But further. The dangers {80d} that such do commonly run themselves into, should be to others a disswasive argument to stop them from doing the like: for besides the distresses of Mr. Badmans wife, many that have had very hopefull beginnings for heaven, have by vertue of the mischiefs that have attended these unlawfull marriages, miserably and fearfully miscarried. Soon after such marriages, Conviction (the first step toward heaven) hath ceased; Prayer (the next step toward Heaven) hath ceased; Hungrings and thirstings after salvation (another step towards the Kingdom of Heaven) have ceased. In a word, such marriages have estranged them from the Word, from their godly and faithful Friends, and have brought them again into carnal company, among carnal Friends, and also into carnal Delights, where, and with whom they have in conclusion both sinfully abode, and miserably perished.
And this is one reason why God hath forbidden this kind of unequal marriages. For they, saith he, meaning the ungodly, will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other Gods, so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy you suddenly. {81a} Now mark, there were some in Israel, that would, notwithstanding this prohibition, venture to marry to the Heathens and Unbelievers: But what followed? They served their Idols, they sacrificed their Sons and their Daughters unto Devils. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own Inventions. Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own Inheritance. {81b}
Atten. But let’s return again to Mr. Badman; had he any Children by his wife?
Wise. Yes, seven.
Atten. I doubt they were but badly brought up.
Wise. One of them loved its Mother dearly, and would constantly harken to her voice. Now that Child {81c} she had the opportunity to instruct in the Principles of Christian Religion, and it became a very gracious child. But that child Mr. Badman could not abide, he would seldom afford it a pleasant word, but would scowl and frown upon it, speak churlishly and doggedly to it, and though as to Nature it was the most feeble of the seven, yet it oftenest felt the weight of its Fathers fingers. Three of his Children did directly follow his steps, and began to be as vile as (in his youth) he was himself. The other that remained became a kind of mungrel Professors, not so bad as their Father, nor so good as their Mother, but were betwixt them both. They had their Mothers Notions, and their Fathers Actions, and were much like those that you read of in the Book of Nehemiah; These children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews Language, but according to the language of each people. {81d}
Atten. What you say in this matter, is observable, and if I take not my mark amiss, it often happeneth after this manner where such unlawful Marriages are contracted.
Wise. It sometimes doth so, and the reason, with respect to their Parents, is this: Where the one of the Parents is godly, and the other ungodly and vile, (though they can agree in begetting of Children, yet) they strive for their Children when they are born. {82a} The godly Parent strives for the child, and by Prayers, Counsel and good Examples, labours to make it holy in body and soul, and so fit for the Kingdom of Heaven; but the ungodly would have it like himself, wicked and base and sinful; and so they both give instructions accordingly: instructions did I say? yea, and Examples too, according to their minds. Thus the godly, as Hannah, is presenting her Samuel unto the Lord: but the ungodly, like them that went before them, are for offering their Children to Moloch, to an Idol, to sin, to the Devil, and to Hell. Thus one harkeneth to the Law of their Mother, and is preserved from destruction, but as for the other, as their Fathers did, so do they. Thus did Mr. Badman and his wife part some of their Children betwixt them; but as for the other three that were as ’twere Mungrels, betwixt both, they were like unto those that you read of in Kings, They feared the Lord, but served their own Idols. {82b} They had, as I sail, their Mothers Notions, and I will adde, Profession too, but their Fathers Lusts, and something of his Life. Now their Father did not like them, because they had their Mothers tongue; and the Mother did not like them because they had still their Fathers heart and life; nor were they indeed fit company for good or bad. The Good would not trust them because they were bad, the Bad would not trust them because they were good, viz. The good would not trust them because they were bad in their Lives, and the bad would not trust them because they were good in their Words: So they were forced with Esau to joyn in affinity with Ishmael; to wit, to look out a people that were Hypocrites like themselves, and with them they matcht, and lived and died.