Dtut. 7· '' 8 , J;hn. 4· ,; C11nr. J. 2 Eth.s.•s, ~, 21 Chap. •o.SeB:.6· Lord.Je~us his tender-heartcdnefs to Spiritual younglings, teach us mercy this way, who ts fa~d to gather the lamb Wtth hu arms, and to carry them tn hu bo[om, llndg<mlj to had thofe that are wtth young. z. The proper and peculiar duties to each feverally, :ire------ . . • { I. That he dearly love his Wife. , • 1. Of the husband>, whofe Dmy it IS z. That be wifely maintain and manage his authority over her: F h < lid ~ r. The matter. · or t e 10rmer, con 1 er, Th 1 f b' 1 . 2. e manner o ts ove. ·- , · 1. The matter of it is a dear love,a fpeciallove, and a more fpecial tJ:ten that cbmmon lnutuallovc to one another : No que!l:ion the Wife is to love her Husband, and a brother tu love his Brot~er, and a Friend is to love his Friend, but more efpecially, or Wtth a moreJP.eclllllove, 1s the Husband to love his Wife. To this purpofe Jhe is called, The Wife 'f hzs bofom, to !hew that fheoi.Jgbt to be as his heart in his bofom. He mull love her at all times, he muft love her in all things : love mull feafon and fweeten,bis,. fpeech, carriage., actions towards her: love muft !hew it felf in I)is commands, re; proofs, admouittons, inftrucHons, authority, familiarity with her; the rife of which· love mull: not be fro_m her beauty, nobi!ity, o~ becaufe !he contends and pleafeth her husband; b~t efpe~tallybecaufe fhe_ts ht.s fifl:er m the profdlion ofChrillian Religion; and an mherttor With htm of the Kmgdom of heav~n: becaufe of her graces, at~d venues, as modefl:y, chaftity, diligence, patience, tr:mperance, faithfulnefs, fecrecy;· obedience, &c. becaufe !he bears and brings him forth children, the heirs of his Name , and Sublhnce,~nd the upholder ofhis family; and becaufe ofthe union and conjunction of marriage. Love growing oil bea~ty; ,riches , lull, or any other flight grounds, is l:,ut a b.Iaze, and foon vanitheth, but tf grounded on thefe~onfiderations, and efpecially on this union of marriage , it is !ailing and true: The want hereof is the fountain of flrife, quarrelling, debate, which converts the paradife ofmarriage into an hell. 2. For the manner of this love, the Apo!l:le gives it thus, Hmb.,nds, loveyoJtr own' wives, w en as Chrift alfo loved the Church. Now the IQve Of Chrill: to his Church, is commended to us in tliefe particulars : --·· I. In the ta[e ofhis love, which is his love : HeJet his lo'!'e gn ym, becaH{e helowdyou ;. his love arofe whoUy and folely from himfclf, and was every way free : fo fhould, husbands love their wives, 'thotl'gh there be nothing in wives tomove them,but mecrly be~aufe they are wives. ;/ . 2. In the order ofhis love : Cbrift began it to the Church, before the Church could love him: ', and as :1 walli,sfirll: fmitten on by the Sun-beams, before it give a reflection of her heat back :igain: . fo the Church is firfi heated and warmed at heart by theJenfe of Chrill:s love, before,fhe love him again: We love hi,K, becmtJe he lovedm firft :-----– .[?ecaltj'e ofthe favour ofthy oyntments, therefore do the Virgins IO'Ve thee; fa fhould huf- .' bands begin to love their own wives: I know fome wives prevent their husbands herein; and there may be reafon fur it; but the greater is their glory. This pattern of Chrift fhould rather ll:ir up the husbands to go before them. . , 3. In the truth of Chrifts love: This was manifell:ed by the fruits thereef tb his Church; He g11ve himfelffor it, that he might fanCfijie it, and cleanfo it,and prefent it to himfelfaglorio;" Chterch, not httving fPot or wrink,Je : So mull husbands IO'Ue their wives in troth and indeed, by g!Jiding them in the way of life, and path, that is ca!Ted Holy; for this is tl\e truefl: character of a fincere love. 4· In the quality of his love ; Chrifls love is an holy, pure, and chall:eio'l!e; as he him– felfis, fo is his love; fuch mull: be the love ofhusbands, an holy, pure, and chatle lO'Ue. A,way with all intemp_erate_, exceffiv~, . or any .w~ys_ exorbitant pollutions ofthe marriage-bed! from whteh, tf the fear of God , tmttatto~ of Chnft, love ofpynry, awfulnelfc of Gods all-feeing eye cannot draw, yet that Oavt!h horror , left-God !hould punifh fuch acouple with no .children, o~ ~vith mif.fh1pen children, or with iiliots,. or with prodigiouOy wicked children , or wtth fome other heavy crofs, one would thtnk lhou.ld be able to affright them. . . 5, In the continuAnce ofChrij/s love : , Havt~g lovedhu own , he IO'Ved them Hnto the · end. His love is a conftant love'·an everlafl:ihg love: no provocation or tranfgrcllionS could ever make him forget nis love; T/Jou haft played the harlot with many..fove,rs, yet retum unto me. Such mull: be the love ofhusb~nds, afirme lfYt!c, an inviolable (ove: the ground of it-JllUft be Gods .Ordinances , and the. fupport of il:_mull be an inviolable refolut1on,
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