A Bride Bush, Title page – To the reader
A BRIDE-BVSH, OR A WEDDING SERMON:
Compendiouſly deſcribing the duties of Married Perſons:
By performing whereof, Marriage ſhall be to them a great Helpe, which now finde it a little Hell.
Marriage is honourable amongſt all men: but Whoremongers and Adulterers God will iudge.
Heb. 13.4.
Printed at London by William Iaggard, for Nicholas Bourne, and are to be ſold at his ſhop at the entrance into the Royall Exchange, 1617.
To the Reader.
CHriſtian Reader; Marriage hath ſcarſe more that vſe, then that accuſe it. Moſt men enter into this eſtate, and beeing entred complaine therof. They ſhould rather complaine of themſelues. It is an vniuſt thing, and a fruit of ignorant pride, to caſt the blame of our greeuances vponupon Gods ordinances. I had bene happie (ſaith one) had I not bene married. Then waſt thou fooliſh both before and ſince thy marriage. Ʋſe it well, it ſhall adde to thine happineſſe. We make bitter ſawce, and cry out that the meate is bitter. Thou liueſt in Matrimony not after Gods direction, but the rules (crooked rules they be) of thine owne luſts, and then ſayeſt, Oh that I had neuer married, Oh that I were vnmarried. For ſhame keepe ſilence, thy crying ſhewes thy diſeaſe. Thou art indeed married to an ill companion (thy wicked fleſh, that body of death, that old huſband) and art peſtered with its brood, and neither ſeekeſt a diuorce from this tyrant, nor endeauoureſt to crucify the wicked off-ſpring thereof. Hence are thy woes; not thy Huſband, not thy Wife, but thy pride, thy paſſion, cauſe all this annoyance, all this diſcontentment. I labour in this little Treatiſe to plead the cauſe of marriage: not ſo much directly in ſpeech, as indeede actually, by directing the married to the knowledge and practiſe of their duties, which would mend all. Theſe what ſoeuer man and woman indeuour to follow, if they prooue not marriage a ſolace to their ſoules, and refreſhing to their other greefes, let mee neuer but greeue.
Theſe things I commend to thine vnderſtanding, to thy life: vſe them, and then ſay how thou ſpeedeſt. I intended them at firſt for a few, and now communicate them to many. It is no vncharitable (I am ſure) I hope, no vnprofitable deed. I deſire thou ſhouldeſt make ſome vſe of them, therefore I make them publicke: if not, bee ignorant and complaine ſtill. I meane them not to the learned, that can finde out better directions for themſelues, but to thoſe whoſe place is not too good to learne of the meaneſt Teacher: euen vntounto men of the ſame ranke, as they for the moſt part were, to whom I ſpake them. If this worke profite, I am glad, then I know it ſhall pleaſe: howſoeuer, thou haſt it Reader, and better ſhouldſt hauehave had, if my ſtore affoorded any better. I hope thou wilt not blame me for meaning well, and doing no harme. So I commend thee to the Lord.
Banburie, Auguſt 20. 1608. Thine in the Lord, W. W.