Considerations Concerning Marriage, Title page – Errata
CONSIDERATIONS Concerning MARRIAGE, The HONOUR, DUTIES, BENEFITS, TROUBLES of it.
Whereto are added,
1. Directions in two Particulars.
1. How they that have wives may be as if they had none.
2 How to prepare for parting with a dear yoke-fellow by death, or otherwiſe.
2. Reſolution of this Caſe of Conſcience.
Whether a man may lawfully marry his Wives Siſter?
By EDWARD REYNER, Miniſter of the Goſpel in Lincoln.
London, Printed by J. T. for Thomas Newbery, and are to be ſold at the three Golden Lions in Cornhill, neer the Royal Exchange. MDCLVII.
TO THE READER.
Christian Reader,
THou mayeſt wonder that I ſhould bring this poor Embryo to the birth, in the Preſſe, the place of bringing forth. When I firſt penn'd theſe conciſe conſiderations concerning marriage, I had not the leaſt thought that they ſhould have ſeen more light, then came in at my Study-window; or that any more eyes then mine own, ſhould have ſeen them, while I lived. But thus it came to paſſe; Theſe being the heads of what I delivered in private at the Marriage of ſome Friends not long ago; and I being requeſted ſoon after to communicate my Notes thereof, reveiwed them, but found them very ſhort and imperfect, and that what I had written could not give an account, of what God helped me then to ſpeak. Hereupon I reſolved to tranſcribe and inlarge them a little, onelyonly that I might get ſome Copies written out, to gratifie ſome Friends that deſired them. But when I had almoſt finiſhed them, I had ſeveral Hints upon my Heart from Providentiall occurences to expoſe them to publick view: Whereto I was alſo encouraged by ſome godly and judicious friends, who had the peruſal of them. Thus I am drawn to hope, that through Gods bleſſing (which can make little Pamphlets inſtrumental for the good of others, as well as great volumes) this little, poor, plain …iece, may be of uſe to many, becauſe,
1. The Subject of this Diſcourſe, to vvit, Marriage, is of general extent, and of ſpeciall conſequences, for it is the firſt Relation and foundation of humane Society; and it is the Rule and Meaſure of the Wel-ordering of all other Relations, and hath a Regulating Influence upon them all.
2. The Principall Concernments of Marriage (as I humbly conceive) are plainly declared, briefly comprized and uſefully applyed herein.
3. This Tract, being ſo ſmall, may be bought cheap, and read ſoon; and be ready to direct either Poor or Rich, vvho deſire to vvalk by Rule in their Matrimonial State.
The Lord command his Bleſſing upon it, that it may be effectual, and proſper in the things vvhereto I intend it, and Gods Providence ſends it novv unto thee; even to accompliſh the good pleaſure of God tovvards thee, in making thy Relations religious in the manner and order of them, and ſweet and comfortable to thee in the end and uſe thereof.
Reader, I pray thee live this book throughly in thy family, I hope it may draw down a bleſſing upon thy whole houſe; when thou reapeſt profit by this, or any other Tract, give God the praiſe, and let the Author have thy prayers to God to ſtrengthen him and bleſs him in his labors. Which is the requeſt,
Sept. 19. 1657. Of thy Friend in the Lord, Edw. Reyner.
TO THE READER.
THe worthy Author of this enſuing Treatiſe, was pleaſed, not onelyonly to favour me, with the peruſal of it, but alſo to put ſo much honour upon me, as to crave my Judgement concerning it, before he purpoſed to make it publick. Doubtleſs ſuch condeſcentions of his ſpirit, unto a friend, every way inferiour to himſelf, do ſpeak his great humility, which addeth much lustre unto the rich abilities, with which the Lord hath crowned him: His former practical pieces, have found ſo good acceptance amongst gracious ſavorie ſpirited Christians, that the prefixing of his Name, will be ſufficient commendation of this book. Whoſoever have heretofore drunk of his rich ſpiritul Wines, will ſay, There is no need to hang forth an Ivy-buſh to call in Cuſtomers, when his veſſels are broached. I do ingeniouſly profeſs, that I have received edification, by reading over this diſcourſe, and thence I take encouragement to commend it to thy ſerious peruſal.
Long ſince, when I read Reverend Mr. Greenhams Treatiſe of a Contract, before Marriage, and obſerved his ſerious inſtructing of the perſons contracted, in the Articles of faith, and the ten commandements, I then thus concluded in mine own thoughts; Surely this man of God, judged that this condition of life, doth need more than ordinary helps, that it might be Chriſtianly managed. And queſtionleſs upon this account (not excluding others) Miniſters moſt eminently godly, have in their times perſwaded a matrimonial contract, before the conſummation of Marriage, that the perſons intending that change, might by peculiar advice and prayer, be prepared for it. I well remember, that my good Friend Mr. John Ball, (whoſe memory is precious) during the time of his laſt ſickneſs, did often ſpeak to this purpoſe; If God ſhould be pleaſed to reſtore me to the exerciſe of my Miniſtery, I will more preach and preſſe Relative duties, then I have formerly done. The power of godlineſs, appeareth in relations, and what relation is ſo influential as this, betwixt husband and wife. This is the first and fundamental human Relation, and according to the diſpoſition and converſation of husband and wife in their domeſtical ſtate and capacity, will the behavior of children, ſervants, and others in the family, be uſually ordered, both amongſt themſelves in their mutual ſubordinations, and towards others occaſionally. I know that many of Gods Worthies, both in former and latter times, have in their Diſcourſes concerning domeſtical duties, mentioned many things here particularized, yet as the concurrence of Brethren addeth ſtrength to their counſel, ſo that which is additional, may be found profitable. In mine apprehenſion, there is a vein of Scripture ſtrength, and evidence together with the ſavorineſs and judiciouſneſs of the Authors Spirit running through the whole book from beginning to end: in theſe regards I was moved to requeſt him, to make it publick, hoping that it will (through Gods bleſſing) be inſtrumental, in promoting the power of godlineſs, amongſt profeſſors of Religion. That caſe of conſcience which is added unto the practical diſcourſe concerning Marriage, is upon diſpute, determined with ſo much ſtrength and authority, both Divine and Humane, that I am perſwaded, much ſin in that kinde, will hereby, for the future be prevented. There were three ſheets more prepared for the Preſs, concerning the mutual ſpiritual communion, betwixt Chriſt, and the ſoul, which is eſpouſed to him, whereof there are ſome ſhort hints, in page 42. and 43. and 44. and 60. of the following Treatiſe; and doubtleſs this piece would have been acceptable, and profitable unto Chriſt-improving Chriſtians; This was wrapped up in a paper, directed unto me, and ſent by a ſpecial friend, who loſt it out of his pocket, in his journey from Lincoln to London, in May laſt. This loſs is the more to be lamented, becauſe the Author hath no copy of it. There have been hitherto, ſome expectations that this loſs might have been recovered, that this ſpiritual Tract might have been added unto the former, but now through long diſappointments, our hopes grow more faint. If hereafter Gods good hand of providence, ſhould bring this Manuſcript, either unto the Author at Lincoln, or to my ſelf at London, the Reſtorer thereof, ſhould be well recompenced, and it ſhould be forthwith publiſhed for common profit. Chriſtian Reader, as the Author deſerveth, ſo he beggeth, thy Prayers, who is,
Octo. 15. 1657. Thy Friend and Servant in Chriſt, Simeon Aſhe.
Let the Reader be deſired to amend theſe faults with his pen before he peruſe the B…ok.
ERRATA.
PAge 2. Line 4. for efficiency read efficient: p 2. l. 6. f juſtification r. inſtitution p. 5 l. 13 f Love r. Lover: p. 6. l. 9. r. to act in to his Church: p. 6. l. 32. f. juſtification r. inſtitution: p. 8 l. 9 f. Lincy r L…n…ey. Margent, r. 1 Kings 11 …, 3, …. p. 14 in marg. Col. 18. 3. r Col. 3 18. p. 15. l. ult. l is, r. in the ſal…: p 18. l. 17. f follows r. flons, p. 23 l. 25 f Proprietors, r. Proprietaries: p. 25 l 3. f ſpiritual r ſpecial p. 25 l. 5 f. walking, r. wel-being: p. 26. l. 19 f. ad…ance r. clean, marg. r. 1 Kings 11. 2. p. 26. l. 34. f. communion r communication: p. 27. l. …5. f. parties. r. partie, & l. 26. f. it is, r. and is apteſt. & l 32. f heaven 1 healers: p 30. l. …. f. allunder, r aſunder & l. 2. f contention, r. contentation. & l. 16. f. wreſt, r wreſ…le, & l. 19. put out is: p 31. marg. r 1 Tim. 5 14. f. Tim. 2. 14. p. 33. l. 26. f. covenant, r. government, & l. 30 f. exerciſes. r. exerciſe: p. 44. l. 1. … … r. to thriſt: p. 53. l. 13 f. fore-arned, r. fore-armed: p. 59. l. 3. f. our r. or, & l. 28. f. ours, r. our: p. 60 l 3. f. learn r leave: p. 64. l. 29. f. word, r. world. p. 70. l. 3. f. fitted, r. filled.
THE HONOUR OF MARIAGE. There be four things conſiderable in it.
The
Honour
Duties
Benefits
Troubles
of it.