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was truly happy, yet he was not fully happy; though he had enough for his board, yet he had not enough for his bed; though he had many creatures to ſerve him, yet he wanted a creature to ſolace him: when he was compounded in creation he muſt be compleated by conjunction; when he had no ſin to hurt him, then he muſt have a wife to help him: "It is not good that man ſhould be alone."
Secondly. As it is lengthened to all men; and ſo it is taken univerſally Heb xiii 4. "Marriage is honourable unto all." It is not only warrantable but honourable. The whole Trinity hath conſpired together to ſet a crown of glory upon the head of matrimony.
1. God the Father. Marriage was a tree planted within the walls of Paradiſe; the flower firſt grew in God's garden.
2. The Son. Marriage is a chryſtal glaſs, wherein Chriſt and the ſaints do ſee each other's faces.
3. The Holy Ghoſt, by his overſhadowing of the bleſſed Virgin. Well might the world, when it ſaw her pregnancy, ſuſpect her virginity; but her matrimonial condition was a grave to that ſuſpicion; without this, her innocency had not presented her infamy; ſhe needed a ſhield to defend that chaſtity abroad, which wat kept inviolable at home.
Too many that have not worth enough to preſerve their virginity, have yet will enough to cover their unchaſtity; turning the medicine of frailty into the mantle of filthineſs.—Certainly ſhe is mad that cuts off her leg, to get her a crutch; or that venoms her face to wear a maſk.
Paul
