every particular in every time and place make the universall or Catholike which in respect of the truth of doctrine by her held is the house of God but what ever part of any time falleth from this in things fundamentall and simply necessary to salvation it ceaseth to be any true member of the Catholike Church In respect of notes shee is visibe or invisible according to her severall states in respect of time she hath denomination of the Church of the Old and New Testament both which agreeing in one foundation of faith and truth and but one Church under severall disciplines and covenants in respect of state or place she is either militant or triumphant in that under the crosse desiring to be removed and to be with Christ which we must not understand of the whole body of the Church but onely of that part which is on earth which must in conformity to Christ be crucified to the world and through many afflictions enter into his glory so was she preâ—igured in that Horeb bush â—iered but not consumed Israel in the wildernes beset with many difficulties and hard encounters in the way to her promised rest The second state shall be triumphant in heaven the devill sinne death being absolutely conquered and we in long white robes and palmes in token of victory praising God eternally 2. Christ is the sole head of the Catholike Church Christians are all fellow citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God the Church is Christâ—s body and hath no head but him 3. The Catholike Church here intended consisteth of elect onely particular congregations consist of elect and hypocrites mixed as the wheat and tares in one field as the cleane and uncleane beasts in Noah's Arke but that which is the house of God living stones are the elect only prepared as the materialls of the Temple by the Gospell the noise whereof shall not be heard in the life to come 4. The elect are not ever actually members of this Church though potentially they are when Ananias replyed Lord I have heard of this man how much evill he hath done God said he is a chosen vessell unto mee Those that crucifyed Christ though they were of the visible Church yet were they not actually united thereto till hearing Peters sermon 3000. soules were added to the Church concerning whom he said they had crucifyed Christ. 5. There is but one Catholike Church though there are many parts thereof as the Ocean is but one though the parts thereof have severall denominations according to the severall shores they wash so is the Church whether called English French German c. all make but one Church my dove is alone my undefiled she is the onely daughter of her mother as there is onely one God one Christ one truth one faith one baptisme so one body of Christ united and quickned by one spirit and in one head Christ. 6. Out of the Catholike Church there is no salvation because out of the true Church which is Christ his body Christ the head thereof cannot be and therefore no faith to apprehend him there to salvation it was prefigured in Rahabs house Josh. 2. 19. Whosoever shall goe out of thy house into the street his blood shall be upon his head and in the Paschall lambe to be eaten in one house none thereof might be carried out of the Church to any aliant The Lord added to the Church dayly such as should be saved Act. 2. 42. 7. A particular Church of any one denomination may faile in some points of doctrine and manners and yet continue a living member of the true Church if it faile not in fundamentalls and things simply necessary to salvation for the light of truth hath its degrees with men and so hath saving grace its intentions and remissions The Moone in the waine is the same which we sometimes see in the full The Church of Ephesus lost her first love Rev 2. 4. The Church of Galatia was transported by false Apostles into some dangerous opinions Gal 1. c. The Church of Israel in Eliahs time had in a great part forsaken the very covenants of God 1. King 19. 14. yet were there some names left 7000. knees which had not bent to Baal Now though no particular Church is exempt from the censure of the Catholike yet a Church is not presently to be forsaken by particular members thereof for some fowl blemishes nor many wicked men therein though wee must knowe that God sometimes for such things removeth the candlesticke from certaine places as from those seven famous Churches of Asia 'T is not the place but the Saints which make the Church 8. Faith Hope and Charity the Gospell truly preached the Sacraments rightly administred are the best markes of a true Church Lastly let us observe these following rules 1. Take heed of separating from the body of Christ under any pretence however specious needs must hee perish who divideth from the head divided members cannot live They could not in the deluge escape perishing who were out of Noahs Arke which was a type of the Church therein 2. Take heed of spirituall pride and faction these will cause thee to speake ill of those who are in authority and at last to despise the sacred ordinances of the Church it selfe these are the common breaths which blow the chaffe out of the sloore 3. Beware of contemning others this same Stand from me I am holyer then thou hath lost the Church many a child in miserable schismes humility is truly a secure vertue wherein he that is well acquainted with himselfe thinks no man worse then himselfe and will not easily separate 't is pride the devils sinne and dangerous inâ—luence which makes divisions in the Church 4. Learne to be holy thou that professest thy selfe a member of the Catholike Church lest thou prove a cursed Cham in the arke or appeare like the ghest without the wedding garment like the devill among Gods Children The holy have a singular comfort what ever they now suffer they shall finally be joyned to the triumphant Church of Christ in heaven CHAP. VIII § 1. What the communion of Saints is whereon it consisteth § 2. Rules thereto appertaining WE have considered the proprieties of God's Church now we must take notice of her prerogatives in the 1. communion of Saints 2 Forgivenesse of sinnes 3. Resurrection of the body 4. and life everlasting 1. The communion of Saints is a participation of those goods in which all and only the Saints have interest 2. This is either the communion they have with God or which they have one with another For the fiâ—st he saith truely our communion is with the Father and with his Sonne Jesus Christ. This communion of the Saints with the Father is in that through Christ by the holy spirit they are united unto him and he dwelleth
holy â—host dwelling in him and cleansing his heart to entertaine him as t is written yee are the temples of the living God 2. Cor 6. 16. 2 The holy Ghost proceeding of the Father and the Sonne is truly God See Act 5. 3 4 1. Cor 3 16. 1. Cor 6. 19. 1. Cor 12. 4 5 6. 2. Cor 6. 16. Isaâ— 6. 19. Act 28 25. Therefore we are commanded to baptize in the name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost Math 28. 19. So the Apostle 2. Cor 13. 13. in his prayer uniteth the three persons it appeareth that he is God by his effectuall working he regenerateth Joh 3. 6. sanctifieth teacheth us all truth Joh 14. 21. 26. sealeth up our redemption Ephes 1. 13. he giveth utterance to his speakers Math 10. 20. dictateth the holy Scriptures 2. Pet. 1. 21. he appointeth overseers of the Church Act 20. 28. foretelleth things to come 1. Tim 4. 1. which is an evident argument of his Godhead 3 The holy Ghost is essentially in God the Father and the Sonne and so proceedeth of them not as a part of them for no infinite hath parts and he is equally God with the Father and Sonne nor as parting from them nor as the creatures are in God which are not of his substance and being though in him they live move and have their being but hee is of the same eternity substance power and Majestie in the unity of the Deity His proceeding is spoken of in Scripture Joh 15. 26. Whether we speake of his essentiall eternall proceeding or of that admirable effusion of his graces on men in ordinary or extraordinary gifts Act 2. 2. Gal 4. 6. these three are one 4 Though the holy Ghost be one in the unity of the Godhead with the Father and the Sonne yet is he a distinct person from them both for though the Father be a spirit and the Son a spirit according to his Deity and both are most holy yet neither are called the holy spirit which is a peculiar name to the third person of the blessed Trinity 1 Be not overcurious to search into the being of the holy Trinity but examine thy selfe whether the holy spirit dwell in thee or not Whether thy heart be purified from those unhallowed thoughts and desires of corrupt â—lesh and blood Whether thou hast the love of God shead abroad in thy heart as also true charity to all men for God's sake Whether the holy Ghost testifie to thy spirit that thou art a sonne of God Rom 8. 15. 16. teach thee to cry abba father help thy infirmities and endite thy prayers 2 Grieve not the holy spirit with which thou art sealed up to the day of redempt oÌ„ Eph 4. 30. doe not that which may make him depart from thee hurt or greiue thy selfe or the saints in whom he liveth 3 Be sure thou walke according to and by the guidance of the holy Ghost that thou maist be assured thou art in Christ Rom 8. 1. that the spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in thee and quickneth thy mortall body to the life of grace That thou art led by that spirit and art indeed a sonne of God A man that had seene those Palestine Kine going straight to Bethshemesh with the the Arke of God would have thought there must be some supernaturall power therein so when we see men going the way of God contrary to the affections of â—lesh blood we may certainely conclude that God's spirit ruleth there CHAP. VII § 1. Concerning the Catholike Church § 2. Conclusions belonging hereto § 3. Rules observable 1 AFter our meditation on the holy Trinity a due order of confession requireth that wee should thinke of the Chuch as the sacred Temple thereof because his beleefe and confession is vaine who is not of this Church nor can be possibly be a sonne of God who is not of this Church This is the pillar and ground of truth 1. Tim. 3. 15. as bearing the light to direct men to salvation the Keeper of the Oracles of God Rom 3. 2. Rom 9. 4. not that the truth of God is subjected to the authority of men but because it useth mans ministry the Gospell is not proved but approved by the testimony and authority of the Church in which it not so much receiveth as it giveth the Church credit and a sure marke of distinction 2 Though we are to beleeve in God the Father Sonne and holy Ghost we are to beleeve the Church not in the Church as God we beleeve an holy Catholike Church wee beleeve the chiefe pillars thereof the Prophets and Apostles we beleeve not in them as we doe in the foundation Christ we beleeve their words to be the infallible dictates of him in whom wee beleeve and looke for salvation 3 The Catholike Church is a peculiar company of men predestinate to eternall life called and incorporated into Christ their head wherefore she is the body Colos 1. 18. the slock and shepheard of Christ the Lord's sloore which he came to purge Math 3. 12. his Vineyard and pleasant plant Isay 5. the Arke in which we are saved 1. Pet 3. 21. the Spouse and sacred bride of Christ the Temple of God fouÌ„taine of truth house of faith and the holy City 4 This Church as God elected and redeemed by the blood of his holy sonne Jesus so he called her by his spirit working powerfully on the use of the word preached and Sacraments administred he sanctifieth her and governeth her duly is she his and therefore holy because his who maketh her so Holy by Christ's imputed righteousnesse and that which his spirit worketh in her however blacke yet comely Cant 1. 5. an holy nation a chosen people 1. Pet 2. 9. this holinesse is inchoative in this life she is now throughs many infirmities like Jacobsâ—lock â—lock at Padan Aram all spotted shee shall bee without spot or wrinckle in the life to come 5. This Church is Catholike or universall in respect of 1. Time she hath beene in all ages God hath still and will have his Church here untill the number of the elect being finished she shall be triumphant in heaven 2. Persons in it are some of all sorts conditions and degrees male and female rich and poore honourable and obscure God is no respecter of persons though he set in order and appoint the distinctions for and with men 3. She is Catholicke in respect of place because she is spread over all the world and gathered from all parts under the Gospell 4. Lastly it is called Catholicke to distinguish it from particular congregations or Churches of one denomination as the Church of Jerusalem Antioch Corinth England France c. For the better understanding hereof consider these conclusions 1. The Church of God in respect of her extent is either Catholike or particular and
a weapon in one hand and a building instrument in the other that wee may at once desend and ediâ—ie 3. Compose thy body to such a reverend posture in respect of Gods presence and the testimony of men and Angells who behold thee that thou maist thereby contribute to the Minister hearers the assistance of thy devout gesture attention countenance and voice as occasion serveth to say Amen 3. After hearing 1. Lay up the seed in a faithfull memory least the evill one come take it away and leave thee fruitlesse that thou maist be a doer of good works and not a forgetfull hearer and so bee blessed indeed as 't is written Heare therefore O Israâ—l observe to doe it that it may bee well with thee lay that to heart which thou hearest throughly applying it to thy selfe as if God pickt thee out of all the congregation to speake to thee that he might draw thee to repentance and salvation thus must thou lay up his words in thine heart and hald fast that thou hast received thou learnest only so much as thou remembrest excuse not thy selfe upon a bad memory thou seldome forgettest where thou seriously lovest where is that old man that hath forgotten where he hath laid his gold Use the best meanes by repeating writing calling to memory some things at least when thou commest home thou shalt in this constant practice â—inde thy memory amend 2. Meditate and examine how thou hast profited by hearing in case thou finde hardnesse of heart and baâ—rennesse in thy soule be not discouraged God hath his times Moses smote the rock at Horeb twice before it would yeeld at last it sent out abundant streames of living waters God speaketh once and twice and man perceiveth not line must be unto line and precept unto precept happy he who once resenteth give it not over still practise the beast which ruminateth not was reputed uncleane the morall is they are wicked who call not oft to minde that which they have heard Be constant in examination of thy selfe after every sermoÌ„ thou hearest to dresse our selves we are contented often to consult our glasse how well and decently 't is done how few doe it after hearing If thou wilt doe thy selfe right herein thou shalt at last feele the power of Gods word in thy soule Doth any enquire how shall I knowe when I heare the word as I ought The signes are 1. Joy of the holy Ghost so went the shepheards home so the Eunuch so many of the faithfull 2. Desire to heare more as those happy converts Act 13. Act 17. 32. the spirituall eare is not satiate with hearing when good Josiah had heard the Law read he gave present charge goe and enquire the Lord for us 3. Profitting by the sincere milke of the word growing thereby from strength to strength from grace to grace 4. Faithfull resolution to doe all that which thou hast learned as Israel once professed otherwise it had beene better never to have knowne the holy commandement it being lesse sin to be ignorant of Gods word then to despise it knowne Herod did many things but his dispensation with one sinne overthrew all the rest 5. Hearty and unfeigned repentance such as we read of in the Jewes at Peters sermon Act 2. 37. such as is commanded Rev 3. 3. 6. Filial feare of God this is the end of speaking and hearing to feare God and keep his commandements is the whole duty of man 7. Readinesse to impart to others what we have learned that they may teach their children said Moses Deut 4. 10. so did holy Abraham his family 3. Lastly againe commend thy soule to God that hee may send thee the former and later raine upon the seed sowed in thine eares to enable thee to bring forth happy fruitsthereof to make it powerfull and comfortable to thee in life and death A Prayer before hearing the word O Lord God eternall who hast laid the foundation of the earth and formest the spirit of man within him who art the father of light and causest the Sunne of righteousnesse to shine unto people sitting in darknesse in the region and shaddow of death that the glorious light of the Gospell might appeare to them that they may therein knowe thee beleeve see thy saving health and bee fruitfull in good workes to thy glory and the assurance of their own hearts before thee wee humbly acknowledge that we we are most unworthy of the least of all thy mercies specially of that light of truth which thou hast abundantly and long bestowed upon us seeing wee have not yet brought forth fruits worthy amendment of life but have walked every man in the stubbornesse vanity and security of his owne heart as if we had not knowne thy will thou hast allured us with promises and deterred us from our wicked waies with threatnings and sore afflictions accordingly sent upon us but wee have answered all with contempt security adding transgressions to transgressions till they have beene multiplied over our heads ascended up into thy presence and thence with wilfull hearts and violent hands pulled downe thy severe judgements upon-our selves as appeareth this day so that in our own consciencâ—s we doe deserve to heare that sentence on the barren tree cut it downe and cast it into the fire why keepeth it the ground barren That thou shouldst give us over to our owne vile affections and destruction of body and soule by taking away the comfort of thy word from this sinfull nation by permitting those sonnes of confusion who of our selves have risen up speaking perverse things still to prevaile against the unity of this Church and State that thou shouldst send us strong delusions who would not receive the love of the truth that thou shouldst suffer a fearefull darknesse againe to cover this land that night should be to us for a vision and darknesse for divination that the Sunne should goe downe upon our Prophets whose words and ministry we have so much sleghted and contemned and that the day should prove darknesse over them that thy word should become a savour of death to us and every prophesie wee heare rise in judgement against us O Lord we cannot be ignorant that our obstinary is such as that thou who art an holy and just God canst have no pleasure in us we have so often stopped our eares to thy law that we may well expect that thou wilt not accept our offerings and incense of prayers in our distresse who have wearied thee with our words and drawne neere to thee with â—eigned lips bâ—t our hearts have beene far from thee we are become the border of wickednesse and thou hast beene sore displeased with us because we have not hearkned to thy Prophets who cryed to us to turne from our wicked waies we have indeed not layed their messages to heart but refused to hearken and pulled away the shoulder we made
that we may know him and feel in our souls and consciences the comfortable power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death in the mortification of all those corrupt and sinful affections which continually resist the working of thy regenerating spirit in us O Lord our God being deeply sensible of our own disability to save or helpe our selves wee â—ast all our care and confidence of present protection preservation and future salvation on the merits of thy son Christ Jesus in assurance that thou art faithful who hast promised as by him to save us so through him to hear and help us in all our wants and distresses O Lord God of trueth and mercy who hast commanded us to aske and promised to grant accept our obedience and confidence in asking and according to thy trueth grant our requests in forgiving all our sinnes and giving us all those blessings which thou knowest needful for us that wee may serve thee cheerfully sanctifie our bodies and soules to thy service that in them both wee may cleave to thee please thee and rest assured by the testimony of thy holy spirit and the powerful working thereof in us that thou hast sanctified called and elected us to life everlasting Lord give us experience of thy trueth which never failed give us lively and justifying faith to apprehend Christ Jesus and all his merits give us perseverance therein that no trials of life or death may ever separate us from thy love nor any powers of hell be able to overthrow our confidence therein And now O Lord our God who makest the out-goings of the morning and evening to praise thee wee humbly thank thee as for all thy mercies and favors spiritual and temporal continually poured out upon us in our election creation redemption calling from the kingdom of darknesse our sanctification preservation from daiely imminent dangers of body and soule our liberty peace health and all those temporal necessaries for the comfort sustenance of us and ours which thy fatherly providence hath bestowed upon us so also for that it hath pleased thee to preserve us this night past from the powers of darknesse terrors of night and all the ovils thereof Lord continue thy mercy to us safely brought to the begining of this day the day is thine the night also is thine thou hast prepared the light and the sunnâ— O Lord our refuge let no evil befal us this day let not any plague come neer our dwelling give thine Angels charge over us to keep us in all our waies that wee may in nothing displease thee as thou hast put away the late darknesse which covered the face of the earth and waters by the comfortable appearance of this great light which thou madest to govern the day that men may follow their several labours therein so blessed Father of lights cause the sunne of righteousnesse Christ Jesus to arise on every one of our hearts thence to chase away the remainders of ignorance darknesse of minde and unbeliefe to open our eies that wee sleep not in death to enlighten us with a sound knowledge of all the mysteries of eternal life and salvation that we may arise and shake off the dangerous security in sinne and conscionably walk with thee who hast called us to thy kingdome that we may please thee being fruitful in every good worke encreasing in the knowledgâ— of thee strengthned to all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse and thankfulnesse for that thou hast made us partakers of the inheritance of thy saints in light that wee may walke worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called with all holinesse and meeknesse love and charity toward all men endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bâ—nd of peace so labouring in our several callings as being ever careful first to seek thy kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof in assurance that so all temporal necessaries shall be administred unto us in all our endeavours expecting the blessing from thee without which it is but lost labour to rise early late take rest eat the bread of carefulnesse and deprive our souls of ease Blesse all the creatures to us this day make them good and prosperous unto us direct us so in all our thoughts words and actions that wee may glorifie thee preserve a good conscience and give an example of holinesse to those with whom we converse that in nothing the trueth of religion with which thou hast blessed us be evil spoken of through our failings but that we may by our integrity stop the mouths of all adversaries and adorn the Gospel by walking unblameably toward all men and sincerely before thee ever remembring that of all our thoughts words and actions we must give a strict inevitable account at the dreadful day of judgment now kept from the knowledg of all men that they may every day live as if it were their last keeping a constant and careful watch in exspectation of that houre which shall come like a theefe in the night wherein thou wilt assuredly bring to light things hid in darknesse and make the counsels of all hearts manifest judging every man according to his workes Neither pray wee for our selves only but wee also beseech thee for thy whole Church and all thy distressed servants whether their afflictions be in body minde or estate comfort now and in thy good time enlarge all prisoners and captives which suffer for or with the testimony of a good conscience Lord God of all consolation assure them that when thy will and work is done in them thou wilt shew thy self their gracious deliverer and comforter Lastly we pray thee O Father of mercy blesse this family wherein by thy providence we are blesse us all from the first to the last with all those whom thou hast made neer unto us prosper us O Lord and our endeavours upon us feed us with bread of our stature that which thou knowest necessary and convenient for us give us a faithful dependance upon thy fatherly hand which never leaueth them destitute who trust in thee give us a prudent holy and thankefull use of all those good things which thou hast bestowed upon us that thou maist be pleased to continue thy mercy and providence over us give us contented mindes free from covetousnesse and distracting cares in assurance that thou wilt never forsake us and good Lord as thou art pleased to adde this day to our transitory lives so adde that grace to this day which may direct and guid every one of us in our bodies and souls that we may spend it and the remainder of our daies to thy glory and the comfortable assurance of our consciences before thee so that having our present conversation in heaven and walking with thee in sincerity of heart when these fleeting daies are ended we may live with thee in thy kingdome of glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Short Evening Praier O
workes layed afflictions upon our loines and broken our land yet heale the breaches thereof though thou hast caused us to drinke of the wine of astonishment in thy sore displeasure and made us examples of thy just judgments yet turn again unto us and make us instances of thy mercy that sinners may in our story read that which may make them afraid to sin and confident of thy mercy in their unfeigned repentance remember thy mercy which hath been ever of old before all times thou electedst us at the begining of time thou createdst us to thine owne holy image in the fulnesse of time thou gavest thy holy sonne Jesus to death for our redemption Lord cast not that away which thou hast purchased at so deare a rate we know thy mercy faileth not thou art ever the same not like man that thou shouldst repent thee as mistaken in thy choice or defeated in thy counsels O Lord our God accomplish thine owne election in us thou hast given us thy son Iesus how shouldst thou not also with him give us al things needful for us thou hast for his sake acquitted us from eternal condemnation how shouldst thou not also spare us and deliver us in the temporal 'T is little O bountiful God which we beg at thy merciful hands for our present releife to that which thou freely gavest us before wee could aske nor is it because wee have none to stand up in the gap for us that thy wrath is not yet appeased seeing thy Christ our faithful high Priest sitteth at thy right hand making intercession for us O Lord for his sake be reconciled to us deny not our requests heare and helpe us establish thy free covenant and mercy with us strengthen O God that which thou hast wrought for us and our fathers when thou deliveredst us from the powers of darkness and taking us to be thy people didst translate us into the kingdome of thy deare son establish the trueth sincerity of religion unity of hearts and abundance of peace which thou then gavest us forgive the sins of thy people turn our hearts unto thee from the first unto the last give us unfeigned repentance and humiliation under thy mighty hand that thou maist spare us and grace to forsake all our evill waies that thine anger may cease from us give us patience to bear thy fatherly corrections who hast with so much patience born with our iniquities Bless thy Church universal with trueth and unity shew thy mercy on her distressed thou hast hid thy face from us and consumed us because of our jniquities but Lord remember them not for ever appoint now unto them that mourne in Sion give them beauty for ashes the oile of joy for mourning and the garment of praisâ— for the spirit of heavinesse comfort her waste places make her wildernesse like Eden and her desart like the garden of the Lord give her joy and gladnesse and let the voice of thanks-giving and melody be heard in her again Blesse that part thereof which thy right hand hath planted in great Britan and Ireland blesse this family and every part thereof forgive us all our sinnes sanctifie our bodies and souls to thy service give us that blessed peace of conscience which the world can neither give nor take away give us assurance of our iustification in Christ Jesus fill us with fruits of righteousnesse that wee may not foolishly sleeâ—e without oile in our lampes because wee know not whether the day now spent shall be our last when wee sleepe let thy providence which watcheth over all thine preserve us from the powers of darknesse perplexing fantasies and troublesome dreames that 〈◊〉 may rest in thee and being refreshed rise againe to glorifie thee in our several places and callings through Jesus Christ our Lord and onely Saviour Amen CHAP. XXIV Of Marriage and the dueties thereof § 1. Of Marriage the institution end and fruits thereof § 2. Of choice in general and particular who are to be avoided § 3. Dueties of the Married mutual and peculiar § 4. Advice to the widow 1. MArriage is the conjunction of one man with one woman according to the lawes of God and man in the holy indissoluble band of Wedlock whereby they become one flesh I say of one man with one woman for so God made them at first and so appointed from the begining See Matth. 19. 4 c. so that plurality of wives or husbands at once is adultery though when either party dyeth the surviver is free to marry in the Lord according to the lawes of God who saith Let every man have his owne wife and every woman her own husband and the wife is bound by the law to her husband so long as hee liveth Marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled forbidding to marry is the doctrine of devils who labour to pervert the order and institution of God to corrupt and dishonor the fountain of humane propagation with impure and wandring lusts And also according to the lawes of man which being grounded on God's law necessarily binde all men thereto subject as cautioning against emergent inconveniences with relation to times places and persons as where they binde to publish the sponsals or contracts to prevent marriage without consent of parents and governers or where they limit to certain houres in the face of the congregation c. to avoid clandestine marriages or incontinent living under pretence of marriage next I say it is an holy and indissoluble band holy for whatsoever is not so in respect of the persons capacity and fitnesse the end and use thereof is neither lawful before God nor man and I say indissoluble for they two become one flesh partners of one condition in weale and woe whence they call it conjugium as à communi iugo and for this cause shall a man leave father and mother and remaine with his wife which is not simply but comparatively to be understood as if hee said Thou shalt more constantly keep with her or rather leave father and mother then thy wiâ—e and the word of Christ is cleere what God hath joined together let no man put asunder whosoever shall put away his wife except it be for fornication and shall marry another committeth adultery now in case of adultery man separateth not but a just punishment as death dischargeth the party innocent he is cruelly impious who putteth away a chaste wife and hee impiously foolish who keepeth an adulterous or dead one by him Neither may wee conceive that God joineth all them together that are married before men there is a just age fit to give consent required freedom in consent and where these are not it is no lawful marriage If there be deceit as where the man is an Eunuch where there is fraud or errour as where a Leah is substituted for a Rachel where there is a lawful preâ—ontract of either party with some other where either party