udged marriage F any Sex; but 1bles about the es 25 theſe are, re than 0rdin and have yo! you any furtiet you before tie
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them probably with a great deal of ſorrow and bitterneſs. 2 And | fo for any of thoſe who rejoyced in any wordly enjoyments, rhe ſhortneſs of the 117-E they are hke to have them ro rejoyce In, jhould admoniſh them to govern ind :mcderate their jcy, for it
55 like to be but like che crackling of thorns under a pot. k And "hoſe that have jib:ral poll: ihons of good things in this life, rhey ould look upon them as none of theirs, and uſe them as not like
ro be their pollefiions long.
-r And they that uſe this world, as not abuſing it /:
0. For * the faſhion ol this world patl=th away . uf / While you have any thing of tis world's goods you may uſe +. them, yea, You muſt uſe them, without them you cannot live in the wor'd ; butth- conſtderation how lictle che time 1s you are like co have them tO ute, ſhould govern you in the ule of chem, fo as yOu ought to rake heed you do not uſe them to any other pur- ſe, or for any orher end, than that for which God oath appoin- red and given them to you. For this world.is like a Stage or Theatre where arc diverſiries of Scener, and the preſent Scene abt- d:th but for a lirtle rime, chen paſſeth and another Scene or Fi- are of things appeareth : thote who appear this day in the form of Princes and Nobles, to moriow appear as Beggers and Perions of a low Eſtate and Degree.
32 But I] would have you without carefulneſs 7. * He that is unmarried, careth for the chings that belong to he Lord, how h2 may pleaſe the T ord 0.
1 The teaſon why I have adviſed (during the preſent diftreſſed eſtzte ofthe Chu ch) a ting!e rather than a maricd lite, for thoſe to whom God hath given rhe gift of continency, is, that thoſe who are Chriſtians might live as free from ſuch cares as. divide and- di- fr:& men and womens minds, as they poflibly can. 0 The fin- gle perſon thar hath a ſpirirual hearr diſpoſed ro pious perfor. mances, being free from other diſtractions and cares, cauſed by wordly occations, will ſpznd all his thoughts about his duty to- ward God. and how to pleaſe him.
23 But he that 15 married, careth for the things that xe of the world, how he may pieale 5s wite p.
Bur he that is married, hath other things which he muſt take care about ; for beſides thar he 1s obliged co provides for his fa. mile, husbands and wives are under ſome obligationsto pleaſe each aber by divertifements, which though not 1n themſelves finful, «rake uptiin?, which thoſe free from ſuch relations, may ſpend more religioutly. :
44 There is a difference allo between a wife and a virgin q: The unmarried woman careth for the things ofthe Lord, that ſhe may be holy both in body and in fpiric : but ſhe that is married, careth for the things of the world, how ſhe may pleaſe her husband y.
q There is the ſame difference betwixt a married woman and a fngle woman, as there is betwixt a married man and a fingle man. » If a woman be unmarried, and be pioutly diſpoſed, ſhe hath lei- ſure and opportunity enough to mind the things of God ; bur if ſhe be marricd, ſhe will then be obliged to arrend ſecular affairs, to take care for her family, and ro plzaſe her hushand. Tr is the ſame thing that was before ſaid of the man. The ſenſe is, That a conjugalrelation draws along with it many diverſions, from which a fingle life 15 tree. ;
35 And this I ſpeak for your own profit 5, not that 1 may caſt a ſnare upon you ?, but for that which is come-
1M.
THI 4M Chap. VIL
s There is a general and a particular uncomelineſs, ſome things areuncomely with refpeCt to a!l perſons, of ſuch things the AP9- ſtle doth not here "ſpeak ; but of a particular uncomelineſs with reſpeCt ro the circumſtances of particular perſons. Neither doth wncomely here ſignifie a meer indecency and unhandſomnefs, but ſuch a behaviour as ſuiteth not the general Rules of the Goſpel which judgment is to be ruled by the circumftar:ces of perſons, 2s they more or leſs deſire marriage, y if ſhe be of raarriageable years, or rather if ſhe beginneth to grow od, z and he deſirous of mar. riage, ſo asthe Parent ſeeth reaſon to fear, that if he gives not her 1n marriage, ſhe will diſpoſe of her ſ-1f withour asking her fathers advice or leave, and be expoſcd poſſibly ro worſe temprations : which two things ſeem to interpret that term, if need {5 reau;re. a In fuch a caſe as this a Chriitian Parent ſhallnor lin,if hediſpoſerh her in marriage ; let her marry to {ich a perſon as ſhe loveth and her Parent ſeerh proper for her. He lpealcs in the Plura! Number becauſe marriage 1s betwixt two perſons. The reatonofthisdererm. nation 1s, becauſe the Apoſtle in his former diſcourie had no wher « condemned a married eſtate during th: preſent diſtreſs of things, a5 liatul or unlawful, but only as inexpedient, or not {© exnedient as a fingle life during the preſent diſtieſ.. He had beforedetermineg V. 9. That i; was better to matry than to burn. Now no inexpediency of athing can balance whar is plainly finful. If therefore the caſe be luch, that a man or woman muſt marry, or fin, though mar- riage brings with jt more care and trouble, yet it is to be prefer- red before plain finning.
37 Nevertheleſs, he that ſtindeth ſtedfalt in his eart 5, having no neceflity c, but hach power over his own will 4, and hath fo decreed in his heart chat hs will keep his virgin e, doth well f.