LIB. XI. B CJ:he Leviter Concubine. ~~~~~~~~:Here-is no complaintofa publickly difordered Sme,wbere ~~ a Levite is nor ar one en~ of it, either as an agent, or a patient. In the Idolatry of Mich•, and the Danites, a Levire 1 was an at<or : In the violent uncleannes of dih..h,a L~vite ' fuffers. No Tribe fhall fooner fecle thewant of government, tlian that of Levi. c The Law of God allowed the Levite a wife ; humane • connivence, a Concubine ; neither did the Jewifh con- • •• • ••• • .... cubine differ from a wife, but in Come outward c<>mplements ; Both might challooge all the true Elfence of marriage; fo little was ~be difference, t~at the father ofthe concubipe is called the farher m law to the Levtte. She whom dl cullome bad ofa wife made a concubine, is nowby her lull, ofa concui)ine made an harlot : Her fornication, together with the change of her (bed, hath changed her abode. Perhaps her 01vne confcience thrull her out of doores, perhaps the jull feverity of her husband. Difmiffionwas too eafie a penalty fo r that which God bad fentenced with death. She that had defcr>'d to be abhorred of her busband,feeks fhclter from her father.Why would her D fat her fuffe r his houfe to be defiled with an adultreffe,though out ofhis own loins? V\ hy did he not rather fay, What? Doell thou thinke to find my houfe an harbor for thy finne? Whiles thouwert a wife to thine husband, •thou were a daughter to me; N o•v, thou art neither; Thou art nor mine; I gave thee to thy husband;Thou art not thy husbands, thou hall betrayed his bed ; Thy filt~inelfe bath made thee thine own and thine adulterers; Goe feek rbinecnrertainmenr,wbere thou hall loll thine hone!ty;Thy lewdnes hath brought a neceffity oflhame upon thine abettors; How can I countenance thy petfon,andabandoo thy fin? I had ratherbe a jullman, than a kind Father; Get theehome~hereforeto thy busband,_cravc his forgiveneffe upon thy knees, redeeme hiS love wtth thy modelly and obed1ence; whenltis heart is once open tothce,my doorcs fhall not be fhut:In the meane time,know, I can be E no fatherto an harlot. Indulgenceof Parents is the refuge of vanity, the bawd of wickcdnelfe, the bane ofchildren. How eafily is thatTheife induced to lleale, that knowes his Receivet! When thelawlefnctfe ofyouthknowes where to find pitty and toleration,»hat mifchiefe can it forbeare ? By how much better this Levite was,fo much more injurious 1ns the concul;>ines fi n."\Nhat husbandwould not have faid, She is gone, let lbame and griefe goewith her ; I /hall find one no leffepleaGng,and more faithfull: Orif itbCnottoomuch mercy in me to yecld to a returne, let her that hath offended, fcck me: What more di ret1way is there to a refolvcd loofenclfe, than to let her fee I cannot want her? The !!;OOd nature o f t hi?. Lcvitecalls off all theferermes ; and no•v, after foure monches abfence, fends him t o !ecke for her, that had runaway from her fidelity : An~
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