VeR. 25.J SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 471
God, the beauty of God himself, for God is glorious in holiness, Exod. XV. 11. Nor did he want love, for then he was in the exercise of" the highest act and fervency of it: John xiii. 1, ' Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end ; ' Rom. v. 8, ' But God commended his love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.' And therefore surely he intended the highest benefits to us, and most necessary for our happiness. Now he intended not greatness and wealth, but conformity and likeness to God. Neither wanted he merit and worth enough to procure of his Father the choicest blessings, for it was the precious blood of him that was God : 1 Peter i. 18, 19, ' Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot' What could be too dear for the blood of God to purchase? Now that which Christ aimed at was to sanctify and cleanse his people from sin, which doth not only set forth the value of holiness, but doth teach husbands how to express tlieir love to their wives, in being meet helps to them in the best things. Nothing was better and greater in the eye of Christ to procure for us ; which is a check and reproof to them that seek to gratify the flesh by marriage, but not to improve this intimate converse and near friend- ship for the great uses of Christianity.
5. Shall we go higher ? Indeed higher we cannot go, all things considered ; but yet there is one expression to be taken notice of, and that is in Prov. v. 19, 'Be thou ravished always with her love.' In the margin it is, ' Err thou always in her love.' The Septuagint renders it, ev rfj rdvrrj'i (f)i\la crv/ji7r€pi(f)ep6jji€vo<; 7roXX.o(jTo<; ear), ' Being encompassed with her love, thou shalt be overmuch in it.' The law of God is holy, and alloweth not the least vitiosity, either by way of defect or excess. All love of the creature must be guarded and kept within rules. Yet I take notice that the expressions of scripture do countenance an excess rather than a defect ; that is, as mimes malum ; and I understand it with two references — (1.) Rather than be defective, delight thyself with her, as a man useth to delight himself in a thing that is lawful, and forgets himself in it. (2.) Rather than to err in the love of a strange woman, ver. 20. I press it not beyond its bounds, but I show what weight the scripture puts upon the hus- band's love to the wife.
Thirdly, The effects of it.
1. Delight in her presence and company ; not suffering himself to be separated from her for any long time, unless it be for necessary cause. Abroad he is out of his sphere ; at home there is where he should be. Though the married ought to bear one another's absence for a while, yet it is not to be endured that a man should wilfully consort with others rather than his wife. Christ never deserts his church, but is always with her : Mat. xxviii. 20, ' And lo, I am with you always to the end of the world.' This is the husband's pattern. Cheerful converse or delight in her company as the necessary fruit of his love : Prov. v. 18, 19, ' Rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind, and pleasant roe ; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times.' By these expressions he showeth how husband and wife should take pleasure in each other, and take heed that there be
472 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XXX.
no occasion of loathing and disdain. Those that find more pleasure in converse abroad than at home certainly do not heartily love one another^ thongh no filthy and prohibited act should ensue from this liberty which they take.
2. The second act or effect of love is, to direct and instruct in all things that belong to this life and a better, for therefore he is called ' a head ; ' and the office of the head is to guide the body. The light of nature taught heathens to instruct the wife in things concerning this life, that they might be a help to them in family government ; but the light of scripture calleth for a higher duty, to instruct her in things of godliness and religion, that, worshipping God together in this life, they may together enjoy him in the life to come : 1 Cor. xiv. 35, ' If they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home;' 1 Peter iii. 7, ' Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge ; ' knowledge of duty, according to which a christian's life and actions should be governed and ordered. A great deal of prudent care and spiritual wisdom is to be used in conversing with them, that they may instruct them in their duty toward God, which is the highest and truest love,