471 The1ridegroome. then bothyour dates. Somuch of thatwhichistobenoted out ofthe limiti- tude,agreeably tothe prefent occalion. The next generali thing, isthe Lawfulnes of reioycing,when we arecalled tothe company ofthpBridegroome. Our Sauionr fecretly infinuateth this to be lawfull:for outof the freedometo bemorechearefull thenvfuaìi at a Marri- age,he iullifieth hiscentre ofnot bindinghis difciples tothefeuerityofrafting, Theq.Dofl, while/the was prefent.The do&riveis thus. That there is lawftelnefre o fmurud Rei,yeingAtMariage Solemnities. I haue already made it toappeare , how this Doetrin fpringethhence.Chrift buildethvpon this generallground,thata mar- liegeis rather a timeofgladnes thenofmourning. It is well knowne, that out Sauionrhimfeife,heingthcreunto inuitcd,affoorded his pretence at amarriage- fear+in CanaofGold:: yea , and by his firft miracle fupplied therethe lacke of plohn.z.a. wine., afufficienttel}imonyof the lawfulnelfeof theliberall vfe of thecrea.. glfa.oa.q. turesofGodvpon fuch an occafion. I remember, lsowin the Prophet n, cha Lorddefcribeth the contentment he taketh inhis chofen, by thatioywhich is vpon the marriage day: As aBridegroome isgladofthe Bride,fo/hallthe Godrewy . oaartbes.W ith this forts the parable,inwhich the inuitingand callingofmenby the Gofpell tothe graceofGod, isfisadowed out by amariagefear, celebrated by. aKing at the nuptials ofhis fon,tawhich manyarcintrearedr. Such courfes we read inScriptures vpon like óecafions , as Abrahams feafl atIfaaks wen. /Gen.ar.a. ningr,tofephs feaftat theentertainment ofhisbrethren ,thepeoples feaftafter ¡Gen.41.32. thereturnefrom captiuity,whenthe Law had beenexpounded to them the rxeh.ata Iewesfeaft,vpon their deliuerancefrom Hammes confpiracy:In the primitiue ud,v[az . Church they had Losefears r. In a word, our Sauiours dire&ion howa man ZLWco t9.7.' Ihoulddemean himfelfebeing inuited toa Marriage feafl=,is a fufficient iufli.. ficationofthispoint : for hadthe courre beenvnlawfull, hewould rather haue vtteeAl,yinhibited it,then haue deliueredrules ofbehauiour atit. Thelrfa Tise vie isnot to periwade to this courfe,Ottovrge it (foe although we may doe it, yet we arenot boundtodoe it) butto informevs herein outof Gods W ord,thatwemay behaueour felues in things ofthis nature as tulle,, ofknow. ledge, whichis the true feafoningvnto curry courfe. S.Paal faiththattheore.,. alTim+I. twee ofgodarefanRifedb.yrhetlordn.Euerymaneates,andeatinginitownena- tureis notvnlawfull,but yeteuerymans eating is notlawfull : So thereis a ge- nerals vfe ofMariage feafts, anda Mariage-feaft in it owne nature is lawfull, but yet euerymans vfingofit is not good:&why? becaufeit isnotfah£li fiedv.. tohimbythe Word,hegoeth toit at aduenture, hisconfcience not basinganydi- re&ionand guidance from theWord,andfo that which is lawful in it felfe be. commeth a frnnevetohim. It is a goodcourrefora Christianto be lureofhis bBom.r443. warrant for hisilareeswbarfsemerifinetoffaithisfameb Againe, the lawfulneffe ofthething,bindes toa care to take heedof vngodlinelfein the vie. Therebe nogreater finnes committedthen in the abufeof lawfull things. The name of (lawfull)carieth vs headlong intoevil before we be aware.lt is not lawful to be merry,lawful todrinkewine,lawfull to feaft,lawfultomakegood cheere,law. fullto Wesergood clothes? yes verily : but veder therepretexts comein riot, luxury,intemperance,pride,andafloudofmils. AChritìianhath neuer more need to fearehimfelfe, then whenhe is tohaue todoela Inch things, whichin themfelues may be vied. He is neuer inany thing fofubie& to a fall, efpecially tPfa169.55. inEachmeetingsto folemnefeafts , left the tableplentyfheuld becomeafeare. veto him./4was very jealous ofhis children, that they 6la/ßbemedGel ire their dfobr.s. hearts d,whenthey wereat their feafts. Whatgreat euils doe wefindeinScrip- ::Sam.a3. ;6 ture,tohaue accompanied (ernegreat feaftings, where thefare ofGod bath fzsam43.211 not been ? As Nabal: drunkenneffe e; at Ah¡halmms, murder t; at ,iba. Dan4o,atc. Hero his, a wofull breach betwixt him and his wifes; at Bel attars, bDaaS3.4 Ìb Mat. t6,,6. terrible blafpemy againftGodb t at Herds killingoflebrBapt'ßi, What judge- rMatthas.
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