virtue of all relations whatsoever, his own Brethren, his own Spouse, his own flesh; and the very world will love its own, (as himself speaks) much more will he himself love his own. He that provides not for his own family, is worse then an Infidel, (says the Apostle.) Now though Christ be in heaven, yet his people are his family ⟨p. 73⟩still: they are retainers to him, though they be on earth; and this, as truly as those that stand about his person now he is in his glory. So that speech evidently declares, [Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named] they all together make up but one and the same family to him as their Lord. Christ is both the founder, the subject, and the most perfect exemplar and pattern to us, of all the relations that are found on earth. First he is the founder of all relations, and affections that accompany them both in nature and grace. As therefore the Psalmist argues, shall he not see who made the eye? So do I; Shall not he who put all these affections into parents, and brothers, suitable to their relations, shall not he have them much more in himself?
She considered but her relation, and how doth it work in her veyns by a sympathie of bloud? Now much more doth this hold good of husband and wife, for they are in a neerer relation yet. Let the wife have beene one that was poore and meane, fallen iuto sicknesse, &c. and let the husband be as great and glorious as Solomon in all his royaltie; all man-kind would cry shame on such a man, if he should not now owne his wife, and be a husband in all love and respect to her still. But beyond all these relations, the relation of Head and Members, as it is most naturall, so it obligeth most: No man ever yet hated his owne flesh, (sayes the Apostle) (though diseased and leprous) but loveth and cherisheth it. And it is the law of Nature, that if one member be honoured, all the members are to rejoyce with it, (1 Cor. 12. 26.) and if one member suffer, all the rest are to suffer with it. Even so is Christ, (as ver. 12.) And these relations are they that doe move Christ to continue his love unto us. Iesus knowing that he was to depart out of this world, having loved his owne who were in the world, he loved them unto the end, Iohn 13. 1. And the reason thereof is put upon his relation to them; they were his owne; and his owne by vertue of all relations whatsoever, his owne Brethren, his owne Spouse, his owne flesh; and the very world will love its owne, (as himselfe speaks) much more will he himselfe love his owne. He that provides not for his owne family, is worse then an Infidel, (sayes the Apostle.) Now though Christ be in heaven, yet his people are his family ⟨p. 73⟩still: they are retainers to him, though they be on earth; and this, as truly as those that stand about his person now he is in his glory. So that speech evidently declares, [Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named] they all together make up but one and the same family to him as their Lord. Christ is both the founder, the subject, and the most perfect exemplar and patterne to us, of all the relations that are found on earth. First he is the founder of all relations, and affections that accompanie them both in nature and grace. As therefore the Psalmist argues, shall he not see who made the eye? So doe I; Shall not he who put all these affections into parents, and brothers, suitable to their relations, shall not he have them much more in himselfe?
