Page:Wedding-ring, fit for the finger, or, The salve of divinity on the sore of humanity (1).pdf/21

 commonalty to couple with the gentry.— It was well ſaid by one "If the wife, be too much above her husband ſhe either ruins him of. her vaſt expenses or reviles him with her baſe reproaches: if ſhe be too much below her husband either her former condition makes her too generous, or her preſent mutation makes her too imperious." Marriages, are ſtyled matches; yet, amongſt those many that are married, how few are there that are matched! Huſbands and wives are like locks and keys that rather break than open except the wards be anſwerable.

3. In the holineſs of her religion. If adultery may ſeparate a marriage contracted, idolatry may hinder a marriage not perfected, Cattle of divers kings were not to ingender: 2 Cor. vi.14. "Be not unequally yoked" &c. It is dangerous taking her for a wife, who will not take God for a husband. It is not meet that one fleſh should be of two ſpirits. Is there never a tree thou liked in the garden, but that which bears forbidden fruit? There are but two channels in which she remaining ſtreams ſhall run: 1. To thoſe men that want wives how to chuſe them, 2. To thoſe women who have husbands, how to use them.

1. To thoſe men that want wives, how to chuſe them. Marriage is the tying of such a knot, that nothing but death can unlooſe. Common reaſon ſuggeſts so much, that we ſhould be long a-doing that which can but once be done. Where one deſign hath been graveled

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